WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle who is a six times former World Champion in WWE recently talked about his WWE championship win at the Unforgiven pay per view event of 2000. He said that he thought he won the WWE Championship in that event because of the 9/11 attacks.
In this event faced the WWE Champion of the time Stone Cold Steve Austin for the title. He defeated Austin by submission ending Austin’s one hundred and seventy five days reign. This was Austin’s first defeat after winning the title from the Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven. Angle here ended a historic title reign.
Kurt Angle Thinks He Won The WWE Championship At Unforgiven 2000 Because Of 9/11
Even though it was not Angle’s first WWE championship win. Previously he won the WWE World Championship at No Mercy pay per view event of year 2000. He defeated the Rock to win his first WWE World Championship. He ended the one hundred and ninteteen days Championship reign of the People’s Champion which he won at the King of the Ring pay per view event of the same year.
Angle also won the King of the Ring tournament of the mentioned year by defeating Rikishi on the finals of the tournament. After that he was not having a very good time as he lost to back to back feuds, the first one was against the Undertaker and the next one was against Triple H. It’s seriously did not seem like he would win the WWE title after having such a terrible time. Maybe it was because of his American Hero gimmick.
Kurt Angle who is a six times former World Champion in WWE recently spoke on a recent episode of The Kurt Angle Show where he said that he thought he won the WWE championship in that event because of the 9/11 attacks. He said;
“It was the biggest moment in my pro wrestling career. I was in my hometown, Pittsburgh, wrestling the biggest star of all time with my family there. This was a huge, special moment for me.”
“I called Vince. I came up with the idea about a week before this event. I told him, ‘Listen, the country is hurting. People need a boost. They need someone to believe in. I’m the Olympic hero, the American hero.
“I’m representing our country during this difficult time. I really think that you need to give me the title, not for a long time, just to give the country a little booster shot of confidence and feeling good about who we are.
“Vince told me to talk to Steve, and if it was ok with Steve, we could do it. I called Steve and he agreed immediately. He said, ‘That’s a great idea. Let’s do it.’ I only held the title probably for a week and then I gave it back. I wasn’t supposed to win the title at that particular time.”
H/T to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription