10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Sept 30)
3. Kurt Angle Commanded Immediate Respect In WWE Developmental
Following the hiring of Mark Henry in 1996, the then-WWF set up their new developmental training facility. Tom Prichard, who had previously wrestled for the promotion as part of The Heavenly Bodies, was enlisted to help train the likes of The Rock and Kurt Angle over the next few years. His specific task was to help prepare these men for life on the main roster.
Signing with the company in 1998, Kurt Angle was well-known for winning a Gold Medal at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta. Prichard was fully aware of this, and wanted to ensure that the Olympian felt right at home as soon as possible.
Adopting a vastly different approach than usual, the trainer informed Kurt that he had nothing to prove to him. Talking about the situation to the Pancakes And Powerslams show, Prichard remarked that he asked instead of demanded that Angle co-operate with him when he was showing him various pro wrestling moves and drills.
Clearly, training staff were wary of Kurt's real wrestling skills. Prichard and others didn't want to raise his ire, so they made sure to note the tremendous respect the WWF had for his achievements.