http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/kurtangle/anglerivalries/
#10: Kurt Angle vs. The Big Show.
numbers nine through 1 will be revealed in next 9 days.
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Ok, seriously, has Angle even had 10 true rivalries yet. And i swear, if Angle vs. Benoit isn't in the top 3 I will mark out.
It’s well-known that Kurt Angle is WWE’s only Olympic Gold Medalist, but towards the end of 2002, Angle was hungry to add more gold – WWE Championship gold. Paul Heyman was proving to be a major player as far as the WWE Championship was concerned. He was representing Brock Lesnar, but at Survivor Series, he turned on his client and helped his new client, Big Show, defeat the WWE Champion. Lesnar went on a rampage, taking out his anger on the entire SmackDown roster. His actions, however, landed him an indefinite suspension. With Lesnar out of the picture, a Fatal Fourway was held to determine the new No. 1 contender. An exhausted Angle was able to hit a top-rope Angle Slam on Edge for the win, but he had no time to celebrate. Big Show came to the ring and decimated the Wrestling Machine, who would face him for the WWE Championship at Armageddon. With the attack, Angle’s tenth greatest rivalry was officially underway.
With Armageddon just more than a week away, Angle did his best to push the odds in his favor. Angle was able to convince SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon to drop Lesnar’s suspension and allow The Next Big Thing to be in the Olympian’s corner in his WWE Championship Match. Big Show was outraged by the announcement, and by the end of the night, made Angle pay. Show teamed up with A-Train and took on Angle and Edge, and when the night was over, Angle was staring up at the lights after a brutal beat-down by the mammoth duo.
Angle only had three days to recover, and to make matters worse, Lesnar was nowhere to be found. Even though he didn’t have Lesnar in his corner, the Wrestling Machine would not be denied. Angle and Big Show battled back and forth at Armageddon, and neither Superstar could gain a decided upper hand. With the referee knocked out, A-Train interfered on Big Show’s behalf, and took down Angle. It looked as though Big Show would successfully defend the WWE Championship, but Angle refused to be beaten. With Angle still in it, Lesnar finally came to the ring and delivered a vicious F-5 to Big Show. Angle took advantage of the attack and covered the world’s largest athlete and scored the 1-2-3 and the WWE Championship.
Just a few nights later on SmackDown, Kurt Angle shocked the world. The wrestling machine announced to everyone that he had hired Paul Heyman as his agent. Just days after fighting Big Show, they now shared the same agent. Big Show was furious, but Heyman calmed him down by promising the big man that he would be able to get a shot at Kurt Angle’s WWE Championship. Stephanie McMahon changed all of that, though, as a week later she put the No. 1 contendership on the line in a match between Chris Benoit and Big Show. Big Show lost the match, and thus lost his opportunity at regaining the WWE Championship.
Angle went on to lose the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar and then took a couple of months off to recover from a neck injury. Angle returned in June, 2003 on SmackDown. Angle was interrupted by Big Show, as the two began to rekindle their rivalry. Big Show was threatening physical harm to Angle, but before anything happened, Lesnar came out and Big Show retreated. As fate would have it, Lesnar would end up defending his WWE Championship at Vengeance against Big Show and Angle in a Triple Threat Match. Angle and Lesnar had formed an alliance of sorts leading into the match, but it was every man for himself once the bell rang at Vengeance.
Angle and Lesnar did team up in the opening moments of the match, trying to incapacitate the Big Show. Angle showed some impressive strength when he was able to hoist up Big Show and Angle Slam him through the Spanish announce table. While Lesnar and the Wrestling Machine were going at it, Big Show recovered and reentered the fray. Angle was able to hang tough, though, and somehow mustered up enough strength to not only Angle Slam Big Show again, but also Angle Slam Lesnar for the 1-2-3 and the WWE Championship.
Big Show would not go away, though. A few days later, Angle’s “friend” Lesnar turned on him, brutalizing the WWE Champion. Two weeks later, Angle was looking for revenge, but Mr. McMahon said he would have to wait until SummerSlam when Brock Lesnar had a shot at Angle’s WWE Championship. But since Angle wanted a fight, Mr. McMahon gave him one – with Big Show. But this wasn’t just any ordinary fight…it was a Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight. Big Show used his size and strength to dominate early on, but Angle was resourceful. Angle was able to counter a powerbomb with a steel chair and then countered a chokeslam on the outside into an Angle Slam through the announce table for the big win.
Angle and Big Show stayed away from each other for the most part over the course of the next year. But with so much history between these two greats of the squared circle, it was only a matter of two before they collided again. Angle took over as General Manager of SmackDown during the summer of ’04. During this time, Big Show was going through an embarrassing losing streak. He told Angle that if he couldn’t beat Eddie Guerrero, then he would quit SmackDown. Big Show came up short again and went on a rampage. He flipped over Torrie Wilson’s car in the parking lot and threatened to throw her off a ledge. Angle made the save, but suffered for it, as Big Show tossed him off the ledge, leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood.
Big Show wasn’t heard from again until three months later in September. During an Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle Lumberjack Match on SmackDown, Big Show came to the ring and cleaned house of everyone. The next week he had the option to face either Angle or Guerrero at No Mercy. Big Show teased that he would face Guerrero, but he signed the contract to face Angle. The following week, Big Show teamed up with Guerrero to face Angle and Luther Reigns. Angle and Reigns were disqualified after Mark Jindrak interfered, and the three began to gang up on Big Show. Angle used drastic measures and took Big Show down with a tranquilizer gun. With Big Show subdued, Angle shaved his rival’s head, adding insult to injury.
Angle got the better of Big Show on SmackDown, but at No Mercy, it was as if he had woken a sleeping giant. Big Show dominated the early portion of their grudge match. Angle was so frustrated that he left the ring in an attempt to get himself counted out. SmackDown GM Theodore Long came out, though, and said if Angle was counted out, he would be fired from SmackDown. Angle returned to the ring, and started to gain the upper hand. The Wrestling Machine targeted Big Show’s ankle, limiting his mobility. Angle could not get the monster to submit, though, and grew frustrated. Angle went underneath the ring and retrieved a tranquilizer gun. But Big Show refused to suffer the same fate as a week before and stopped Angle before he could use the weapon. Big Show broke the gun over his leg and then delivered a crushing chokeslam for the win.
The two also found themselves on opposite sides of the ring at Survivor Series. Big Show teamed with Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam and John Cena and took on Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak and Carlito. Angle’s team was completely dominated. When it was down to just Angle, the Wrestling Machine attempted to leave, but RVD cut him off and sent him back to the ring. Cena hit an FU, Eddie hit a Frogsplash and Big Show made the pin, getting the better of Angle yet again.
Big Show became tired of having all of his matches end with interference, so he decided to take on Angle, Reigns and Jindrak all at once in a Handicap Match at Armageddon. The odds were certainly stacked against Big Show, but you can never underestimate a giant. Angle certainly had scored more wins in the rivalry, but with Reigns and Jindrak involved, anything could happen. Angle’s trio used the numbers to their advantage early on, and Angle was able to hit an Angle Slam and applied the ankle lock. Big Show had it well scouted, and was able to escape. Big Show then gained momentum, so Angle went to the outside and tried to bring the steel steps into play. Big Show spotted him and kicked the steps back into Angle, knocking him to the outside. With Angle down, Big Show hit Jindrak with an F-5 and picked up the pin. Angle wasn’t pinned, but he suffered the loss.
After Armageddon, both Big Show and Angle both thought they were the No. 1 contender for JBL’s WWE Championship. GM Theodore Long solved that problem pretty easily by setting up a Triple Threat Match for the Royal Rumble. This match was choc full of interference. Big Show ended up spearing JBL through the barricade on the outside. Angle was on the inside waiting for Big Show with a chair. The Bashams came down to try and revive JBL. Big Show caught Angle before he could use the chair, but Jindrak and Reigns came out and broke up the pin attempt. Chaos ensued as Jindrak and Reigns attacked Big Show, and The Bashams and Orlando Jordan revived JBL. Jordan rolled JBL back in the ring, and the WWE Champ hit Angle with a Clothesline from Hell for the win.
Angle and Big Show have stayed away from each other for the most part following the Royal Rumble. But with so much history between the two, it’s no wonder it made the list of Angle’s 10 greatest rivalries.
It’s well-known that Kurt Angle is WWE’s only Olympic Gold Medalist, but towards the end of 2002, Angle was hungry to add more gold – WWE Championship gold. Paul Heyman was proving to be a major player as far as the WWE Championship was concerned. He was representing Brock Lesnar, but at Survivor Series, he turned on his client and helped his new client, Big Show, defeat the WWE Champion. Lesnar went on a rampage, taking out his anger on the entire SmackDown roster. His actions, however, landed him an indefinite suspension. With Lesnar out of the picture, a Fatal Fourway was held to determine the new No. 1 contender. An exhausted Angle was able to hit a top-rope Angle Slam on Edge for the win, but he had no time to celebrate. Big Show came to the ring and decimated the Wrestling Machine, who would face him for the WWE Championship at Armageddon. With the attack, Angle’s tenth greatest rivalry was officially underway.
With Armageddon just more than a week away, Angle did his best to push the odds in his favor. Angle was able to convince SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon to drop Lesnar’s suspension and allow The Next Big Thing to be in the Olympian’s corner in his WWE Championship Match. Big Show was outraged by the announcement, and by the end of the night, made Angle pay. Show teamed up with A-Train and took on Angle and Edge, and when the night was over, Angle was staring up at the lights after a brutal beat-down by the mammoth duo.
Just a few nights later on SmackDown, Kurt Angle shocked the world. The wrestling machine announced to everyone that he had hired Paul Heyman as his agent. Just days after fighting Big Show, they now shared the same agent. Big Show was furious, but Heyman calmed him down by promising the big man that he would be able to get a shot at Kurt Angle’s WWE Championship. Stephanie McMahon changed all of that, though, as a week later she put the No. 1 contendership on the line in a match between Chris Benoit and Big Show. Big Show lost the match, and thus lost his opportunity at regaining the WWE Championship.
Angle went on to lose the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar and then took a couple of months off to recover from a neck injury. Angle returned in June, 2003 on SmackDown. Angle was interrupted by Big Show, as the two began to rekindle their rivalry. Big Show was threatening physical harm to Angle, but before anything happened, Lesnar came out and Big Show retreated. As fate would have it, Lesnar would end up defending his WWE Championship at Vengeance against Big Show and Angle in a Triple Threat Match. Angle and Lesnar had formed an alliance of sorts leading into the match, but it was every man for himself once the bell rang at Vengeance.
Angle and Lesnar did team up in the opening moments of the match, trying to incapacitate the Big Show. Angle showed some impressive strength when he was able to hoist up Big Show and Angle Slam him through the Spanish announce table. While Lesnar and the Wrestling Machine were going at it, Big Show recovered and reentered the fray. Angle was able to hang tough, though, and somehow mustered up enough strength to not only Angle Slam Big Show again, but also Angle Slam Lesnar for the 1-2-3 and the WWE Championship.
Big Show would not go away, though. A few days later, Angle’s “friend” Lesnar turned on him, brutalizing the WWE Champion. Two weeks later, Angle was looking for revenge, but Mr. McMahon said he would have to wait until SummerSlam when Brock Lesnar had a shot at Angle’s WWE Championship. But since Angle wanted a fight, Mr. McMahon gave him one – with Big Show. But this wasn’t just any ordinary fight…it was a Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight. Big Show used his size and strength to dominate early on, but Angle was resourceful. Angle was able to counter a powerbomb with a steel chair and then countered a chokeslam on the outside into an Angle Slam through the announce table for the big win.
Angle and Big Show stayed away from each other for the most part over the course of the next year. But with so much history between these two greats of the squared circle, it was only a matter of two before they collided again. Angle took over as General Manager of SmackDown during the summer of ’04. During this time, Big Show was going through an embarrassing losing streak. He told Angle that if he couldn’t beat Eddie Guerrero, then he would quit SmackDown. Big Show came up short again and went on a rampage. He flipped over Torrie Wilson’s car in the parking lot and threatened to throw her off a ledge. Angle made the save, but suffered for it, as Big Show tossed him off the ledge, leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood.
Big Show wasn’t heard from again until three months later in September. During an Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle Lumberjack Match on SmackDown, Big Show came to the ring and cleaned house of everyone. The next week he had the option to face either Angle or Guerrero at No Mercy. Big Show teased that he would face Guerrero, but he signed the contract to face Angle. The following week, Big Show teamed up with Guerrero to face Angle and Luther Reigns. Angle and Reigns were disqualified after Mark Jindrak interfered, and the three began to gang up on Big Show. Angle used drastic measures and took Big Show down with a tranquilizer gun. With Big Show subdued, Angle shaved his rival’s head, adding insult to injury.
The two also found themselves on opposite sides of the ring at Survivor Series. Big Show teamed with Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam and John Cena and took on Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak and Carlito. Angle’s team was completely dominated. When it was down to just Angle, the Wrestling Machine attempted to leave, but RVD cut him off and sent him back to the ring. Cena hit an FU, Eddie hit a Frogsplash and Big Show made the pin, getting the better of Angle yet again.
Big Show became tired of having all of his matches end with interference, so he decided to take on Angle, Reigns and Jindrak all at once in a Handicap Match at Armageddon. The odds were certainly stacked against Big Show, but you can never underestimate a giant. Angle certainly had scored more wins in the rivalry, but with Reigns and Jindrak involved, anything could happen. Angle’s trio used the numbers to their advantage early on, and Angle was able to hit an Angle Slam and applied the ankle lock. Big Show had it well scouted, and was able to escape. Big Show then gained momentum, so Angle went to the outside and tried to bring the steel steps into play. Big Show spotted him and kicked the steps back into Angle, knocking him to the outside. With Angle down, Big Show hit Jindrak with an F-5 and picked up the pin. Angle wasn’t pinned, but he suffered the loss.
After Armageddon, both Big Show and Angle both thought they were the No. 1 contender for JBL’s WWE Championship. GM Theodore Long solved that problem pretty easily by setting up a Triple Threat Match for the Royal Rumble. This match was choc full of interference. Big Show ended up spearing JBL through the barricade on the outside. Angle was on the inside waiting for Big Show with a chair. The Bashams came down to try and revive JBL. Big Show caught Angle before he could use the chair, but Jindrak and Reigns came out and broke up the pin attempt. Chaos ensued as Jindrak and Reigns attacked Big Show, and The Bashams and Orlando Jordan revived JBL. Jordan rolled JBL back in the ring, and the WWE Champ hit Angle with a Clothesline from Hell for the win.
Angle and Big Show have stayed away from each other for the most part following the Royal Rumble. But with so much history between the two, it’s no wonder it made the list of Angle’s 10 greatest rivalries.
Kotenks
Hey man, is it cool if we move that on up to the top so it's easier to see?
It’s well-known that Kurt Angle is WWE’s only Olympic Gold Medalist, but towards the end of 2002, Angle was hungry to add more gold – WWE Championship gold. Paul Heyman was proving to be a major player as far as the WWE Championship was concerned. He was representing Brock Lesnar, but at Survivor Series, he turned on his client and helped his new client, Big Show, defeat the WWE Champion. Lesnar went on a rampage, taking out his anger on the entire SmackDown roster. His actions, however, landed him an indefinite suspension. With Lesnar out of the picture, a Fatal Fourway was held to determine the new No. 1 contender. An exhausted Angle was able to hit a top-rope Angle Slam on Edge for the win, but he had no time to celebrate. Big Show came to the ring and decimated the Wrestling Machine, who would face him for the WWE Championship at Armageddon. With the attack, Angle’s tenth greatest rivalry was officially underway.
With Armageddon just more than a week away, Angle did his best to push the odds in his favor. Angle was able to convince SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon to drop Lesnar’s suspension and allow The Next Big Thing to be in the Olympian’s corner in his WWE Championship Match. Big Show was outraged by the announcement, and by the end of the night, made Angle pay. Show teamed up with A-Train and took on Angle and Edge, and when the night was over, Angle was staring up at the lights after a brutal beat-down by the mammoth duo.
