The Kurt Angle Show - WrestleMania 17 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

WrestleMania 17 took place on April 1st, 2001 from the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. It drew 67,925, with 61,079 paid, and grossed $3.5 million dollars for the WWF. It did a buyrate of 2.08 for an estimated $13.31 million. It was about 900,000 buys, which was the all time record for a wrestling pay per view.

(This was your first stadium Wrestlemania. What was the feeling like entering the arena to your music at the Astrodome? Any goosebumps?)

The live gate of $3,530,905 was the largest for pro wrestling anywhere outside of Japan and more than doubled the previous American record set at Wrestlemania 5 at Trump Plaza in Atlantic city for the Hogan vs. Randy Savage match. It barely beat the previous record for both the WWF and for pro wrestling in North America set at Wrestlemania 6 at Toronto Sky Dome for the Hogan vs. Ultimate Warrior match.

The figure of 67,925 fans would rank seventh on the all-time recorded list, up to that point

(Does your extended family come in to watch you perform at Wrestlemania? And, how are they reacting to the bad-guy Kurt Angle character? Did you have to smarten any of them up?)

News And Notes

Costas Debacle

On March 14th, Vince made an appearance on the Bob Costas show, On The Record

Meltzer wrote - The 30-minute interview, approximately half on the XFL and half on the WWF, saw things get totally unpleasant, both for the host, the guest and the audience watching. It resulted in a take sides situation. Many people tried to cast one as the babyface and the other as the heel, depending upon, probably in the case of the wrestling audience, the predisposed feelings on McMahon. Clearly the non-wrestling audience would view things a lot less sympathetic to McMahon, who came across by the end of the interview, like a guy transforming into ones very eyes from a very confident sports promoter into the almost crazed over-the-top version of the Mr. McMahon character.

(A lot to go through there. What was the reaction to Vince's appearance on the show?)

Brock

Brock Lesnar appeared on Wrestling Observer Live on 3/29 talking about his background. Lesnar was approached first during his junior year by Gerald Brisco and Ross, which was about the time a lot of people started talking about him, because of his physique, as a potential pro wrestler. … He said at one point a few years ago he was interested in UFC after meeting Ken and Frank Shamrock, but he had never considered it a viable option over the last few years because the money wasn't good enough. He said if he hadn't have won the NCAA title in 2000, he would have continued in amateur wrestling and gone for the Olympics and nationals because he would still have a goal to reach. He said winning the NCAA title accomplished his goal of winning a national championship and he knew after winning it that he would never wrestle amateur again. He really praised the training system WWF has in Louisville

(Did you know about Brock from his amateur wrestling days? When you see the company looking to bring in more amateur wrestlers, does it make you feel like you have paved the way - or are you perhaps concerned about your spot?)

The Garden

On the way to Wrestlemania X-Seven, you’re working the main event at Madison Square Garden on a packed card. Undertaker & Kane & Steve Austin b HHH & Big Show & Kurt Angle.

(Were shows at the Garden still special during this period? We’ve heard before how that it was “Hallowed Ground.”)

Protests

There was a protest group outside of WWF headquarters in Stamford, CT on 3/20 which claimed that the current wrestling product should be toned down because it results in children being overly aggressive and in particular pointed to [a case where a child was alleged to have killed his sister with a wrestling move and later, found not to be true].

This is around the time that Vince made Trish get on all fours and bark like a dog, the inception of the kiss my ass club, and more.

(When the company was getting heat from parents groups about the type of content they were putting on, did you ever have any concerns about the direction? Are you ever watching this stuff and thinking, “This is getting bad!”?)

WCW Purchase

We will talk about the night of the big announcement coming up when we get to The Build but, of course, one of the biggest wrestling news stories of all time happened during this time frame when the WWF bought the WCW.

McMahon at a meeting in Cleveland when talking about the purchase of WCW told the wrestlers that nobody needed to worry because the grosses would be bigger than ever and everyone would make more money than ever when they got to the interpromotional matches.

