When all is said and done - Kurt Angle's place in wrestling history

[Slyfox696]

He won an Olympic gold medal with a broke frickin' neck. He's a 9 time World champion, across two different major promotions, and a likely Hall of Famer. He's regarded by many as one of the greatest technical wrestlers of the last decade. His jump to TNA gave the promotion instant credibility. He's come under attack for antics outside of the wrestling ring, such as interviews and backstage power plays. He's been a fixture in the main-event scene every where he's ever wrestled.

When Kurt Angle finally hangs up the boots for good, where will he stand in wrestling history? Will wrestling fans look back and consider him the greatest ever? Will he be the record holder of World titles? Will people see him as a "great", but not a "legend"? Will he share the stage with guys like Hulk Hogan and Steve Austin, or just below them with guys like Bret Hart and Ric Flair?

When all is said and done, where will Kurt Angle rank in wrestling history?

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

He will probably remembered by most as one of the greatest technical wrestlers ever. I would put him slightly below HHH and Undertaker and slightly above Chris Jericho. He put on some of the greatest matches in the past decade and he was great as a face and a comedic heel. Granted his heel work didn't translate into the ring during his later years, but he was always fun to watch. I don't know if being in TNA would hinder or enhance his legacy, but it seems like to me Angle will be one of the forgotten ones. If he comes back to WWE, I think his legacy will grow kind of like when Flair came back. I'll put Angle in my Top 15 with an outside shot at a Top 10 spot.

 

[Father:_Polley]

He's up there as one of the greats, but I think he's going to go down the Hogan route of whiney bitch. He didn't get his way in WWE with his drug use and jumped ship to TNA, where he's made a name for himself trying to get himself on Creative as well as drive Jeff Jarrett out of his own company.

Outstanding as he may be in the ring and he has won everything he could possibly win in probably the least amount of time, as well as his gold medal from the 96 Olympics (with a broken freakin' neck). Good on the mic, great in the ring, may lacked the psychology with his love of the high spots as a heel.

I think he'll be in the Hart category, purely because he wasn't the face of the generation like Hogan was. Hogan got away with the power plays because he was the big name draw of his day. Angle wasn't, he arrived when he was competing with Austin and Rock for the top name in the company.

 

[klunderbunker]

Angle is a tricky case. he's one of the best wrestlers, either amateur or pro, ever, but the thing is there's just something missing from him and I can't put my finger on it. He always seemed like he was trying to be a legend but only imitating one. He certainly has the resume, but he was a bit of a head case. I think he's a great example of someone that simply can't live up to the amount of hype he gets. In TNA, he's the best they have but if you listen to them talk about him, he's a divine being. In WWE he was on top for awhile and while the matches were great, he has one major mark against him which really isn't fair but it's reality: the guy worked with some amazing talent. Think about some of his feuds: Rock, Jericho, Benoit, Austin, Taker, Lesnar Edge, Mysterio. He had an army of hall of fame wrestlers to feud with, so how could he not look great? Now don't get me wrong, Angle had a lot to do with that as well and I'd never argue otherwise. However, the question is, what could he do when given the reigns of a whole company? He's done ok, but just ok in that area. Like someone else in this said, as far as technical abilities goes, he's never going to be topped more than likely. As far as a pro goes, he's up there, but there are certainly better ones.

 

[King Patrick Star]

Slyfox696, I was waiting for this thread.

He will always be in the number 3 spot on my list of Overall Greatest Of All Time, behind 1st place Jericho and tied for second, Austin / Rock. As far as the general consensus, I believe he’s a Top 5 Superstar on everybody’s list. He has a great Amateur background and great Professional background. He can “talk the talk” and “walk the walk”. I believe, by the time he hangs up the Medals and Belts, he’ll be in the Top Tier of Legends.

 

[MikeKillam]

In my opinion, he's in the top 3 for best professional wrestler of all time. Brett Hart is also extremely talented, and I dont' know if I could narrow it down, but if I had to, I think Kurt Angle would take home the gold (pun intended).

As far as his place in history, the only way I see him being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, is if he makes a return to the WWE. If he ends his career in TNA, I don't think Vince will acknowledge him one bit. Now, if he returns to the WWE (which does seem likely), he will be an instant champion, and I would bet money that in 20 years, he will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

When that time comes, I think he will be looked back on like all the other past greats. There will be many who remember Kurt Angle, and his legendary in-ring ability, and there will be many new to the product, that have only heard a few things about him. He will be well-received, except his induction, make his speech, and leave quietly. Unless something happens with Kurt in the next few years, I don't see him becoming the Austin/Rock type. The type who makes returns every few years to get really HUGE pops and draw some money for the company. I see him leaving quietly, retiring, and living out life peacefully as a WWE Hall of Famer.

