Before the stars of wrestling hit it big, they're learning the ropes to varying degrees of success. Some you've seen well before you even realized, as they claw their way to a big break. Whether it be extra work, or getting crushed on cable TV, everyone has a different path. Now, they'll tell you about it.
These are Enhancement Stories, and this is a short one.
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In 2005, Kurt Angle was doing an open challenge called the "Kurt Angle invitational" on Smackdown, which ran on and off for about eight or nine months. Among the names that participated where established stars like Nunzio and Eugene, veterans such as Kurt Angle, and up and comers like Matt Striker. In January, a wide-eyed Roderick Strong was Angle's latest victim, but it was all by chance as Strong tells Fightful.
:"It's great. It's funny because I just went there to see Molly Holly, who was in town. Paul London was there and all the guys. I just went to see people because it was in Tampa and they were like, 'Hey, do you wanna wrestle Kurt?' 'Okay.' You can't pass a situation like that up," Strong said.
Strong has noted that Angle did so many of the open challenges that he has no particular recollection of Strong. With a mouth full of chewing tobacco, Angle said he was approached with how the match was going to go.
"The thing I loved about it was he was completely honest with me about what it was and I knew what I had to do, it had to be equally as physical or as intense as he's going to do. If not, no one is going to care. It was very heartwearming to hear the response. I remember slapping him so hard and being like, 'Here we go."
'Here we go' ended up involving Strong being bit by Angle on the head during the match. Originally set to be about 30 seconds, he ended up getting two minutes. Strong had admitted that Angle got heat for doing a German Suplex that landed Strong on his chest, with Vince McMahon not happy about the spot.
In other interviews, Strong noted that before the match, Angle told him not to try anything funny, specifying that he had a counter for every counter.
"It was one of the highlights of my career and I'm really sad me and Kurt never had an opportunity to have a real one and put some time in together. That would have been something," Strong said.
The two would never have another match, but both partipated in the Greatest Royal Rumble in 2018.
Check out past editions of Enhancement Stories!
Angelina Love against Trinity!
Jimmy Jacobs For The WWE Cruiserweight Title!
Gangrel vs. Big Bossman In The 1980s!
