Kurt Angle

name=Kurt Angle

WWF/WWE

Less than four years after earning Olympic gold, and after many months spent in developmental territories and competing in untelevised dark matches for the WWF, Angle officially debuted for the WWF on November 14, 1999 at the annual Survivor Series PPV event, held that year at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. He faced and defeated Shawn Stasiak in his debut match. His character, touting morality and the "three I's" -- intensity, integrity, and intelligence -- was a spoof of the all-American babyfaces of the 1980s; this arrogant, egotistic character was meant to be a heel in the anti-hero, Attitude Era 1990s.

Related Topics:
Dark matches - WWF - November 14 - 1999 - Survivor Series - PPV - Joe Louis Arena - Detroit - Shawn Stasiak - 1980s - Attitude Era - 1990s

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1999-2001

Angle initially embarked on an undefeated streak, though he suffered a loss in a tag team match when his partner, Steve Blackman, was pinned. This led to a match between the two at Armageddon 1999, which Angle won with a German Suplex. His streak continued into 2000, when he was scheduled to face an unknown opponent at the Royal Rumble. The opponent was revealed as the debuting Tazz, who rendered Angle unconscious using his Tazzmission hold. However, Angle claimed that the Tazzmission was an illegal choke hold, and his streak was therefore unbroken (he was finally beaten decisively by The Rock).

Related Topics:
Tag team - Steve Blackman - Armageddon 1999 - 2000 - Royal Rumble - Tazzmission - The Rock

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Angle won the European Championship on February 8, 2000, defeating Val Venis. On February 27 at No Way Out Angle defeated Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Championship after (illegally) using the title belt to block Jericho's Lionsault. He would then unofficially merge the two titles into the "Eurocontinental" Championship. Angle was the third Eurocontinental Champion, following D'Lo Brown who, as Angle humorously put it on TV, "doesn't count" and Jeff Jarrett.

Related Topics:
European Championship - February 8 - Val Venis - February 27 - No Way Out - Chris Jericho - Intercontinental Championship - Lionsault - D'Lo Brown - Jeff Jarrett

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Veteran wrestler Bob Backlund became Angle's mentor, but, unfortunately for Angle, Backlund agreed to a match on Angle's behalf that would see him defend both his titles in a triple threat match. As this meant that Angle could lose his titles without being beaten, he was understandably angry, and used Backlund's own Crossface Chickenwing hold on him. On April 2, 2000 at WrestleMania 2000, Angle faced Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, and lost both belts without being pinned or made to submit.

Related Topics:
Bob Backlund - Triple threat match - Crossface Chickenwing - April 2 - WrestleMania 2000 - Chris Benoit - Chris Jericho

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Angle also won the 2000 King of the Ring tournament in June 2000, defeating Rikishi in the finals, and wrestled in the main event of SummerSlam in August. With his on-screen nerves totally gone, Angle's light-hearted holier-than-thou routines provided the perfect compliment to his intense and tough wrestling style and helped to get him 'over' to fans massively.

Related Topics:
King of the Ring - June 2000 - Rikishi - SummerSlam

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The perfect proof of this fast progress came with his crowning achievement: defeating The Rock at No Mercy in October 2000 to win the WWF Championship. He would hold the belt for four months, and then go on in 2001 to have memorable feuds with Chris Benoit amongst others.

Related Topics:
No Mercy - October 2000 - WWF Championship

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(Later he would also win the Hardcore Championship defeating Rob Van Dam, WCW World Heavyweight Championship defeating Booker T, WCW US Championship defeating Rhyno, and one half of the first WWE (SmackDown! brand-specific) WWE Tag Team Championship, with Chris Benoit as his partner) defeating Edge & Rey Mysterio for the vacant titles.