 

[Thriller Ant]

Angle is an interesting case. He was brought in off of a gold medal in wrestling in the 1996 Olympics. He is a perennial main eventer, and has put on many good/great matches. He is also very good on the mic and can be considered a complete professional wrestler in that he can entertain in the ring and outside of it.

With that said, he has a couple things going against him. First, he has a record of clashing with those in charge. He refused to go to rehab when asked to by WWE management, and he is currently having problems with Jeff Jarrett. The other mark against him is the fact that he isn't that big of a draw. He is/was always popular, but ratings never really reflected that. Look at Impact ratings now, he is the main guy in the company, but they struggle to beat ECW, a show on a network with fewer viewers, in ratings.

I think that Kurt Angle will be remembered as a great main eventer and professional wrestler, but one that didn't really draw or transcend the business like Austin and Hogan.

 

[yoshi_doce2006]

First of I have been watching both Flair and Hogan for 20 years and all Flair was 1000 times better than Hogan in the ring and on the mic. Hogan just had Vince to market him and Flair didn't have that.

Secondly Kurt Angle's Legacy will be written with his next contract and what he does with that contract and the possible power that comes with it. As far as I am concerned Angle will always be known as the greatest pure wrestler in professional wrestling history. His Legacy however is still up in the air.

 

[TheIconHBK]

Angle as a technical wrestler is as good as any in any generation and has spent the vast part of his career main eventing the down side like was mentioned is his personal baggage and never was considered a draw as the other legends
i also agree he is missing something that magical it that the other legends have.
overall though a great wrestler who has been involved in quality feuds and matches

 

[avi01]

He`ll be remembered as one of the very to ever step in the ring. There are few like him. Besides, he was a great character with good mic work...the package.

 

[shafe_41]

Easy peasy lemon squeezy. Angle will go down as one of the best... if not the best to ever step into the ring. As said before, he won an Olympic Gold Medal (better than any WWE or TNA title) with a broken freakin neck. I couldn't have done that. Neither could any of you. With that said, he came into the WWE and you knew he was something special the first time he walked through that curtain. He was a heel, and got heat, for winning an Olympic Medal for the USA. I think very few people could have pulled that off the way Kurt did. He's been amazing in the ring his entire career and just starting to show signs of wear and tear over the last year or so. But Kurt still goes out there and gives you 100% every single night. The man has had a great match with every single superstar you could ever imagine. In TNA and WWE. He's also put on some of the greatest matches you will ever see... period. Angle/HBK at WM21 is arguably the greatest match of all time that doesn't involve some sort of gimmick. Benoit/Angle at Rumble 03 was friggin epic as well. Those are just 2 of the many many many amazing matches Kurt has had.

So when all is said and done, it would be very easy to debate that Kurt is the greatest all around talent to ever step in the ring. His technical skills... the greatest ever. His mic work... amazing. His ability to flip a switch of character from face/heel and have the fans behind him or boo him is uncanny and second to none. Finally, like I said before... his ability to have a great match with pretty much anybody is something that takes true talent. Kurt Angles final place in history once he hangs it up... Arguably the greatest of all time, and if not the greatest of all time... without a doubt in the top 5. It's True. It's DAMN TRUE!!!

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Looking at Angle's accomplishments, you can't help but just be extremely impressed. The fact that he is an Olympic Gold Medalist speaks for itself. An Olympic Gold Medal is basically as close as anyone can actually get to be a true, undisputed world champ. It's really the only prize in any sport where somebody can truly come out and say I'm the best there is at what I do without worry of contradiction. Doing it with a broken neck just goes to show how determined and legitimately tough Angle is.

In the ring, Kurt Angle may well be the best overall wrestler in pro wrestling history. In my view, he is the best pure wrestler in the history of the business and you'll be hard pressed to find someone that can legitimately have more overall in-ring skill. I enjoyed listening to him on the mic, I thought he was a great comedic heel.

Most of Kurt's downsides lie in the behind the scenes stuff. Kurt has never really been a big draw and still isn't to this day. Kurt basically left the WWE because he wouldn't go to rehab and they wanted him to work a lighter schedule for a while. Kurt Angle is someone that I think got treated quite well by the WWE, but he basically spat in their eye. What could ultimately hurt his legacy, if anything, is being in TNA. Dixie Carter has bent over backwards for Angle and has spread TNA's collective legs wide open for him as well. TNA management treat Angle almost as if he can do no wrong, he gets the money he wants, gets time off when he wants, carries a belt when he wants, is doing a little acting on the side now, etc. Angle looks like he may be heading down the road Hulk Hogan went in WCW. It's not nearly that bad yet, but it could very well be if Angle isn't reeled in some.

If Angle quit today, I couldn't blame anyone for calling the guy a legend. Is he on the same level as Flair or Hogan? I doubt anyone else will be in the forseeable future. Hogan and Flair were the biggest draws of their day and, at the same time, were the unchallenged and undisputed alpha males of their day. Angle was never a big draw nor could you say he was just an absolutely dominant guy.