This biography is from “The Anthology of Professional Wrestlers”. You can buy the book here

KURT ANGLE

Kurt Angle is the only Olympic wrestling gold medallist to compete at the highest professional level in the modern era. His subsequent achievements as a World Champion in both the World Wrestling Federation and TNA have assured his legacy as one of the very best professional wrestlers in the history of the sport. Born in Pennsylvania in 1968, Angle played football as well as wrestled throughout high school, but wrestling gave him his greatest success. Concentrating on wrestling in college, he became a two time NCAA Champion. From 1987, Angle started to win national titles in junior wrestling competitions, and continued to dominate as he rose to senior level. In 1992, Angle travelled to Russia and won the bronze medal at the World Cup of wrestling in his division. In 1995 he won 34 the gold medal at the World Championships, and set his sights on representing the USA at the 1996 Olympic Games. During the selection trials, Angle suffered a severe injury to his neck, breaking two vertebrae. He underwent alternative therapy rather than surgery in order to recover in time to qualify for the Olympics. After months of rehabilitation, but still requiring pain killing medication, Angle competed at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta; and after a time limit draw in the final, won the Gold Medal on a judge’s decision. Angle originally turned down an offer from the World Wrestling Federation after winning his Gold Medal, and instead turned to sports broadcasting in Pittsburgh. After a career which by his own admission had mixed results, he took up the offer with the WWF in 1998. After a year of training to hone his skills in the world of sports entertainment, Angle made his debut at the Survivor Series event in November 1999, and soon embarked on a winning streak. By February 2000 he had won both the European and Intercontinental Titles. At Wrestlemania 2000, Angle lost both belts in a triple threat match against Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho without being pinned in either fall. In June, he defeated Rikishi in the final of a tournament to win King of the Ring, and then started a feud with Triple H, gaining him main event status. In October 2000, at the No Mercy pay per view, Angle defeated The Rock to win the WWF World Heavyweight Title. 35 He held the title until February 2001, when The Rock beat him at the No Way Out pay per view. Angle feuded with Benoit again, and defeated him at Wrestlemania, but lost at their rematch at Backlash. Angle then became a key part of the Invasion storyline in 2001. He feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin when Austin turned his back on the WWF to join the alliance. He had brief reigns as WCW Champion, United States and Hardcore Champions. During the battle, Angle turned on the WWF to join the alliance, and was on their team during the winner takes all match at Survivor Series in November. However, it turned out to be a ploy, as Angle assisted The Rock in pinning Steve Austin for the WWF Team to win the match. Angle remained a heel though, citing his role in saving the WWF from the Alliance, and taking full credit. In 2002, Angle lost the US Title, and his hair, to Edge. He had a submission win over Hulk Hogan at King of the Ring, and was the first main roster televised opponent of John Cena. He rounded out the year by becoming tag team champion alongside Chris Benoit, as well as winning the WWE Championship again in December, beating Big Show at Armageddon. In 2003, Angle acquired the services of Paul Heyman as his manager, and built the Team Angle stable, including Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas. Angle lost the title to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania, and took time off to recover from a neck injury; another legacy of his amateur wrestling days. He 36 feuded with Lesnar throughout the year, trading the belt, and having a highly praised sixty minute Iron Man match on an episode of Smackdown. Angle then battled Eddie Guerrero over the WWE Championship, losing at Wrestlemania when Guerrero countered the ankle lock by slipping out of his untied wrestling boot. His neck problems continued, and he was made General Manager of Smackdown in 2004 to help alleviate the injury. He returned in time to have a Match of the Year against Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXI in April 2005. After that victory, Angle battled John Cena over the title, but couldn’t win the gold. Angle returned to Smackdown, and won a battle royal to win the vacant World Heavyweight Championship in January 2006. He lost the belt without being pinned at Wrestlemania, when Rey Mysterio pinned Randy Orton in a triple threat match. Angle had a brief feud with Orton before being granted his release from WWE in August 2006, citing a need to rehabilitate from various injuries. Soon afterwards, it was announced that Kurt Angle had joined rival promotion TNA. His first match was a win over Abyss in November, and he then feuded with Samoa Joe into the new year. In May 2007, Angle was booked in a triple threat match with Sting and TNA Champion Christian for the NWA World Championship at the Sacrifice pay per view. The day of the event, the NWA stripped TNA champions of their titles, and severed their relationship. Angle won the match, 37 and thus became the first independent TNA World Champion. Angle spent the rest of the year feuded and trading the title with Sting and Samoa Joe. In 2008, Angle formed the Main Event Mafia with Sting, Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash and Booker T. The veterans feuded with younger talent, before disintegrating over conflict between Angle and Sting. In 2009, he had a series of well received matches with Desmond Wolfe, before a brief feud with AJ Styles over the TNA World Title. He continued to be at or near the top of the card before a long and personal feud with Jeff Jarrett throughout 2011. In August 2011, Angle reignited his feud with Sting, and defeated him to become TNA World Champion for a record fifth time. He held the belt until October, when he lost to James Storm on an episode of Impact. Angle spent 2012 feuding with Storm, Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles, but couldn’t quite get back to challenging for the World Title. Angle feuded with Bobby Roode throughout 2013, and after another extended period away to recover from injuries, returned to TNA in the on air role as Executive Director of Wrestling Operations.