But…

(Were there concerns in the lockerroom about what this might mean for peoples’ jobs who had been in the WWF? Maybe not with you - granted - but what about people lower on the card who you were friends with?)

Kurt Goes Off The Record

"Off the Record" (Landsberg) will do three straight wrestling shows leading to Wrestlemania. The shows were taped over the weekend when the WWF crew was in Toronto. 3/29 is Hardys & Lita... 3/30 is an All-Canadian panel show with Venis, Jericho, Edge and Christian... 4/1 is Angle, which I'm told was a tremendous show.

The most interesting thing was Angle talking about [family] telling him that he did amateur wrestling for 20 years with all the injuries he suffered, including a broken neck several months before the Olympics where he came back on it and won the gold, and now wants to do ten years of pro wrestling and she brought up to him when it's all done, he may end up in a wheel chair and he acknowledged it as a possibility

(What did you think about doing Michael Landsberg’s show? It was unusual at the time for wrestlers to get to talk candidly on a major network like this.)

(Did you originally only plan to spend ten years in wrestling?)

A Glowing Ross Report

On March 26, it was reported that in the most recent Ross Report, Jim Ross said that you were the most talented performer he's ever been around with his level of experience. Meltzer said he started thinking about that one, “and I can't come up with anyone to dispute that. There are guys two years in who were very close in the ring but I'm not sure even naturals like Owen Hart or Jun Akiyama or Kenta Kobashi at two years in had his polish in the ring, and none had his presence, charisma or interview ability. It's so ridiculous to label someone a probable all-time great with this little time in, but barring an injury, I think it's as close to a lock as would be possible.”

(Did you hear these types of praise during this time? What are you thinking when you hear it? How do you keep from letting it go to your head?)

Axxess

The Fan Axxess was a huge success from WWF standpoint. The place was mobbed. Some had negative viewpoints complaining about so many people there was barely room to breath (all entrepreneurs and promoters should have such problems) and the long line for autographs being as much as a few hours. One fan paid $300 to get a chance to eat ravioli with Big Show and another paid $205 to get a sock from Foley

(Did you get to attend the Fan Axcess event? What was that like?)

The Build

The March 1 Smackdown opens with you. You’ve got massive amounts of heat. The crowd is chanting Angle Sucks. You end up calling out Stone Cold or The Rock, either one. Well, the glass breaks. Austin says “If you want me to whip this city slicker’s ass, give me a hell yeah!” And you’re in the main event that night with him.

Three years earlier, you were a fan of Stone Cold Steve Austin and it inspired you to want to get into wrestling. Now, you’re working with him.

(What was that like?)

The main event goes for a while, with Austin starting out hot and then you getting the upper hand. But it ends in a DQ after William Regal gets involved.

(What was it like working with Stone Cold Steve Austin at his peak? Was the crowd unlike anything else?)

March 5 on Raw, we see you snap - and that has multiple meanings. You break Scotty 2 Hotty’s ankle in the opening minutes of Raw. Backstage, you tell Kevin Kelly you’re tired of being the Rock and Stone Cold’s whipping boy.

On the March 8 Smackdown, you tell Kevin Kelly about your vicious streak and how you’re disappointed you didn’t break Scotty’s ankle quicker. In 1996, you’d have broken it in half the time. The late Brian Christopher tries to attack you but after Test holds him back, you end up in a match with him instead. You dominated. And the commentators keep talking about how you’ve snapped. You hit the moonsault! And end up winning. Grandmaster Sexay tries to attack you but you put him in the ankle submission, too.

(Was there a story decision to make you into a more vicious character? Is that something you wanted - especially coming off losing the title?)

A report in the Observer said, “Test upped his stock greatly with his Smackdown match with Angle.”

(Did you know your match with Test was a boost for his career? Why was that?)

On the March 12 episode of Raw, you get a rematch against The Rock for the WWF title. In your interview, you say it’s a crime you’ve not had a rematch for the title you held for five months - longer than most marriages last in LA. You also say you’re going to snap the Rock’s ankle. Notable because, you’re starting to talk about using the ankle lock here in interviews.

