Angle is Dead! Long Live Angle!
I thought RAW bounced back last night with a good show, but that's not the big news from the wrestling world:
Kurt Angle is gone.
Now, I'd be very surprised if this is the last we ever see of Angle in a wrestling ring. After a few years off when his body is healed and the addiction to painkillers is under control, I'd be surprised if he turned down a big WrestleMania payday for a "dream match" with the next generation of superstars. But still, this is a sad day.
I think over the years of his career Kurt Angle cemented himself as quite simply the best ever. His in-ring skills were second-to-none. Clearly, he was a world class athlete and used his physical skills to make his matches truly great. I remember his series with Chris Benoit being particularly amazing and intense.
But it wasn't just in-ring workrate that made Angle special. It was his character. He could make you laugh, make you angry, make you hate him, make you feel sympathy for him - he did every emotion better than anyone. I think it's no mistake that the guys who have ended up being at the top of the wrestling business for the past 10-15 years (Rock, Austin, Foley, Triple H) have had essentially one thing in common: versatility. Not only were they exciting in-ring performers (in their respective primes), but they could play any emotion and make the crowds really care. Angle could not only hang with any one of them, but was in reality better.
At times, it seemed Angle could do it all. He could be more athletic than Shawn Michaels, more technical than Bret Hart, more intense than Austin, funnier than Foley, at least as charismatic as the Rock. When Angle was on our TVs on Mondays, Thursdays and recently Tuesday nights - we were witnessing true greatness.
I think I liked the funny stuff the best. My favorite Angle era was "Team ECK" when Angle used to play the geeky heels with Edge and Christian. They managed to be funny and hateable at the same time. Great stuff.
As a wrestling fan, I'll certainly miss Kurt Angle. It's the end of an era.
Kurt Angle is gone.
Now, I'd be very surprised if this is the last we ever see of Angle in a wrestling ring. After a few years off when his body is healed and the addiction to painkillers is under control, I'd be surprised if he turned down a big WrestleMania payday for a "dream match" with the next generation of superstars. But still, this is a sad day.
I think over the years of his career Kurt Angle cemented himself as quite simply the best ever. His in-ring skills were second-to-none. Clearly, he was a world class athlete and used his physical skills to make his matches truly great. I remember his series with Chris Benoit being particularly amazing and intense.
But it wasn't just in-ring workrate that made Angle special. It was his character. He could make you laugh, make you angry, make you hate him, make you feel sympathy for him - he did every emotion better than anyone. I think it's no mistake that the guys who have ended up being at the top of the wrestling business for the past 10-15 years (Rock, Austin, Foley, Triple H) have had essentially one thing in common: versatility. Not only were they exciting in-ring performers (in their respective primes), but they could play any emotion and make the crowds really care. Angle could not only hang with any one of them, but was in reality better.
At times, it seemed Angle could do it all. He could be more athletic than Shawn Michaels, more technical than Bret Hart, more intense than Austin, funnier than Foley, at least as charismatic as the Rock. When Angle was on our TVs on Mondays, Thursdays and recently Tuesday nights - we were witnessing true greatness.
I think I liked the funny stuff the best. My favorite Angle era was "Team ECK" when Angle used to play the geeky heels with Edge and Christian. They managed to be funny and hateable at the same time. Great stuff.
As a wrestling fan, I'll certainly miss Kurt Angle. It's the end of an era.
posted by BJ Boston at 9:37 AM
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