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Angle: 'Second year was 20 times better'
by Phil Speer


Kurt Angle says his second year was "20 times better" than his first year, which is incredible, considering that his first was arguably the best rookie campaign in sports-entertainment history. Angle made his World Wrestling Federation television debut at Survivor Series on Nov. 14, 1999, in Detroit, where he defeated Shawn Stasiak. He became the Federation Champion less than one year after that debut, and he was also the King of the Ring, Intercontinental Champion and European Champion during those first 12 months. But he says he didn't really "learn" the business until his second year.

"As impressive as my first year was, I thought my second year was 20 times better," said Angle, now a two-time Federation Champion. "I became a much better performer my second year. I learned the business. I became a leader instead of a follower -- and I had to be a follower to learn."

Angle's success is the result of both the similarities and the differences between the real Kurt Angle and the character he plays on television.

Angle's in-ring character generates a reaction from the fans because it's believable. And it's believable because it's an extension of his true personality. When Angle lectures crowds about their lack of morals, he comes off as someone that's still living in the 1950s -- and maybe, in real life, he is.

"Kurt is kind of a modern-day Ward Clever with a lot more humor involved," said his good friend Edge. "He's the kind of guy that would say 'bucko.' One of his favorite sayings when he's angry is 'Cripes on Friday.'"

Edge added that Angle doesn't drink or smoke, and most nights on the road he simply has dinner and returns to his hotel room. And then there's a certain accomplishment he achieved at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, which also makes him believable in the fans' eyes.

"No matter how goofy he acts on TV," Edge said, "he's always going to be a gold medalist and you can't take that away from him."

But while the similarities between the real Kurt and the "American Hero" help him achieve success in the ring, it's the differences between his personality and his persona that have helped him earn that all-important respect backstage.

The snobbish, holier-than-thou Kurt Angle you see every week on RAW and SmackDown! is nothing like the student-of-the-game Kurt Angle, who is striving to improve each day.

"He doesn't think he's above anybody else and he listens," said another good friend, Christian. "He wrestles a lot with guys such as Triple H and Undertaker and The Rock. (With) guys like that, you can't help but learn. He's kept his head on straight and learned every time he's gone out to the ring. He's done an outstanding job on the (microphone) with his character, in the ring, and in the back with the rest of the guys. He's a class guy all the way."

Still, a normal person could watch wrestling tapes, practice with veterans and work out 24 hours a day and still not be anywhere near Angle's league. It's clear that Angle has a God-given gift as an entertainer.

Even he's surprised at how fast he has progressed.

"I always reached for the stars," Angle said. "I've always been a guy that said, 'Eventually I'm going to make myself the best.' But I thought it'd take a good four or five years to win the title, let alone be considered one of the best."

Angle also argues his success thus far has little to nothing to do with the fact that he's an Olympic gold medalist.

"People said, 'Man, Angle, you got a push fast, and it's because of your gold medal,'" he said. "Imagine if I was horrible. I wouldn't be here right now. There are other people who have come into this business who were professional athletes (and) Olympians who are no longer here. It just shows you, when you get that push really quick and you don't produce, where do you end up? Not here."

Angle has been able to celebrate on each of his first two anniversaries with the Federation. Last year at Survivor Series -- Angle's one year anniversary - he defeated the Undertaker, a well-respected veteran and leader in the Federation's locker room.

Undertaker says he realized that Angle was one of the best that night -- which was also Taker's 10-year Federation anniversary.

"That wasn't a very nice anniversary gift," Undertaker said with a laugh. "That stands out in my mind because at the time I was living in Tampa (site of the event). It was my 10-year anniversary and it was a night that I found out how far Kurt Angle had come along in this business. He really established himself that night as a big-time player."

One year later, on his two-year anniversary, Angle was once again a prominent part of Survivor Series. This time, he revealed himself as Vince McMahon's mole, and helped the Federation defeat the Alliance.

"It was really special to be able to such an integral part of the whole storyline," Angle said. "To be part of the main topic -- Which company is it going to be? -- I was ecstatic about that."

Angle's success can't just be measured by what you see on TV -- at least not yet. Over the next few years, perhaps, we'll really see the impact that Angle has had on sports entertainment. Just days after Angle started training for his career in sports entertainment (that's all that it took for officials to realize they had a natural on their hands) the Federation's talent relations department started to aggressively pursue other top-notch amateur wrestlers. Former University of Minnesota stars Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin, for example, are currently training at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, Ky. The hope is that they can one day be the next Kurt Angle.

"He's the role model for everybody that we sign in our developmental program," says Jim Ross, the voice of the Federation as well as senior vice president for talent relations. "You can be like Mike in basketball. We'd rather you could be like Kurt in the WWF." What does Angle hope to accomplish in year No. 3?

"I don't have any goals as far as how many wins (I get or) how many titles I win, although my character would say that's the most important thing in the world," he said. "My goal is just to continue to improve, to make this company better than it has ever been, which is a very difficult task after the success it has had the last three years.

"You're going to start seeing Kurt Angle in the third year being compared to the Austins and The Rocks and the Triple Hs and the Undertakers. To me, that's very important."



From WWF.COM