411’s WWE Photo Shoot Report: Kurt Angle

411’s WWE Photo Shoot Report: Kurt Angle

-This was supposed to be the episode featuring Cesaro to get me caught up, but the Network dropped a new episode last night with Kurt Angle. The episode was even promoted on RAW, so I figured it would be best to check this one out instead.

-Kurt Angle 1st WWE Promo Pic: Kurt says that Vince created a perfect character for him. He thought Vince was nuts when he told him he was going to be a big time heel as he felt Vince was setting him up for a face role with the character. He talks about his “It’s True” shirt just coming from how he would respond to the fans when they would boo something he would say. For example he would tell the fans that their local sports team sucked and when they booed…”It’s true, it’s true.”

-Moonsault: A picture of Kurt busting out a moonsault vs RVD. Kurt says it was one of the first ones he ever did. He talks about the challenge of wrestling someone like RVD who is known for his flying ability and he wanted to do something to keep up with him.

-Edge shaving Kurt’s head: Angle laughs at the photo and says that he was told by Vince that he was losing that day. The idea from Vince is that he wanted to make Kurt look like a bad ass and felt the bald head was the way to go. Vince told Kurt to play along as they were going to tell Edge that he would be losing and thus would be losing his head. Edge was freaking out as he told Kurt that he has an ugly face and it will stick out if he is bald. Ha! Just before they went out for the match they let Edge in on the joke. The match happened at Judgment Day 2012 and apparently Edge used the clippers the wrong way and instead of shaving his head, Edge was ripping the hair out of Kurt’s head. Edge told him that he had no clue what he was doing and Angle says he was kind of annoyed by it.

-ECW Wrestle Machine photo: It was Vince’s idea to reboot ECW and he wanted to make Kurt the face of that brand. He knew ECW was about hardcore wrestling and he knew he was the best wrestler Vince had. He viewed it as a demotion and he questioned why he would want to do it when Vince told him he would be making less money and working in smaller building. Man has a point! Looking back he thinks Vince was trying to make him a new version of Tazz since he was a wrestler that could go and carried ECW.

-1-800-CallATT commercial: Kurt talks about the various commercials he has done over the years and how much fun he had.

-WrestleMania XIX: Kurt says he was the established champion vs the young, up and comer. It was an emotional match as he had a broken neck. I remember there being major doubt Angle was going to be able to work Mania and I was at a SmackDown in Pittsburgh where they were running Angle/Lesnar and we all thought he was dropping the title there to get a new program started. Instead Kurt opted for a different surgery to have him back quicker and he went through with the Mania match. Kurt talks about Brock botching the Shooting Star Press and he was worried Brock broke his neck. He kept asking Brock if he was ok and after some silence Brock responded “I think so.” Brock proved a lot to Kurt that night and says Brock deserved that spot.

-Angle and Vince Shaking Hands: He calls Vince a second father and says he has never given him bad advice. He would always question Vince and laughs as he was only a few years into the business and he was questioning a man who was around it his whole life. He always trusted Vince and it always worked out the way he said. He says Vince always looked out for him.

-Shaving Big Show’s Head: This was fantastic as Kurt used a tranq dart to subdue the Big Show and then shaved his head. Vince told him to think of Show as a bear and after shaving his head, pose like he was a hunter with his trophy. Kurt calls Show his best friend and he was kind of embarrassed doing it, but Show is a good sport and was ok with it.

-1996 Olympics: Kurt gets emotional looking at the picture. It was the proudest moment of his life outside of his children being born. It meant a lot to his family and especially is father, who was a huge sports fan. Kurt says he was the least likely member of his family to accomplish something like that. He still can’t believe he did it and says he overcame a lot to get there.

-National Wrestling Hall of Fame: Kurt talks about it being the highest honor you can achieve in amateur wrestling.

-Team Angle: He thinks the group ended way too soon and blames it on his broken neck. They were the top heel faction on SD and thinks it could have gone for years if he didn’t need the neck surgery. When he returned the fans were cheering so he had to kick them out of the group to keep them heels and start an angle against them.

-Eddie Guerrero: Great pic of Eddie with the WWE Title. Angle is all smiles talking about Eddie and says Eddie didn’t have a care in the world inside the ring. He was a guy who wanted to have fun and had a connection with the fans that very few ever will.

-WM XX holding Eddie’s boot: Angle says it was one of the best finishes to a match ever. He was cranking on that ankle lock and was great to have it end with Eddie’s boot coming off and him rolling up Kurt for the win. He says no matter if you win or lose, you want a moment like that at WrestleMania.

-AJ Styles: It blows his mind that AJ wasn’t in the WWE 10 years sooner. He met AJ in 2006 (no mention of TNA) and they show video of Kurt talking to AJ at a WWE show. Kurt tells AJ this is where he belongs and AJ tells Kurt he had help from the best in getting here. Kurt calls AJ the most talented guy he was worked.

-King of The Ring Match with Shane: Yes! Kurt calls it the greatest and worst match of his career. He mentions injuring his tailbone during the match and says that is why he couldn’t get Shane suplexed through the glass as he couldn’t pop his hips. He still remembers the thud of Shane’s head hitting the concrete. Just sick stuff here! When Shane exploded through the glass, Kurt thought it sounded wrong and then saw Shane covered in blood. The return back through the glass was just as bad and Kurt had to audible and just toss Shane face first through the sign. He says they both ended up in the hospital after the match. He then says that Austin got injure on the same show (Booker T putting Austin through a table did the deed) and that lead to them being paired on TV with their comedy. That stuff is all gold as they show Angle singing “Jimmy Crack Corn.”

-SmackDown GM: Angle was out with a neck injury (shocking) and Vince kept him on TV as the new SmackDown GM. The story was Kurt had a leg injury and had to wear a cast and use a wheelchair. He actually looks like Professor X. He says the role as GM helped him grown as a character. He was then caught faking the injury and fired by Vince on SmackDown. He talks about Vince telling him he would swing the crutch as hard as he could and Kurt had to get out the way. Kurt laughs as it came close to hitting him.

-WWE Hall of Fame 2017: Angle’s says he never set a goal of being in the WWE Hall of Fame as you don’t think about it until you have spent years putting in the time and work. It was an honor as only the best of the best get in. He says the matches are moments, but the fans want want character moments (they show the milk truck and other Angle moments). He still can’t believe he got the call and it shows how important he was to the company and most importantly to the WWE Universe.

-That ends the episode and as normal it was light piece that was enjoyable to watch. The Network Special they did on his return was much deeper and I recommend watching that one, but this is a nice little show that feels in any gaps. Thanks for reading.