Kurt Angle

Kurt Steven Angle (December 9, 1968) is a retired American professional wrestler, actor and amateur wrestler. He was previously signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as an agent and producer.
==Amateur wrestling career==
Angle started amateur wrestling at the age of six. He attended Mt. Lebanon High School, where he won varsity letters in football and wrestling and was an All-State linebacker. He went undefeated on the freshman wrestling team at Mt. Lebanon High and qualified for the state wrestling tournament his sophomore year. Angle also placed third in the state wrestling tournament as a junior and was the 1987 Pennsylvania State Wrestling Champion as a senior.
Upon graduating from high school, Angle attended the Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he continued to wrestle at an amateur level. He was a two-time National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I champion, national runner-up in 1991, and a three-time NCAA Division I All-American. In addition, Angle was the 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion, a two-time USA Senior Freestyle champion, and the 1988 USA International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles Junior World Freestyle champion.
After graduating from college, Angle continued to wrestle. In 1995, he won a gold medal at the World Championships in Atlanta, Georgia. Following this victory, Angle began preparing for the 1996 Summer Olympics under Dave Schultz at the Pennsylvanian Foxcatcher Club, training between eight and ten hours a day. In January 1996, not long after Angle began training at the club, Schultz was murdered by John Eleuthère du Pont, the sponsor of Schultz's team of Olympic prospectives. As a result, Angle quit Eleuthère du Pont's team, searched for new sponsors, and joined the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club in Schultz's memory.
Angle faced further hardships while taking part in the 1996 Olympic Trials, when he suffered a severe neck injury, fracturing two of his cervical vertebrae, herniating two discs, and pulling four muscles. Nonetheless, Angle won the trials and then spent the subsequent five months resting and rehabilitating. By the Olympics, Angle was able to compete, albeit with several pain-reducing injections in his neck. In the fall of 2006, Angle stated that he temporarily became addicted to the analgesic Vicodin after injuring his neck. He won his gold medal in the heavyweight (90–100 kg; 198–220 lbs) weight class despite his injury, defeating the Iranian Abbas Jadidi by officials' decision after the competitors wrestled to an eight-minute, one-one draw. The bout saw Jadidi earn a point after two minutes and 46 seconds by turning Angle, and Angle earning a point of his own with a takedown after three minutes and eleven seconds. The officials' decision was protested by Jadidi.
Shortly after his victory, Angle turned down a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). In the same year, he became a marketing representative for Protos Foods, the manufacturers of OSTRIM, an ostrich meat based foodstuff.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Extreme Championship Wrestling (1996)===
On October 26, 1996, Angle was convinced by Shane Douglas to attend the taping of an Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) event named High Incident. He provided guest commentary during a match between Tazz and Little Guido, but left the building after Raven "crucified" The Sandman by attaching him to a cross using barbed wire. Loverro, Thom. The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling (p. 172) Angle, shocked by the controversial imagery and afraid that his career prospects would be damaged if he was associated with the incident, threatened to sue ECW owner Paul Heyman if he was shown on television in the same broadcast as the stunt.
In 1997, following the incident, Angle worked for a year as a sportscaster on Pittsburgh's local Fox affiliate WPGH-TV.
===World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (1998–2006)===
====Debut; WWF Champion (1998–2000)====
In October 1998, Angle signed an eight-year contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He was assigned to the Power Pro Wrestling developmental territory in Memphis, Tennessee, where he began training. Angle's first appearance on WWF television was on the March 7, 1999 episode of Sunday Night Heat, where he took part in an angle with Tiger Ali Singh. This angle involved Singh paying him money to blow his nose on the American flag. Angle instead blew his nose on Singh's flag and fought him off. His first official WWF match was a dark match victory over Brian Christopher on April 11, 1999. In the following months, he wrestled in house shows and other dark matches in preparation for his televised debut.
After several weeks of vignettes, Angle made his in-ring debut on November 14, 1999 at the Survivor Series, defeating Shawn Stasiak. In his initial push, he remained undefeated for several weeks, eventually losing to the debuting Tazz at the Royal Rumble. Angle's television character was an "American hero" gimmick based on his gold medal win at the 1996 Summer Olympics. In his promos, Angle presented himself as a role model and stressed the need to work hard to realize one's dreams, stressing the 3 Is, "Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence". In his promos and ring entrances, Angle would always wear replicas of his gold medals around his neck. Despite standing for many principles that are associated with fan favorites, Angle's character was arrogant, talked down to the audience, and behaved as if he thought he was better than the fans, leading to him quickly becoming a heel. Angle won both the WWF European Championship and the WWF Intercontinental Championship in February 2000, billing himself as the "Eurocontinental Champion". He lost both of his titles without ever conceding a fall in a two falls Triple Threat match with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 2000. The match had been agreed on to Angle's behalf by his mentor, Bob Backlund.
Throughout mid-2000, Angle and Edge and Christian ("Team ECK") feuded with Too Cool and Rikishi, with Angle defeating Rikishi in the finals of the King of the Ring tournament. He went on to feud with Triple H after a love triangle between Angle, Triple H, and Triple H's wife Stephanie McMahon developed. As a change to the intended storyline of Stephanie turning on her husband and going with Angle, he lost to Triple H at Unforgiven. Following his feud with Triple H, Angle received another push and began pursuing the WWF Championship, defeating The Rock at No Mercy, after interference from Rikishi. With his victory over the Rock, Angle became the first wrestler to have won both an Olympic Gold medal and the World title. Angle retained the WWF Championship for the rest of the year in matches with The Undertaker at Survivor Series and in a six way Hell in a Cell match at Armageddon.
After beating Triple H at the Royal Rumble, Angle eventually lost the title to The Rock at No Way Out, he held the WWF Championship for four months. He then feuded with Chris Benoit, whom he defeated at WrestleMania X-Seven but lost to him at Backlash in an Ultimate Submission match; Benoit defeated Angle four falls to three in sudden-death overtime. Continuing the feud, Angle again defeated Benoit in a two out of three falls match for Angle's Olympic gold medal at Judgment Day. Benoit pinned Angle after an Angle Slam in a "Pinfalls Only" fall, and then Angle made Benoit submit with the ankle lock in the "Submissions Only" fall. Angle won the third fall, a Ladder match, with the help of Edge and Christian to reclaim his gold medal.
