Welcome to another installment of our eWrestlingNews’ daily wrestling question!
It was on this date in pro wrestling’s past (to be exact, November 14, 1999) that Kurt Angle debuted in a WWE pay-per-view event at Survivor Series, defeating Shawn Stasiak in a match that lasted just under six minutes. Find the full match here:
In a recent discussion with WrestleZone, Angle shared his perspective that his stint with TNA Wrestling is often undervalued by fans. He feels that his work in TNA surpassed his time in WWE, dismissing the common notion that he might have been the greatest wrestler of all time had he continued with WWE.
So, today’s question is this: “Do you believe Kurt Angle’s TNA tenure to be more fundamental in defining his overall career, or do you attribute greater significance to his WWE history?”
Share your opinions in the comments section below.
My thoughts on this…
As a wrestling enthusiast, one of my regrets is the period I was on a break from following the sport. To cut a long story short, I was bored with the monotonous references to The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in every wrestling scene, I explored other arenas, and by 2000, I was out of the wrestling circle. My reentry was in the mid-2000s, just when DX had got back together.
Regrettably, this meant I remained oblivious to the latter part of the Attitude Era, the acquisition of WCW, and the Ruthless Aggression transition. I didn’t even get to see Brock Lesnar wrestle. For me, Eddie Guerrero was the coolest cruiserweight in the LWO.
I also missed almost all of Kurt Angle’s career. When I began watching again, he was already leaving the WWE. All I remember is his WWE entrances and how he became the centerpiece of TNA, being rated as one of the best in the industry.
Even though I wasn’t very familiar with TNA, I found it interesting enough to sporadically watch and admire wrestlers like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Robert Roode, among others. Angle headlined that list, and it was evident why people hailed him as one of the greats.
Now here’s my take: Angle’s time with TNA was a cornerstone of his legacy. Without TNA, he still had a Hall of Fame-worthy career, but his WWE status was more along the lines of a Bret Hart – a top-tier talent but easily replaceable. It was TNA that elevated him to the ultimate rank in wrestling, solidifying his place in the top tier.
Without TNA, he might still be recognized as a great wrestler, but maybe not as an elite one.
What are your opinions on this? Share them in the comments section below!