Just a few nights later on SmackDown, Kurt Angle shocked the world. The wrestling machine announced to everyone that he had hired Paul Heyman as his agent. Just days after fighting Big Show, they now shared the same agent. Big Show was furious, but Heyman calmed him down by promising the big man that he would be able to get a shot at Kurt Angle’s WWE Championship. Stephanie McMahon changed all of that, though, as a week later she put the No. 1 contendership on the line in a match between Chris Benoit and Big Show. Big Show lost the match, and thus lost his opportunity at regaining the WWE Championship.
Angle went on to lose the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar and then took a couple of months off to recover from a neck injury. Angle returned in June, 2003 on SmackDown. Angle was interrupted by Big Show, as the two began to rekindle their rivalry. Big Show was threatening physical harm to Angle, but before anything happened, Lesnar came out and Big Show retreated. As fate would have it, Lesnar would end up defending his WWE Championship at Vengeance against Big Show and Angle in a Triple Threat Match. Angle and Lesnar had formed an alliance of sorts leading into the match, but it was every man for himself once the bell rang at Vengeance.
Angle and Lesnar did team up in the opening moments of the match, trying to incapacitate the Big Show. Angle showed some impressive strength when he was able to hoist up Big Show and Angle Slam him through the Spanish announce table. While Lesnar and the Wrestling Machine were going at it, Big Show recovered and reentered the fray. Angle was able to hang tough, though, and somehow mustered up enough strength to not only Angle Slam Big Show again, but also Angle Slam Lesnar for the 1-2-3 and the WWE Championship.
Big Show would not go away, though. A few days later, Angle’s “friend” Lesnar turned on him, brutalizing the WWE Champion. Two weeks later, Angle was looking for revenge, but Mr. McMahon said he would have to wait until SummerSlam when Brock Lesnar had a shot at Angle’s WWE Championship. But since Angle wanted a fight, Mr. McMahon gave him one – with Big Show. But this wasn’t just any ordinary fight…it was a Falls Count Anywhere Street Fight. Big Show used his size and strength to dominate early on, but Angle was resourceful. Angle was able to counter a powerbomb with a steel chair and then countered a chokeslam on the outside into an Angle Slam through the announce table for the big win.
Angle and Big Show stayed away from each other for the most part over the course of the next year. But with so much history between these two greats of the squared circle, it was only a matter of two before they collided again. Angle took over as General Manager of SmackDown during the summer of ’04. During this time, Big Show was going through an embarrassing losing streak. He told Angle that if he couldn’t beat Eddie Guerrero, then he would quit SmackDown. Big Show came up short again and went on a rampage. He flipped over Torrie Wilson’s car in the parking lot and threatened to throw her off a ledge. Angle made the save, but suffered for it, as Big Show tossed him off the ledge, leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood.
Big Show wasn’t heard from again until three months later in September. During an Eddie Guerrero vs. Kurt Angle Lumberjack Match on SmackDown, Big Show came to the ring and cleaned house of everyone. The next week he had the option to face either Angle or Guerrero at No Mercy. Big Show teased that he would face Guerrero, but he signed the contract to face Angle. The following week, Big Show teamed up with Guerrero to face Angle and Luther Reigns. Angle and Reigns were disqualified after Mark Jindrak interfered, and the three began to gang up on Big Show. Angle used drastic measures and took Big Show down with a tranquilizer gun. With Big Show subdued, Angle shaved his rival’s head, adding insult to injury.
The two also found themselves on opposite sides of the ring at Survivor Series. Big Show teamed with Eddie Guerrero, Rob Van Dam and John Cena and took on Angle, Luther Reigns, Mark Jindrak and Carlito. Angle’s team was completely dominated. When it was down to just Angle, the Wrestling Machine attempted to leave, but RVD cut him off and sent him back to the ring. Cena hit an FU, Eddie hit a Frogsplash and Big Show made the pin, getting the better of Angle yet again.
Big Show became tired of having all of his matches end with interference, so he decided to take on Angle, Reigns and Jindrak all at once in a Handicap Match at Armageddon. The odds were certainly stacked against Big Show, but you can never underestimate a giant. Angle certainly had scored more wins in the rivalry, but with Reigns and Jindrak involved, anything could happen. Angle’s trio used the numbers to their advantage early on, and Angle was able to hit an Angle Slam and applied the ankle lock. Big Show had it well scouted, and was able to escape. Big Show then gained momentum, so Angle went to the outside and tried to bring the steel steps into play. Big Show spotted him and kicked the steps back into Angle, knocking him to the outside. With Angle down, Big Show hit Jindrak with an F-5 and picked up the pin. Angle wasn’t pinned, but he suffered the loss.
After Armageddon, both Big Show and Angle both thought they were the No. 1 contender for JBL’s WWE Championship. GM Theodore Long solved that problem pretty easily by setting up a Triple Threat Match for the Royal Rumble. This match was choc full of interference. Big Show ended up spearing JBL through the barricade on the outside. Angle was on the inside waiting for Big Show with a chair. The Bashams came down to try and revive JBL. Big Show caught Angle before he could use the chair, but Jindrak and Reigns came out and broke up the pin attempt. Chaos ensued as Jindrak and Reigns attacked Big Show, and The Bashams and Orlando Jordan revived JBL. Jordan rolled JBL back in the ring, and the WWE Champ hit Angle with a Clothesline from Hell for the win.
Angle and Big Show have stayed away from each other for the most part following the Royal Rumble. But with so much history between the two, it’s no wonder it made the list of Angle’s 10 greatest rivalries.
Kotenks
WALL of text!
Kurt Angle and John Cena had one of the most intense rivalries of 2005, but the roots to their rivalry can actually be traced back to Cena’s first-ever appearance on SmackDown in 2002.
Angle was fresh off the heels of impressive victories over Hulk Hogan and Undertaker, and he was ready to teach someone a lesson. The Wrestling Machine challenged anyone that he hadn’t faced before to a match. John Cena, who was a newcomer at the time, answered the call. When Cena and Angle were face to face, Angle didn’t think much of his challenger, but the Dr. of Thuganomics changed all that in a hurry. Cena showed ruthless aggression and took Angle to the limits. He was even able to escape the ankle lock at one point, but Angle prevailed in the end. After the match, Cena extended his hand for a handshake, but Angle didn’t want to waste his time with the youngster. It was then that the bad blood likely began to brew.
The two didn’t cross paths very often over the course of the next year or so. Other than a couple of tag team matches against each other, all was quiet on the Angle vs. Cena front – until the Sept. 25, 2003 edition of SmackDown. Angle had just lost a classic 60-minute WWE Iron Man Match against Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship, and he wanted a rematch. Mr. McMahon said that Angle would have to start over on his quest for the WWE Championship from the bottom of the ladder. With that, John Cena came to the ring and performed a special rap designed to get under Angle’s skin. It got the job done, and Angle attacked Cena, throwing him out of the ring. Later on, Angle was in the back looking for Brock, and then Cena came from out of nowhere and threw him into a wall. Cena left the arena, and Angle followed right behind in hot pursuit.
The following week Cena tagged with Lesnar to take on Angle and Undertaker. Lesnar and Undertaker began fighting on the outside, leaving Angle with Cena. With the referee distracted, Cena grabbed his chain. Before he could use it, Angle went for the Ankle Lock. Lesnar broke up the maneuver, and when Angle went back to attack Cena, the Dr. of Thuganomics nailed him with the chain for the pin. In the coming weeks, Angle and Cena would engage in a war of words. Angle challenged Cena to a battle rap, and then the following week did his best Cena impersonation. But the time to talk was over when the two faced off at No Mercy.
Angle and Cena certainly weren’t afraid to let their actions do all the speaking for them. This was a classic back and forth match. Cena was able to hit the FU, but Angle would not be denied. Cena was even able to use Angle’s gold medals as a weapon, but Angle was able to kick out again. A frustrated Cena went for a victory roll, but Angle was able to reverse it into an Ankle Lock, making his opponent tap out.
