Total Nonstop Action Wrestling didn't know it was adding two prominent performers when signing Kurt Angle.For that matter, neither did his wife.Karen Angle has parlayed a bit part in a skit last August into a showcase TNA role. The Angles headlined a Valentine's Day edition of TNA Impact (9 p.m. Eastern, Thursdays, Spike TV) by attempting to renew their wedding vows, only to have Karen Angle accidentally get "hitched" to A.J. Styles instead after a melee ensues."When I went to TNA, it was supposed to be just a short little thing," Karen Angle said last week on a TNA media conference call. "It turned into something else, which has been incredible for me, for Kurt and our family."A mother of two, Karen Angle had no previous wrestling experience when making her TNA debut. But Angle has proven a quick learner, which she says stems from being a lifelong fan. Angle says she draws inspiration for her devious character from two of grappling's most legendary femme fatales -- the late "Sensational" Sherri Martel and "The Lovely" Elizabeth Hulette."I have actually been a fan a lot longer than Kurt has," said Karen Angle, 35. "Since the age of ten, I have watched amateur and professional wrestling. I grew up watching Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes with my grandfather."The Angles were married in late 1998 shortly after Kurt, a wrestling gold medalist in the 1996 Olympics, had signed a World Wrestling Entertainment developmental contract. Karen Angle said two days after their wedding, Kurt had to leave their Pittsburgh home for training in Memphis.Karen Angle is following other wrestler spouses who became part of the show like Hulette (Randy "Macho Man" Savage), Sharmell (Booker T) and Sable (Mark Mero). Angle, though, said she had no aspirations for WWE stardom because of the promotion's grueling schedule. Kurt Angle cited WWE's heavy road demands as one of the reasons he left in August 2006 for TNA, which doesn't tour as extensively."When he first started (in WWE), it was great," said Karen Angle, the mother of a five-year-old daughter and 15-month-old son. "Because of the WWE, Kurt is where he is today. But it's not the life that I wanted to live. It's not the life I wanted my children to live. So being on the road that many days was of no interest to us whatsoever."Karen Angle also has no desire to become a full-time wrestler rather than a valet."I think I am best at what I am doing now," Angle said. "I wouldn't want to step into the ring and go against an Awesome Kong or an ODB. I give these women so much credit for how hard they work."I think if you look at the women's division in TNA right now, along with Kurt and some of these other guys, they are helping this company grow. Our ratings are better than they have ever been."TNA's small-but-steady audience growth has coincided with Karen Angle's emergence. Karen Angle said her husband isn't jealous of the newfound attention she is receiving."In previous years if I would go to appearances with him or be out in public, the guys asking for his autograph would be, like, 'Can I get your picture with your wife?'" Karen Angle said. "We've always kind of had that. But he has been so incredibly supportive."He's said he loves me being there. He gets to be taken care of on the road. He's not by himself anymore. His wife's there doing whatever he needs." (Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro wrestling column for Scripps-Howard News Service. Contact him at alex1marv@aol.com.)
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