Olympic champion and WWE legend Kurt Angle has claimed he enjoyed a better wrestling career during his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) than he did during his more celebrated tenure in WWE. Angle expressed regret that American WWE fans largely missed his peak performances in TNA, arguing that his accomplishments there represent the stronger body of work despite WWE being the higher-profile organisation. This assertion challenges the conventional narrative of Angle's career, given his prominence in WWE as a six-time world champion and Grand Slam winner.

During his near-decade in TNA, Angle achieved considerable success as a six-time world champion, two-time tag team champion and X Division champion. He particularly praised his matches against Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, noting how their wrestling styles complemented his own technical approach. Angle also highlighted his victory in two King of the Mountain matches—a unique TNA stipulation requiring competitors to hang a title belt on a suspended hook above the cage—and suggested that WWE should adopt such creative match formats. He was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013 and remains an ambassador for the promotion's innovative approach to professional wrestling.