The rivalry began to cool down once again, until the Road to WrestleMania was heating up. This time the rivalry was building up over the WWE Championship. SmackDown General Manager Paul Heyman announced that at No Way Out ’04, it would be Angle vs. Cena vs. Big Show (another Angle rival) to determine the No. 1 contender for the WWE Championship. The winner would get an opportunity for the Championship at WrestleMania XX. Angle was able to get Cena in the Ankle Lock, but Big Show broke things up in a hurry. Angle somehow mustered up enough strength to throw Big Show out of the ring. With Big Show on the outside, Angle attacked Cena’s leg once again, and dragged him to the center of the ring. The Dr. of Thuganomics had no choice but to tap out, giving Angle the huge win.
The next time Angle and Cena met up, the WWE Championship once again loomed large. They faced each other one year later, at No Way Out ’05, and an opportunity for a WWE Championship Match at WrestleMania was once again on the line. A No. 1 contender tournament was set up by General Manager Theodore Long. Cena went through Orlando Jordan and Booker T to get to the finals, while Angle defeated Rey Mysterio and enjoyed a bye into the finals.
Just as it did in 2004, Angle’s ankle lock proved to be a huge obstacle for Cena. He was able to counter it early on and hit an FU, but Angle was able to kick out at two and a half. Angle seemed like a man possessed and hooked Cena in the ankle lock again. Cena got to the ropes, but Angle dragged him back to the center of the ring. Angle cinched it in with a grapevine, but Cena was still able to get to the ropes. He kicked Angle off, but the Wrestling Machine flew into the referee, knocking him out. With the referee knocked out, Angle grabbed Cena’s chain to use as a weapon. Before he could use it though, Cena sent Angle into the corner and hit him with the FU for the 1-2-3. Cena had learned from his mistakes in 2004 and finally got the best of Angle.
The rivalry between Cena and Angle reached new heights later in 2005 and into 2006. Both John Cena and Kurt Angle moved to RAW in the draft lottery, and it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed. Towards the end of August, Cena was able to defeat Chris Jericho in a You’re Fired Match, but as soon as the match was over General Manager Eric Bischoff announced that the new No. 1 contender was Kurt Angle. The Wrestling Machine brutally attacked the WWE Champion, rekindling the bad blood between the two.
Angle attacked Cena every chance he had heading into their WWE Championship Match at Unforgiven. Angle was able to hook Cena in the ankle lock yet again, but Cena countered out of it. The referee was knocked out in the latter stages of the match, and Angle took advantage of the situation. Angle hit a low blow and nailed Cena with his gold medals. Bischoff, Angle’s close ally, also came to the ring to fill in for the ref. Angle was able to hook Cena in the ankle lock again, but Cena reversed it, sending Angle into Bischoff. Cena then grabbed the WWE Championship and walloped Angle with it just as the referee was coming to. The ref had no choice but to disqualify Cena. Angle had won, but left without the WWE Championship.
A few weeks later on RAW, Angle faced Cena again, but this time in a non-title match. Mick Foley was the special guest referee, but he left after being distracted by Carlito. Bischoff made his way to ringside to take over the referee duties, so Angle had the clear advantage. Angle had Cena in the ankle lock, and Bischoff lifted Cena’s arm and let it drop to the mat, making it look as if he had tapped out. With that, Bischoff called for the bell giving Angle the win.
Angle got his next opportunity at the WWE Championship at Taboo Tuesday in a Triple Threat Match. Shawn Michaels was voted in as the third participant in the match. Even though there was no love lost between Angle and Michaels, they teamed up momentarily and sent The Champ crashing through the Spanish announce table with a double front suplex. Cena eventually recovered, though, and reentered the fray. Angle had him in the ankle lock, but HBK broke it up. HBK was able to take Angle out with Sweet Chin Music, but then Cena hit the Showstopper with the FU for the win. Angle was again denied the WWE Championship, even though he didn’t factor into the decision.
Angle’s next big match against Cena was at Survivor Series, and the Wrestling Machine looked to stack the odds in his favor by bringing his own personal referee to the match – Daivari. Angle’s personal referee was not bashful in showing his bias as he was making Cena’s life a living hell throughout the entire match. Cena took out his frustrations by slapping the biased ref. Daivari was about to call for the DQ, but Angle stopped him because the WWE Championship can’t change hands on a disqualification. The Champ then sent Angle crashing into Daivari, knocking the ref to the outside. Daivari wasn’t the only referee to go down, though, as two other RAW referees were knocked out during the match. Cena was able to capitalize on the confusion and hit the Wrestling Machine with the FU. SmackDown referee Charles Robinson ran in and counted the 1-2-3.
Angle’s obsession with the WWE Championship only increased with the loss. The Olympic Gold Medalist was set to compete in the Elimination Chamber Match at New Year’s Revolution, but just six days before the event, Angle faced Cena in a First Blood Match on RAW. After failing to draw blood from Cena on an exposed turnbuckle, Angle connected with a Steel Chair. Cena was able to get Angle in the STFU, but since it was a First Blood Match, it didn’t matter that Angle tapped out. The Wrestling Machine was victorious.
Angle was hungrier than ever heading into New Year’s Revolution. Even though he had amassed several defeats over John Cena, Angle could not capture the WWE Championship. He knew that New Year’s Revolution may be his last opportunity. When Angle was finally released into the Chamber he looked like a rabid pit-bull being released from his cage. It looked as though nothing could get in his way, but then Shawn Michaels hit him with Sweet Chin Music from out of nowhere. Angle’s chance at the WWE Championship once again ended, even though Cena didn’t get the best of him.
Now, Angle is the World Heavyweight Champion and Cena is the WWE Champion. They are on two separate brands once again, defending their own championships. This rivalry may be over for now, but the final chapter is likely yet to be written.
This Picture Is Cool
Yeah, that picture is cool
Kurt Angle and the late, great Eddie Guerrero are considered two of the best technical wrestlers to ever step inside a WWE ring. So it’s no surprise that whenever these two Superstars mixed it up inside the squared circle, it was practically guaranteed to be an instant classic.
Angle and Guerrero’s rivalry with each other actually began in SmackDown’s tag team division. After RAW and SmackDown split up into two separate brands, SmackDown was left without a tag team championship. General Manager Stephanie McMahon solved the problem by creating the WWE Tag Team Championship and began a tournament to crown the inaugural champions in 2002.
Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit were paired together, forming a formidable, yet unlikely tandem. Benoit and Angle had been at odds in a bitter rivalry of their own, but Stephanie paired them up and said if they couldn’t get along, they would both be fired. They were able to get by a young John Cena and Billy Kidman in the first round and were then matched up against Eddie and his nephew Chavo – Los Guerreros. But following Angle and Benoit’s win in the first round, Los Guerreros were up to their old tricks and tried to create tension between their round two opponents. Chavo Guerrero trapped Benoit in a closet where Eddie proceeded to attack him with a chair. Since it was dark in the closet, Los Guerreros tried to say the attacker was Angle. With so much tension between Angle and Benoit, it looked as though Los Guerreros would have the advantage.
The match featured some of the roughest tag team action in recent memory, and the referee got caught in the middle of it all. Benoit was whipped into the referee by accident, knocking the ref out and Benoit to the floor. Eddie locked in the El Paso Lasso on Angle, and the Olympic Gold Medalist tapped out. But with the referee knocked out, the match continued. Chavo brought in a steel chair, but Benoit was able to take it away and knock out both Guerreros. Angle followed up with an Angle Slam and the ref recovered in time to count the 1-2-3.
Angle and Benoit went on to defeat Edge and Rey Mysterio at No Mercy to become the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions. The next night on SmackDown Angle and Benoit were awarded a special trophy by Stephanie McMahon. Benoit and Angle couldn’t agree on who should receive the trophy, so Stephanie made a match between the two for later in the evening. During that match, Los Guerreros came to the ring. Eddie looked on while Chavo blasted Angle with a steel chair allowing Benoit to get the win. A week later Angle faced Eddie Guerrero in singles action. Angle looked like he had things going his way, but Benoit came out and nailed Angle with the WWE Tag Team Championship, allowing Eddie to get the win.