====The Invasion; Team Angle (2001–2002)====
When World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and ECW formed The Alliance and invaded the WWF in mid-2001 (dubbed as "The Invasion"), Angle became a fan favorite and began a storyline where he joined forces with WWF Champion Steve Austin to repel them. At Invasion, Angle and Austin captained a team of five WWF superstars against five handpicked members of the Alliance. As part of the angle, Team WWF lost to Team Alliance when Austin turned on his team to join The Alliance. At the close of the match, Austin nailed Angle with a Stone Cold Stunner, causing him to get pinned by the other team. After winning and losing the WCW Championship, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, and the WWF Hardcore Championship in matches with Alliance members, Angle was booked to defeat Austin in a SummerSlam rematch for his second WWF Championship at Unforgiven. He dropped the title back to Austin on the October 8, 2001 episode of Raw when WWF Commissioner William Regal joined The Alliance and cost Angle the match. As part of the storyline, Angle subsequently turned into a villain again and joined the Alliance himself; during a WrestleMania X-Seven rematch between Vince McMahon and Shane McMahon, he interfered seemingly to aid Vince but instead struck the members of team WWF with a steel chair. Angle, however, ultimately returned to the WWF side by enabling The Rock to defeat Austin in a "Winner Takes All" match between the WWF and The Alliance at Survivor Series. He remained a villain by claiming sole responsibility for the destruction of The Alliance.
After dropping the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship to Edge, the duo were booked into a lengthy feud. During this feud, Edge started the "you suck" chants every time Angle entered a WWE ring, usually in tune with Angle's entrance music. The chants followed Angle throughout the rest of his WWE career. In the course of the feud, Angle lost a "hair versus hair" match to Edge at Judgment Day, and his head was shaved bald. Following the loss of his hair, Angle's storyline called for him to wear a wig and insult bald people, leading to a feud with Hollywood Hogan, who stripped Angle of his wig. Angle later scored a submission victory over Hogan at King of the Ring, being the first and only person to do so.
In October 2002, Angle became the fifth WWE Grand Slam Championship winner when he won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Chris Benoit at No Mercy 2002. Their team was successful but problematic, as the two bickered constantly, with Benoit often fed up with Angle's over-the-top antics. After dropping the title to Edge and Rey Mysterio on an edition of SmackDown!, Angle won his third WWE Championship at Armageddon, defeating The Big Show, with the help of Brock Lesnar. While still in his third reign, Angle began a new storyline when he gained the services of manager Paul Heyman and "Team Angle".
====Feuding with Lesnar and Guerrero (2003–2004)====
He then began feuding with Brock Lesnar, who had won the 2003 Royal Rumble match, after Lesnar claimed to be the new top superstar on SmackDown!. Angle dropped the WWE Championship in the main event of WrestleMania XIX to Lesnar.
On April 11, 2003, Angle underwent neck surgery performed by Dr. Hae-Dong Jho to repair nerve and spinal damage, calcium buildup, bone spurs, and intervertebral disc problems. Rather than have Dr. Jho remove the afflicted discs and fuse his vertebrae together, Angle opted for a less conventional surgery where Jho removed only the spurs and selected portions of the discs. The alternative surgery reduced Angle's rehabilitation time from one year to three months. He returned as a fan favorite in June. Shortly after returning, Angle defeated Lesnar and Big Show in a Triple Threat match at Vengeance to regain the WWE Championship. During this time, Lesnar seemed to become an ally to Angle. Lesnar, however, secretly worked with Vince McMahon on a plot against Angle and stated that he never tolerated losing the belt to him at Vengeance. After retaining the title in a singles bout with Lesnar at SummerSlam, he dropped the title to Lesnar in an Iron Man match on an episode of SmackDown!. Angle then formed a five-man team to rival Lesnar's team at the Survivor Series, with Angle's team coming out victorious.
Angle then got involved in a feud with Eddie Guerrero. Initially being a firm friend and ally to Eddie during the latter's feud with his nephew Chavo, Angle turned on him when it was announced that Guerrero, not Angle, was the number one contender for the WWE Championship. At No Way Out, Guerrero defeated Lesnar to win the WWE Championship, and Angle won a match to become new number one contender. After losing to Guerrero at WrestleMania XX, Angle began to once again suffer from legitimate neck problems. As a response, he was made the on-screen General Manager of SmackDown!, with his absence from the ring attributed to injuries suffered after Big Show chokeslammed him off a ledge. Angle continued his feud with Guerrero throughout 2004. He cost Guerrero the WWE championship against John "Bradshaw" Layfield in a Texas Bull Rope match at The Great American Bash by participating in the worked finish; Angle came down to the ring and showed a replay where JBL's shoulder hit the corner pad before Guerrero's hand. Angle was later fired by Vince McMahon as General Manager in July 2004, after discovering that he was faking his handicapped status.
In November 2004, Angle initiated the Kurt Angle Invitational, a worked weekly segment where "hometown heroes" (plants), challenged him to a match, with Angle promising to give his Olympic gold medal to the first person to last more than three minutes in the ring with him. The Invitational was won by Eugene in July 2005 starting a new angle for both men. As a result, Angle faced Eugene at SummerSlam, defeating him by making him tap out to the ankle lock.
On November 4, 2004, episode of SmackDown!, during an unscripted segment of Tough Enough, Angle challenged the finalists through a squat thrust competition. The winner was Chris Nawrocki, and the prize Nawrocki won was a match against Angle. After Angle defeated Nawrocki, Daniel Puder, an American professional mixed martial artist, challenged Angle. During the match, Angle and Puder wrestled for position before Angle took Puder down; in the process, Puder locked Angle in a real submission hold, a kimura lock. With Puder on his back, one of two referees in the ring, Jim Korderas, quickly counted three to end the bout, but some observed that during the pin, Puder's shoulders were not on the mat. Puder later claimed he would have snapped Angle's arm, thus making Angle tap out on national television, if Korderas had not ended the match. Following the incident, Dave Meltzer and Dave Scherer gave these comments;
===="The Wrestling Machine" And Departure (2005–2006)====
In January 2005, Angle took part in the Royal Rumble, but was eliminated by Shawn Michaels, who had returned to the ring to eliminate in retaliation. After mocking Michaels by defeating his former tag team partner, Marty Jannetty, and attacking former manager, Sherri Martel, Angle defeated Michaels in an interpromotional match at WrestleMania 21, which won Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Match of the Year Award. He continued to feud with Michaels upon being drafted from SmackDown! to Raw in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery, losing to Michaels at Vengeance.
Angle later challenged John Cena for the WWE Championship at Unforgiven, where Angle won the match by disqualification, thus not winning the title. Angle also challenged Cena again in a Triple Threat match along with Michaels at Taboo Tuesday, in a losing effort.
Angle returned to the SmackDown! brand in January 2006 where he won the vacant World Heavyweight Championship in a twenty-man Battle royal, turning face in the process. He retained the title against Mark Henry at the Royal Rumble. Shortly after the match, The Undertaker made his return and challenged Angle for the title. Angle retained the title in a match with Undertaker at No Way Out before dropping it to Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match, which also included Randy Orton, at WrestleMania 22.