You come out with your singlet on but the straps are already taken down. There were action figures released with this look. Was there any strategy or reason behind it? Was it to show you were more serious after losing the title?

The match begins with the Rock getting you instantly in the sharpshooter. But you’re pretty dominant for the rest of the match. You even use the Bear Hug! Sounds weird but there’s a Rocky chant so, it worked. Rock hits the Rock bottom...but you kick out! He hits the People’s Elbow...but you kick out! You end up putting Rock in the Ankle Lock, and getting disqualified because you won’t let go.

(How big was it 20 days before Wrestlemania 17 to totally dominate the WWF champion on the flagship show?)

On the March 15 Smackdown, you’re up against Stone Cold in the main event in a No DQ match. And if Austin is incapacitated - you get his spot at Wrestlemania! Austin is taking it to you. Eventually you come back, and you’re about to break his ankle when the Rock interferes. Austin ends up pinning you.

(It feels like you’re just as involved in the build to the Wrestlemania main event as Austin and the Rock. Did you hope you might somehow get put into that main event or did you know that wouldn’t happen?)

The March 19 sees you and Chris Benoit scheduled in a handicap match against the Rock. You tell Benoit you want him to put that move he does (cross face) to set up the Ankle Lock, which offends Benoit. But Jericho pees in Regal’s tea, storyline pee, and so it ends up being Rock and Jericho against you, Regal and Benoit. There’s a spot where you both get your moves on the Rock at the same time, the Ankle Lock and Crossface. Regal gets the pin on Jericho.

On March 22’s Smackdown is once again a handicap match: You and Benoit against The Rock. Backstage, you’re getting on Benoit’s nerves because you can’t remember the name of his move. During the match, as Benoit has the crossface on the Rock, you put Rock’s foot on the ropes! Rock ends up pinning you. Rock puts the Sharpshooter on Benoit and you walk away. But after Rock attacks Mr. McMahon, you run back in and put him in the Ankle Lock - screaming “Wooo” at him!

(How did you start doing the “Wooo”? When Flair ended up joining the company, how did he feel about it?)

On March 26’s Raw, the show opens with history: Vince McMahon saying he had bought the company of WCW.

(What did you think about that day?)

You come out immediately after the opening segment and say everyone is giddy about the “big news.” And that news is, there’s less than one week from Wrestlemania and our Olympic hero STILL doesn’t have an opponent. Even the freaking Gobbledygooker has a match! Then, Chris Benoit comes out and says he’s tired of hearing you complain. If you want a match at Wrestlemania, he will give you one. And you agree. You end up in a brawl, and after some counters, you’re in the cross face and you’re tapping!

Backstage, Edge and Christian introduce you to Rhyno, who says he will bleed for you! You’re not sure what to think about his intelligence or integrity, but he’s got some intensity!

The simulcast with WCW happens. Then, we get a six man tag match with Team ECK against the Hardy’s and Chris Benoit. It ends with Rhyno goring Lita. You’re knocked out of the ring and not really involved in the finish. Nothing happens related to your Benoit feud.

(Did you like the build between you and Benoit being more subtle? Do you look back wishing more focus had been given to that feud (going into Mania. we know more was later)?

The last stop before Wrestlemania, besides Heat I guess, was the March 29 Smackdown. You’re in a tag-team with Eddie Guerrero against Test and Chris Benoit. It’s not a very long match. Benoit makes Eddie tap, end then you put Benoit in the Ankle Lock. Benoit taps (the match was over already). Michael Cole says Sunday, we find out who the best technical wrestler in the world is.

(Was that what the match really felt like it was measuring?)

The Event

(When do you arrive that day at the Astrodome? Is the atmosphere different backstage? What was it like when you first walked into the arena?)

(What can you tell us about laying out the match? Was it planned the day of, or further ahead? And who was your agent?)

Here’s the match itself, according to Dave Meltzer...

