Remembering Kurt Angle’s Historic WWE Debut 25 Years Later

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle is widely viewed as one of the greatest pure athletes in professional history, leaving a legacy of intense and hard-hitting matches that have aged well. Not only was Angle highly skilled in the ring though, he was the epitome of a “sports entertainer,” with his goofy persona never seeing him be afraid to mock himself in the name of good fun.

The 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist made his WWE debut 25 years ago Thursday at Survivor Series, defeating Shawn Stasiak in Detroit. He was heralded as the first “real” athlete in WWE, and quickly earned the tire of the crowd in Detroit.

Angle preached the “Three I’s” each night he would appear: Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence. While the first and third may have been true, his matches lacked integrity, as he would often find ways to cheat to barely squeak out a win. But his first year would see him run through WWE in a way no one before him had, cementing himself as a main eventer in a little more than 12 months.

Winning the European and Intercontinental Championships

Angle would hold an undefeated streak until the Royal Rumble show in January, where he would lose to a debuting Tazz. He quickly rebounded by winning the European Championship from Val Venis on the Feb. 8, 2000 edition of Smackdown, his first title in WWE. He wasn’t done there, though.

Chris Jericho would then put his Intercontinental Championship on the line against Angle at No Way Out later that month. Jericho would be a great test for the rookie, as the 10-year veteran pushed Angle’s budding ability in a strong showing. Angle would win the match, then dub himself the “Eurocontintental Champion.”

Certainly, a title befitting of an American hero.

WrestleMania 2000

The run with both championships would last about a month, as he would go on to face Jericho and Chris Benoit in a rare triple-threat match at WrestleMania 2000 that saw both titles on the line in separate falls.

The matches didn’t end well for Angle, as he would drop the Intercontinental Championship to Benoit, and the European Championship to Jericho. Angle, however, did not actually get pinned nor did he submit, meaning he had a legitimate reason to be upset about the losses. While the outing showcased his ability to hang in with two of the best in-ring talents in WWE at the time, it also pushed his character to become edgier and more conniving after losing what he felt was rightfully his.

King of the Ring 2000

Angle would rebound from his WrestleMania by qualifying for the King of the Ring Tournament in June. The showing would perfectly encapsulate his eventual moniker of “The Wrestling Machine,” as he had to go through three competitors in one night.

The former Olympian would once again defeat Jericho in the quaterfinals, before disposing of former Hardcore Champion Crash Holly in the next round. That put him in an improbable matchup with the 400-lb. Rikishi for the crown. Angle would earn the win, tallying three victories in one night to be named King of the Ring.

Throughout that summer, Angle would also form an alliance with Edge & Christian, showcasing his comedic skill set more often. This added a layer of depth to his character many more “serious” performers didn’t possess.

Feuding With Triple H

Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were at the forefront of WWE storylines for much of the late 1990s and early 2000s, so Angle receiving an opportunity to work with both of them was indicative of his ascent up the card.

Angle began to flirt with McMahon, Triple H’s on-screen and eventual off-screen wife, starting a love triangle that dominated WWE television through the end fo the summer. The two would be involved in a triple-threat match with The Rock at SummerSlam for the WWE Championship, with their personal rivalry allowing Rock to retain. They’d face off once more at Unforgiven, where Triple H settled the score with a win.

Even so, Angle passed the test of being able to hang with the top talent in the company, and it would be an indicator of what was to come.

Winning the WWE Championship

Angle’s big moment would finally come in the fall of 2000, as he would face The Rock for the WWE Championship at No Mercy on Oct. 22.

McMahon was in Angle’s corner and proved to be an ally, as he actually tapped out to The Rock’s sharpshooter during the match, with McMahon distracting the referee. Rikishi would get involved in the match, attempting to aid Rock. But a series of mishaps would see him knock Rock out incidentally, and Angle would dispose of him shortly after with an Angle Slam. He would then pin Rock, winning his first WWE Championship.

Angle was one of the fastest men in WWE history to win a world title at the time, having debuted only 11 months earlier.

Defeating The Undertaker and The Rock

The new WWE Champion would then be thrust into another major test shortly after winning the title.

Angle would appear at Survivor Series and wrestle not just The Rock once again, but The Undertaker as well in a triple-threat match. The Undertaker was seen as the highest veteran presence in the WWE locker room at the time, and if you passed a litmus test with him, you were set. However, failing to live up to expectations could result in real-life ramifications for the performer.

Once again, Angle held his own. The three had a memorable match that would see Kurt’s actual brother, Eric, act as a decoy to help him retain the championship. The moment took fans by surprise and reinforced that Angle was willing to do whatever he needed to in order to remain at the top of the card.

Armageddon 2000

Eventually, Angle’s luck was pressed one too many times. Commissioner Mick Foley was tired of the cheating and placed him in a cell match at Armageddon with five of WWE’s biggest names. Angle would have to defend the championship against The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Rikishi, The Undertaker, and Triple H all at once. Even worse, he wouldn’t have to be pinned or submit to lose the championship.

But unlike what happened at WrestleMania, Angle did not let his title fall through his grasp. A battered, bruised, and bloody Angle would take advantage of Triple H offense on The Rock, slowly getting his hand over an exhausted Rock for the three-count to hold on to the belt.

The win told the audience Angle was as much of a top star as every other person in the match, and he would never look back. Angle would go on to become a world champion six times in WWE and is one of the most memorable performers of the Attitude and Ruthless Aggression Eras.