8. "Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence" - Kurt Angle Debuts In The WWF On November 14, 1999
Kurt Angle is a once-in-a-lifetime pro wrestling success story. In October 1998, Angle was wrestling in Memphis, Tennessee's Power Pro Wrestling developmental territory. By February 2000, he was the holder of the European and Intercontinental Championships, and by October 2000, he was the WWF Champion. From being nowhere near the roster in 1998 to being the company's top performer in 2000, Kurt Angle's rise is a key piece in the WWF success puzzle. Angle added a main eventer with legitimate credibility to an already filled (yet possibly over-exposed) top of the roster. Angle was an Olympic-gold medalist with instantaneous gifts within the squared circle and beyond. From providing a romantic foil for Stephanie McMahon, to dousing the ring in milk, to playing a ukelele for Mr.McMahon - while also having bad-ass main event matches - Angle's ability to be a true master of all trades was invaluable to the WWF's ability to shape the continuation of their "Attitude Era" success.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
