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#4 Kurt Angle
In 2000, WWE was at its zenith, and professional wrestling was an integral part of the popular culture. Even though "Stone Cold" Steve Austin was absent for most of the year, a fresh cast of characters ensured that the momentum generated by his monumental run wasn't squandered.
The top babyface at the time was The Rock, who was not only doing some of the best work of his professional wrestling career but was also beginning to branch out into the mainstream by hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time.
Meanwhile, Kurt Angle was in the middle of one of the greatest rookie years in the history of professional wrestling. Although it came as no surprise that he took to the ring like a duck to water, the seemingly-introverted Olympic Gold Medalist also displayed a natural flair for comedy which ensured that he was bound for stardom.
Just 11 months after his televised debut, Angle defeated The Rock at No Mercy 2000 to win his maiden WWE Championship. While it wasn't exactly as clean as a whistle, a title win against the biggest star in the business established the Wrestling Machine as the main event attraction and was one of the most pivotal moments in a Hall of Fame career.
