10 Times Wrestlers Went Into Business For Themselves In The Ring

7. Daniel Puder Embarrasses Kurt Angle

Act Yakusawa Yoshiko Stardom
WWE Network

Daniel Puder's shoot on Kurt Angle is one of the most notable in modern wrestling history, and took place on a 2005 episode of SmackDown.

WWE were running a special version of Tough Enough with a $1 million cash prize, and one of the contests saw Kurt Angle compete against the young hopefuls in a series of collegiate style bouts. He crushed Chris Nawrocki with ease, but faced a sterner opponent in former amateur wrestler and mixed martial artist Daniel Puder, who wasn't up for losing to Angle.

Kurt took his opponent down, but Puder quickly locked 'The Olympic Hero' in a kimura. Angle couldn't escape the hold: he was in trouble, and if he didn't relent, Puder would break his arm. Fortunately, referee Jimmy Korderas saved his blushes by counting an entirely unconvincing pin attempt, and Kurt was declared the 'winner.'

Puder later claimed that he would've snapped Kurt's arm had Korderas not intervened. Unfortunately for him, the deed did not go unpunished, as Chris Benoit, Hardcore Holly, and Eddie Guerrero took a receipt on Angle's behalf during the 2005 Royal Rumble, ganging up to legitimately batter Puder before eliminating him from the contest.

 
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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.