At Judgment Day, he defeated Mark Henry. On May 29, 2006, Angle was drafted to the newly created ECW brand. It was during this time that he acquired the nickname "The Wrestling Machine" (Bestowed upon him by ECW commentator Joey Styles.) Upon coming to ECW, he issued an open challenge for One Night Stand, which was accepted by Orton. Angle defeated Orton at One Night Stand, later losing to him in a rematch at Vengeance. Angle appeared sporadically on WWE television throughout mid-2006. On August 25, 2006, he was granted an early release from his WWE contract due to "personal issues." Kurt Angle stated in the "Kurt Angle: Champion" documentary DVD that he asked for his release from WWE because he couldn't get time off and he was working beat up, severely on some occasions. He also states that when he quit, WWE lost their very top talent, as he was at the very top of the payroll.
===Japan (2007–2009)===
On February 18, 2007, Angle made his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling, teaming with former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Yuji Nagata to defeat fellow TNA wrestler Travis Tomko and fellow WWE alumnus Giant Bernard.
Angle was booked to face Brock Lesnar in a champion versus champion match for the Inoki Genome Federation on June 29, 2007, and defeated him by submission for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and he challenged him to an MMA fight. On December 19, 2007, Angle defended the IWGP World Title successfully against Kendo Kashin.
On January 4, 2008, Angle made his third successful IWGP World Championship defense when he defeated Yuji Nagata at the New Japan Pro Wrestling supershow Wrestle Kingdom II in Tokyo Dome by forcing Nagata to tap out to the ankle lock. On February 17, 2008, Angle lost the IWGP title to Shinsuke Nakamura in a unification match, thus ending the IWGP championship controversy. Kurt Angle is not recognized as an IWGP Heavyweight Champion by New Japan. He returned in August during the G1 Climax in two special tag matches A.J. Styles as his opponent with Shinsuke Nakamura and Masahiro Chono as Angle's partners and Hiroshi Tanahashi and Shinjiro Otani as Styles' partners. Angle's team won both matches.
He returned at the January 4 Dome Show in a special 8 Man Tag match with Kevin Nash, Chono, and Riki Chōshū against G.B.H. Angle would get the win for his team. Angle faced Bernard at New Japan's ISM tour on February 15 and defeat Bernard. After Hiroshi Tanahashi retained the IWGP Heavyweight Championship against Nakamura in the main event, Angle challenged Tanahashi for his IWGP Heavyweight Championship which Tanahashi accepted. Tanahashi defeated Angle on April 5 at New Japan's Resolution 09 to retain the title.
===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2006–2016)===
====Debut; World Championships (2006–2007)====
A few weeks after his WWE contract expired, Angle signed a contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). On September 24, 2006, during the closing segment of No Surrender, TNA President Dixie Carter announced that TNA Wrestling had signed Angle to a contract, with Jim Cornette introducing video footage of Angle training in a six-sided TNA ring. On the December 28, 2006 episode of TNA Impact!, this was announced as the "Moment of the Year" for TNA.
Angle made his TNA debut on October 19th as a face, confronting Samoa Joe after Joe refused to relinquish the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt that, according to the storyline, he had stolen from Jeff Jarrett. The two men ended up fighting while Jarrett took the title back. Angle was then the special enforcer for the Title vs. Career match between Jarrett and Sting at Bound for Glory, but, as part of the worked finish, he took out referee Rudy Charles and assumed the referee's role for the rest of the match-up. Angle's first match in TNA took place on the November 16 airing of Impact!, where he was booked to defeat Abyss with the ankle lock and be attacked after the match by Samoa Joe.
At Final Resolution, Angle was booked to defeat Samoa Joe in a thirty-minute Iron Man match 3–2 to earn a shot at the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Against All Odds, which he lost to Christian Cage after interference from Tomko and Scott Steiner. This led to a feud between Angle and Steiner, with Angle pinning Steiner at Destination X. After Angle defeated Steiner, he was picked to lead a team of four other wrestlers against a team of Christian Cage's choice in a Lethal Lockdown match at April's Lockdown. Angle chose Samoa Joe, Rhino, Sting, and Jeff Jarrett for Team Angle, while Cage chose A.J. Styles, Scott Steiner, Tomko, and Abyss. The man who gained the winning pinfall would become the number one contender to Christian Cage's NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Team Angle was victorious after Jeff Jarrett hit Abyss with a gimmicked guitar full of thumbtacks and allowed Sting to score the pin. The following episode of iMPACT!, Angle interrupted Jeff Jarrett's face promo, stating he was upset at Jeff for not handing him the title shot and replied, "Looks like you're in the wrong place at the WRONG time!", which showed signs that an Angle heel turn could be near. Cage was set to defend the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Sting and Angle in a triple threat match at Sacrifice. The day of the PPV, the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the owners of the NWA World Heavyweight and the NWA World Tag Team Championships, stripped Cage of the title and Team 3D of the tag team title. NWA Executive Director Robert K. Trobich stated the reason was that Cage refused to defend the NWA Title at NWA live events. At the PPV event, Cage, still holding the physical NWA Championship belt, defended what was billed as the "World Heavyweight Championship" against Angle and Sting. Angle was the victor of said contest by making Sting submit, who had technically just pinned Cage, and was announced as the new "World Heavyweight Champion". The Impact! following the event, Angle came to the ring with a new championship belt, and announced he was the new "TNA World Heavyweight Champion". Afterward, Cage and Sting came to the ring and the three began to argue over who was the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. Due to the controversial finish to their match at Sacrifice, the title was declared vacant by Cornette. A tournament was held for the title which culminated in a King of the Mountain match at Slammiversary on June 17, 2007. At the event, Angle became the TNA World Heavyweight Champion by defeating Cage, Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, and Chris Harris. He then attacked Joe after denying a request for a handshake, reigniting their feud. This would also cause Angle to fully turn heel in the process.
At Victory Road, newly crowned X Division Champion Samoa Joe teamed with Kurt Angle to face TNA World Tag Team Champions Team 3D, with the stipulation that if a wrestler pinned the other opponent, he won his championship. As part of the planned outcome of the match, Joe pinned Brother Ray of Team 3D to win both tag team belts, which he held by himself. On the following episode of Impact!, Joe (now holding the X Division and Tag Team Championships, with Angle holding the TNA and (IGF recognized) IWGP World Championships) challenged Angle to a match at Hard Justice where it was winner take all. While illustrating how he would take away everything important in Angle's life, Joe brought Angle's wife Karen into the fray, as she demanded a divorce. During the match, however, Karen turned on Joe and aided her husband. As part of his next push, Angle won, gaining all the championships and becoming the second Triple Crown champion in TNA and the first to hold all three titles at the same time. Including the IWGP Title, this made Angle a quadruple champion. Angle, however, dropped both the X Division and Tag Team Titles to Jay Lethal and Team Pacman, respectively, at No Surrender. At Bound for Glory, Angle lost the TNA World Title to Sting, but won it back on the October 25 edition of Impact!.
