Kurt Angle in Olympics return
In perhaps one of the most extraordinary stories of the week, Impact wrestling superstar Kurt Angle has revealed that he will be attempting to return to the Olympic wrestling scene at London 2012.
Angle told The Sun: “I won an Olympic gold medal but last time I didn’t really enjoy it.
“I’m wiser, I’m smarter and I won’t make the mistakes I did last time and I’m going to enjoy it”.
Angle burst to fame after winning gold at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta
However, where Angle differed from Lesnar and others who attempted the transition to sports entertainment was his remarkable charisma. He displayed a natural talent for mic work. His character in WWE played on his Olympic triumph and Angle excelled in his often comedic role as an arrogant, egocentric and cowardly heel.
In his thirteen years in the business, Angle has become one of the industry’s biggest stars. Over the years he’s produced a showreel of outstanding matches with the biggest names of the era: The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H.
Since leaving WWE in 2006, Angle has been a mainstay of Dixie Carter’s Impact wrestling promotion. He remains a standout performer. Indeed, in 2010 Angle was named “Wrestler of the decade” by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Like many of his peers in an industry which takes a relentless toll on the human body, Angle has reportedly had ongoing issues with substance abuse and injuries. It’s the consequence of a decade spending 300+ days a year on the road, performing across the world and performing when stricken with injuries.
Given these circumstances, how can it possibly be realistic to expect a 43-year old, out of competition for 15 years, to qualify for the US
A few years ago I had the pleasure of reading Angle’s autobiography “It’s True, It’s True”. The story behind his 1996 gold medal triumph is an inspirational tale of beating the odds. He overcame fractured vertebrae in his neck to win the US Atlanta
The Angle of that era was phenomenally driven; a fearsome competitor willing to push his body – and mind - to the very limits in order to reach his goal.
If this Olympics can inspire Kurt to such devotion once again, then who can say what might happen?
Angle maintains: “I’ve been training for the past two months. I have another nine months to train until the Olympic try-outs, so I’ll be ready”.
I know one thing for sure; it’s hard to bet against Kurt Angle when he picks up a pair of wrestling boots.
It’s true, it’s damn true.
Ralph Welch
Email: info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk
Twitter: @ralphwelch
Savage Deserves Place in WWE Hall of Form
The wrestling world recently mourned the loss of one of its most recognisable characters when “Macho Man” Randy Savage, real name Randy Poffo, died in a car accident.
It was a tragic loss in a business which has lost so many of its superstars in recent times. Eddie Guerrero, Andrew “Test” Martin, Ray “Big Boss Man” Traylor, Chris Benoit, Kerry “Texas Tornado” von Erich and “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith have all passed away.
Yet maybe Savage’s loss is the hardest to bear.
Certainly, the outpouring of grief not just in wrestling, but across the worlds of sport and entertainment, is unprecedented.
It symbolises just how Savage transcended both sport and popular culture. He epitomised everything that a sports entertainer should be; flamboyant, charismatic and incredibly passionate about entertaining his audience.
His legendary feuds with icons such as Ricky “Dragon” Steamboat, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, the Ultimate Warrior and Jake “The Snake” Roberts defined a generation for wrestling fans.
Those fans are now clamouring for Savage to be recognised in the WWE Hall of Fame. It’s an honour that he’s previously been denied due to his well-publicised fall-out with WWE owner Vince McMahon.
Rift with Vince McMahon
The reason for the rift has never been truly revealed. Over the years McMahon fell out, and subsequently reconciled his differences, with many of his performers. Hulk Hogan testified against him in a federal trial over steroid abuse allegations. And Bret “Hitman” Hart punched him in the face after the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” in 1997.
Yet Savage remained the only performer who McMahon stubbornly refused to bury the hatchet with.
There have been, as always, scandalous rumours on the internet. The most conventional wisdom is that McMahon never forgave Savage, then one of his major stars and a close confidante, for defecting to WCW in 1994.
This past week McMahon wrote a touching tribute to Savage in Time Magazine, stating “today Randy is recognised as one of wrestling’s all-time greats. No question about it – he certainly was”.
And last week’s edition of flagship show Monday Night Raw aired a poignant video commemorating the “Macho Man”, reducing many in the arena to tears.
The world of professional wrestling is littered with tragedy. In an industry renowned for its theatrics, the truth is that fairytales are few and far between.
But if there is any justice, then Savage will have his moment.
It will be a fitting tribute for a true star, the like of which we shall never see again.
Batista MMA career in limbo after Strikeforce buy-out
27 May, 2011
Dave Bautista, better known as fromer WWE superstar “Batista”, has had to shelve plans to enter the cage and embark on an MMA career.
Batista, a six-time world champion and firm fan favourite in the WWE, had hoped to emulate Brock Lesnar and make a successful switch from the pro wrestling ranks to MMA.
Since leaving WWE a year ago, Batista has been publicly courted by Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker. Negotiations were slow and complex.
But that didn’t stop Batista from engaging in a public slanging match with another former pro wrestler, Bobby Lashley, who has been building his own combat career (6-1) since leaving Vince McMahon’s company in 2008.
The two were building up heat ahead of a potential fight that would have surely generated big numbers for Strikeforce.
A clash between Batista and Lashley, both Wrestlemania headliners, would have generated huge interest from the crossover fanbases of pro wrestling and MMA.
However, since the UFC’s shock purchase of Strikeforce, Batista has admitted that any agreement is “dead”. The last few weeks have bought no further news and it seems that his fighting career is genuinely over before it started.
Unlike Lesnar, who had top drawer genuine wrestling credentials from his college days, Batista would have had to start from scratch in building an MMA skill base. At 42 years old, it would have been a mammoth task to expect him to make an impact.
However, like many MMA fans, I’m genuinely disappointed that he won’t get the chance to even try.
Ralph Welch
info@ultimatefightclub.co.uk
Everyone loved Wrestling at some point in their lives. Some people may not admit it, some people may even look down their noses at the slightly ludicrous entertainment behemoth that it has now become, with characters and gimmicks moving to the background, being replaced by size, tattoo's and ability to rap.
However, you can't help but spot the twinkle in someone's eye when they are asked the question - who is your favourite Wrestler? "Ultimate Warrior" cries the 45 year old accountant in your office... "Bret Hart" shouts your brother. There were so many great characters, from Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Legion of Doom, Shawn Michaels to The Rock and Stone Cold.
So with that, we ask you to vote for your favourite wrestler!
Feel free to comment with any you would like added!
RIP Randy Savage
Very sad news breaking that Randy Savage passed away yesterday, as a result of a car crash. A true legend, and hero to many growing up, when he was in his pomp in the WWF. RIP Macho Man Randy Savage