With so much dissension, the Angle & Benoit title reign could only last so long. They lost the WWE Tag Team Championship to Edge & Rey Mysterio in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match on the Nov. 7, 2002 edition of SmackDown. They seemed to patch things up after the match, though, and were involved in a Triple Threat Elimination Match for the Championship at Survivor Series against Los Guerreros and Edge & Mysterio. Angle & Benoit could never get on the same page, and it led to their elimination. Meanwhile, Eddie and Chavo were able to pick up the big win and the WWE Tag Team Championship.
Angle was able to come back with a singles victory over Eddie on SmackDown, but the following week he and Benoit were defeated in their bid to regain the WWE Tag Team Championship. The match turned out to be Angle & Benoit’s last stand in the tag team division. The following week, it was Angle, Benoit, Eddie and Edge battling it out for the No. 1 contendership for the WWE Championship. Angle was able to hit Edge with a top rope Angle Slam for the win. The Wrestling Machine went on to capture the WWE Championship, and he and Eddie’s rivalry was put on hold for quite some time.
Following the Survivor Series in 2003, Kurt Angle took some time off from competition, but he returned better than ever on the Jan. 1 edition of SmackDown. Angle wasted no time in getting involved in the thick of things with Los Guerreros. Dissension had been brewing for weeks between Eddie and Chavo, and Angle tried to smooth things out. But it seemed like every time Angle tried to help things, he would just turn it into a bigger mess. Chavo thought that his Uncle Eddie was being selfish for wanting to enter the Royal Rumble instead of focusing on the WWE Tag Team Championship. The bickering eventually turned into physicality as Chavo and his father Chavo Classic turned on Eddie. Eddie had refused to fight his own flesh and blood, but it finally had to be done. On a January edition of SmackDown, Eddie teamed up with Kurt Angle to take on Chavo and Chavo Classic. Angle and Eddie had things going their way, but Eddie accidentally gave the Wrestling Machine a thumb to the eye. Temporarily blinded, the Olympic Gold Medalist hit Eddie with an Angle Slam. Medical officials came down to check on Angle, leaving Eddie to fend for himself. Chavo and Chavo Classic brutally assaulted their fellow Guerrero. Angle had once again made things worse between Los Guerreros.
After the Royal Rumble, there was a special SmackDown-only Royal Rumble to determine the No. 1 contender for Brock Lesnar’s WWE Championship. Angle entered at No. 1, but he was able to endure and make it to the final two. It was down to the Wrestling Machine and Eddie Guerrero. Latino Heat was able to get the better of his nemesis, earning the match against Brock Lesnar at No Way Out.
Eddie was able to shock the world and defeat Brock Lesnar to become the WWE Champion at No Way Out, but at the same time, Angle won a No. 1 contender Triple Threat Match earlier in the evening. Just a few days later, on SmackDown, Eddie defended his new WWE Championship against Chavo and Angle was the special referee. Eddie landed the frog splash, but Angle refused to make the count. Following the no-contest, the Wrestling Machine snapped and brutally assaulted the WWE Champion. Angle left Guerrero a bloody mess in the middle of the ring. Things had just gotten personal for WrestleMania XX.
Angle continued to rub salt in Eddie’s wounds. The Olympic Gold Medalist claimed that Eddie was a disgrace to the WWE Championship. He said that it’s wrong that he teaches kids that it’s ok to lie, cheat and steal. Angle said that he attacked Guerrero for the good of the WWE Championship and for the good of his country. Eddie attacked Angle, but General Manager Paul Heyman had the WWE Champion arrested on the spot. The insults continued over the next couple of weeks, and the tension was at an all-time high heading into WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden.
Angle and Guerrero started off their WWE Championship match with an impressive battle of suplexes. Angle attempted to German suplex Eddie to the outside, but Guerrero was able to block it. He knocked Angle to the outside, but then missed a dive, injuring his ribs in the process. Angle was like a shark smelling blood in the water and pounced on the injured area. The Wrestling Machine peppered Guerreros ribs with rights and lefts and wore the champion down with a bear hug and bodyscissors. Guerrero was able to endure the punishment and it turned into a back and forth contest. Angle was able to hook in the ankle lock on a couple of occasions, but Guerrero countered both times. Eddie then loosened up his boot to alleviate some of the pressure on his ankle. Angle saw this and went right back to the ankle lock. But with the boot loosened up, the Wrestling Machine ended up pulling the boot right off and losing the hold. Eddie capitalized and rolled him up for the pin from out of nowhere. Angle had been outsmarted.
Just a couple of weeks later, Kurt Angle was announced as the new General Manager of SmackDown. One of Angle’s first orders of business was creating the Great American Award. The nominees for the award included Eddie Guerrero, John Cena, Charlie Haas, Booker T, Big Show and JBL. Angle announced JBL as the winner, but when he went to unveil the trophy, he realized the original trophy had been replaced with a much smaller one with a picture of Eddie Guerrero attached to it. With that, Eddie drove out in his trademark lowrider with the Great American Award attached to it. Eddie had gotten under the skin of his rival once again.
Angle gave JBL a WWE Championship Match against Eddie at Judgment Day. JBL was victorious, but it was by disqualification, so Eddie was still the WWE Champion. General Manager Angle then gave JBL a rematch at the Great American Bash, and it was a Bullrope Match. Eddie and JBL were going around the ring and each had touched all three corners. At the fourth corner, Eddie tried to leap over JBL and touch the final turnbuckle. The referee seemed to think that Eddie accomplished his goal and awarded him the match. However, Kurt Angle came out from the back and said that it was JBL that had touched the final turnbuckle first, and a new WWE Champion was crowned.
That wasn’t the last time Angle would get in the way of Eddie Guerrero and the WWE Championship, though. Eddie received a rematch against JBL in a Steel Cage Match on SmackDown. Both Eddie and JBL were climbing the cage, when a masked man, El Gran Luchador came to the ring. In previous weeks, the masked man had been an opponent of JBL, but El Gran Luchador grabbed Eddie Guerrero’s leg, allowing JBL to escape and retain the WWE Championship. After the match Eddie unmasked El Gran Luchador to reveal that it was actually Angle.
The following week on SmackDown, Angle was irate and went on a firing spree. He fired all of the Divas and was about to fire Eddie Guerrero, but Mr. McMahon came down and told Angle he was fired as General Manager.
With Angle out of his administrative position, the stage was set. Kurt Angle was slated to face Eddie Guerrero at SummerSlam. Eddie had gotten the best of Angle a few months earlier at WrestleMania, but Angle showed that he learned from his mistakes. As the match wore on, Angle was ready for the ankle lock. But before he applied the hold, he took off Eddie’s boot so that Guerrero couldn’t pull off the same trick he did in their last encounter. Eddie was still able to counter it, but Angle would not be denied. The Wrestling Machine was able to lock in the same maneuver later on, and this time he grapevined it, and Eddie had no choice but to tap out.
A few nights later on SmackDown, Eddie called out the Olympic Gold Medalist and wanted a rematch to truly settle the score. Angle declined, but Eddie suckered him in with a fake handshake and attacked him. After a couple of weeks of mind games and psychological posturing, including Angle defacing one of Eddie’s lowriders, Angle and Guerrero faced off in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match on SmackDown. Guerrero was caught giving Angle a low blow and was disqualified in the first fall, but he bounced back and countered an Angle Slam to take the second fall. The referee was knocked out during the third fall, and Guerrero laid out Angle and his associate Luther Reigns with a steel chair. He then used his old Latino Heat trick and brought the chair into the ring with him and laid down. The referee came to and thought Eddie had been the one hit with the chair. Angle argued with the referee, and with him distracted, Reigns blasted Eddie with a chair. Angle then hooked in the ankle lock, and the submission was academic.
Angle and Eddie faced each other the following week in a Lumberjack Match as well, but a clear winner could never be determined due to interference from the lumberjacks and a returning Big Show. Angle’s big win on SmackDown in the Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match, for all intents and purposes, signaled the end of this classic rivalry. Whether it was tag team or singles action, whether it was for the WWE Championship or to settle a personal score, one thing was certain – whenever Eddie and Angle mixed it up in the ring, they put on a wrestling clinic for all to see.