====The Angle Alliance (2007–2008)====
Angle then joined forces with A.J. Styles and Tomko as The Angle Alliance at Turning Point against Samoa Joe, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall. Styles had planned for Christian's Coalition and The Angle Alliance to team up together, but Christian Cage demanded to be the leader of The Angle Alliance after Cage denied Angle's request of being his "lackey". At Final Resolution, Angle successfully defended the TNA World Heavyweight Championship against Cage due to interference from Styles and again at Against All Odds with help from Tomko. At Lockdown, Angle lost the TNA World Heavyweight Championship to Samoa Joe after being pinned.
====Feud with AJ Styles (2008)====
After suffering a neck injury, Angle was out of action. In the storyline, he returned to Impact! to ask his estranged wife Karen to reunite with him, but she declined his offer. Later that night, after Styles suffered a beating at the hands of Team 3D, Booker T, and Tomko, Angle added to the mugging by hitting Styles with a steel chair. At Slammiversary, Angle lost to Styles, being pinned after interference from Karen. At Victory Road, Angle and Team 3D won a six-man tag team Full Metal Mayhem match defeating the team of Christian Cage, Rhino, and Styles. At Hard Justice, Angle once again lost to Styles – this time in a Last Man Standing match. The feud continued on the next edition of Impact!, with Styles winning Angle's gold medal in a mock amateur wrestling match. The next week Angle challenged Styles to a ladder match for the Olympic Gold Medal. As they both stood on the top of the ladder, the arena went dark and Jeff Jarrett's music played. When the lights turned on, Styles had a guitar and performed an Acoustic Equalizer on Angle to win the match.
====Feud with Jeff Jarrett, The Main Event Mafia (2008–2009)====
Angle began a feud with Jarrett after No Surrender when Jarrett hit Angle with his guitar, a match that involved him, Christian Cage and Samoa Joe for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. On the October 2 edition of Impact, Mick Foley announced that he would be the special enforcer for Angle's match with Jarrett at Bound for Glory IV. Angle lost to Jarrett in this match, being pinned after taking the mandible claw from Foley and a guitar shot and Stroke from Jarrett. He started attacking other superstars backstage in order to get a rematch against Jarrett. On the first HD Impact!, Angle, Booker T, Kevin Nash, and Sting started a new stable of legends called The Main Event Mafia. Scott Steiner joined the group the following week. Angle then defeated Abyss at Turning Point in a Falls Count Anywhere match. After weeks of torturing Jeff Jarrett to give him a rematch, Jarrett said that if Angle could defeat Rhino at the second Final Resolution of 2008, with Mick Foley as the Special Enforcer, he would grant it. Angle defeated Rhino to earn a rematch with Jarrett at Genesis after Al Snow made a surprise appearance and distracted Foley for Angle to cheat. At Sacrifice, Angle lost his leadership of the Mafia to Sting because of their match's stipulation. On June 21 at Slammiversary, Angle won (so he wouldn't leave TNA) the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for the third time in a King of the Mountain match with help from Samoa Joe. On the following edition of Impact!, Angle regained leadership of the Main Event Mafia after he and the rest of the Mafia, attacked Sting while introducing Joe as their newest member. At No Surrender Angle lost his championship to A.J. Styles in a five-way match which also included Matt Morgan, Sting, Hernandez and A.J. Styles.
====Face turn and various feuds (2009–2010)====
After defeating Morgan at Bound for Glory, Angle came out on the following edition of Impact! and put over the younger talent of the company, turning face in the process. Afterward, he was assaulted by the debuting Desmond Wolfe, who defeated him via knockout in a street fight the following week. At Turning Point Angle defeated Wolfe in a rematch. The following month at Final Resolution Angle faced Wolfe in a "Three Degrees of Pain" two out of three falls match. Wolfe managed to gain the first fall by pinning Angle following the Tower of London, but Angle forced him to tap out with the ankle lock to win the second fall. In the final fall, which could only be won by escaping the Six Sides of Steel, Angle managed to escape first and won the match. On the January 4, 2010, live, three hour, Monday night edition of Impact! Angle received a shot at A.J. Styles' World Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated in the main event of the show. Two weeks later at Genesis Angle received one last shot at the World Heavyweight Title, but was once again defeated by Styles, who turned heel with the help of Ric Flair and nailed him with the title belt. As a result, Angle was barred from challenging for the belt as long as Styles is the title holder. Due to the circumstances surrounding the loss, Hulk Hogan gave Angle another shot at Styles and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on the January 21 edition of Impact!, but this time he lost the match after referee Earl Hebner, who was later revealed to have been paid off by Flair, called for the bell in an incident similar to the Montreal Screwjob. Angle responded to the incident by spitting in Hogan's face, threatening to quit TNA and go back to WWE. Angle apologized to Hogan, after being saved by Scott Hall and Syxx-Pac. At Against All Odds Angle took part in the 8 Card Stud Tournament to crown a new number one contender, but was defeated in the first round by Mr. Anderson, after Anderson used Angle's dog tags to bust him open. On the following edition of Impact! Angle promised to make Anderson suffer for disrespecting the U.S. soldiers, but was in the end once again laid out by him, effectively starting a feud between the two. At Destination X Angle defeated Anderson in a rematch. Angle and Anderson were booked in a rubber match inside a steel cage at Lockdown. On the April 5 edition of Impact! Anderson defeated Angle in a ladder match to win possession of the key to the cage door. At Lockdown, Angle defeated Anderson in a steel cage match and afterwards announced that he would now be taking some time off from wrestling.
====Climb up the rankings and feud with Jeff Jarrett (2010–2011)====
Angle returned on the May 20 edition of Impact! and was ranked number two by the Championship Committee in the inaugural top 10 rankings for a World Heavyweight title shot. Angle, however, decided to take his name out of the running for a title shot and vowed to fight his way through the top 10 and earn his spot at the top of the company. At Slammiversary VIII Angle started his climb back to the top by defeating Kazarian, who was ranked number ten. Angle continued his climb, defeating Desmond Wolfe, who was ranked number nine prior to the match, on the June 24 edition of Impact!, and D'Angelo Dinero, ranked number eight, at Victory Road. On the July 22 edition of Impact! Angle defeated number seven ranked Hernandez and followed that up three weeks later by defeating number six ranked A.J. Styles. On the August 19 edition of Impact! the TNA World Heavyweight Championship was vacated and instead of continuing his climb, Angle was entered into an eight-man tournament for the title, defeating X Division Champion Douglas Williams in his first round match. At No Surrender Angle first wrestled Jeff Hardy to a twenty-minute time limit draw, after which Eric Bischoff ordered a five-minute extra time. After that and a second five-minute extra time also ended in draws, it was ruled that, due to a cut, Angle wouldn't be allowed to continue the match, ending the match in a no contest.
