WWE legend Kurt Angle names three opponents who pushed him to his limits

The Olympic gold medalist retired from pro wrestling in 2019

WWE legend and Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle hung his wrestling boots after an illustrious career in pro wrestling in 2019. After overcoming his initial hesitation, Angle started his pro wrestling journey in 1998 with the WWE.

Angle then joined Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in 2006 and spent ten years in the promotion featuring in some of the most memorable matches. After leaving the promotion he spent some time on the Independent circuit and returned to WWE in 2017.

The Olympian was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on January 16, 2017, Angle’s long-time-rival John Cena inducted him into the Hall of Fame. Angle shortly made his first WWE appearance in nearly 11 years on the April 3 episode of Monday Night Raw. McMahon appointed him as the new general manager of the Red brand.

Angle announced his retirement from pro wrestling in March 2019 and embarked on a farewell tour which ended at WrestleMania 35 where he suffered defeat at the hands of Baron Corbin. This was the final match of his pro wrestling career as he bid farewell to the squared ring.

Chris Benoit is Kurt Angle’s favorite opponent of all time

The WWE legend recently sat down with fellow legend Chris Jericho in a recent edition of Talk is Jericho podcast. During the conversation, Angle listed some of the best opponents he faced during his illustrious career.

Angle also named the best matches he had with those opponents. The WWE legend picked Chris Jericho as one of the best opponents he has ever faced citing their clash at WWE No Way Out 2000 as their best.

However, when it comes to Angle’s favorite opponent of all time Chris Benoit holds that spot. Angle lauded Benoit’s work ethic and expressed his admiration for the legend.

“Benoit, I felt like I was looking a mirror, He was so intense, he had that intensity, he might have perhaps been more intense than I was, and I loved the way he worked, the way he moved. We had such incredible chemistry that every match we ever had was a classic.

I had so much respect for Chris and what he was able to do in pro wrestling, especially for his size. He was a man that was probably what? 5’8? 5’9? But he wrestled like he was a monster, he was huge. I had so much respect for him and the chemistry that we had.” Angle stated.

Angle revealed that his 2003 Royal Rumble match against Benoit for the WWE Championship is his all-time favorite. Angle’s only regret for the clash is that he wasn’t at full strength, having undergone knee surgery just weeks prior.

During the conversation, Jericho pointed out that Angle has had two back-to-back WrestleMania matches with two legends, Eddie Guerrero and Shawn Michaels. Responding to the comment, Angle praised Guerrero’s ability to work around his car accident and expressed his wish to fight a ‘prime’ Eddie Guerrero.

“I don’t want to say he was better in WCW, but he was healthier. Once he had that car wreck and he busted his femur, his leg, he wasn’t the same. But Eddie was still better than everybody else, even after that, so I would have loved to have wrestled Eddie in his prime, and not to say he wasn’t in his prime when I wrestled him, but we knew that Eddie had to work around that stuff.” Angle said.

As for Shawn Michaels, Kurt pointed out his effortlessness inside the ring and stated that Michael ‘just had a knack for pro wrestling’.

“Shawn was so magical, he had so much talent, he looked effortless when he was out there doing whatever he did. He made everything look so easy, he just had a knack for pro wrestling, He didn’t want to tie up, he didn’t want to practice anything, we practiced one thing…I mean that match was incredible.” Angle revealed.

What are your favorite moments from Kurt Angle’s career? Who do you think gave the Olympic gold medalist his toughest test in the WWE? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.

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