The Kurt Angle Show - No Way Out 2001 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today’s show is about the main event of No Way Out 2001 and the build to that show. We’re talking about WWF Champion Kurt Angle defending the title against The Rock on the last stop before Wrestlemania X-Seven. No Way Out 2001 happened on February 25 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada.

590,000 bought the show on PPV - the most purchased No Way Out event ever. The 2000 event did 480,000 buys and the 2002 event did 575,000.

(Did the business feel like it was hotter in this era than any other point in your career? Did you know at the time it was a special time?)

The show drew a sellout 15,223 fans to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, which was 13,119 paying $683,955 and another $129,478 in merchandise.

Speaking of merch...at the time on TV, you were wearing a gray WWE t-shirt that said “It’s True, It’s True. Kurt Angle.” The back had a special American-flag styled letter “i” as in the three Is.

(What was your favorite Kurt Angle t-shirt design from over the years?)

(Angle Show shirts are at BoxofGimmicks.com now including the Broken Freakin Neck shirt in the Seth Rollins style)

This is the first event poster that you have all to yourself. You were on the Royal Rumble poster prominently the month before, so that would be your first poster appearance. But this is the first time you get a pay per view poster all to yourself.

(Is that a special honor or a cool feeling for performers, especially during this era of so many main event megastars on the card?)

News and Notes

In a shoot interview on Kayfabe Commentaries, Timeline: The Year 2001, Lisa Moretti - Ivory - said she was excited about when you came into the company - at first…

She said “alright, he’s a real athlete and a real good guy. He’s going to be good to all the ladies. And he was for a really long time. But then he just turned out to be another wrestler.”

(Do you remember crossing Ivory the wrong way at some point?)

We’re in the time period where the XFL was making its debut. It kicks off to a monster 9.5 rating on NBC. By week two, it’s down to a 4.6. And by the end of the season, it’s canceled. We know it would be brought back again and might come back in another form in the future, too. But back then...

(Did you think the XFL was going to sink or swim?)

Check out the card on this spot show out of Jonesboro, Arkansas from February 21...

Memphis Championship Wrestling drew by far its biggest crowd in its history, a reported 4,000, for a show on 2/21 in Jonesboro, AR headlined by a WWF title match with Kurt Angle vs. HHH, ending with HHH going over via DQ when Jason Sensation, Shooter Schultz, Spanky and American Dragon all did run-ins attacking HHH. Lots of other WWF wrestlers worked the show. Regal worked against Southern heavyweight champ Steve Bradley and put Bradley over via pinfall. Brian Christopher replaced scheduled K-Kwik in a PPW TV title match against Rodrageous (Rodney of the Mean Street Posse) and Christopher won the title. Haas Brothers won the Southern tag titles from the Dupps. They also had a six-man with Jerry Lawler & Bill Dundee & Kat over Bobby Eaton & Brandon Baxter & Victoria which ended up with Kat pinning Eaton in the middle with Eaton's own Alabama jam after Lawler gave Eaton a piledriver.

(It’s crazy to think of the WWF champion working spot shows for a regional promotion in 2001 at the peak of the business. Does that speak to Vince’s relationship with Jerry Lawler? Did you enjoy coming back to work the Memphis territory?)

Even though the WWF champion was working shows for Lawler, the relationship was about to turn sour between he and WWF.

Meltzer reported….Stacy Carter (Kat) was released on 2/27, which was strange being it was right in the middle of the angle they were doing with her being kidnapped, and that upon hearing the news, Lawler quit the company in protest. According to reports, Lawler was at the production meeting going over the show until 2 p.m. that afternoon, then left, and when he came back at 4 p.m., Ross told him they had to release Carter. Lawler said he told Ross and McMahon that if she is let go, then he would quit. They didn't change their decision and he left. Lawler said to his webmaster, Alan Whitenton, that there was no incident or provocation of any kind that led up to this and both he and Carter have no idea why this happened. They denied there was any refusal by Carter to do something suggested with the current angle.

(Were you surprised by the blow up between Lawler and Vince here during this time? Did you have any perspective on it, having worked for both guys?)

The day after the show in Jonesboro...you did a media press conference on 2/22. You said the autobiography should be out in August. Meltzer reported that may also be a timetable for a face turn, because Angle is one of those heels that the WWF book selling frenzy may not work for. Reason I say this is they heavily promoted his video, and it doesn't do the numbers that videos far lesser stars do. Just because he's led an interesting life and seems very intelligent and not a full-time worker (in the negative sense of the word as it pertains to wrestlers whose life stories are either fiction or fantasy) like many in the business, I'd think his book would be in the upper percentage of pro wrestler books. He said his WWF career wouldn't be the main focus of the book.

