At the 1999 Survivor Series, after weeks of hype and vignettes, Kurt Angle finally made his WWE in-ring debut as he took on the second-generation Superstar Shawn Stasiak. In doing so, he became the first-ever Olympic gold medalist to compete for the sports-entertainment enterprise. That in itself would have easily been enough to make this one a debut to remember. But perhaps even more impressive than that was the ease with which Angle had seemingly mastered his new trade. Sure, there is plenty of crossover between amateur and pro wrestlingparticular when one considers Angles Greco-Roman-style moveset. But it was more than just sound technical ability that the Olympic Hero demonstrated. Faced with a less-than favourable crowd, Angle played up to audience perfectly. In typical heel fashion, he taunted the fans in search of applause when nothing but boos were flying his way. He even took to the mic mid-match, demanding the crowd respect him for his sporting accolades. It proved right away that Angle could embrace the theatrical side of his newfound profession. Combine that showmanship with his abundance athletic prowess, and it was clear for all to see that there was a star in the making in Angle.
