ACTOR
Kurt Angle
- Known for
- WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 (2006), TNA iMPACT! Wrestling (2004)
77 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
Kurt Angle is an actor best known for WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007 and TNA iMPACT! Wrestling.
All facts (77)
- #001
Kurt Angle is an Olympic Gold Medalist in freestyle wrestling from 1996.
- #002
At one point Angle considered competing at the 2004 Olympics in freestyle wrestling, and he supposedly received full approval from Vince McMahon to pursue that path. Angle was further encouraged during an impromptu wrestling contest with Brock Lesnar before a 2003 WWE event; he won the contest despite Lesnar outweighing him by a significant margin and being regarded as the most dominant NCAA wrestler during his college years. Due to a number of factors, however, Angle ultimately decided not to try out.
- #003
Angle was given his WWF World Title reign after WWF owner Vince McMahon was impressed by the way he continued his match with Triple H at Summerslam 2000 despite suffering an unplanned (and very real) concussion when a table collapsed during a move.
- #004
Angle won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics despite a not fully healed fracture of a vertebra in his neck.
- #005
Angle is the only professional wrestler inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (in 2001).
- #006
Angle bench pressed 420 pounds and squatted 630 pounds.
- #007
In a series of interviews, Angle stated that he actually burned the first offer McMahon's WWE (then WWF) made to him after his success at the 1996 Olympics, because of his lack of respect for professional wrestling, which he saw as a joke that damaged the image of amateur wrestling. After several failed jobs, including an unsuccessful sports commentary job at a local television station, Angle decided to pursue professional wrestling and said he found it not only incredibly demanding but also gained a new respect for the industry and its participants. Despite numerous attempts, however, he has not yet regained the respect he lost in the freestyle amateur wrestling community.
- #008
Despite not having played college football, Angle had a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1995.
- #009
Angle's first on-screen kiss was with the boss's daughter, Stephanie McMahon.
- #010
Angle became the first European-American to win a gold medal in 220 lb freestyle wrestling.
- #011
Angle's father died in a construction accident.
- #012
In April 2003 Angle underwent spinal surgery on his neck performed by Dr Jhu. His neck problems dated back to his amateur wrestling days, when he broke his neck during the Olympic Trials. Kurt's attitude toward professional wrestling and his desire to give his best every night also did not help his injury. Kurt shocked WWE by wanting to return to the ring only two weeks after neck surgery. Fortunately, WWE officials did not allow it until he had medical clearance. That did not stop him, however, from returning to the gym for his comeback and sneaking into the ring before Smackdown tapings to take bumps to see how his neck was healing. On June 5, 2003, only two months after surgery, Kurt Angle returned to WWE television on Smackdown. He had initially been expected to be out for 12-14 months.
- #013
In August 2003 Angle defeated The Big Show in a street fight on WWE TV Smackdown, and then defeated Brock Lesnar in a WWE Championship match at the WWE PPV Summerslam. He is the first professional wrestler to cause Brock Lesnar to lose a match.
- #014
In his match with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania XIX, Angle became the first person to escape the 'F5'.
- #015
In July 2003 Angle defeated WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and the 500-pound giant (7'4") The Big Show in a triple threat match at the WWE pay-per-view Vengeance to win his fourth WWE World Championship. This is considered a major achievement given that Angle had recently returned from neck surgery to accomplish it.
- #016
At WrestleMania 2000, in a Triple Threat match with Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho, Angle became the first person to lose two championships in one night without ever being pinned.
- #017
Angle lost his first wrestling match. He was eight years old at the time and was pinned by a chubby kid at the first wrestling camp he attended.
- #018
Angle got his first pay-per-view WWE Championship opportunity on August 27, 2000, at SummerSlam 2000. He was in a Triple Threat match against Champion The Rock and Triple H, and suffered a concussion before the bell after a pre-match brawl with Triple H. He lost to The Rock. After the match ended, Kurt Angle returned to the ring to carry 'The Game' Triple H's wife, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, to the back.
- #019
Since his debut in WWF/WWE (Survivor Series 1999), Angle has wrestled on every European-American pay-per-view program.
- #020
When Angle first began wrestling in the WWF (now WWE), he wore all the medals he had won in Olympic competition (about 7 medals in total). After a while he decided to wear only 2 of them.
- #021
Kurt Angle was the 2000 WWF King of the Ring.
- #022
Kurt Angle lost a "Hair Match" at WWE Judgment Day.
- #023
Together with Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle eliminated Edge and Rey Mysterio at No Mercy to win the first WWE (SmackDown brand) Tag Team Championship.
- #024
Kurt Angle's net worth is 20 million dollars.
- #025
Because of the National Olympic Committee, Kurt Angle is no longer allowed to call his finishing move the "Olympic Slam." He now calls it the "Angle Slam."
- #026
On WWE SmackDown, Kurt Angle was thrown by Big Show from a 25-meter ledge onto concrete on April 15, 2004. Two weeks later on SmackDown, citing internal and external injuries, he announced in a wheelchair that he could no longer wrestle.
- #027
Kurt Angle's first loss in the WWF came against European-Canadian wrestler Owen Hart in a dark match.
- #028
At Judgment Day 2002, Kurt Angle will face "Edge" in a Hair vs. Hair match.
- #029
The first move Kurt Angle performed in the WWF was the Fireman's Carry.
- #030
Kurt Angle attended Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania, where he met his mentor and coach Bob Bubb. In 1990 he won a pair of NCAA Heavyweight championships.
- #031
Kurt Angle lost the championship to Rey Mysterio.
- #032
Kurt Angle challenged Bret Hart for a future date (possibly at WrestleMania XX at Madison Square Garden).
- #033
In their first match at WrestleMania 21, Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels will face each other.
