Kurt Angle (born December 9, 1968 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling and now a professional wrestler performing for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

Angle had a distinguished career in amateur wrestling even before winning in the Olympics. He was a 2-time NCAA Division I champion and a 3-time NCAA Division I All-American while attending Clarion University . He was also 1987 USA Junior Freestyle champion, 2-time USA Senior Freestyle champion, and 1988 USA FILA Junior World Freestyle champion. Angle reached the pinnacle of his amateur career at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, winning the 100 kg (220-pound) freestyle wrestling competition with "a broken freakin' neck".

Not long after his Olympic success, he decided to enter the world of broadcasting. He was hired to do sports commentary during the 10 PM nightly newscast on Pittsburgh television WPGH channel 53. Promoted as "The Angle on Sports", Kurt was visibly nervous and had trouble speaking on camera. His news career lasted only a few months before he turned to professional wrestling. The move brought sharp criticism from his peers in the freestyle wrestling community who regard professional wrestling as a mockery of their sport.

Less than four years after earning Olympic gold, and after many months spent in developmental territories and competing in untelevised "dark matches", Angle officially wrestled in the WWF for the first time in November of 1999 at the annual Survivor Series pay-per-view event, held that year at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. He faced, and defeated, Shawn Stasiak for his debut match.

A few months after entering the WWF, Angle won the European Title. A short time later he won the Intercontinental Championship, merging the two titles unofficially into the "Eurocontinental" title. He was the first Eurocontinental Champion except for D'Lo Brown who, as Angle put it, "doesn't count." Angle held the titles until March, where in a triple threat match held at Wrestlemania 2000, he lost the titles to Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho; however, in neither fall had Angle actually been pinned or made to submit.

He also won the 2000 King of the Ring tournament. Kurt Angle's crowning achievement came when he defeated The Rock at No Mercy to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Later he would also win the Hardcore Championship, WCW World Heavyweight Championship, WCW US Championship, and Angle was one half of the first WWE (SmackDown! brand-specific) Tag Team Champions along with Chris Benoit. In addition, many of the titles he has held multiple times, making him quite accomplished over the years.

One of his notable feuds was with Brock Lesnar, although he has feuded with most of the top names of WWF/WWE. He is also noted for his comedic angles such as his stint with Team ECK, featuring Edge and Christian and his role during the Invasion angle with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

Angle seriously considered trying to make a comeback to freestyle wrestling for the 2004 Summer Olympics, but he abandoned that plan late in 2002, when neck problems that dated back to his past amateur wrestling career recurred. In WWF/WWE promos, he often claimed that he had won the Olympic gold medal with a broken neck. Unlike most statements in promos, this one was largely true; he had indeed won his gold medal with two fractured cervical vertebrae.

In 2003, after the aforementioned neck problems led to an almost career-ending injury, he opted for a new type of surgery that allowed him to return in two months rather than a year. However, in March 2004, his neck problems recurred yet again, and it was feared that he would have to undergo possibly career-ending surgery. For a time, he considered having an operation similar to the one he had in 2003, but has decided against it for the time being. He also injured his knee in late 2003.

Angle returned to the ring in July 2004 at a WWE house show in Japan. He has publicly said that he will work a reduced in-ring schedule in the future, and is reportedly planning to change his wrestling style to reduce the risk of further damage to his neck.

During late 2003 and the first half of 2004, Angle played the role of General Manager of Smackdown! He was "fired" from that position and returned to the active roster during a Smackdown! taping on July 20 (aired on July 22).

Finisher/Signature Moves

• Angle Slam/Olympic Slam
• Ankle Lock/Angle Lock
• Triple German Suplexes

External links

• Angle's IMDB entry
• Angle's WWE bio