Related Topics:
Hardcore Championship - Rob Van Dam - WCW World Heavyweight Championship - WCW US Championship - WWE Tag Team Championship - Edge - Rey Mysterio

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He is also noted for his comedic storylines, such as his 2000/2001 stint with Team ECK, featuring Edge and Christian, and his goofy, stooge-like role during The Invasion storyline of 2001 alongside Stone Cold Steve Austin and Vince McMahon. During that time he turned face by having Austin turn on him: Angle toppled Austin for his second WWF title in an emotional bout in September 2001 in his home town by making Austin tap out to the Ankle Lock. He lost it back to Austin just a few weeks later when WWF Commissioner William Regal turned heel and joined the WCW/ECW Alliance. Angle then turned heel again by turning his back on the WWF and joining the WCW/ECW Alliance he'd spent months fighting against. At Survivor Series 2001 there was a winner takes all match. WWF vs. The Alliance. After being eliminated in the match Angle later returned to the ring to pick up the title belt as the ref was down. It looked as though Angle was about to strike the Rock however turned on the Alliance and struck Stone Cold which led to the Rock getting the victory. Angle 'returned' to the WWF fold and remained a sneering, patronizing, yet humorous heel.

Related Topics:
Storylines - Team ECK - Christian - The Invasion - Stone Cold Steve Austin - Vince McMahon - September 2001 - WCW/ECW Alliance

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At Vengeance 2001, Angle was one of four men to take part in the tournament to crown the first ever Undisputed Champion. After a strong battle with Stone Cold, Kurt became victim of the Stunner and was eliminated from the mix.

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2002-2004

The year kicked off as Angle competed in his first Royal Rumble match. He was the last man eliminated by Triple H. By No Way Out Angle had got himself into a no 1 contender's match with Triple H where Stephanie McMahon was the referee. After a chair shot and an Angle Slam, Angle pinned Triple H to become the no 1 contender for WrestleMania X8. However in the weeks to follow, WWE co-owner at the time, Ric Flair gave Triple H another match with Angle which he won and stripped Kurt of his Wrestlemania title shot. He did however go on to WrestleMania X8 to defeat Kane. Kane went for a chokeslam but Angle was able to reverse with a vertical suplex and pin Kane, using the ropes for extra leverage.

Related Topics:
Triple H - No Way Out - Stephanie McMahon - WrestleMania X8 - Ric Flair

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At WWE Backlash 2002, Angle defeated former friend Edge when Edge went for a spear but Angle got a boot up. Angle then finished the match with the Angle Slam for the 1-2-3.

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At Judgment Day 2002, Angle was in a "Hair vs. Hair" match with Edge. With a surprise inside cradle, Edge beat Angle; however, Angle ran to the back while Edge chased him around the building. Eventually Edge caught Angle and applied a sleeper hold which knocked him out long enough for Edge to shave his head bald. For the purposes of comic relief, Angle wore a wig for the next month. He has maintained his bald head since.

Related Topics:
Judgment Day - Sleeper hold

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At King of the Ring 2002 Angle was billed as being the first person to defeat Hulk Hogan via submission when in fact Lex Luger had done it on WCW Monday Nitro to win the WCW Championship in 1997.

Related Topics:
King of the Ring - Hulk Hogan - WCW Monday Nitro - WCW Championship - 1997

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Later Kurt Angle and then partner Chris Benoit turned face by opposing Los Guerreros (Chavo Guerrero Jr. and Eddie Guerrero).

Related Topics:
Turned - Chavo Guerrero Jr. - Eddie Guerrero

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After Angle won his third WWE Championship against The Big Show in December 2002, thanks to the help of Brock Lesnar and an F-5, he turned heel by hiring one of the most hated and concurrently revered managers of all time, former ECW owner, and ex-WCW talent, Paul Heyman.

Related Topics:
WWE Championship - The Big Show - December 2002 - ECW - WCW

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On the December 26, 2002 edition of SmackDown!, as a Christmas 'gift' to his top client, Paul Heyman gave Kurt Angle his own back-up team, Charlie Haas & Shelton Benjamin, who debuted that night under the name Team Angle, and later dubbed themselves "The World's Greatest Tag Team."

Related Topics:
December 26 - 2002 - SmackDown! - Paul Heyman - Charlie Haas - Shelton Benjamin - Team Angle

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Angle later lost his title to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX in March 2003, after Lesnar botching a Shooting Star Press and resorting to the F-5. Angle subtly turned face by congratulating and befriending Lesnar immediately afterward.