- #034
Kurt Angle is one of the few Olympic athletes to move into Hollywood.
- #035
Kurt Angle is the younger brother of Eric Angle.
- #036
Kurt Angle's first WWF loss came against Tazz, who made his debut at the Pay-Per-View Royal Rumble on January 23, 2000. Tazz defeated him when he applied his submission hold, the Tazzmission, on him.
- #037
Kurt Angle graduated from Mt Lebanon High School in 1987.
- #038
Kurt Angle is originally from Dormont, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
- #039
Kurt Angle runs the "Smackdown Your Vote" campaign.
- #040
At WrestleMania XIX, Kurt Angle lost the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar.
- #041
The former WWF European Continental Champion held both the WWF Intercontinental Title and the WWF European Title at the same time.
- #042
In 2001 he was a former member of the wCw/ECW Alliance. He was the mole who caused the wCw/ECW Team to lose to the WWF Team at Survivor Series 2001. During the main event he attacked Alliance member "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, allowing The Rock to finish Austin. Because of Angle's interference, the WWF defeated and destroyed the wCw/ECW Alliance.
- #043
His notable wrestling title wins include: the PPW Heavyweight Title; the PNW Tennessee Heavyweight Title; the WWE Intercontinental Title; the WWF European Title; WWF King of the Ring 2000; the WWE Title; the WWE Hardcore Title; the WCW Heavyweight Title; the WCW United States Title; and the WWE World Heavyweight Title.
- #044
He returned to the ring and defeated Hispanic/Latin American wrestler Eddie Guerrero at Summer Slam 2004 (15.08.2004), forcing his opponent to tap out to the Ankle Lock. At Wrestle Mania XX in March 2004 he wrestled for the WWE Championship but lost to Guerrero.
- #045
His entrance theme "Medal" is a slightly modified version of "The Patriot" Del Wilkes's theme. In mid-2001 fans chanted "You Suck!" along to the rhythm of the music. Since then the chants have always been part of Angle's entrance.
- #046
In 2004 he served as General Manager of Smackdown.
- #047
On the 13 January 2006 edition of WWE Smackdown he won a Battle Royal to become World Heavyweight Champion.
- #048
He has a daughter, Kyra (b. 2 December 2002), and a son, Kody (b. 26 October 2006).
- #049
Former WWE Hardcore Champion.
- #050
At Royal Rumble he successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Mark Henry.
- #051
At No Way Out he will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against _Undertaker_.
- #052
He joined TNA Wrestling after the No Surrender PPV.
- #053
The Iron Man Match lost to Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship in Raleigh, North Carolina, ended 5 to 4.
- #054
During this year's Draft he was selected from "Smackdown" to "Raw".
- #055
He turned heel on SmackDown! During a title defense against Eddie Guerrero's nephew Chavo Jr., he will face Eddie for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania XX.
- #056
At WrestleMania 21 he defeated Shawn Michaels when HBK tapped out to his ankle lock.
- #057
At Unforgiven he is scheduled to face John Cena for the WWE Championship.
- #058
He was fired by Vince McMahon as Smackdown's GM for faking injuries and throwing his weight around.
- #059
He was announced as the new General Manager of SmackDown.
- #060
Kurt Angle defeated Eugene at SummerSlam and will go on to a major rivalry with John Cena for the WWE Championship.
- #061
Kurt Angle made a surprise appearance on SmackDown, entering a 20-man Battle Royal for the newly vacated World Heavyweight Championship. He won the match, last eliminating Mark Henry, to become the new World Heavyweight Champion.
- #062
On April 2, at WrestleMania 22, Kurt Angle will defend the World Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match against Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton on pay-per-view.
- #063
On August 24, Kurt Angle successfully defended the WWE Championship against Brock Lesnar at WWE SummerSlam.
- #064
Due to previous neck injuries, Kurt Angle wrestled his last match in WWE, facing Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania XX.
- #065
At No Way Out, Kurt Angle defeated The Undertaker and defended the World Heavyweight Championship.
- #066
At New Year's Revolution 2005, Kurt Angle will face John Cena in an Elimination Chamber match for the WWE Championship, along with Shawn Michaels, Carlito, Chris Masters and Kane.
- #067
Kurt Angle was released from his WWE contract for health reasons.
- #068
In 2016, Kurt Angle was inducted into the International Sports Hall of Fame.
- #069
Although he was not portrayed in Foxcatcher (2014), Kurt Angle was one of the wrestlers who trained in the mid-1980s for John du Pont's Foxcatcher team alongside Dave Schultz.
- #070
On February 10, 2000, Kurt Angle defeated Val Venis for the WWF European Championship.
- #071
While still holding the WWF European Championship, Kurt Angle won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Chris Jericho at No Way Out 2000. He therefore became the "Euro-continental" Champion.
- #072
Every time Kurt Angle cuts a promo in the ring, fans follow each sentence with a "WHAT?" chant, even though this is thought to be Stone Cold Steve Austin's gimmick.
- #073
In several interviews, Kurt Angle has stated that he will continue his acting career after retiring from professional wrestling.
- #074
Kurt Angle's previous managers: Steve Blackman, Bob Backlund, Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, Trish Stratus, Paul Heyman, Luther Reigns, Eric Bischoff, Daivari.
- #075
Kurt Angle's fight scene with Joel Edgerton in the film Warrior (2011) marked the second time an American professional wrestler appeared in a cameo as a silent Russian character dominating the hero in a fight, only for the hero to miraculously win. The first instance was Kevin Nash's fight scene with Thomas Jane in The Punisher (2004).
- #076
Kurt Angle is currently with Impact Wrestling (TNA) and is feuding with Samoa Joe and Christian Cage.
- #077
Kurt Angle has never won a singles match at WrestleMania.
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