At Bound for Glory Angle was defeated by Hardy, when he turned heel and pinned Anderson, after an interference from Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, who then went on to form an alliance named Immortal, with Hardy, Abyss and Jeff Jarrett. On the following edition of Impact! Angle came out to make his retirement speech, after his failed attempt to win the World Heavyweight Champion, but was interrupted by Jarrett, who announced that he had made a deal with Hogan and Bischoff in order to end Angle's career at Bound for Glory, before attacking him, when he was restrained by TNA's security officers Gunner and Murphy. The following week Angle returned, trying to get his hands on Bischoff and Ric Flair, before being stopped by TNA's security officers. Angle returned three weeks later on the November 11 edition of Impact!, saving Samoa Joe from Jeff Jarrett, Gunner and Murphy. After not appearing again for two weeks, Angle made another return on the December 2 edition of Impact!, saving Samoa Joe from Jeff Jarrett and Abyss. On the January 6, 2011, edition of Impact! Angle interrupted Jarrett's $100,000 Mixed Martial Arts Challenge and signed a contract to face him at Genesis in an MMA exhibition match, since he had promised not to wrestle again. The match was thrown out in the third round after Jarrett blinded Angle. After the match Jarrett bloodied Angle, before announcing that he was ending his mixed martial arts career and promised that his wife, Karen Jarrett (formerly Karen Angle), would be joining the retirement party. On the January 13 edition of Impact! Karen made her return and stopped Angle just as he was about to attack Jeff, telling him that she would not allow him to ruin their personal lives and promised to tell all about their divorce the following week. The following week Karen slapped Kurt, providing a distraction which allowed Jeff to beat him down. At the end of the show Crimson saved Angle from a beating at the hands of Immortal and Fortune. The following week Ric Flair reinstated Angle in order to place him and Crimson in a seven–on–two handicap match against Jarrett, James Storm, Robert Roode, Kazarian, Rob Terry, Gunner and Murphy. The match ended with Jarrett pinning Angle for the win. Afterwards, Angle was saved from another beatdown by the returning Scott Steiner. The following week Fortune turned on Immortal and aligned themselves with Angle, Crimson and Steiner. On February 13 at Against All Odds Jarrett defeated Angle in a singles match and as a result Angle was forced to walk Karen down the aisle, when she and Jarrett renewed their wedding vows on the March 3 edition of Impact!. After the match Angle hinted at a possible retirement by leaving his wrestling boots in the ring. On March 3 Angle proceeded to destroy the wedding set with an axe and forced wedding guest, New York Jet Bart Scott to tap out with the ankle lock. On April 17 at Lockdown, Jarrett defeated Angle in an "Ultra Male Rules" Two out of Three Falls steel cage match, with help from Karen. On the May 12 edition of Impact!, Angle revealed Chyna as his backup in taking care of the Jarretts. At Sacrifice, Angle and Chyna defeated the Jarretts in a mixed tag team match. Later that same month, Angle signed a new three-year contract with TNA. With Karen out of the picture, Angle defeated Jarrett on June 12 at Slammiversary IX in what was billed as the "final battle" between the two to retain his Olympic gold medal and become the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. However, on the following edition of Impact Wrestling, Jarrett challenged Angle to a Parking Lot Brawl and agreed to sign a contract that would force him to move to Mexico without Angle's children, should he lose the match. Angle ended up winning the fight after choking Jarrett with a shirt, forcing him to say "adiós".
====Regaining championships (2011–2012)====
After a feud with AJ Styles, Angle teamed up with Styles to feud with Christopher Daniels & Kazarian. On June 10 at Slammiversary, Angle and Styles defeated Daniels & Kazarian for the World Tag Team Championships. This cemented another face turn. On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, Angle entered the 2012 Bound for Glory Series, taking part in the opening gauntlet match, from which he was eliminated by Daniels. Two weeks later, Angle and Styles lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship back to Daniels and Kazarian. Angle wrestled his final match in the 2012 Bound for Glory Series on the August 30 episode of Impact Wrestling, losing to Jeff Hardy, which caused him to get eliminated from the tournament. On September 9 at No Surrender, Angle and Styles unsuccessfully challenged Daniels and Kazarian for the TNA World Tag Team Championship.[ Angle and Styles received another title shot against Daniels and Kazarian on October 14 at Bound for Glory, in a three-way match, which was won by Chavo Guerrero, Jr. and Hernandez. On the following episode of Impact Wrestling, Angle defeated Daniels and Styles in a three-way match to become one of four wrestlers in consideration for a shot at the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
====New Main Event Mafia (2012–2013)====
The following week, Angle was chosen as the number one contender for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, but was defeated by Jeff Hardy in his title match. Afterwards, Angle was attacked by Aces & Eights. At Turning Point, Angle defeated Aces & Eights member Devon via submission, despite the rest of Aces & Eights trying to interfere. Angle would continue his feud with Aces & Eights on the December 6 episode of Impact Wrestling, defeating DOC via disqualification after the rest of Aces & Eights interfered. Three days later at Final Resolution, Angle teamed with Garrett Bischoff, Samoa Joe, and Wes Brisco to defeat Devon, DOC, and two masked members of Aces & Eights in an eight-man tag team match. Angle unsuccessfully challenged Devon for the TNA Television Championship on the December 20 edition of Impact Wrestling, after interference from Aces & Eights, Garett Bischoff, Samoa Joe, and Wes Brisco. On the January 3, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, Angle and Samoa Joe defeated Devon and a masked member of Aces & Eights in a steel cage tag team match. Afterwards, the returning Sting saved Angle and Joe from a beatdown from Aces & Eights before revealing the mystery member as the debuting Mike Knox. The following week, Angle was sidelined with a storyline injury after Knox hit him in the neck with a ball-peen hammer. Angle returned to in-ring action on the January 31 Impact Wrestling, defeating Aces & Eights member Mr. Anderson in a steel cage match. Afterwards, Angle's two allies Garret Bischoff and Wes Brisco revealed themselves as members of Aces & Eights and attacked him. Angle infiltrated the Aces & Eights hideout on the February 28 Impact and managed to unmask their Vice President, but was beat down by the other members before he could reveal his identity to the cameras. Angle revealed the Vice President as D'lo Brown on the following episode of Impact. At Lockdown, Angle was defeated by Wes Brisco in a steel cage match, following interference from Brown. Angle was defeated by Jeff Hardy in a four-way number one contenders match for the World Heavyweight Championship, which also included Magnus and Samoa Joe on the March 21 Impact Wrestling. In the following weeks, Angle would continue to face Bischoff and Brisco in multiple tag team and handicap matches, that all ended with the two getting the advantage over Angle. Angle then began feuding with A.J. Styles, after Styles refused to answer Angle's question on whether he is with TNA or the Aces & Eights which led to a brawl between the two on the May 9 episode of Impact Wrestling. On June 2 at Slammiversary, Angle was announced as the second inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame. Later that night, Angle defeated Styles in a singles match. On the following Impact Wrestling, Angle got into a verbal confrontation with the debuting Rampage Jackson who claimed he had to beat the best to be the best. The following week, Angle was defeated by Styles in a rematch to earn the final spot in the 2013 Bound for Glory Series. Afterwards, Angle would be assaulted by Aces & Eights until Jackson came out and made the save. On June 20 Angle attacked TNA World Heavyweight Champion Bully Ray at the end of the Impact episode, and revealed himself as the first member of Sting's New Main Event Mafia. In the following weeks, Angle and Sting would recruit Samoa Joe, Magnus, and Rampage Jackson as members of the New Main Event Mafia. Beginning on August 2, Angle took a hiatus from TNA after being admitted to rehab for drug and alcohol use.
