The 2006 encounter between Kurt Angle and The Undertaker for the World Heavyweight Championship was a battle unlike any fans could have imagined. The Phenom had been a very consistent, solid wrestler but he had not, to that point, incorporated the MMA style that would help him evolve into the extraordinary wrestler he would become. Sprinkle in some fantastic false finishes and a ground-based submission offense and the war of attrition with the Olympic gold medalist is the most important to the second-half of The Phenom's career. The fans in Baltimore that February were privy to an all-time classic, a match that proved that the two Superstars atop the SmackDown mountain may have been aging but no one was better. The emotional roller coaster they took fans on, making them guess as to which competitor would walk away with the gold around their waist, helped solidify the entire event's reputation as a hidden gem on that year's calendar. Angle would counter his opponent's Hell's Gate submission into a jackknife pinfall for the clean victory and move onto WrestleMania 22, where he would defend his title against Randy Orton and Rey Mysterio in a Triple Threat match. As for the Deadman, he would focus on extending his streak as he battled Mark Henry in a Casket match.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
