10 Wrestling Ripoffs Better Than The Original

Kurt Angle wasn't the only wrestler to borrow/steal a lot from The Patriot. Hulk Hogan even did it when weaving his super-weird Mr. America character into WWE's product in 2003. That wasn't too successful. The same cannot be said for Angle's 'American Hero' persona. It resonated with fans, albeit initially as a detestable heel who was forcing patriotism down their throats.

Del Wilkes used a familiar tune as entrance music too. The Patriot's version was a little more Christmassy than Kurt's would end up being, but 'Medal' remains one of the most iconic tracks in company history to this day. Everybody knows who's coming through the curtain when it starts playing. No, it isn't The Patriot. It's Angle, and he's here to remind everyone he "won a gold medal with a broken freakin' neck".

'Medal' became something truly special once fans took ownership of it by chanting, "YOU SUCK!" in time with the beat. Edge encouraged that little singalong, then Angle embraced it once he'd turned babyface. For some reason, audiences still chanted that he sucked, and it worked. Figure that one out!

In many ways, Angle's 'American Hero' gimmick was a heel retread of something Vince McMahon had tried with babyface Patriot in 1997. The company put a neat spin on the idea, and it worked a treat. Kurt was an even more forced version of Wilkes without the mask, basically. He understood his role perfectly, and he turned both patriotism and a humble piece of entrance music into a Hall Of Fame career.

All together now. "YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!".