====Feuding with Roode and Ethan Carter III (2013–2014)====
Angle returned on the October 10th edition of Impact attacking EGO and challenged Bobby Roode to a match at Bound for Glory. The following week, Angle stated his discontentment with Roode mocking his Hall of Fame induction and told Roode he would make him tap out. Roode responded by attacking Angle with help from his faction, EGO, forcing Angle to submit to the crossface hold in a precursory act prior to their match. At the PPV Angle was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame but he refused to accept the offer as he felt he had let himself, TNA and the fans down and didn't deserve a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. He also said he would accept the offer when he feels he has earned it and he still has great things to do in TNA. Later in that night, Angle was defeated by Roode, after he landed awkwardly from a running belly-to-belly suplex. On October 31 episode of Impact, Angle lied about gaining medical clearance Angle suffered (kayfabe) convulsions during the match against Bobby Roode after a bad landing from the same move again, which resulted in referee Brian Hebner rewarding a knock out/count-out victory to Roode. After the match, he also showed signs of post-concussive amnesia. On November 5, Angle was reported to had tested negative for concussion, but his recurring knee injuries still required monitoring. The following week, Angle saw the New Main Event Mafia being disbanded, then he was attacked by Roode after he accused him to use his injuries to get out of the match. On November 14, Angle won a submission match against Austin Aries in the World Title Tournament, but by using Roode's finisher: Arm trap crossface, with Roode watching on at the ramp. However, Angle lost his next match against Magnus due to an interference from Roode. At Final Resolution, Angle was defeated by Roode in a 2-out-of 3 falls match but Angle beat Roode in a Steel Cage match at Genesis to end the feud.
On the February 27 episode of Impact, Angle attacked Ethan Carter III, the next week, Angle was attacked by Ethan Carter III and severely damaged his knees, thus losing his chance to fight at Lockdown. Angle made his return on April 17, and vowed revenge.
In May, Angle underwent ACL repair surgery and would be out of action for up to four months.
====Executive Director of Wrestling Operations (2014)====
On June 20, 2014 (aired June 26) Angle was named Executive Director of Wrestling Operations of TNA by TNA's Board of Directors. He would announce a TNA World Heavyweight Championship rematch for the July 3 edition of Impact Wrestling between Lashley and Eric Young, and reinstate Bobby Roode, who had been indefinitely suspended by MVP. Angle would also retire the TNA Television Championship, which had not been seen or defended since Abyss won it at Slammiversary 2013.
On September 21, 2014, Angle's contract with TNA expired, ending his eight-year tenure with the company. Angle teased a return to WWE, however, he was offered a full-time contract, so Angle decided to stay with TNA.
On the November 19, 2014 episode of Impact Wrestling, MVP attacked Kurt backstage, after that Kurt has caused MVP into the ring and started the fight.
====Final storylines (2015–2016)====
Angle returned to in-ring action on TNA's debut on Destination America on January 7, 2015 when he stopped a brawl, but started a street fight with MVP. On January 31, 2015 (aired March 20), Kurt Angle defeated Bobby Lashley for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship for a record sixth time. He lost the title to Eric Young on May 1, 2015, after defending the title against Lashley once and then again against both Lashley and Eric Young. At Destination X Angle defeated Rockstar Spud, who gave up the TNA X-Division Championship in order to challenge for the title. Later that night, Angle again successfully defended his title, this time against Austin Aries, who cashed in his Feast or Fired contract to allow him a title match.
On October 4, 2015 at Bound for Glory, Angle defeated Young by an ankle lock submission. Angle announced his "Farewell Tour" which took place on TNA's tour of the UK. Kurt Angle teamed with Drew Galloway in a three-way tag team match against Eli Drake and Jessie Godderz and The Wolves for their TNA World Tag Team Championship at TNA One Night Only: Live, in a losing effort. Angle's final match was against Lashley on March 8, 2016 which ended up in a losing effort.
=== Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (2012) ===
Angle made his debut for Mexican promotion Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA) on August 5, 2012 at Triplemanía XX, where he teamed up with Jeff Jarrett as Team Dorian Roldán in a hair vs. hair match, where they faced Team Joaquín Roldán (Electroshock and L.A. Park), with the Roldáns' hairs on the line. Electroshock won the match for his team by pinning Angle, forcing Dorian to have his head shaved bald. However, after the match, Angle, Jarrett and Dorian overpowered the winners and shaved Joaquín bald.
=== Independent circuit (2016–2017) ===
On March 20, 2016, Angle competed for URFight, going against former rival and fellow WWE alumnus Rey Mysterio in a losing effort in a two-falls match that saw Angle as a heel by using dirty tactics. Angle wrestled for Revolution Pro Wrestling on June 12, where he defeated Zack Sabre, Jr.. On August 27, Angle lost to Cody Rhodes at Northeast Wrestling's Wrestling Under the Stars on August 27 in Wappingers Falls, New York. Angle defeated Joe Hendry at the October 6 What Culture Pro Wrestling (WCPW) tapings. On November 20, 2016, Angle lost to Joe Coffey at Insane Championship Wrestling's Fear & Loathing IX. On February 12, 2017, Angle defeated Alberto el Patrón at WCPW True Destiny in his final match in the United Kingdom.
On March 3, 2017 Angle appeared for Northeast Wrestling in Connecticut, where he was defeated by Cody Rhodes in a steel cage match. This was his last match on the independent circuit.
=== Return to WWE ===
==== Raw General Manager (2017–2019) ====
On January 16, 2017, WWE announced that Angle would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. On March 16, WWE revealed that his long-time rival John Cena would induct Angle at the Hall of Fame ceremony. On the April 3 episode of Raw after WrestleMania 33, Angle made his first WWE appearance in nearly 11 years after Mr. McMahon appointed Angle as the new general manager of Raw. On the May 29 episode of Raw, Angle was informed by Raw commentator Corey Graves about some "scandalous information" that was sent to him about Angle, with Angle telling Graves "if this is true, it could ruin me". On the July 17 episode of Raw, Angle revealed that he had a son with a woman he dated in college. He stated that his son eventually ended up in the WWE. Angle then made the announcement that his (on-screen) son was Jason Jordan of American Alpha, thus moving Jordan to the Raw brand.
On October 20, WWE announced Angle's in-ring return after 11 years, replacing Roman Reigns due to medical issues and teaming with Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins to face The Miz, Cesaro, Sheamus, Braun Strowman, and Kane in a 5-on-3 handicap Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs. Angle (dressed in The Shield's ring attire), Ambrose, and Rollins won the match, despite Angle having initially been taken out when Braun Strowman executed a Running Powerslam through a table on Angle.
