Kurt Angle comments on the in-ring debut of Gable Steveson.
Gable Steveson debuted at NXT Great American Bash 2023, competing against Baron Corbin in a no-contest. Steveson is an Olympic gold medalist, much like Kurt Angle, and during the match, was the recipient of "You're not Angle" chants from the crowd in Texas.
Kurt Angle has now given his thoughts on the debut of Steveson, saying that comparisons to him at the stage in Gable's career are unfair to the pro wrestling rookie. Angle believes that WWE may actually be trying to turn Gable heel by having Gable mock him.
"Well, I feel badly for him because he's being compared to me at this point in time. He hasn't even barely started, so I don't know how his future is going to be. I know he's really talented, really athletic. I'm not sure how he is as far as entertainment-wise, but as far as in the ring, I heard he's really good. But no, I don't think it's a fair assessment to compare him to me right now. I think down the line, you can do that," Kurt said on the latest episode of the Kurt Angle Show podcast. "This is crazy, but people have been coming to me and telling me, 'Hey, he wrestled Baron Corbin at NXT, and the fans were boobing the heck out of him. Then he pulled his straps down, and the fans got even more pissed.'
"You know what? I think that's something WWE is actually doing," Angle continued. "They want to make him a heel. So they're gonna have them copy and mimic me. That's what this is, I believe. I think they're gonna have him copy and mimic me so he can piss the fans off. So that he starts out as a heel because it's easier to be a heel starting out than it is a babyface. So I think that I think they're the ones that actually told him to do this stuff. I really believe that, and I think WWE is brilliant for doing it."
Angle had his final match in WWE with Baron Corbin, losing to him in another moment that upset audiences.
Angle has previously interacted with Steveson as Steveson stayed by his side during his birthday celebration on the December 9, 2022 episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
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