Kurt Angle made an immediate impact upon entering WWE. One of his most impressive achievements within his first year in the squared circle was becoming the 2000 King of the Ring. One year, later Angle was trying to become the first Superstar to repeat as the King of the Ring. But there was another young Superstar ready to make a name for himself that was standing in his way – Edge.
Not only was Kurt Angle trying to become a repeat winner of the King of the Ring, but he also had a match scheduled against Shane McMahon on the same card. Needless to say, the Wrestling Machine had a lot to worry about. Angle was able to outlast Christian in a semifinal match to give him a chance to once again wear the crown as King of the Ring. Edge, meanwhile, defeated Rhyno, completing the finals matchup. It was clear from the beginning of the match that both Superstars were hungry to be King. As the match wore on, Edge’s brother Christian came to the ring and all hell broke loose. Edge accidentally knocked out the referee, and Angle was able to hook him in the ankle lock. Edge was tapping out, but there was no one to call for the bell. Angle’s opponent for later in the night, Shane-O-Mac, came to the ring and speared the Olympic Gold Medalist. Edge made the cover, and with that, a new King was crowned. Angle was able to get his revenge on Shane later in the night in their Street Fight, but the seeds of the Angle vs. Edge rivalry had been planted.
Angle and Edge soon found themselves, on the same side, though, as the WWE vs. The Alliance rivalry began. A couple of weeks before Survivor Series, however, Angle shocked everyone and defected to The Alliance. It would later be learned that he was only with The Alliance as a strategic move by WWE, but for the time being, he and Edge were on opposite sides of the battle lines. The Wrestling Machine came out during the Nov. 12, 2001 edition of RAW and called out Stone Cold. Instead, though, Edge came out and said that on behalf of everyone in the WWE locker room, he was challenging Angle for his United States Championship. Never one to back down from a challenge, the Olympic Gold Medalist accepted, and an impromptu Championship Match was underway.
The Wrestling Machine endured everything Edge had to throw at him and was able to come back with an Angle Slam. He then hooked the challenger in the ankle lock, but then almost immediately, Kane’s music hit. Angle released the hold, looking for the Big Red Monster. Kane was nowhere to be found, though, and Edge got up and speared Angle for the 1-2-3 to become the new United States Champion. Edge had once again gotten the better of Angle, but it wasn’t without outside distraction.
On the first SmackDown featuring only SmackDown Superstars, on April 4, 2002, Kurt Angle was hoping to be named the No. 1 contender for Triple H’s WWE Championship. Much to his dismay, however, Mr. McMahon gave the Championship opportunity to Hulk Hogan. Angle was irate, but he had to deal with Edge later on in the show instead. It looked as though Edge had things going his way as he set up for the spear. Angle acted quickly and grabbed a steel chair causing Edge to spear the foreign object with full force. Edge had won by disqualification, but he paid a price.
The following week on SmackDown, Angle continued to complain about not being the No. 1 contender. Edge interrupted the Wrestling Machine’s rant, and said that since angle wouldn’t be vying for the WWE Championship, he wanted to face him at Backlash to settle their differences. Angle was happy to accept. Later that night Angle interrupted Edge’s match against Chris Jericho and took the fight to the back. The Wrestling Machine delivered an Angle Slam to Edge on the concrete and then applied the ankle lock. Things were heating up to an all-time high between the two heading into Backlash.
Unlike most of their previous encounters, this match was very personal. Edge had been verbally antagonizing Angle for weeks, and had the fans fully supporting him – so much so that every time Angle opened his mouth, they would chant, “You suck.” Angle was frustrated to no end, and wanted to shut Edge and the fans up once and for all. The emotion in this match was evident from the start. Both Superstars went for their finishers early on, but they had each other well-scouted. As the match wore on, Angle went for the ankle lock once again, but Edge rolled through for a pin attempt. The Wrestling Machine was so frustrated that he went to the outside and grabbed a steel chair. He swung at Edge, but missed, causing the chair to bounce off the ropes, bashing himself in the head. Moments later, Edge went for the spear, but Angle caught him with a big kick. With Edge dazed, the Olympic Gold Medalist hoisted him up for the Angle Slam and picked up the big win.
Even though Angle notched a win, this one was far from over. Edge continued to antagonize Angle. A couple of weeks after Backlash, Angle had Lance Storm model his newly designed T-shirt, which listed all of his illustrious accomplishments. Edge, however, had Val Venis model a different T-shirt, which illustrated that Angle sucks. The Olympic Gold Medalist couldn’t take it any longer. He challenged Edge to a match at Judgment Day, but he wanted to make it personal – he made it a Hair vs. Hair Match. Edge gladly accepted, putting his flowing, blond locks on the line.
The intensity in this match resulted in another classic confrontation. Angle tried to hit Edge with a steel chair, but Edge ducked and hit him with a spear. Unfortunately for Edge, the ref had been knocked out, leaving nobody to make the count. As the referee was coming to, Edge hit Angle with another spear, but the Olympic Gold Medalist kicked out at two. Angle came back with a spear of his own and hit an Angle Slam. Edge kicked out at two, though, sending the Wrestling Machine into a fit of rage. Angle went to the ankle lock, but Edge was able to reverse it into a roll up for the win. A shocked Angle ran away, and Edge chased him to the back. The two were chasing each other all around the arena, until Edge was able to trap him in a sleeper hold later in the night. With Angle out, Edge shaved his head and said that instead of the crowd chanting, “You suck,” they’ll start to chant, “You’re bald.”
A few days later, on SmackDown, Angle came out wearing a wig that was held down by amateur wrestling headgear. Angle claimed, however, that he had taken some amazing hair supplements and that the hair was all-natural. Complete with his new “do”, Angle had a chance for revenge on Edge when he faced him a couple of weeks later on SmackDown in a Steel Cage Match.
It wasn’t long before the ruthless Angle began using the steel cage as a weapon, continually bashing Edge’s head into it. A bloodied Edge was recovering and went for a tackle on his opponent, but Angle side-stepped him causing the Rated R Superstar to take out the referee. The Wrestling Machine hit a top rope Angle Slam, and exited the cage. But the referee was still down and out and never saw Angle hit the floor. Hulk Hogan, whom Angle had attacked earlier in the evening, ran to the ring and brutalized the Olympic Gold Medalist. Hogan tossed Angle back into the ring and screamed for Edge to get up. Angle was able to get back on the offensive and tried to exit through the cage door. Edge was hung up in the ropes, but Hogan slammed the door shut. Angle then tried to climb out of the cage, but Edge was able to catch him, and caused him to be crotched on the steel cage door. Edge pulled Angle back in and was able to catch him with a top rope spear for the pin. Once again Edge picked up the win, but once again he couldn’t do it on his own.
The steel cage signaled the end of the Kurt Angle vs. Edge rivalry for the most part – at least when it comes to singles action. The two found themselves on opposite sides of a tag team rivalry later on in 2002, however. Angle and Benoit were forced to pair up for the WWE Tag Team Championship tournament. Edge, meanwhile, was teaming with Rey Mysterio. The two sides found themselves paired against each other in the finals of the tournament to determine the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions.
The match was at No Mercy. Edge and Mysterio were a cohesive unit, but Benoit and Angle never seemed to get on the same page. Some way, somehow, though, Angle and Benoit were able to hold it together in this match. The two sides went back and forth, but it boiled down to Edge and Angle. The familiar rivals seemed to have counters for everything that was tried. Angle went for his patented ankle lock on Edge, and he hooked it in. But Edge was able to counter it into an ankle lock of his own. The Wrestling Machine was ready for it, and reversed it yet again, back into his own ankle lock, finally forcing his nemesis to tap out. Angle and Benoit captured the WWE Tag Team Championship in one of the greatest tag team matches in recent memory.
The two teams, along with Los Guerreros, continued to battle each other over the WWE Tag Team Championship the next couple of months, with each team eventually getting a taste of the gold. But it was Angle who made Edge tap out to become part of the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions.