On the October 30 episode of Raw, while addressing the fans, Angle would be confronted by Stephanie McMahon, where McMahon would announce that Angle would be the team captain of Team Raw at Survivor Series, adding that if Team Raw would lose, Angle would be fired. At the event, Angle would be attacked by teammate Triple H, leading to his elimination by Shane McMahon, however, Team Raw would still go on and win the match, resulting in Angle keeping his job.
At Elimination Chamber, Angle, along with Stephanie and Triple H, would be present when Ronda Rousey would sign her Raw contract, where Angle would bring up the confrontation that Stephanie and Triple H had with Rousey and The Rock at WrestleMania 31 and that they both want to manipulate her. This would cause Rousey to put Triple H through a table and be slapped by Stephanie before signing her contract. The following night on Raw, Angle would claim the allegations he made were false to keep his job before being attacked by Triple H. As a result, the following week, Angle scheduled himself to team with Rousey against Triple H and Stephanie in a mixed tag team match at WrestleMania 34. They finally emerge victorious in WrestleMania 34 where Rousey took a vicious submission towards Stephanie after both her and Triple H failed to land a final blow on both of them with a Pedigree as Stephanie ended up getting some medical attention and was hospitalized.
Throughout Raw as General Manager, Kurt Angle always gives them some matches to other WWE Superstars especially to have problems with Baron Corbin who was given a job by Stephanie McMahon as a constable. He was also the one who gave Ronda Rousey a 30-day suspension after she made a powerful assault against Alexa Bliss and himself as well as the 1 week extension after she violated her suspension by attacking both Bliss and Mickie James. Angle also made an ultimatum on Brock Lesnar who is the current WWE Universal Champion despite Paul Heyman's pleas.
On July 30, Kurt Angle gives Ronda Rousey her first match against Alicia Fox next week after Natalya loses to Fox due to the cheap shot made by Alexa Bliss and to inform Roman Reigns to leave the building as Stephanie McMahon's direct order before Reigns knocks Baron Corbin out before leaving the building with the security send by Corbin and also terminates Paul Heyman at the same night after Heyman did his best to convince Brock Lesnar to show up in the ring which he refused until Lesnar shows up to confront them in the ring and knocks him down with an F-5 before glaring on both Corbin and Heyman.
On April 15, 2020 Angle was released by WWE.
==Personal life==
Angle attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in education in 1993. In his later life, Angle got a Clarion University Golden Eagle, wearing a singlet, tattooed on his upper back.
Kurt Angle is a Republican who supported George Bush in both 2000 and 2004, along with John McCain in 2008.
Angle has four older brothers (one of whom, Eric, is also a wrestler) and a sister, Le'Anne, who died of a drug overdose. His father was killed in a construction accident when Angle was sixteen, and Angle dedicated both his career and his autobiography It's True, It's True to him as a result. Angle claimed in an interview that, following the death of his father, he regarded his wrestling coach, David Schultz, as a paternal figure. While training Angle, Schultz was murdered in January 1996 by John Eleuthère du Pont, the sponsor of Schultz's team of Olympic prospectives.
He married Karen Angle on December 19, 1998, and the couple have a daughter, Kyra, who was born on December 2, 2002. They also have a son, Kody, who was born on October 26, 2006. In August 2007, Karen debuted in TNA as Angle's regular valet. In September 2008, it was reported that Karen had filed for divorce from Kurt.
In 2009, It was reported that TNA Co-founder Jeff Jarrett was romantically linked to Karen Angle, beginning while Karen and Angle were separated. This resulted in TNA president Dixie Carter, placing Jeff Jarret on leave of absence. The situation was revealed in July 2009 when a caller claiming to be a former TNA employee called in on The Bubba the Love Sponge Show. Dixie Carter commented on the situation on Impact, stating "a personal situation that affected the company and it put all of us in a very difficult position." She said Jeff was placed "on leave as both a talent and in his capacity with the company and I'd like to leave it at that." In December 2009, Jarrett returned to TNA. He would marry Karen on August 21, 2010.
Angle is also featured on the cover artwork and TV ad footage of Emmure's The Respect Issue, a Deathcore album released May 13, 2008 by Victory Records.
==Substance abuse allegations==
===Wellness Policy violation===
On March 6, 2007, Sports Illustrated reported that Angle's name was found in the client database of a Florida wellness center suspected of being a front for distributing performance-enhancing drugs. The magazine alleged Angle had received prescriptions for trenbolone (which is not approved for human use by the FDA) and nandrolone, both anabolic steroids. Angle responded on his official website: "I did not improperly receive prescriptions. It is well documented that in my career I have broken vertebrae in my neck on five occasions and each time the course of treatment was under the care and supervision of my doctors. Any attempt to link me to the athletes in the current news accounts who may have improperly sought performance-enhancing drugs is without foundation."
Approximately two weeks later on March 19, 2007, Sports Illustrated posted on its website another article in its continuing series investigating a steroid and HGH ring used by a number of professional athletes in several sports. That article mentioned that 10 other professional wrestlers were implicated to have received performance-enhancing drugs from the same drug ring including four WWE wrestlers and Eddie Guerrero. Kurt never failed a drug test for pain pills. He did, however, fail a steroid test under WWE's Wellness Policy because his prescription for Deca-Durabolin had expired.
===Driving under the influence charges===
Angle was arrested at his home by Moon Township, Pennsylvania police on September 28, 2007 on a charge of driving under the influence after being reported by a woman who claimed that he almost hit her while leaving a local restaurant. Officials said Angle failed a field sobriety test but refused a blood test. Angle was charged with driving under the influence and careless driving, On September 9, 2008, Angle was cleared of all charges pertaining to his DUI arrest.
===2009 arrest===
On August 15, 2009, Pittsburgh-based NBC affiliate WPXI reported that Angle had been arrested. His girlfriend stated that she had filed a protection from abuse (PFA) order and that he was stalking her in the Robinson Township area. Angle was charged with "driving while operating privilege is suspended, prohibited acts-possession, harassment and prohibited acts". Hygetropin, a human growth hormone, was found in his car; Angle maintained that he had a prescription for the drug. On September 15 a District Court Judge dropped the harassment, suspended license, and drug charges against Angle. On November 9, 2009 the PFA charges were dropped after he and former girlfriend Trenesha Biggers reached an agreement to avoid contact with each other.
==Acting career==
In regards to his future, Angle has expressed interest on several occasions in pursuing an acting career after retirement from professional wrestling. In the spring of 2008, Angle made his film debut in the short film Chains. He played a racist prison deputy, credited as The Deputy.
In the fall of 2008, Angle played the role of maniacal serial killer Brad Mayfield in the movie End Game. In addition, on an episode of Pros vs. Joes season three, he was teamed up with Jimmy Smith and Kendall Gill against the Joes.
