This is going to be hard to write. I adore watching Angle wrestle. Kurt, along with Shawn Michaels, are my favourite wrestlers of all-time. I have had the pleasure and privilege of watching all of Angle’s professional career since his debut against Shawn Stasiak at Survivor Series in 1999. Kurt was a natural in the business from his first match to his last. As the title suggests I am going to examine the rights and wrongs of Angle’s release.
Why releasing Angle is the right thing to do…
If, as I assume, Angle requested his release, then it is without question the right thing to do. Nobody should be kept in a job against their will and Angle’s wishes should be respected as a thank you to everything he has done for WWE. I think Angle’s fitness, his alleged reliance on painkillers and his general health and well being will have all been major factors in both parties coming to this decision. The exact reasons are unclear at this stage although knowing the wrestling business there should be a lot of information as to why this has happened available in the next few days.
Other reasons why it could be argued that the release of Angle was the right decision was the lack of in-ring time he has had lately. If Angle’s injuries are mounting up and if the rumours about a lack of feeling in one hand is true then from WWE’s point of view the reported salary Angle receives (in excess of $1million per year) is difficult to justify. From a more sinister point of view, WWE will probably hire Angle in the future as a commentator (difficult as Angle can only hear in only one ear) or put him in a GM-like role, similar to when he was SmackDown GM a couple of years ago, and they could pay him a salary more suitable to his new role…this would mean more money would be available for stupid reasons like the Diva Search but I digress. Some would argue if Angle isn’t earning his salary then he doesn’t deserve it.
Maybe Angle wanted time to try and save his broken marriage and obviously his health was a major factor so I can appreciate some of the logic behind Angle’s release, especially if it was at his request but I hope we see Angle back in the WWE in one way or another in the near future. My personal preference would be as the new Raw GM as a fearless babyface who stands up to the heels because he knows he can take them out if they try and get in his face.
Why releasing Angle is the wrong thing to do…
Kurt Angle is still one of (if not) the best in-ring performers in WWE and / or ECW. His charisma, whether as a babyface or a heel is as good as anyone else and his ability to have a five star match with almost anyone and the fact that he is one of the best sellers in the history of the business guarantees entertainment and makes mediocre opponents look good and good opponents look great. Even if he couldn’t wrestle long matches or frequent matches he should have been kept on and maybe used sparingly like Undertaker, Mick Foley or Ric Flair. There are far less talented people earning money for non-wrestling roles…insert Diva’s name here.
Maybe they could have used Angle as a manager of a young prodigy (if anyone can get someone over it’s Kurt) or maybe as a General Manager as I mentioned earlier. Think of a role in WWE and there’s no doubt Kurt Angle would be one of the best ever…GM – check! Manager – check! Commentator – check! Backstage interviewer – check! Ring crew – check! Hair & make up – check! Angle is the kind of man who strives to be the best at whatever he does, no matter what that may be.
Angle should have been given the freedom to wrestle as and when he wanted to but the danger is that if given the chance Angle would probably want to wrestle every day and that’s part of the problem. Angle, like Flair, Foley, ‘Taker, etc has earned the right to that kind of schedule. He has had classic matches with the biggest modern day stars of this business; Triple H, Michaels, ‘Taker, Benoit, Jericho, Austin, The Rock…the list goes on and on. Angle’s feud with Brock Lesnar helped the former youngest WWE Champion become ‘The Big Thing’…there was no need for the word ‘next’ after he tangled with Kurt Angle.
Summary
I have so many fond memories of Kurt’s career such as his record breaking first year when he won the European, Intercontinental and WWE Championships, his classic matches against Chris Benoit, most notably the Royal Rumble match a few years ago, his feud with Michaels from the Rumble to WrestleMania 21 and his version of ‘Sexy Kurt (I’ll make your ankle hurt!)’, his screwing of the Undertaker when his brother, Eric, took the Last Ride instead of Kurt at Survivor Series, his scooter and his destruction of ‘Taker’s motorcycle, his milk attack on the Alliance, his debut of the ankle lock when he ‘broke’ Scotty 2 Hotty’s ankle, the list goes on and on.
I am convinced Angle has requested to leave so I respect WWE’s decision to allow him to go home, mend his broken body and possibly his equally broken marriage and maybe come back a much happier man. Selfishly, I would love to see Angle return full time to the ring but I’ll be happy with a return in any capacity. Even if WWE don’t use him on air he would make one hell of a agent, joining the likes of other greats such as Dean Malenko, Ricky Steamboat and Ted Dibiase.
In a business built around ‘angles’, Kurt was arguably the greatest Angle in the history of this business. All the best for the future Kurt, please don’t forget to drop by on WWE TV every now and then…thanks for the memories!
fye@wrestle-zone.co.uk
