5 Most surprising departures in WWE history

#4 Kurt Angle

Kurt Angle couldn't cope in WWE and left the company for TNA

Kurt Angle joined WWE during the Attitude Era days and he went on to become a huge main event star in the company. He also had a successful career in amateur wrestling, earning himself an induction into the International Sports Hall of Fame.

Although his on-screen run with WWE was phenomenal, Angle was personally faced with some obstacles off-screen. He shockingly departed from the company in 2006 and signed immediately signed with TNA/Impact Wrestling.

Angle revealed that he asked to be released from his contract because he couldn't take time off and he was working while injured, which caused him to become addicted to painkillers. WWE's rigorous schedule also played a factor in his departure.

“Before I knew it, I was knee-deep into my addiction. I was hiding it from WWE, and at that time they weren’t drug testing for medication like they do now. I then broke my neck 2 more times over the next 2 years, and the bad relationship/marriage I was in made me feel more alone than ever. I decided that I could not handle the rigorous schedule of WWE and I felt guilty about being a liability to Vince McMahon. So I asked for my release, and I swore I’d get my life together,” Kurt Angle revealed.

Kurt Angle returned to WWE in 2017 after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also served as the General Manager for Monday Night RAW after his return, but you already knew that.