(Did you know you would be turning face later that year or was that a decision that came later? What was the process like for the autobiography?)

Just looking at some of the ratings from around this time frame, it’s pretty clear that the company is dominating WCW as 2001 begins.

Out of the seven head-to-head weeks since football ended, Raw has averaged a 5.04 rating, with the high rating being 1/29 (5.43) and the low rating being 2/12 (4.77). Nitro during the same period has averaged a 2.27 rating, with the high rating being 1/15 (2.65)--the first Nitro after the sale announcement, and the low being 2/19 (2.05).

(Did you follow the ratings very much during this time? Or were you guys winning so much, it didn’t matter?)

Based on the numbers in the Observer, the biggest main event rating from this time period was a 5.79 Austin & APA vs. Angle & Edge & Christian on 1/15.

In comparing the top line talent, in that they've been in at least two major television matches since 1/8, the average ratings for their matches come off like this:

Steve Austin 5.76

HHH 5.68

Kurt Angle 5.49

Kane 5.49

Rock 5.47

Rikishi 5.40

Due to injuries to HHH and more angles and less wrestling, the television shows this year have, as far as main events are concerned, been built around Austin, Angle and Rock.

We’re going to cover your Rookie Year in an upcoming episode, thanks to the Twitter followers deciding in a recent poll.

(Did you feel like your second year was maybe even more impressive than your first? Because by year two, you were on top tier with Rock and Austin!)

(Was any part of you disappointed or resentful that you went from being the WWF champion in the main event every night to a non-main event match for Wrestlemania? Was there ever any conversation with Vince where he maybe said, “You’ll get your turn soon.”?)

On the house show circuit, you were working with Chris Benoit as early as January 26 in the Cleveland Gund Arena, pinning him with help from Trish Stratus.

(Was the plan already set that you would be working with him at Wrestlemania? When did you find out?)

January 27 at MSG, you defeated Chris Jericho with a low blow and the Olympic Slam, as it was called then. Same outcome the following night in Philadelphia. On February 2 in Raleigh, North Carolina, you beat Chris Benoit. Also on February 3 in Greensboro, NC. It’s either matches against Jericho or matches against Benoit on the house show circuit for the rest of February.

As far as pro wrestling goes, both Benoit and Jericho had been in the business for a lot longer than you at this point - but you were ahead of them on the card and with being champion.

(Did you ever encounter any ill-will from anyone in the locker room for how quickly you moved to the top? How were these guys with putting you over, any issues?)

The Build

Let’s go through the build to the show...

January 25 on Smackdown, Mr. McMahon is not happy with you, Kurt. He says to get your red, white, and blue derrière out to the ring. You show up and say that there’s something you want to get off your chest. Something all of these people have probably wanted to tell him and that you’re going to tell him to his face.

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to say this, but Vince McMahon: I respect you.”

Then, you salute Mr. McMahon. Then, you ask him to forgive you. But it’s not enough, because Mr. McMahon puts your WWF title on the line that night against...KANE. (He said it with the evil voice).

(How was it working with Vince McMahon, the performer, in front of a live crowd?)

You enter with the pyro going off, but not doing the pose. You say that Kane was the WWF champion - for about 12 seconds - but you respect him. And you have a lot of fans who are burn victims! Anyway, Kane throws you around. But on commentary, Michael Cole says you’re coming off of the best year of any young WWE talent. Rikishi and Haku destroy Kane and you escape with the cheap heel win.

(How was working with Glenn Jacobs, known to us as Kane? Did you see him becoming mayor someday?)

On Smackdown Xtreme, Feb. 1, the main event was set to be you vs. the Rock! But Triple H manages to sneak into the main event. Obviously, you keep the title.

On the February 5 Raw, you’re in a tag match with The Rock against Triple H and Stone Cold. While looking for The Rock backstage, you run into Essa Rios and congratulate him on still being employed with the company!

You find Rock and tell him if he keeps his head on straight tonight, you’ll talk to Mr. McMahon and maybe even get him another number one contendership match! Rock shakes your hand and agrees - then tells you he’s going to take your WWF title sooner or later. And when you’re getting in the ring, the steps fall apart! But, your balance is so good, you barely flinch and get in the ring as the top half literally falls over. Fortunately, Trish had not yet stepped on that part. You win the match for your team with a chair shot to Triple H’s head.

(Do you remember the steps doing this on television? Are there any stories of equipment malfunctions that you had to work around besides this?)

