Kurt Angle: The ONLY olympic gold-medalist in Pro-Wrestling history
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On April 7th 2019 not just any career ended, it was the career of 'The ONLY olympic gold-medalist in professional wrestling history': Kurt Angle.
A career that is so unique and so great, a special look back is something was thinking about for a long time. The WWE Hall of Famer has inspired so many talents and fans over two decades it is wonderful. He has achieved it all by focusing on the three Is. Integrity Intelligence Intensity.
Thank You Kurt!
Beginnings and Amateur Wrestling
The man, that we now know as one of the greatest ever to do this, started out in college, where he both focused on american football and amateur wrestling. A later failed try-out for the NFL crushed his football aspirations. In 1995 Kurt Steven Angle, so his full name, competed in his first wrestling championships. He was able to win the gold medal in amateur wrestling in his home-country. An epic triumph for the 27 year old, only to be topped the following year atthe 1996 Olympic Games, when he won the gold-medal again....WITH A BROKEN FREAKING NECK!
It was Dr. Maroon who performed neck surgery on Kurt Angle, Maroon is working with the WWE to this day.
Angle dedicated his career to his late father, who died killed in a construction accident at work when Angle was only 16 years old. His trainer David Schultz, who is the reason Angle became one of the best in the world, was viewed as a farther figure by Angle, but was murdered in January 1996.
Angle dedicated his career to his late father, who died killed in a construction accident at work when Angle was only 16 years old. His trainer David Schultz, who is the reason Angle became one of the best in the world, was viewed as a farther figure by Angle, but was murdered in January 1996.
The buzz around Kurt Angle in the USA was enormous.
Something that was also seen by the WWF and it's chairman Vincent K. McMahon, who offered Angle a huge 10-year contract, that Angle declined and instead worked in commercials.In October 1996 he tried another look at professional wrestling, this time at ECW, where he backed out of a deal after seeing The Sandman Crucification.
He spend his time in commercials and as a sports commentator before the WWF knocked on his door again in 1998. This time he signed a contract, sparking a magical career. He would later say that he always viewed Vince Mcmahon as a father figure.
Around that time his legendary 'Medal' Entrance theme was (in a variation) already used by the wrestler called 'The Patriot', who left the WWF in early 1998. The theme was found perfectly fitting to Angle, that is why Jim Johnston took a redefined version of the track and gave it Kurt Angle.
Angle thought he would be received as the olmypic hero, but the crowd turned on him rather quick, as they viewed him as a rather cocky bad guy. Something McMahon predicted, but caught Angle by surprise. His first match was against Dr. Tom Prichard.
After a segment with Tiger Ali Singh and a match against Shawn Stasiak at the 1999 Survivor Series Angle was already massivly over with the crowd.
Over the course of one month he won both the European Title and Intercontinental Title, kicking off the year 2000 for Kurt Angle rather great.
The Rise of an Olympic Hero
By that point he was already seen as one of the best to ever step into a ring.
To continue his meteoric rise he entered his first WrestleMania in a Triple Threat Match in which he lost both his Championships. In June he also won the King of the Ring Tournament. After this he had a short run with Edge and Christian as 'ECK'.
After a feud with Triple H which also involved Stephanie McMahon to play up a love triangle. The storyline and Kurt Angle's delivery were received so well, the WWF deemed him worthy of the big one.
It was WWF No Mercy 2000. October. Only 10 months in his first full year with the WWF.
Kurt Angle was able to pin The Rock to win the WWF World Championship. Re-Watch the historic making moment on the WWE Network.
His title run lasted all the the way through Februar of 2001, where he lost the title back to The Rock.
During his reign he beat the likes of The Underaker and Triple H. In 2001 Angle released a book called 'It's true, it's damn true'.
Angle then was able to win at WrestleMania X-Seven amd also fought in a phenomenal 'Ultimate Submission Match' with included a only-pinfall, only-submission and ladder match. it was an incredible sight. The match was also won by Kurt Angle, with the help of Edge and Christian.
