Who REALLY Carried WWE Every Year (1985-2026)

Olympic great Kurt Angle experienced one of the best rookie years in living memory as he took to pro wrestling like a duck to water in 2000. Then, in 2001, it all clicked into place. Angle was the glue holding things together whilst other top stars like Austin, Rock, Triple H, Undertaker and more had mixed fortunes elsewhere.

In-ring, his feud with Chris Benoit produced some stunners. Kurt had also been WWF Champ earlier in the year, then lived a short but fun babyface turn between September-October due to rising patriotism in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks. Chris Jericho might've ended the year as Undisputed Champ, but '01 belonged to Angle.

He was already showing his chops as a valuable utility player who could carry things if given the chance.

Angle's intensity bell to bell was tough to beat, but he could make himself look like a chump by clowning around in comedy skits before hitting the ring to show off just how credible he was as a worker. The fanbase willingly went along with all of it. One minute, they were in awe of Kurt's suplexes and technical skill. The next? They were chuckling at his hapless misfortune during promos.

The brief babyface flurry shouldn't be overlooked either. That would've shown Vince McMahon and other management types how versatile Angle could be. Again, Austin was dipping in and out of form, Rock was taking time away, Hunter got injured and 'Taker was still ironing out his biker gimmick.

Kurt was the WWF's 'Mr. Consistency'.