10 Real Life Events That Forced Wrestling World Title Changes

2. Kurt Angle Is The Hero America Needed Post-9/11

Kurt Angle Unforgiven 2001
WWE.com

Following the tragic events of 11 September 2001, Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation was the first form of sports, entertainment or sports entertainment to feature a mass gathering - that being a special live episode of SmackDown that aired on the Thursday just two days after 9/11.

At that point in time, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin was the heel WWF Champion following his victory over The Rock at WrestleMania X-Seven. With WWF looking to bring some positivity to the table, the company went ahead and had Kurt Angle take Austin's prize at the Unforgiven PPV on 23 September.

If looking for a perfect moment of celebration for wrestling fans, Angle was the right person in the right place at the right time.

Angle had turned babyface earlier this year, and WWF had a legitimate American hero on their hands in the Olympic gold medalist. Adding further to the situation, that Unforgiven show took place from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Kurt's home state and billed-as hometown.

Given the atrocities that had rocked the entire world, making Kurt Angle the WWF Champion at Unforgiven was a moment that many fans needed. It's just a shame that Angle's reign last barely two weeks before Austin took the belt back.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer and Presenter, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund and Eli Roth to Kevin Smith and the Russo Brothers, to Kevin Conroy and Frank Miller, to Bret Hart and Sting, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, and Brian Flynn, to many, many more. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is a long-standing season ticket holder and an FSA Award-winner for his time co-hosting the Fearless in Devotion podcast.