Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle (WWF - 8/19/2001)
Oct 6, 2018 0:03:18 GMT -5
Post by superstarsleeze on Oct 6, 2018 0:03:18 GMT -5
This has to be the most PWO thing ever: NOT one Kurt Angle match has been nominated. 
I think this is both his best match ever and his best performance ever. He truly looked like a fiery, ace babyface for once. it is very much on the borderline. It really comes down to how many great matches there are. I am projecting that I will end up re-watching enough great All Japan to knock this off, but if I had to make my list right now based on what I have watched recently enough to rate then it would make it.
WWF World Heavyweight Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle - WWF Summerslam 2001
The rationale behind Austin's turn to the Alliance was actually really logical in a total psycho way. Austin was an insecure, paranoid champion, whose grip on reality was tenuous at best so it is easy to believe that he really thought Vince hugging Angle was a sign he was going to be replaced. Thus he jumped ship to "safer" waters. The rest of the video package shows him as a total maniac beating up his own Allies to improve performance. Angle was perfect for the role of WWF babyface hero that is bringing the gold back. He could finally shine as white bread All American Olympic Gold Medalist.
This match is how you make somebody. Angle came out of this match looking like a million bucks and like one tough son of a bitch. Austin gave one of the best lunatic performances since Randy Savage's heyday in 1997. It took him decking some refs for me to make that comparison. I love a real unhinged character like that, a completely reprehensible bully. Austin cheated like a muthafucka this whole match and I loved it. You know what eerie though was when Austin's music hit and there was no real reaction. Maybe, people are right that heel turn was bad for business. I thought the TV was great at the time and even had my parents buy this PPV for me. Angle was awesome at bringing the fire during the shine. I would have liked to seen Austin go more towards the ankle since it was softened up on TV prior to the match (I did like the Anklelock tease from Angle as a reversal) rather than the suplexes, but that's personal preference. The suplexes I guess was more watching Austin beat Angle at his own game. Angle firing off the Germans and tenaciously holding was a good spot to show his resolve and Angle to leverage his suplex-laden offense. Angle goes for the Angle Slam and eye poke. God Bless Steve Austin! A heel's heel! Austin had some awesome chops in 2001. Superplex, all these suplexes feel strange from Austin. STUNNER! No reaction and kick out and barely a sound. I know we are in California, but that is just damn depressing. STUNNER AGAIN! Now the crowd wakes up and Angle goes flying to the floor. This is where the match goes from great to classic. Austin repeatedly smashes Angle's head into the post and busts him wide open, full crimson mask. Austin beats the holy hell out of him and Angle is taking his licking, but he keeps on ticking. You can actually hear crowd becoming more and more invested in Angle compared to just minutes ago where they barely made a sound for him kicking out of a fucking Stunner. Angle applies the Anklelock to Austin as he is climbing over the barricade and he is trying to out-crazy Austin! The crowd loves it as he drags him back into the ring and puts it on him there. Austin was great selling all this. Angle's comeback was perfect for getting him over. He was meeting Austin right at his level. Suplexing him all over the floor and then hitting a beautiful moonsault. The crowd was really getting behind him and he was showing more true babyface fire than I think he ever did in the rest of his career. The Million Dollar Dream was an interesting choice by Austin. It took the match back down into a heat segment feel after a firey comeback, but now the crowd was more invested in Angle they cheering him harder. Ballsy move by Stone Cold, but it works because Angle was a runaway freight train so this would sap his energy and the crowd was more into Angle so they wouldn't lose him by slowing him. Veteran move. Austin also learned how to kick out and not relinquish the hold so big news! STUNNER! KICK OUT! He goes for it again and ANGLE SLAM! KICK OUT! Austin nails the ref. The cycle continues Angle gets a nearfall so Austin nails the next ref until WCW Referee Nick Patrick calls for a DQ and thus Austin retains the belt.