Kurt Angle pinned Chris Benoit in 14:02. Angle insulted the Texas crowd to make sure Benoit got a decent face reaction, because the Benoit turn psychologically hasn't been handled well and fans really haven't seen it as any kind of a turn, because if you pay attention, it hasn't been. They did awesome matwork early. Like the best matwork in this country in years. Angle basically did all his amateur takedowns and was tremendous in doing so, and gave Benoit openings for escapes and reversals.

(Was this stuff practiced or rehearsed or was this called on the fly? How was Benoit as an amateur wrestler?)

Fans politely applauded the matwork, which was a risk because when you have such a large audience, the real wrestling fan percentage is usually low as compared to people who are going to the one show of their lifetime and aren't going to be as into the wrestling itself as a smaller crowd would figure to be. They kept this up for several minutes and the crowd still appreciated it until Angle did the subtle heel forearm and sending Benoit into steps. Angle started suplexing Benoit all over the place. Benoit came back with a superplex off the top and a rolling german suplex and then Benoit used Angle's ankle lock on him.

(We had several questions asking about Benoit’s work style. Was he stiff? Was he stiff to the degree that it felt like he might be taking liberties?)

Benoit also got a crossface and Angle needed to make the ropes, but then Angle got the crossface, and actually did a more believable version of the move than Benoit, for a rope break. There was a weak and needless ref bump here. This match was getting over in a different type of suspension of disbelief manner, and the ref bump really hurt the match because it woke everyone up to the fact what they were watching was the same as everything else on the show. The ref bump was for Benoit to get the crossface and for Angle to tap, setting the stage for Benoit being screwed. But since they were already doing that in the post-match interview, it didn't seem to serve a purpose.

(Do you agree that the referee bump was a mistake for your match, or was it necessary?)

Angle used the newly named "Angle slam" for a near fall.

(So the Olympic committee must have reached out pretty recently to this event. Do you remember if it was something specific that set them off? Maybe a certain storyline or event?)

He went for a moonsault, but Benoit got his knees up, which actually hit Angle in the face as his moonsault positioning was off. Benoit used a diving head-butt for a near fall but Angle got the pin out of nowhere using the tights. This was the old Jack Brisco-Dory Funk Jr. psychology in that both would work a scientific match, but Funk would heel while keep world champion wrestler credibility by showing he could really wrestle, but take subtle shortcuts, which because of the context, got over better than all the overt heel tactics in the undercard usually. Very similar to early Don Frye in Japan in that in the context of a match that looks real, something simple like not breaking clean on the ropes can generate a ton of heat. ****¼

So the idea here is that the story between you and Benoit is just getting started. You get the victory by using cheap heel tactics and Benoit looks strong, like he might have out wrestled you if not for the cheating.

(Were you okay with this finish and the booking that made Benoit look strong?)

You’ve said before that there were only a few times when you walked out of the ring and said to yourself that “you nailed it” - Wrestlemania 21 being the time we talked about.

(Did you feel like you and Benoit nailed it - or that it could have been a better match, somehow?)

Back in the arena, Kevin Kelly tried to interview you, but Benoit attacked you and put him in the crossface

We know we’re building toward another big match between you two - the Ultimate Submission Match at Backlash, which we will cover in a couple of weeks here on the Kurt Angle Show.

Later on in the night, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock would clash in a match that saw Austin attempt to turn heel and win the title.

(Did you stay for the show and watch that main event that night? What did you think?)

Fans of the Observer loved this Wrestlemania, overwhelmingly.

Thumbs up 588 (99.0%)
Thumbs down 6 (1.0%)
In the middle 0 (0.0%)

BEST MATCH POLL:
Steve Austin vs. Rock 157
Edge & Christian vs. Hardys vs. Dudleys 120
Kurt Angle vs. Chris Benoit 119
Undertaker vs. HHH 42

WORST MATCH POLL:
Chyna vs. Ivory 278
Gimmick Battle Royal 61

(So you and Chris Benoit had one less vote than the TLC match - and you guys used no gimmicks to get there. Were you satisfied with your Wrestlemania X-Seven match?)