Kurt Angle is one of my all time favorite WWE superstars. Still, when you think about his WWE career, in hindsight it was relatively brief. Having only performed for the WWE from 1999-2006, Kurt left an undeniable mark on the company. He is inarguably, the best mat wrestler ever in the history of pro wrestling. His legacy is set in stone and whether or not he will be in the WWE Hall of Fame remains to be seen. Still I feel he should be recognized as an ESSENTIAL WWE superstar and on that note, ladies and marks I give you....
THE ESSENTIAL KURT ANGLE
10. Wrestlemania XX:: WWE Championship match: Kurt Angle vs. Eddie Guerrero
One of the rare instances where a Kurt Angle match is underrated. Chris Benoit's emotional victory in the main event of the same PPV overshadowed this classic, but if you go back and watch this match, it's hard to say that it wasn't the second best match of the night. Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle put on an absolute clinic in this match leading up to the memorable finish, with victory literally slipping through Kurt's fingers.
Match Rating: 4.25/5
Olympic moment: The classic finish of the match. Kurt's face is priceless.
9. Summerslam 2002:: Kurt Angle vs. Rey Mysterio
In Rey's WWE PPV debut, the pressure was on for him to live up to the amazing standard he had set for himself in WCW. Being in the ring with Kurt was his first real challenge in a real 'welcome to the WWE' style match. These two set a pace that I don't think I've ever seen again. With lightening quick action and amazing counters, this match took my breath away and set the bar for what would go on to be arguably, the greatest Summerslam of all time.
Match Rating: 4.5/5
Olympic moment: The sick wheelbarrow-german suplex counter.
8. Vengeance 2002:: Undisputed WWE Championship match: Kurt Angle vs. The Rock vs. The Undertaker(c)
Just a month prior to his awesome match with Rey Mysterio, Kurt Angle tore the house down with two of the biggest icons the WWE has ever seen. These three delivered possibly the most entertaining main event in WWE history. Forget about the great wrestling and unbelievable counters (which this match had in spades), this match was pure fun from beginning to end. Kurt Angle was easily the most entertaining in his classic annoying heel persona, which says a lot when you're in the ring with The Rock. I feel as if this match may be the best example of Kurt's amazing abilities as a performer which is often overlooked given his superior wrestling ability.
Match Rating: 4.75/5
Olympic moment: The exhilarating use of each man's own finishers.
7. Wrestlemania XIX:: WWE Championship match: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Brock Lesnar
I remember watching this match back in 2003 and being absolutely blown the fuck away. I recently watched it again like two days ago and it still holds up almost a decade later. If it were not for Brock's ridiculous attempt at a shooting star press (which would go on to overshadow the match itself), this match would most likely have gone down as the greatest Wrestlemania main event of all time. This match also is essential to Kurt's career given the fact that it's his only true Wrestlemania main event. With everything on the line, he gave the performance of a lifetime, and he did it with a broken freakin' neck!
Match Rating: 4.75/5
Olympic moment: The shooting star press FAIL basically eclipses the match, but I think it added to the intensity of it all.
6. RAW June 2001:: Steel Cage match: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
This match is quite possibly, the greatest match in the history of WWE Raw. It's absolutely incredible to watch the desire and passion pour out of each competitor. Chris Benoit was always Kurt's greatest rival and the only wrestler who could keep up with him in the ring. Alas, this is another match to add to the "Chris Benoit's in it so it technically doesn't exist", collection. Regardless, this match is just fucking awesome! Even Stone Cold Steve Austin can be caught on camera marking out for it at ringside. This match is very rare and after some deep searching I have found it. So it gives me great pleasure to be able to provide it for you in it's entirety.
Kurt Angle vs Chris Benoit - Steel Cage Match by superbatista619
Match Rating: 4.5/5
Olympic moment: The jaw dropping moonsault (and FAIL) by Kurt Angle off the top of the cage.
