January 30, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Kurt Angle health issues, WB & UPN networks to merge
Just after winning the world title, the health of Kurt Angle is once again in question as what is believed to be significant neck damage has led to Angle’s hand going numb. Angle has continued to wrestle, although he was heavily protected, doing short tag team matches on his second and third night in Mexico this week when word got out about the damage.
Angle went into the 1/19 WWE debut in Mexico City in great pain according to a few sources. The decision was made to put him in short matches in Guadalajara and Monterrey where partners Rey Mysterio and Chris Benoit carried the load.
The expectation over the weekend was that Angle would be going for another MRI this week to try and determine the problem, but with Angle’s history of neck problems, the concern, in at least some parts of the company, was high. Many have questioned how, with his back and neck injuries and pain not a secret, that there wasn’t more concern addressed to Angle’s health in recent weeks, if not longer. But when Angle got back from Mexico, he claimed he was okay, and may not even be getting checked out.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.