Kurt Angle is one of the greatest Superstars to have graced the squared circle and the hexagon, in equal proportions. Gifted with in-ring technicality and quick wit, he has been one of the torch-bearers of the professional wrestling business.
From winning the Olympic gold at 1996, to fighting in two of the most popular pro-wrestling promotions, Kurt Angle has been phenomenal at what he does best: wrestle. But would his wrestling ability have made him an equally good fighter inside the diabolical eight-sided structure?
Here are 5 reasons why Angle would have been a massive success in the UFC
#5 Wrestling background
His prowess as a technically gifted wrestler needs no introduction. Hailing from a predominantly wrestling background, Kurt Angle holds the distinction of being an Olympic gold medalist owing to his ascent to the pinnacle in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Despite being riddled with injuries and having resorted to pain-relieving analgesics, Kurt, possessing the virtues of ‘citius, altius, fortius’ was able to overcome the Iranian Abbas Jadidi to clinch the top prize!
Kurt Angle would have been equally successful in mixed martial arts, had he given preference to joining the UFC post his wrestling glory. Angle, in one of his interviews, confessed to giving the UFC a miss back in the day, primarily because of the lack of lucrativeness that it offered.
Also read: 5 People who could induct Kurt Angle into Hall of Fame
The World Wrestling Entertainment came calling, which dissuaded Angle from trying out his luck inside the UFC Octagon. Angle had another opportunity to associate himself with the UFC when Dana White offered him a spot at The Ultimate Fighter in 2008 to fight against Kimbo Slice.
The sophomore proposition was turned down by Angle too because it required him to be ready in four-and-a-half weeks. Kurt’s ingress to the Ultimate Fighting Championship would have been another feather in his cap... sadly that never transpired.
#4 Sublime groundwork
While his striking game might not be his greatest strength, he works with the ferocity of a crocodile when it comes to the ground.
Angle, known for his effortless takedowns, has been one of the most competent wrestlers/grapplers in the professional wrestling business, the seeds of which were sown quite early in his life.
Fans of World Wrestling Entertainment would fondly remember some of his iconic matches, including the Royal Rumble match in 2005 when he squared off against the legend Chris Benoit (yes, I mentioned his name; I broke the 4th wall, in your face Vince!).
Both men put up a great show replete with legit wrestling moves and a plethora of suplexes and takedowns, making it one of the most iconic matches in the history of the WWE. Another match that showcases Kurt Angle’s adroitness and dominance is when he faced Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 20.
Angle and Eddie put forth a show that can most effectively be termed as ‘a specimen of technical greatness’. Eddie and Kurt, both at their wrestling primes, engaged in a duel that was applauded because of the technical complexity that went into executing the match (and in putting up a great show).
Had Angle accepted a UFC contract, he wouldn’t have had many road-bumps en route to success owing to his incredible ground game.
#3 His MMA fight against Samoa Joe
Angle isn’t someone who has been deprived of MMA-esque action. He had his fair share of ‘real fighting’ (obviously with a sports entertainment inkling) when he faced Samoa Joe at Lockdown 2008.
The fight was inside a steel cage and wasn’t far from the realm of mixed martial arts, except for the fact that it was a hexagon that housed both competitors instead of an Octagon. The match brought to culmination what had been a feud for an entire year.
The high-profile status of the match, along with the added stipulation of Samoa’s termination of contract made this a grand affair and one of the biggest moments in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling’s history.
Prior to the start of the match, Kurt even ordered his wife to be escorted away from the ring, adding more drama to the already hot rivalry between both Superstars.
Kurt showed his athletic prowess on the mat, throwing a barrage of submission moves that completely startled the big man, proving yet again that age had no bearing on the Olympic champion’s abilities.
Although Joe picked up the victory, this match brought Kurt Angle’s technicality to the foreground, affirming him as one of the greatest performers/fighters in the pro-wrestling business.
#2 Work ethic
The embodiment of the three I’s that stood for ‘Intensity, Integrity and Intelligence’, Kurt Angle swears by his work ethic, something which has won him honour and recognition from the entire professional wrestling community.
Some of his matches, for instance, have gone beyond the usual rigmarole to live up to the hype. His famous match against Shane McMahon is still a hot favourite amongst those who swear by ‘hardcore’ WWE matches.
During the match, Angle suffered a legitimate injury and broke his tailbone.
Yet, despite all odds, both men did the impossible and worked their way through the entire match. Kurt Angle’s dedication and devotion to the business of professional wrestling is remarkable.
Equally good as a heel and a face, Angle has donned every kind of role to sell the business. With his workaholic ways, Angle would have been an equally great competitor inside the Octagon.
Angle is someone who is known as a go-getter, something that would have definitely catapulted him to top-draw status in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. An equal melange of hard-work and skill, Kurt Angle would have been one of the finest to have graced mixed martial arts.
#1 Unfazed by career threatening injuries
Kurt Angle’s life has seen a lot of tumult in the form of career threatening injuries. From broken tailbones to crippling neck injuries, Angle has had some nasty blows that have marred his career. Yet, his bold ways have often sprung him right back to where he left off from.
Injury after injury, Angle has always returned as strong as a roaring lion, unfazed by the damage that he has endured during the course of his career. A brave son-of-a-gun, Kurt Angle has learned how to conquer pain and emerge as the strongest form of himself.
He might have been a professional wrestler selling choreographed fights, but he always had the heart of a mixed martial artist. A 20-year younger Kurt Angle would have certainly provided a tough challenge to everyone in the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division with his agility and skills.
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