Best Wrestler #11

[Rammsteinmad]

Originally Posted by Lock Jaw Of course he would have. He had an Olympic Gold Medal. That alone would have made WCW push him. Then, being ultra talented, he would have got over easily.

What WCW are you talking about?

[Lock Jaw]

Originally Posted by Rammsteinmad What WCW are you talking about?

One where Turd considered Jericho to have "gotten over" in. Angle could have been at least a midcarder as well, if that is what "getting over" means.

[Curd]

Originally Posted by Lock Jaw One where Turd considered Jericho to have "gotten over" in. Angle could have been at least a midcarder as well, if that is what "getting over" means.

I have a stinking suspicion that Hogan, Nash, et al. would fear Kurt's success and sabotage long-term booking plans to delay a title reign, much like they did with Bret Hart, whom could have been used much better in WCW but was relegated to full-time Hogan lackey for most of 1998.

Although a match between Sting in his prime and a young Angle would have been great, there would have been many more dud bookings such as feuding with David Flair or Tank Abbott. WCW would have likely given Angle a U.S. Title run sometime in 2000, after it was too late to turn around the sinking ship. "New Blood" Angle could have been a preview of the WWE Psycho Angle, except with the Millionaire's Club (particularly DDP) booked to go over.

[loopydate]

Originally Posted by Rammsteinmad What WCW are you talking about?

Probably the one with the hard-on for "real" athletes. Rodman, Malone, Abbott, etc. You don't think Angle would have been pushed to the moon as the guy with a gold medal if it would get WCW on SportsCenter?

[Theo Dious]

Originally Posted by loopydate Probably the one with the hard-on for "real" athletes. Rodman, Malone, Abbott, etc. You don't think Angle would have been pushed to the moon as the guy with a gold medal if it would get WCW on SportsCenter?

He would have been for a short time but I don't think he would have been cultivated and refined in WCW the way he was in WWE. WCW's hardon was really more for the fame of those guys you mentioned and not their athletic skill. (Also you left Jay Leno off that list.) The thing about Angle is that he knew damn near nothing about the business when he came in. He was brilliant in his first year in the WWF where he was put through a lot of comedy scenarios but was still capable of looking like a real threat. It was a masterful piece of booking that showcased his raw ability while giving him enough character to make him a draw to those who might not care about such things. I doubt WCW could ever pull off something like that.

Anyways I voted for Jericho because Angle never wore a Lite-brite jacket.

[Curd]

Originally Posted by Tedious He would have been for a short time but I don't think he would have been cultivated and refined in WCW the way he was in WWE. WCW's hardon was really more for the fame of those guys you mentioned and not their athletic skill. (Also you left Jay Leno off that list.) The thing about Angle is that he knew damn near nothing about the business when he came in. He was brilliant in his first year in the WWF where he was put through a lot of comedy scenarios but was still capable of looking like a real threat. It was a masterful piece of booking that showcased his raw ability while giving him enough character to make him a draw to those who might not care about such things. I doubt WCW could ever pull off something like that.

Indeed, and given Nash's booking power, Angle's success would have been partially determined by how well Big Sexy took a liking to young Kurt. Would Nash have seen Angle as just another "vanilla midget" despite the Olympic credentials? Other Olympians in WCW such as Ted Arcidi, Bill Kazmaier, and Chip Minton weren't used for much more than one or two years before being released from WCW. And I doubt Hogan would have used his creative control to build Angle.