Angle also made an appearance on Criss Angel Mindfreak, during the segment "Car Wreck Vanish." He also made an appearance in the upcoming 2010 film Warrior as the Russian mixed-martial arts champion, Koba in which most of the film was shot in Angle's hometown of Pittsburgh. Kurt stars alongside Kevin Nash, Sam Nicotero, Bill Laing, Mary Rutledge, and Bill Hinzman in the movie River of Darkness, directed by Bruce Koehler. In the movie, he portrayed the town sheriff, Will Logan.
===Filmography===
*2010:Death From Above (filming)
*2010:Devil Dogs – as Steve Stagger (pre-Production)
*2010:Dead of Night – as Wolfgang (post-Production)
*2010:River of Darkness – as Sheriff Will Logan (post-Production)
*2010:Warrior – as Koba (post-Production)
*2009:End Game – as Brad Mayfield
*2009:Chain's – as The Deputy (Short Film)
===Television===
*2010:Living TV's Most Haunted – Himself (3 episodes)
*2009:Howard Stern On Demand – Himself (2 episodes, Eric the Midget Visits the Studio, Kurt Angle Wants Robin)
*2009:Chris Angel Mindfreak – Himself (1 Episode, Car Wreck Vanish)
*2007:Inside MMA – Himself (2 episodes)
*2006:Scream Awards 2006 – Himself
*2002:Late Night With Conan O'Brian – Himself (1 episode)
*2001:Weakest Link – Himself (1 episode)
*2001:The Tonight Show With Jay Leno – Himself (1 episode)
*2000:The Big Breakfast – Himself (1 episode)
==In wrestling==
*Finishing moves
**Angle Slam / Olympic slam, sometimes from the top rope elevated position
**Ankle lock, sometimes followed by grapevining the opponent's leg
**Crossface chickenwing – 2000; adopted from Bob Backlund
*Signature moves
**Double leg takedown, often transitioned into a pin or a suplex
**European uppercut
**Moonsault
**Multiple suplex variations
***Bridging / Release / Rolling German
***Overhead belly to belly, sometimes from the top rope
*Managers
**Bob Backlund
**Paul Heyman
**Shane McMahon
**Stephanie McMahon
**Trish Stratus
**Luther Reigns
**Daivari
**Tomko
**Karen Angle
**Kevin Nash
**Frank Trigg
*Nicknames
**"The American Hero"
**"The Most Celebrated Real Athlete in WWF History"
**"Real Athlete"
**"The Olympic Gold Medalist"
**"The Olympic Hero"
**"The Olympic Champion" (as champion)
**"The Only Olympic Gold Medalist in Professional Wrestling History"
**"The Wrestling Machine"
**"The Cyborg"
**"The Godfather of The Main Event Mafia"
*Notable feuds
**The Rock
**Stone Cold Steve Austin
**Triple H
**Chris Benoit
**Edge
**Brock Lesnar
**John Cena
**Eddie Guerrero
**The Undertaker
**Shawn Michaels
**Jeff Jarrett
**Samoa Joe
**A.J. Styles
**Booker T
**Sting
**Christian Cage
*Entrance music
**"Medal" by Jim Johnston (WWF/E) 1999–2005, 2017–2020
**"I Don't Suck" by Jim Johnston (WWE) 2001
**"Medal (Remix)" by Jim Johnston (WWE) 2005–2006
**"My Quest" by Dale Oliver (TNA) 2006–2007
**"Gold Medal" performed by Tha Trademarc and composed by Dale Oliver 2007–2016
**"Main Event Mafia" by Dale Oliver 2008–2009
==Championships and accomplishments==
===Amateur wrestling===
*Canadian Cup Championship
**Winner (1990)
*Collegiate / High School
**Pennsylvania State Wrestling Champion (1987)
**Clarion University Freshman of the Year (1988)
*Espoir World Cup
**Runner-up (1989)
*International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles
**FILA Junior World Freestyle Champion (1988)
**FILA World Freestyle Champion (1995)
*National Amateur Wrestling
**National Amateur Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)
*National Collegiate Athletic Association
**NCAA Division I All-American (1990–1992)
**NCAA Division I Champion (1990, 1992)
**NCAA Division I runner-up (1991)
*Olympic Games
**Summer Olympics gold medal in freestyle wrestling (heavyweight) (1996)
*USA Wrestling
**USA Junior Freestyle Champion (1987)
**USA Senior Freestyle Champion (1995, 1996)
**USA Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)
*World Championships
**Gold medal in freestyle wrestling (heavyweight) (1995)
*Yasar Dogu Tournament
**Runner-up (1989)
===Professional wrestling===
*Cauliflower Alley Club
**Future Legend Award (2000)
*Inoki Genome Federation
**IWGP World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Power Pro Wrestling
**PPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Comeback of the Year (2003)
**PWI Feud of the Year (2000) vs. Triple H
**PWI Feud of the Year (2003) vs. Brock Lesnar
**PWI Feud of the Year (2007) vs. Samoa Joe
**PWI Match of the Year (2003) vs. Brock Lesnar in a 60-minute Iron Man match on SmackDown!, September 16
**PWI Match of the Year (2005) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 21
**PWI Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (2000)
**PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2001)
**PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (2003)
**PWI Rookie of the Year (2000)
**PWI Wrestler of the Year (2003)
**PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2001
*SoCal Uncensored
**Match of the Year (2000) vs. Christopher Daniels, September 13, 2000, Ultimate Pro Wrestling
*Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
**TNA World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
**TNA World Tag Team Championship (2 time) – with Sting (1), and A.J. Styles, (1)
**TNA X Division Championship (1 time)
**King of the Mountain (2007, 2009)
**Second Triple Crown Champion
**Feud of the Year (2006) 
*World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWF/E Championship (4 times)
**WCW Championship (1 time)2
**World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)2
**WWF European Championship (1 time)
**WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)
**WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
**WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chris Benoit
**King of the Ring (2000)
**WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2017)
**Tenth Triple Crown Champion
**Fifth Grand Slam Championship
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Best Gimmick (2000)
**Best on Interviews (2002)
**Best Technical Wrestler (2002)
**Feud of the Year (2003) vs. Brock Lesnar
**Match of the Year with Chris Benoit vs. Edge and Rey Mysterio, No Mercy 2002
**Most Improved (2000)
**Most Outstanding Wrestler (2001–2003)
**Readers' Favorite Wrestler (2002–2003)
**Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
**Wrestler of the Year (2002)
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
2 Won during the Invasion storyline.
===Lucha de Apuesta record===
Wager	Winner	Loser 	Location 	Date 	Notes
Hair 	Edge 	Kurt Angle	Nashville, Tennessee	May 19, 2002	Hair vs. hair match at Judgment Day
==External links==
* Profile
* Profile
* Facebook Page
* Twitter Page
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