The 10 Best Kurt Angle Matches From His Incredible Rookie Year
There have been some stellar rookie years in the wrestling business. Some of the best ones that come to mind are Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey. However, it's pretty undisputed that Kurt Angle had the best rookie year in wrestling history.
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Kurt Angle's first year in the industry was made even more impressive when his lack of experience in wrestling is brought into play. Sure he was an Olympian but he never had a professional wrestling run on the independent scene or anywhere before WWE. Regardless, Angle picked things up quickly and delivered some great performances in the ring between 1999 and 2000.
10 Kurt Angle vs. Hardcore Holly - Smackdown 6/29/00
For the most part, a match between Kurt Angle and Hardcore Holly on a random episode of Smackdown wouldn't be all that memorable. However, this one has become very notable for one reason. It was when Hardcore Holly famously broke his wrist during the action.
He and Angle were having a very good match that has mostly become underrated because people only recall the injury. It happened when Angle hit a moonsault and his feet crashed onto Holly's wrist. The tough Holly managed to finish the match, though Angle came out on top.
9 Kurt Angle vs. Tazz - Royal Rumble 2000
Kurt Angle made his debut at Survivor Series 1999 when he defeated Shawn Stasiak in a wildly generic match. After two months, Angle remained unbeaten but he had already grown exponentially as a performer. He showed up at the Royal Rumble with a mystery opponent on tap.
Angle dissed the Madison Square Garden crowd ahead of this opening contest. His opponent was revealed to be the debuting Tazz, who the New York crowd was familiar with. This is a short bout but it's filled with action. Tazz choked out Angle to win but the Olympic champion contested the loss.
8 Christian, Edge & Kurt Angle vs. The Hardy Boyz & The Rock - Raw 10/16/00
Considering the talent involved in this match, it should be remembered more fondly. As Kurt Angle was nearing the end of his first official year with the company, he was embroiled in a feud with The Rock over the WWE Championship.
Meanwhile, Edge and Christian and the Hardy Boyz continued their epic rivalry. Those two programs combined for this main event match featuring six guys who can call themselves world champions today. The entire thing was a blast and Angle's team was victorious.
7 Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho - King of the Ring 2000
2000 was arguably WWE's best year for pay-per-views. Nearly every event was stellar, especially to start the year. Unfortunately, June's King of the Ring was a rare miss due to some lackluster matches and questionable booking decisions.
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Alas, it was a crowning evening for Kurt Angle, who won the tournament. While his semifinals and finals matches with Crash Holly and Rikishi were mediocre, the quarterfinal matchup against Chris Jericho was very good. Obviously, Angle advanced after a quality battle.
6 Kurt Angle vs. Triple H - Unforgiven 2000
One of the best aspects of a fantastic 2000 was the love triangle storyline between Kurt Angle, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon. Stephanie and Triple H were in the first year of their on-screen marriage and Angle was "just a friend" to Stephanie but he clearly wanted more.
It all came to a head (for the first time at least) at Unforgiven. The two met in an emotionally-charged no disqualifications contest. Mick Foley acted as the special guest referee and though Triple H won, Angle proved again that he belonged in the main event scene.
5 Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho - WrestleMania 2000
WrestleMania has played host to a handful of unique matches throughout history. Things like a Sumo match, a Hollywood Backlot Brawl, and a Blindfold match are all sprinkled into the lore of the event. WrestleMania 2000 saw another with this Two Fall Triple Threat.
Kurt Angle entered as both the European and Intercontinental Champion. He defended both titles against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, which each fall being contested over a different belt. While this wasn't as good as it could've been, it was still a strong match. Angle lost both championships, yet was never pinned or made to submit.
4 Kurt Angle vs. Chris Jericho - No Way Out 2000
A few months before they collided in the King of the Ring tournament and even before their WrestleMania 2000 outing, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho met at No Way Out. The stakes were high as Jericho's Intercontinental Title was on the line.
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They showcased what made them two of the greatest to ever step into a ring with a fantastic opening contest. It started a great night of wrestling off on the right foot. This historic win for Angle made him a double champion as he entered with the European Title in his possession.
3 Christian, Edge & Kurt Angle vs. Rikishi & Too Cool - Judgment Day 2000
Judgment Day 2000 remains one of the company's best pay-per-view efforts in history. For a show to be considered in that exclusive category, it usually needs to get off to a good start. That's just what this one did with this electric six man tag.
The Edge, Christian, and Kurt Angle trio is one of the most underrated in wrestling history. They produced gold segments together, including the iconic "junk band" sketch prior to this match. Once the bell rang, it was non-stop action from six of the hottest acts at the time.
2 Kurt Angle vs. The Rock vs. Triple H - SummerSlam 2000
As noted, the Kurt Angle/Triple H/Stephanie McMahon love triangle is the stuff of legend. The angle was so popular that it ended up being part of the WWE Title picture at SummerSlam. The Rock defended his gold against both Angle and Triple H, who had planned on working together.
That all changed once Angle planted a kiss on Stephanie days before the event. Angle and Triple H brawled before The Rock even made his entrance. This is a classic bout but it doesn't top the list because Angle got concussed during the fight with HHH and couldn't perform up to par. HHH and The Rock carried most of it.
1 Kurt Angle vs. The Rock - No Mercy 2000
Kurt Angle's whirlwind rookie year saw him become a top star. Sure, he had a WWE Title match at SummerSlam but this was different. He was in there as the sole challenger, proving he had enough star power to match up to someone like The Rock.
Over the years, The Rock and Kurt Angle had tremendous chemistry and they first truly showed that off here. This was a dramatic main event with a red hot crowd. Thanks to some outside interference, Angle did the unthinkable and dethroned The Rock, becoming the top champion in the company a mere 11 months into his career.