Not only did Angle’s rivalry with Edge include some of the Wrestling Machine’s greatest matches of all time, but it also included some of the most brutal and personal. The rivalry saw Angle lose his hair, battle in a steel cage and add some new hardware to his resume. With so many memorable moments, Angle vs. Edge is a worthy addition to Angle’s Top 10 Greatest Rivalries.
Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit are two of the finest technical wrestlers in sports-entertainment history. They are closely matched in every facet of their game. Angle has the ankle lock; Benoit has the Crossface. Angle goes to the top for the moonsault, while Benoit takes to the air for his headbutt. They are both masters of the German suplex. Both The Wrestling Machine and the Rabid Wolverine exhibit ruthless (or toothless) aggression inside the ring. This rivalry was one of Angle’s longest in length, and it’s no surprise since it was almost impossible for either Superstar to ever gain a clear cut edge over the other.
The Olympic Gold Medalist made his debut towards the end of 1999, and he wasted no time making a name for himself. Within just the first few months of his career, Angle had captured the European Championship and at No Way Out added the Intercontinental Championship when he defeated Chris Jericho. Angle and Jericho continued to have issues following No Way Out, and as WrestleMania 2000 approached, Chris Benoit interjected himself into the situation. With the three Superstars gunning for each other, a Triple Threat Match was made for WrestleMania – but this wasn’t an ordinary Triple Threat Match. It was also a two-fall match and both the European and Intercontinental Champions were on the line. The winner of the first fall would leave WrestleMania as the Intercontinental Champion and the winner of the second fall would win the European Championship.
The odds certainly weren’t in Angle’s favor heading into this one, and it proved to be too much for him to overcome. Benoit was able to hit Jericho with the diving headbutt for the first fall and Jericho pinned the Rabid Wolverine after a Lion Sault for the second fall. Angle had lost both the Intercontinental and the European Championships without even being pinned or submitting.
Benoit and Angle didn’t really cross paths much for a while, but the groundwork had been laid for this classic rivalry. Things between the two began heating up a few weeks before WrestleMania X-Seven. The two were teamed up to take on The Rock in a Handicap Match on SmackDown. Benoit had The Rock in the Crossface, but Angle put the People’s Champ’s foot on the rope and the hold had to be broken. He then tagged himself in trying to get the glory of the pin, but The Rock came back and hit a Rock Bottom for the win. After the match, The Rock was getting the better of Benoit as well, and Angle simply left with an evil grin on his face.
The following week on RAW, The Wrestling Machine said that it was a travesty that WrestleMania was only a week away, and he didn’t even have an opponent yet. He also claimed to be the best wrestler that WWE had to offer. Chris Benoit took offense to this and came to the ring to challenge Angle to a match. The Olympic Gold Medalist accepted, and the match was officially on.
This match started off with some impressive mat-based wrestling as the two Superstars went through a feeling out process. It seemed like Angle and Benoit both had counters for everything that was thrown at them. Angle took the action to the outside, using the announce table and the steel steps as weapons, but Benoit endured the punishment and went on the offensive. The match soon turned into a battle of suplexes as belly-to-bellies, Germans and superplexes were being tossed around like they were candy. Benoit tried using the ankle lock, and Angle tried using the Crossface, but they both refused to lose. Benoit eventually got Angle to tap out to the Crossface, but the referee had been knocked out. Moments later, the Wrestling Machine caught Benoit with a stiff kick and rolled him up with a handful of tights for the pin. Angle picked up the win in one of the best matches in WrestleMania history.
With the Olympic Gold Medalist winning in controversial fashion, the score certainly had not been settled. So, later that month at Backlash, they faced off in a 30-minute Submission WWE Iron Man Match. The Superstar to make their opponent to submit the most times in 30 minutes would be declared the winner. Angle was able to jump out to a commanding 3-1 lead. The Wrestling Machine was relentless, but Benoit reversed an abdominal stretch and locked in a Sharpshooter. Benoit continued to work on the legs and made Angle tap to a half crab to pull within one. After an offensive flurry by Angle, Benoit came roaring back with the rolling Germans. The Wrestling Machine went for an ankle lock, but the Rabid Wolverine reversed it into one of his own and made Angle tap to come all the way back and even the score at 3-3 with only two minutes to go. Benoit continued to work on the leg, but Angle was able to reverse it and hook in the ankle lock with time about to expire. Benoit tapped, but not until the 30 minutes was up, so the match went into sudden death. After briefly going back and forth, Benoit hooked in the Crossface for the win about a minute and a half into overtime.
The following night on RAW, Angle claimed that Benoit had cheated. The Olympic Gold Medalist said that according to International Olympic Committee (IOC) rules, sudden death happens immediately following the buzzer of regulation. Since Benoit tapped after the original 30 minutes had expired, Angle felt he should have been named the winner. He said that even though Benoit stole the match from him, he would always have his gold medals. But Benoit came to the ring, and after a tussle, stole Angle’s gold medals as well.
Angle had a chance to reclaim his gold medals a few weeks later at Judgment Day. With all that these two Superstars had been through, an ordinary match just wouldn’t solve anything. So, they faced off in a Best 2 out of 3 Falls Match. But like at WrestleMania 2000, there was a catch. The first fall was a normal match, the second was a Submission Match and the third fall would be a Ladder Match. Angle tried to get off to a quick start using Benoit’s own tactics. He hit the rolling Germans and then went up top for the diving headbutt. Nobody was home, though, and Benoit shocked the Wrestling Machine with an Angle Slam for the early pin to take the first fall. Angle was able to bounce back and win the second fall with the ankle lock to set up the Ladder Match. Benoit and Angle put their bodies on the line, giving no regard for their well-being. Benoit was able to lock in the Crossface, but then Edge and Christian ran down to the ring and distracted him. With the Rabid Wolverine occupied, Angle was able to climb the ladder and regain his gold medals.
Their match at Judgment Day signaled the end of their rivalry – at least temporarily. In September 2002, Angle and Benoit were actually teaming together and had a World Tag Team Championship opportunity against Billy and Chuck on SmackDown. They couldn’t get along, though, and following their loss they traded submission holds. This set up their next one-on-one encounter, and it was at Unforgiven. The two went back and forth throughout the entire match, with each trying to make the other submit. As the match was winding down, Angle hooked in the ankle lock. But just a few seconds later, Benoit was able to roll up the Olympic Gold Medalist, and put his feet on the ropes for leverage, and scored the pinfall.
Just a few weeks later, SmackDown General Manager Stephanie McMahon created the WWE Tag Team Championship. She wanted to build up the tag team division to be as strong as possible, so she coerced Angle and Benoit to team up in an effort to increase the competition and created a tournament to crown the new champions. Angle and Benoit, despite constantly being on the verge of breaking up, were able to defeat Kidman & John Cena and Lost Guerreros to make it to the finals of the tournament. Then at No Mercy, the two ultra-competitive Superstars somehow managed to hold it together, and defeated Edge & Rey Mysterio to take home the gold. A few days later, on SmackDown, Stephanie awarded the duo with a trophy for their achievement. Angle and Benoit couldn’t decide who should be the rightful owner of the trophy, and began fighting over it, breaking it in the process. During the match, Los Guerreros came to ringside, and Chavo nailed Angle with one of the WWE Tag Team Championships. Benoit was able to pick up the win, but the Wrestling Machine attacked him after the match and hit him with the Angle Slam. He then added insult to injury by destroying the trophy.
Angle and Benoit tagged up a couple times after this match, but they could never recapture the magic that won them the WWE Tag Team Championship that they eventually lost to Los Guerreros.
The rivalry quieted down once again, but was revived as the 2003 Royal Rumble drew near. Kurt Angle had once again become WWE Champion, and Chris Benoit was challenging for the gold at the Rumble. Any time Angle and Benoit get in the ring, they’re guaranteed to put on a great match. But this match is widely considered to be their best ever. Benoit and Angle locked in their submission maneuvers several times throughout the contest, but as the 20-minute mark was approaching, Angle reversed a Crossface into another ankle lock. Benoit fought it off, but Angle refused to let go. Benoit tried to reverse it once again, but Angle rolled through it and hung on to the hold. The Rabid Wolverine tried one last counter, but Angle was able to turn it into a heel hook for the submission win. Even though the Wrestling Machine had prevailed, the capacity crowd gave Benoit a standing ovation.