Shortly after this the Invasion Storyline took over the entire WWF when WWF purchased both the WCW and ECW. During this time he sided with Team WWF and turned babyface. Also part of the team: One of Angle's favourite wrestlers: Stone Cold Steve Austin, who was the WWF Champion at the time. Angle was able to win the WCW World Title, the WCW United States Title and the WWF Hardcore Title during that time but lost all of them to The Alliance rather quickly, part of the reason was Stone Cold Steve Austin turning heel on Kurt Angle and Team WWF. At that year's SummerSlam Kurt Angle defeated Steve Austin to win the second WWF Title.
In true Attitude Era fashion the chaos was complete when Angle dropped the title back to Austin in October as a result of WWF Commissionr William Regal turning heel, but then Angle also turned heel and also joined The WCW/ECW Alliance. He did help the Team WWF though when he helped The Rock to pin Stone Cold in a Winner Takes All Title Match at the Survivor Series 2001. ANd he still remained a heel. That was confusing. But Angle being featured in such a big angle was only showing that he arrived in the WWF and was one of their biggest stars.
Once again Angle got involved in a short storyline against Triple H to determine the main event for WrestleMania, a feud he lost. At WrestleMania X8 itself he was able to beat another wrestler: Kane.
The Birth of 'U Suck'
In 2005 Angle tried his very best to end the chants, this attempt failed
The feud with Edge ended in the infamous Hair vs. Hair Match, which Angle lost and would eventually accept his baldness. He then entered a feud with Hulk Hogan in which he beat Hogan by submission. Something that has never happened before.
Kurt Angle future on SmackDown! saw a Tag Team Title run, which made him a Grand Slam Champion and his infamous first match with the upcoming John Cena. Footage that has been played back for quite some time ever since. Angle would later say that he immedialty realised that Cena would become one of the greats of this business.
Team Angle and Injury-Circle
2003 kicked off very different for Kurt Angle, who also won the WWF Title for once again in December of 2002. Paul Heyman gave Kurt Angle two new prodigies to his side: Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, who would later go by the name 'The World's Great Tag Team' and go on to win multiple Tag Team Titles all over the world. In the past few year Angle earned himself a name of an incredible worker and produced one of the greatest matches of his career. After a few collision with the likes of the Big Show. After that it was Lesnar, who wanted a piece of Angle's gold. Lesnar previously helped Angle to win the big one for the third time back in December.
When Lesnar won the Royal Rumble it was clear that the Main Event of WrestleMania XIX would see Kurt Angle defending against Brock Lesnar.
On an episode of SmackDown! Angle broke his neck again. His dream of main evening WrestleMania seemed to be gone. But Angle knew he could compete with a broken neck, because he did so one before, so Angle convinced McMahon to do the match regardless. Lesnar beat Angle for the title after an epic match and Angle went straight into surgery after that. Angle made sure to suggest an alternative surgery to come back earlier and rushed back to the ring just three months later.
Angle returned as a babyface and fired both Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas from Team Angle as he was not pleased with their win/loss record. The former Intercontinental Champion was thrown right back into the world title picture and won yet another WWE Championship against Lesnar and Big Show at WWE Vengeance in July.
Angle and Lesnar began forming a team but this was only an evil plan by Vince McMahon to take the title off Angle. Lesnar beat him for the title again in September.
Due to Lesnar's eventual departure in 2004 the title was put on Eddie Guerrero. When Angle won a No.1 Contender's Match by beating John Cena and The Big Show, the turned heel against Eddie Guerrero and the WWE Title Match was set for WrestleMania XX.
After that Kurt Angle broke his neck again. McMahon wanted to stop Angle from rushing to the ring again and instead made him the new General Manager of SmackDown! Around the same time Angle started was more and more in trouble as he started using painkillers and they were taking their toll on him.
As the General Manager Angle was guarded by Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak. Angle involved himself in WWE Title picture by not wrestling but constantly involving himself in Eddie Guerreros title match with JBL. After he got physical McMahon, in storyline, was enraged because he thought Angle was pretending to be hurt. Around that time Angle was cleared to wrestle again so Guerrero vs. Angle would be his first big match back.
Another infamous moment was the Tough Enough Challenge in November of 2004. Kurt Angle and the Tough Enough participants were involved in a segment when contestant Daniel Puder who enganged in a shoot fight, when Puder tried to wrestle Angle down for real and put him int the Kimura Lock. Angle mananged to push Puder into a pinfall and the ref made a quick three count to prevent any further damage.