Related Topics:
WrestleMania XIX - March 2003

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Angle seriously considered trying to make a comeback to freestyle wrestling for the 2004 Summer Olympics, but he abandoned that plan late in 2002, when neck problems that dated back to his past amateur wrestling career recurred.

Related Topics:
2004 Summer Olympics - 2002

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In 2003, after the aforementioned neck problems led to an almost career-ending injury, he opted for a new type of surgery that allowed him to return in two months rather than a year. Angle would gain respect from the audience, and told them that he was proud of the "You Suck!" and "What?" chants. With that the fans continued to chant those catchphrases, though not as often as when he was heel and this time, it means respect.

Related Topics:
2003 - Catchphrases

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Angle would soon regain the WWE Championship in a triple threat match at Vengeance after hitting the Angle Slam on Brock Lesnar. This was his fourth title reign. Due to jealousy Lesnar turned on Angle. One month later at SummerSlam, Angle became the first of only two men to ever make Lesnar tap out, getting the submission victory with the ankle lock. Lesnar eventually retained the title in September 2003.

Related Topics:
SummerSlam - September 2003

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In mid-February 2004, Angle turned heel once more by turning his back on WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. In the storyline, the reason for this was because he thought that Eddie was nothing but an embarrassment to the championship due to Eddie's real-life past problems with drugs and alcohol. He then fought, and lost to, Eddie at WrestleMania XX for the championship in March 2004, but Eddie retained the title by employing one of his infamous cheating techniques in a creative finish involving a loose boot. Eddie removed the boot to make it look like he had a hurt ankle, so Angle went for the ankle lock but got rolled up in a modified small package.

Related Topics:
February 2004 - WrestleMania XX - March 2004

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However, in March 2004 his neck problems recurred yet again, and it was feared that he would have to undergo possibly career-ending surgery. For a time, he considered having an operation similar to the one he had in 2003, but has decided against it for the time being. He also injured his knee in late 2003.

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After WrestleMania XX, Angle played the role of a disabled General Manager on SmackDown!, after he was thrown off a 25-foot high ledge by The Big Show with a chokeslam and claimed he could no longer wrestle again (this was a storyline to allow Angle to recover from his recurring neck injury yet still participate in WWE shows). During his tenure he regularly favored heels over faces, and attempted to force Guerrero into being "fired" for misconduct. Angle was "fired" from that position when his career-ending injury was proved to be fake, but returned to the active roster during a SmackDown! taping on July 20 (aired on July 22).

Related Topics:
July 20 - July 22

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Angle returned to the ring in July 2004 at a WWE house show in Japan. He has publicly stated that he will work a reduced in-ring schedule in the future, and is reportedly planning to change his wrestling style to reduce the risk of further damage to his neck.

Related Topics:
July 2004 - House show - Japan

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On August 15, 2004, at Summerslam Angle had his first big match since Wrestlemania 20 and it was against the man who beat him there, Eddie Guerrero. This time Angle took off Guererro's boot and applied the ankle lock multiple times before Guerrero eventually tapped out to an ankle lock/ legbar combination.

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He then formed a stable with Luther Reigns and Mark Jindrak, dubbed Kurt Angle and his Protégés, by SmackDown! commentators. They concentrated their power on taking down The Big Show, successfully tranquilizing him, and shaving his head in the middle of the ring. This formed a feud which continued throughout 2004 and early 2005. At No Mercy 2004, Show would defeat Angle by catching Angle on the top rope and giving him a hellacious chokeslam from the top.

Related Topics:
Stable - Luther Reigns - Mark Jindrak

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On November 16, 2004 in Dayton, Ohio, Kurt Angle kicked off the "Kurt Angle Invitational." This meant that, at every location where SmackDown! took place, he would allow a "hometown hero", all of whom have been local professional wrestlers, to challenge him to a match. If that person defeated Angle, he would award them with his authentic 1996 Olympic gold medal.

Related Topics:
November 16 - 2004 - Dayton, Ohio

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