Despite clashing a few more times, Angle and Benoit’s match at the 2003 Royal Rumble proved to be their last high-profile encounter. Angle and Benoit both picked up huge wins throughout the rivalry, and both Superstars had some of their finest matches of their careers with each other. There was only one major WWE Championship defense in this rivalry, otherwise it would have been a surefire bet for the Top 3. As it stands, though, there’s no denying this rivalry deserves to be in the Top 5 of Kurt Angle’s greatest
Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels are sure-fire bets for the WWE Hall of Fame after their illustrious careers come to a close. Shawn Michaels is the Showstopper. Kurt Angle is an Olympic Gold Medalist. Both Superstars pride themselves on stealing the show every time they step inside the ring – especially at WrestleMania.
Heading into WrestleMania 21, Shawn Michaels decided to take it upon himself to make sure he made an impact at the biggest event of the year. On the Feb. 21 edition of RAW, HBK, much to the delight of wrestling fans everywhere, called out Kurt Angle for a one-on-one match at the granddaddy of them all – WrestleMania. Since Angle was on SmackDown, however, fans had to wait for an answer to the challenge.
Three days later, after defeating another challenger in the Angle Invitational, SmackDown announcer Tazz asked Angle if he would accept Michaels’ challenge for WrestleMania. Angle just threw down the microphone and refused to give an answer. But it turned out that the Olympic Gold Medalist was waiting for his actions to do all of his talking. A few nights later on RAW, HBK was able to stave off Edge in a bloody Street Fight, but his night was not over. With Michaels already bloodied and battered, Angle stormed the ring from out of nowhere and added insult to injury. After an Angle Slam, the Olympian accepted the Showstopper’s Challenge. It was on for WrestleMania 21.
In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania, HBK and Angle engaged in a battle of showmanship, trying to one-up each other. Just days after accepting Michaels’ challenge, Angle gloated about how he had embarrassed HBK on his turf. The Olympic Gold Medalist then put his medals on the line in an Angle Challenge. A hooded wrestler came out to accept the challenge. Angle thought it was a ploy and that the wrestler was actually the Showstopper himself. He ripped the wrestler’s hood off, but it wasn’t HBK. But then Angle was attacked from behind by Michaels, who was incognito.
One week later, on SmackDown, Angle said that he could do anything HBK could do, but better. So, he held the Kurt Angle Invitational Ladder Match, the same kind of match that HBK helped make famous. A local wrestler accepted the challenge, and the Wrestling Machine made quick work of him. After the match, Angle sat perched on the ladder and issued another challenge. He challenged HBK’s old tag team partner, Marty Jannetty to a one-on-one match the following week on SmackDown. Angle claimed that Jannetty was the backbone of The Rockers, and he would send a message to the Showstopper by defeating him.
Marty Jannetty, even after being away from WWE for several years, looked impressive in his match against Angle, but the Wrestling Machine was just too much for the former Rocker to overcome. Angle continued delving into the Showstopper’s past the following week on SmackDown as well. HBK’s music hit, but out came the Olympic Gold Medalist, dressed in Michaels’ ring gear, with the Showstopper’s former manager Sensational Sherri by his side. Angle showed a clip looking back at HBK’s past, and Sherri got emotional. After seeing that, the Wrestling Machine snapped and slapped on the ankle lock.
After all of Angle’s fun and games, it was time to get serious at WrestleMania. When the bell rang, it was all business between the Wrestling Machine and the Showstopper. It was a dream match for many WWE fans, so Angle and HBK had a lot to live up to – but they didn’t disappoint. The two Superstars have always said that they thrive on the pressure and the spotlight, and they showed why in this instant classic. With both Superstars worn out, HBK went for Sweet Chin Music, but Angle caught it and reversed it into an ankle lock. After almost tapping, the Showstopper turned it into a sunset flip, but Angle kicked out. Michaels finally hit Sweet Chin Music later on, but the Wrestling Machine kicked out again. The Olympic Gold Medalist was then able to hook the ankle lock from out of nowhere. HBK tried to reverse it, but Angle grapevined the maneuver, forcing Michaels to tap out. Angle left the winner, but even HBK received a standing ovation for this amazing match.
Many thought that would be the only time Angle would face off against Michaels because they were on separate brands. But in June, Angle was sent to RAW in the Draft Lottery. The very same night he was drafted to RAW, HBK came out and challenged the Olympic Gold Medalist to a WrestleMania rematch at Vengeance. Angle gladly accepted as every WWE fan watching geared up for another HBK vs. Angle classic.
Angle and Michaels battled to the point of exhaustion once again, and just like at WrestleMania, Angle was able to catch HBK in the ankle lock. HBK inched closer and closer to the ropes, but the Wrestling Machine was relentless and pulled him back to the center of the ring. Michaels mustered up all of the strength he had left and kicked him off into the ring post. The Showstopper followed that up with Sweet Chin Music, but Angle kicked out. The Olympic Gold Medalist went up top, and proved why it was a high-risk maneuver, as HBK nailed him with Sweet Chin Music while he was in mid air. After a second superkick, the pin was academic and HBK had evened the score 1-1.
The rivalry between the two began to cool off, but when it was announced RAW was moving back to the USA Network on Oct. 3, Mr. McMahon wanted to have an amazing lineup for the RAW Homecoming show. To help ensure the night would be a memorable one, Mr. McMahon decided that HBK and Angle would have their rubber match. And to make matters even more interesting, it would be a 30-minute WWE Iron Man Match.
Angle got off to the early advantage when he hit a top rope Angle Slam for the first pinfall. But HBK came right back. The Wrestling Machine went for another Angle Slam, but HBK reversed it into a sunset flip. Angle reversed that into an ankle lock, but HBK was able to reverse again into a rollup for the pin. The match was evened up 1-1 at about the half-way mark. Michaels looked to continue his momentum with a suplex, but Angle reversed it into an ankle lock. HBK came close to the ropes, but the Wrestling Machine pulled him back and grapevined the hold. The Showstopper had no choice but to give up, and Angle was up 2-1.
HBK’s ankle was clearly bothering him, but he battled one and was able to get back on the offensive. He hit the top rope elbow and tuned up the band. Angle was leveled with Sweet Chin Music and the match was tied back up at two falls apiece. Both Superstars could barely stand, but the Showstopper reached deep down inside and went up top and hit a moonsault on Angle. The Wrestling Machine was able to roll through it, though, and hooked in the ankle lock with about a minute and half left on the clock. HBK went for the ropes, but Angle pulled him back and grapevined it again. HBK kicked Angle in the head, but the Olympic Gold Medalist was able to reapply the hold right away. The Showstopper somehow escaped with about 10 seconds to go and nailed Sweet Chin Music for out of nowhere. He went for the cover, but time expired before a three-count could be made. After three matches, the series was still tied at 1-1-1.
The rivalry once again simmered down, but they had one more match left in them. Angle shocked the world when he showed up unannounced on SmackDown and won a battle royal to win the vacated World Heavyweight Championship. Angle was already signed to a singles match against HBK on RAW just a few nights later. The Wrestling Machine was now a SmackDown Superstar, but he still showed up on RAW to face Michaels in a non-title match. This one started out as another mat classic, but it wouldn’t end in the same fashion. At this point and time, Angle had Daivari in his corner as his manager. Angle seemed to have HBK right where he wanted him, but Daivari interfered. Angle was distracted and ended up on the wrong side of a steel chair, costing him the match. HBK had received the win, but it was marred with controversy.
HBK does hold a 2-1-1 lead over Angle, but even the Showstopper most likely feels there is no clear-cut winner in this rivalry. The Wrestling Machine and the Heartbreak Kid are once again on separate brands, but sports-entertainment fans everywhere are still hoping their paths will cross once again and their rivalry will be rekindled.
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