WrestleMania 21 saw a match against Shawn Michaels for the Olympic Hero, which was an interpromotional macht-up but one of the greatest matches ever to be wrestled at WrestleMania. Angle was able to beat Mr. WrestleMania that night.
After feud Booker T Angle made on appearance as ECW One Night Stand 2005 that ended in a brawl with WWE stars taking on the ECW Originals.
In the legendary 2005 Draft, Kurt Angle was send to MondayNight RAW, where his lost his gold medal to Eugene after being unable to tap out Eugene in under three minutes. This resulted in a brutal feud between the two. At SummerSlam a few months later Angle was able to win his medals back.
He then enganged in a WWE Championhip against a familiar foe: John Cena.
At this point Angle became bitter. In fear men like John Cena could be able to take his spot he became more and more frustrated. After extending his feud with Cena for matches at the Surivor Series and inside the Elimination Chamber, in a surprise move he appeare,where he won the vavant World Heavyweight Championship. He mamanged to defend the title against the likes of Mark Henry and The Undertaker.
At WrestleMania 22 he entered as champion when he ha to dfend the gold against Randy Orton and the Royal Rumble Winner Rey Mysterio. Mysterio pinned Orton to win the World Title.
Dealing ongoing pain and his painkiller issues Angle was ment to take some time off, but both SmackDown! and the newly created thrid brand 'ECW' were lacking in star power.
In May the decision was made to send Angle to ECW as the brand's top athelete. He was transformed into the 'Wrestling Machine' and his entrance theme was remixed to it would leave no opportunity for the fans to chant 'you suck'. After a match with Randy Orton and an unsuccesful ECW World Title Match against Rob Van Vam, Angle disappered from WWE TV.
On August 25th 2006 the relationship between WWE and Kurt Angle came to an end.
Vince McMahon would later state the following on 'Byte This', that it was a shame seeing Angle go but he would not listen anymore and the drug took their toll on him. Angle would say it was due to being unable to take time off.
An Impactful New Opportunity
When rehab seemed like the right choice, Angle thought different and signed with new and upcoming promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). The promotion run by Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter arguably made their biggest signing ever with getting Angle. In October 2006 Angle made his official debut on impact! TV.
Kurt Angle started a feud with Samoa Joe, a storyline that ended with Angle pinning Joe at TNA Genesis in November 2006, ending Joe's undefeated streak. The feud continued with Joe pinning Angle the following time but Angle ending the his first feud in TNA by beating Joe in their third match.
He then entered a NWA-TNA World Title Feud with Christian Cage, which in a World Title victory in May 2007.
Shortly after the title was vacated as TNA Authority Figure Jim Cornette was not happy with the finish of the match. Also TNA was defecting from the NWA, which resulted in the creation of the TNA World Title.
The title was then won by Kurt Angle in a King of the Mountain match.
What began then was something that, to this day, is unheard of in the history of professional wrestling.
Kurt Angle became the undisputed super-champion of the wrestling world when he won the X-Division and World Tag Team Titles all while holding the TNA World Title at the same time, which was not enough because Angle also won the IWGP World Title off Brock Lesnar in Japan - a title he held for 233 days before dropping it to Shinsuke Nakamura.
Kurt Angle's choke-hold on TNA wrestling ended with him defending all titles on night, where he dropped the X-Division to Jay Lethal and the Tag Team Titles to Team Pacman at TNA No Surrender in September 2007, leaving with the TNA World Title.
At TNA's biggest show of the year, Bound for Glory, Angle lost his World Title to wrestling legend Sting, only to win it back a few a few days later.
Angle would hold the TNA World Title on three more occasions in 2009, 2011 and 2015. Making him a record 6-time TNA World Champion, something nobody else has achieved so far.
He also won the World Tag Team Titles one more time with AJ Styles in 2012.
From 2016 to 2016 Angle spend most of his time, apart from one long really grueling (to watch) feud with Jeff Jarrett that was supposed to somewhat adress the real-life break-up with his wife Karen Angle, who found a new love in TNA owner Jeff Jarrett.