Austin was a cheater, psycho, a coward and a bully all wrapped into one awesome heel package in this match. Angle was the consummate fired up white bread babyface. This would rank among best uses of blood ever. I think blood can enhance a match, but I think blood was incredibly valuable to getting over Angle's struggle to reclaim the belt for the WWF. The finish was fine by me and thought it stayed true to Austin's character and built to a rematch. I thought the beginning of the match was a little ho-hum and kinda suplex-trade-y, would be my only complaint. I think this is overrated at #10 for best WWF match of all time, but it is still a stone cold classic. ****3/4
I think this is both his best match ever and his best performance ever. He truly looked like a fiery, ace babyface for once. it is very much on the borderline. It really comes down to how many great matches there are. I am projecting that I will end up re-watching enough great All Japan to knock this off, but if I had to make my list right now based on what I have watched recently enough to rate then it would make it. WWF World Heavyweight Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin vs Kurt Angle - WWF Summerslam 2001
The rationale behind Austin's turn to the Alliance was actually really logical in a total psycho way. Austin was an insecure, paranoid champion, whose grip on reality was tenuous at best so it is easy to believe that he really thought Vince hugging Angle was a sign he was going to be replaced. Thus he jumped ship to "safer" waters. The rest of the video package shows him as a total maniac beating up his own Allies to improve performance. Angle was perfect for the role of WWF babyface hero that is bringing the gold back. He could finally shine as white bread All American Olympic Gold Medalist.
This match is how you make somebody. Angle came out of this match looking like a million bucks and like one tough son of a bitch. Austin gave one of the best lunatic performances since Randy Savage's heyday in 1997. It took him decking some refs for me to make that comparison. I love a real unhinged character like that, a completely reprehensible bully. Austin cheated like a muthafucka this whole match and I loved it. You know what eerie though was when Austin's music hit and there was no real reaction. Maybe, people are right that heel turn was bad for business. I thought the TV was great at the time and even had my parents buy this PPV for me. Angle was awesome at bringing the fire during the shine. I would have liked to seen Austin go more towards the ankle since it was softened up on TV prior to the match (I did like the Anklelock tease from Angle as a reversal) rather than the suplexes, but that's personal preference. The suplexes I guess was more watching Austin beat Angle at his own game. Angle firing off the Germans and tenaciously holding was a good spot to show his resolve and Angle to leverage his suplex-laden offense. Angle goes for the Angle Slam and eye poke. God Bless Steve Austin! A heel's heel! Austin had some awesome chops in 2001. Superplex, all these suplexes feel strange from Austin. STUNNER! No reaction and kick out and barely a sound. I know we are in California, but that is just damn depressing. STUNNER AGAIN! Now the crowd wakes up and Angle goes flying to the floor. This is where the match goes from great to classic. Austin repeatedly smashes Angle's head into the post and busts him wide open, full crimson mask. Austin beats the holy hell out of him and Angle is taking his licking, but he keeps on ticking. You can actually hear crowd becoming more and more invested in Angle compared to just minutes ago where they barely made a sound for him kicking out of a fucking Stunner. Angle applies the Anklelock to Austin as he is climbing over the barricade and he is trying to out-crazy Austin! The crowd loves it as he drags him back into the ring and puts it on him there. Austin was great selling all this. Angle's comeback was perfect for getting him over. He was meeting Austin right at his level. Suplexing him all over the floor and then hitting a beautiful moonsault. The crowd was really getting behind him and he was showing more true babyface fire than I think he ever did in the rest of his career. The Million Dollar Dream was an interesting choice by Austin. It took the match back down into a heat segment feel after a firey comeback, but now the crowd was more invested in Angle they cheering him harder. Ballsy move by Stone Cold, but it works because Angle was a runaway freight train so this would sap his energy and the crowd was more into Angle so they wouldn't lose him by slowing him. Veteran move. Austin also learned how to kick out and not relinquish the hold so big news! STUNNER! KICK OUT! He goes for it again and ANGLE SLAM! KICK OUT! Austin nails the ref. The cycle continues Angle gets a nearfall so Austin nails the next ref until WCW Referee Nick Patrick calls for a DQ and thus Austin retains the belt.
Austin was a cheater, psycho, a coward and a bully all wrapped into one awesome heel package in this match. Angle was the consummate fired up white bread babyface. This would rank among best uses of blood ever. I think blood can enhance a match, but I think blood was incredibly valuable to getting over Angle's struggle to reclaim the belt for the WWF. The finish was fine by me and thought it stayed true to Austin's character and built to a rematch. I thought the beginning of the match was a little ho-hum and kinda suplex-trade-y, would be my only complaint. I think this is overrated at #10 for best WWF match of all time, but it is still a stone cold classic. ****3/4