5. No Mercy 2002:: WWE Tag Team Championship match: Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit vs. Edge and Rey Mysterio
Like all great rivals, Angle and Benoit would go on to transfer their competitive tension into amazing chemistry. With the addition of Los Guerreros and later Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, Smackdown had the best tag team division at the time. So it was only natural that in the match set to determine the first ever Smackdown tag team champions, that these four would deliver the greatest tag team match I have ever seen. The innovative offense of Mysterio and Edge combined with the technical brilliance of Angle and Benoit, made for an unforgettable encounter that would go on to win the Match of the Year award in many publications (including Wrestling Observer Newsletter).
Match Rating: 4.75/5
Olympic moment: Hard to pick just one. THIS MATCH IS A MUST SEE!
4. Smackdown September 2003:: 60 minute Iron Man match for the WWE Championship: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Brock Lesnar
Brock Lesnar was Kurt Angle's second greatest foe, and this match is a true testament to the great conditioning of both men. It stands to this day as the only Iron Man match that I could watch over and over for the full 60 minutes and remain thoroughly on the edge of my seat the entire time. Many people believe that Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels had the greatest Iron Man match. I agree to some extent (I also gave that match a 5 star rating) and while that match may be much more prolific and legendary, I challenge anyone to go back and watch this match and then tell me they did not live up to the standard set at Wrestlemania 12.
Match Rating: 4.75/5
Olympic moment: The edge of your seat climax.
3. Wrestlemania XXI:: Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels
Even though this match started out kind of slow, once these two icons got going, I could not breathe until the very end. At the time I was a HUGE Kurt Angle mark and Shawn is my all-time favorite performer, so you could imagine my level of expectation for this match. From the heart stopping angle slam into the ring post to the epic super kick out of nowhere, no match lived up to the immense hype built for it as much as this one did. All in all, I don't think I have ever seen two better in-ring performers and on the grandest stage of them all, Kurt solidified his excellence in the ring, as he defeated the man many would say is the greatest of all time.
Match rating: 5/5
Olympic moment: The awesome drama filled super kick near the end.
2. Royal Rumble 2003:: WWE Championship match: Kurt Angle(c) vs. Chris Benoit
This match was in my opinion, from a technical standpoint, the greatest wrestling match of all time. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit blew the roof off the Boston Garden with counter after counter until Kurt was finally able to gain the victory. The match itself is a work of art, but it's the post match standing ovation that the crowd gave to Chris Benoit that is perhaps most memorable. In the end, this match may have been Benoit's shining moment and that's the only thing that keeps it from being the most essential match for Kurt Angle.
Match Rating: 5/5
Olympic moment: The appreciation shown by the crowd at the end of the match.
So which match IS the most essential Kurt Angle match?.....
For all of you aliens out there I give you....
1. No Way Out 2006:: World Heavyweight Championship match: Kurt Angle(c) vs. The Undertaker
This match is far and away Kurt Angle's best performance. Given the superior quality of all these matches, I think that says it all. I have to admit that at the time, I did not expect to see a 5 star classic when I heard that it was going to be Taker-Angle at No Way Out, but boy was I floored at the result. From the opening video package to the thrilling finale, this match would go down as one of my all time favorites. While I always had immense respect for the deadman, in 2006, let's just say that he was not my favorite performer to watch. This match obliterated all doubt from my mind and he would go on to become one of my favorite superstars. Kurt Angle did the impossible in this classic, he defeated the deadman clean in a match that SHOULD have main evented Wrestlemania XXII. I will never forget the brilliance of it all. This is one of those matches that i watch all the time and just seems to get even better with each viewing. For this reason alone, it is the most essential match in Kurt Angle's career.
BONUS GIF!
Match Rating: 5/5
Olympic moment: The unexpected counter of Taker's signature leg drop into the ankle lock.
Honorable Mention:: Wrestlemania XVII: Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit
Dream match that should be on this list:: Wrestlemania XXVIII: Kurt Angle vs. Daniel Bryan
And there you have it, the essential Kurt Angle!
Let me know where you agree/disagree
Until then....
Later marks!
G9Z
He is the greatest of all time!!! The Machine!!!
ReplyDeleteAgree with your number one choice, great match, but where's the Wrestlemania 22 match against Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio?
ReplyDeleteThat match was awesome but I think its more essential to Rey's career than Kurt's. Wouldn't argue with you that it's a true classic though.
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