Better Wrestler #17

[Sepholio]

Originally Posted by Bad News Gertner Angel's gold medal has zero to do with his pro wrestling accolades

Originally Posted by Noid Yeah, really don't think that having a gold medal means shit when it comes to professional wrestling. How many gold medalists have been top pro-wrestlers? Exactly. Is Chad Gable instantly ahead of John Cena because of his Olympic history? It's a bit of a ridiculous point to make unironically.

I disagree. When judging wrestling skill technical skills and mat skills are important and I'd argue that his gold medals are a clear indicator that he was one of if not the best in the world at those pure technical skills. I'd also argue that his Olympic fame gave him a level of credibility that others would find hard to ever achieve. People like to knock wrestling for what it is but you couldn't say that about angle because he had legit real world credibility as a wrestler.

And it really isn't surprising that there aren't many gold medalists as top pro wrestlers. That's kind of a stupid argument. Pro wrestling is about more than your technical and athletic prowess. You have to be able to play a role and do it believably. You have to have charisma. Angle was gifted with all of those things and is an extremely rare breed as such. Not to mention there really aren't that many medalists of any kind period. It's not a large pool to pick from.

And comparing gable/cena to this is ridiculous and overexaggerated. You're talking a newcomer against a probable mount Rushmore candidate in cena. This is about a sum total of these people's careers. Kurt angle isn't a newcomer. He's paid his due and earned his fame. Maybe one day gable will as will and then his career can be weighed but to compare him to angle at this juncture is outrageous.

Besides the poll is better wrestler. Not better pro wrestler.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Originally Posted by Seph I disagree. When judging wrestling skill technical skills and mat skills are important and I'd argue that his gold medals are a clear indicator that he was one of if not the best in the world at those pure technical skills. I'd also argue that his Olympic fame gave him a level of credibility that others would find hard to ever achieve. People like to knock wrestling for what it is but you couldn't say that about angle because he had legit real world credibility as a wrestler. And it really isn't surprising that there aren't many gold medalists as top pro wrestlers. That's kind of a stupid argument. Pro wrestling is about more than your technical and athletic prowess. You have to be able to play a role and do it believably. You have to have charisma. Angle was gifted with all of those things and is an extremely rare breed as such. Not to mention there really aren't that many medalists of any kind period. It's not a large pool to pick from. And comparing gable/cena to this is ridiculous and overexaggerated. You're talking a newcomer against a probable mount Rushmore candidate in cena. This is about a sum total of these people's careers. Kurt angle isn't a newcomer. He's paid his due and earned his fame. Maybe one day gable will as will and then his career can be weighed but to compare him to angle at this juncture is outrageous. Besides the poll is better wrestler. Not better pro wrestler.

First paragraph was basically the point I was trying to make. And as much as some might be loathe to hear the name of a certain tag team partner of Angle as well as worthy opponent, Benoit, I think was one of the guys just below main-event status that truly elevated Kurt's technical game and made him tighten up and tweak his skillset as his career got into its later years.