Kurt Angle Thinks It’s Not Fair To Compare Gable Steveson To Him
Kurt Angle wants comparisons between him and Gable Steveson to stop, as NXT fans boo the Gold Medalist during his debut match.
Gable Steveson signed a deal with WWE in September 2021 and after two years of working at the Performance Centre, had his first match at July’s NXT Great American Bash.
Steveson is the second Olympic Gold Medalist to sign for WWE, the first ever being Kurt Angle, and it’s clear the company has high hopes for his future.
But with the pair both achieving Olympic success, fans have been quick to compare but Hall of Famer Kurt Angle feels that this is unfair and too early for anyone to draw comparisons and has responded after NXT fans chanted “You’re not Angle” during Stevson’s match against Baron Corbin.
Speaking on his podcast, The Kurt Angle Show, Angle discussed Stevson’s debut match, the crowd reaction, and the athletic abilities of his fellow Olympian.
“Well, I feel badly for him because he’s being compared to me at this point in time. He hasn’t even barely started, so I don’t know how his future is going to be. I know he’s really talented, really athletic. I’m not sure how he is as far as entertainment-wise, but as far as in the ring, I heard he’s really good. But no, I don’t think it’s a fair assessment to compare him to me right now. I think down the line, you can do that,”
“This is crazy, but people have been coming to me and telling me, ‘Hey, he wrestled Baron Corbin at NXT, and the fans were boobing the heck out of him. Then he pulled his straps down, and the fans got even more pissed.’
WWE Want Steveson To Channel His Inner Kurt Angle According To Hall Of Famer
Kurt Angle believes WWE are asking Steveson to mock him as a way to generate crowd reactions and give him an “easier” start to his NXT career.
Angle explained that he feels WWE bosses are asking Steveson to copy some of Angle’s famous styles, including lowering his straps during a match.
“You know what? I think that’s something WWE is actually doing.”
“They want to make him a heel. So they’re gonna have them copy and mimic me. That’s what this is, I believe. I think they’re gonna have him copy and mimic me so he can piss the fans off. So that he starts out as a heel because it’s easier to be a heel starting out than it is a babyface.
So I think that I think they’re the ones that actually told him to do this stuff. I really believe that, and I think WWE is brilliant for doing it.”
Dave Meltzer criticized WWE for booking Gable Steveson’s debut match and called it a “mistake” by NXT boss Shawn Michaels.
Steveson is yet to appear on-screen for NXT following Great American Bash, whilst Baron Corbin continues to be a strong heel since his return to the developmental brand, following up his match with Steveson by defeating Andre Chase.
H/t to Fightful