The Key Idea Vince McMahon Had For Kurt Angle’s WWE Heel Turn
Kurt Angle didn’t think being a heel in WWE would work until he was convinced by Vince McMahon to give it a try.
When Kurt Angle started on WWE television, many people may have thought that an Olympic Gold Medal wrestler would be a babyface since winning a medal for your country is considered a heroic thing.
At Survivor Series 1999, Kurt Angle won his first televised match over Shawn Stasiak. During the match, Angle went on the microphone and said: “You do not boo an Olympic gold medallist. I’m the best in the world. I came here for you. You do not boo me!” Of course, there were boos after that.
Over the next year, Angle would go on to win the Intercontinental, European, and most importantly the WWE World Championship all in his “rookie” year as an Olympic gold medallist who bragged about his success.
While speaking to WFan Sports Radio, Angle recalled how former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had the idea to present Angle as a heel instead of a babyface and how Angle was reluctant at first, but the boss was right.
“He [Vince] said, ‘Listen, I’m going to turn you into the anti-hero. You’re going to be the biggest heel in the business.’
I said, ‘Vince, it’s not going to happen. These fans, they know I’m an Olympic gold medalist, I’m an American hero. There’s no way you’re going to make me a heel.’ He said, ‘Yes I am, and the way I’m going to do it, is you’re going to preach the three I’s — intensity, integrity, and intelligence, but you’re going to do the opposite. The people are going to think you’re a hypocrite.’
That’s what makes people sad, when you tell them one thing and you’re preaching it, and you’re doing the other.”
Kurt Angle: “It Was So Easy To Get The Fans Angry”
As his career went on for the next two decades, Kurt Angle wrestled as a heel and a babyface in both WWE and TNA, but many would say he had his most success as a heel. It was a role that Angle enjoyed.
“I loved pis*ing the fans off. It was so much fun. It was so easy to get them angry — just being me, I thought I’d be likable but fans literally hated my guts.”
Jonathan Coachman is a man who worked with Kurt Angle for many years in WWE and recently called Angle the best professional wrestler ever.