Other than that Angle has incredible matches and storylines with the likes of Christopher Daniels, AJ Styles, EC3, Mr. Anderson and Desmond Wolfe (Nigel McGuiness) during his time in TNA. With Styles and Tyson Tomko he was also known as the Angle Alliance. He was also part of the Hogan and Bischoff let stable IMMORTAL. Another important stable in his time at TNA was the heel stable Main Event Mafia which was creaed by the likes of Kevin Nash, Booker T, Scott Steiner, Samoa Joe, Angle and Sting to ensure that only them would get opportunities in the TNA Main Event.
The stable returned as a babyface faction in 2013 to remove the Aces and Eights faction from Impact!.
While in TNA Angle suffered more neck injuries, causing him to go further down the bad path he was already on. In 2012 he suffered another injury which stopped him from competing in the olympic games one more time.
In 2013 Angle was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame. After that he tried to return to WWE was declined, because he still had not cleaned up his life. His new wife, who has had several children with, forced him to go to rehab, which turned out as a success. Angle would later release an App to help other people to overcome addiction.
In 2015 Kurt Angle was diagnosed with cancer, that he fortunatley was able to beat.
After another series of great matches against the likes of Austin Aries, Drew Galloway, Bobby Roode and Eli Drake, his final match came against Bobby Lashley in a loosing effort.
After his 10-year-long run with TNA/Impact he went on an international farewell tour in which he also wrestled for WCPW/Defiant Wrestling in an awesome match against UK-Wrestling Star Joe Hendry.Angle then gave Hendry the Angle Lock to use for him matches.
Angle also starred in several movies like Sharknado 2 and Pain & Gain during his career.
One Final Hurray
In January 2017, 11 after his departure, WWE announced the return of Kurt Angle to WWE, so Angle could finish off his pro wrestling career where he started.
He was set to headline the 2017 Hall of Fame, where John Cena inducted him. WWE also aired a wonderful documentary called 'WWE 24: Kurt Angle: Homecoming' to show Kurt Angle's journey back.
The night after WrestleMania 33 Angle was appointed the new General Manager for MondayNight RAW by Vince McMahon himself.
In a....special...storyline Jason Jordan was revealed as Kurt angle's illegitmate son. A storyline that was completley dropped when Jordan suffered an injury.
Angle made his in-ring return when WWE suffered a big virus got hold of WWE, making several wrestlers unable to compete. Anlge joined Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose as an honorary member of the Shield, because Roman Reigns was unable to compete at WWE TLC in October.
At the following Surviror Series Triple H attacked Angle during the final moments of the Elimination Tag Team Match.
This feud was picked up on again towards WrestleMania 34 when Angle teamed with the debuting Ronda Rousey to take on Stephanie McMahon and Triple H in the match of the night.
After that Baron Corbin was appointed as the Constable of MondayNight RAW to oversee Kurt Angle's action as General Manager. Eventually Angle lost his position to Corbin. After staying away for a while Angle made random appearances throughout 2018 and 2019 until WWE announced that he would face Baron Corbin in his final match at WrestleMania 35 and is going to retire after that.
WWE picking Corbin as Angle's final opponent was not seen with much delight by fans.
In a Farewell tour Angle wrestled Apollo Crews, Chad Gable, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe.
The night after WrestleMania 35 Angle was attacked by Corbin and the debuting Lars Sullivan to write him off the show.
It is currently unclear what is next for Angle, but it is confirmed that the now 50-year-old won't wrestle again.
Finishers:
- Angle Slam (Olypmic Slam)
- Angle Lock (Ankle Lock)
Entrance Themes:
- Jim Johnston with Medal (1998 to 2006 and since 2017)
- Jim Johnston with Medal Remix (2006)
- Dale Oliver with My Quest (2006-2007)
- Tha Trademark ft. Dale Oliver with Gold Medal (2007-2016)
Kurt Angle's Legacy
Kurt Angle was a pure athelete. An succesful amateur wrestlers who found glory in sport entertainment. His impact on wrestlers and fans in the entire world in undeniable. There will never be someone like him. He was so unique in what he can do in the ring becausehe had that brilliant amateur wrestling background, but also had amazing comedic timing. This all together makes him one of the greatest of all time. It's true, it's damn true. Thank you Kurt Angle. You never sucked.
