By James Caldwell, PWTorch columnist

Kurt Angle says he doesn't believe he'll be able to wrestle long enough to be considered one of the best wrestlers ever. His health and physical limitations will prevent him from having the longevity of previous top wrestlers in the business.

"In order to do that, you have to put in 20 or so years," Angle said in an interview TNA published for his upcoming DVD release. "I'm not going to be able to do that. But the time I did put in, I'll be remembered as, 'Wow, the short period of time he put in, he had a big effect on wrestling. He was pretty incredible.' That would suffice me."

Angle also talks in a preview video about infamously breaking his neck prior to the 1996 Olympics Trials and deciding to risk paralysis in order to compete in the Olympics.

"I went to three different doctors and none of them would clear me to wrestle," he said. "The pain was so excruciating that I couldn't bear it, even just standing up. What happened was that I had two vertebrae that were broken. I had two discs that moved and were sticking directly in my spinal cord, which, God forbid, could cause paralysis."

Angle said the doctors gave him the option of trying to wrestle and ending up in a wheelchair or quitting wrestling and living the rest of his life being okay. "I said, 'Well, I don't want to end up in a wheelchair, but I'll take the chance.'"

Caldwell's Analysis: The Kurt Angle DVD product looks like it will have plenty of new content and interviews to analyze from Angle, who is notorious for changing his story over time, but he has also been very blunt about his career. Angle will probably struggle to live a normal existence later in life, especially based on this piece of information that he risked paralysis to compete in the Olympic Trials over 12 years ago.

His perseverance, dedication, and inability to give up is what has continued to push him to still being in the wrestling business despite taking so many bumps on a night-in, night-out basis, with many of those years in WWE involving a heavy dependence on painkillers. It's amazing what kind of genetics and work ethic he has to where he's still wrestling.

FYI: TNA will be releasing the Kurt Angle DVD on November 25 with even more interviews, footage, and behind-the-scenes stories from Angle.

RELATED STORY at PWTorch.com: Bruno Sammartino discusses Kurt Angle's place in wrestling history.

VIDEO CLIPS: (1) Angle discussing his place in wrestling and (2) Angle discussing his broken neck

We suggest these recent related articles...

TV RATINGS: TNA Impact & ROH TV viewership - Week 19 on Dest. America - Impact surges post-BFG, ROH draws big audience

TV WRESTLING VIEWERSHIP - Week of Sept. 28: Full Break Down of last week's Pro Wrestling TV with DVR viewing

TNA NEWS: TNA announces TV tapings on January U.K. Tour