The February 8 Smackdown sees you on commentary for the main event between the Big Show and The Rock. The winner faces you for the title at No Way Out. Big Show attacks you, and you hit him with several chair shots. The Rock wins, setting him up to face you at No Way Out and creating a mini-feud with the Big Show. But also that night, a match is made for the upcoming week’s Sunday Night Heat.

The February 11 episode of Sunday Night Heat, you main event against Essa Rios after accusing him of stealing your shirt and selling it for tequila! You win, but it sets up a tag match the next night on Raw. Essa Rios picks a partner - the Big Show - and you team with Raven. Raven pins Essa but Big Show tells you that your ass is his. But that’s pretty much it for the Big Show feud.

(Who came up with the Essa Rios angle and what did you think of it? Memories of working with Big Show during this time?)

On the February 15 Smackdown, the show is curiously without a Kurt Angle appearance until the main event - The Rock vs. Triple H - when you run out and hit the Rock with the world title. But Stone Cold starts attacking you. Benoit comes out. And there’s a cool visual where you put The Rock in the Ankle lock, facing Stone Cold, who is in the Crippler Crossface.

On the February 19 Raw is War, you do a sit down interview with Kevin Kelly. You say it hurts you to get booed after what you did for your country at the Olympics while a guy like The Rock, who wouldn’t and couldn’t represent his country, gets cheered. You question why is he the hero when you’re the one who is kind and courteous. And then, you ask Kevin Kelly... “How is the people’s champion treating you? Has your son asked you what a hermaphrodite is?”

(There’s more but...this stuff is hilarious. Who came up with the idea for this interview and asking Kevin Kelly about the Rock calling him a hermaphrodite?)

You say that everyone thinks Wrestlemania will be Stone Cold vs. The Rock but you’ve made a career out of proving people wrong. You say you will beat the Rock at No Way Out.

(Did any part of you hope to perform so well, that the company would end up going with you in the Mania main event?)

Later in the night, The Rock says he will be winning the championship this Sunday at No Way Out.

In the main event on Raw, you’re teaming with Benoit against The Rock and Stone Cold. You enter and do the pose during your fireworks. Benoit ends up taking a Rock Bottom and pin. But you got a stunner that night.

(What was the key to taking the Stone Cold Stunner right?)

Smackdown on February 22 is the last stop before the pay-per-view. You open the show wearing your tracksuit or athletic suit. You wore that all the time during this period with the belt over it. It’s one of your best looks! You begin by doing a pose “like your friends, Edge and Christian.” And you say, “I know what you’re thinking,” to the audience:

*With a southern drawl*:

“Duhh. Grab your camera honey. That damn picture is gonna be worth somethin. The last time Kurt Angle stands in the ring on Smackdown, the WWF ChamPEEN. That’s going to be a genuine (gen-you-wine) collectors item!”

(Did you have to practice your southern drawl? How much fun was it to get to heel out on the crowd?)

You also say the Rock has been saying the countdown is on. “Well thank you Casey Kasem!” And then you do something we don’t hear from you much. You say the word ASS. “Tik toc my ass!” Lawler screams.

You play Rock’s new song, PIE. You ask...What the fffffreaking heck is that. The Kansas City fans are into The Rock, so you tell them “Of course” they would like the Rock. They’re the same people who worship George Brett (Baseball, Royals) - a well known “cheater and hemorrhoid sufferer.”

(How fun were these local sports insults?)

Your point is, that song was a disgrace! You say... “You know what he was talking about when he was singing about pie, don’t you? Well, he obviously wasn’t talking about a baking pan and flour, I assure of you of that!”

You treat us to your theme, “Medal.” Edited to a video of you beating up The Rock. Both are tracks on the new WWF CD. When your song plays the second time, fans start chanting You Suck to the beat of the song! You close by saying Rock will be singing “I just got my Brahma bull butt beat by the better man blues.” And then you do Rock’s catchphrase! If you smell...you know.

(Could this be the actual birth of the You Suck chant???)

You part ways with Trish on this Smackdown because you don’t want the Rock to have any excuses this Sunday! But we got some really memorable segments out of that pairing.

We also get to see Team ECK backstage as you, Edge and Christian prepare for the main event that night.

(We know we will get to do much more on Edge, Christian, and yourself but...how did you enjoy working with these guys during this time period?)

The main event on Smackdown is Team ECK (Edge, Christian, and Kurt) defeating Kane, The Rock, and The Undertaker in a six-man in 9:20.

The Event Itself

You show up in a limousine! You’re not worried about the Rock and say he should be worried after the beating you gave him.

The Rock’s pre-match interview is really simple. He says the countdown to the end of your reign as champion is over. But as we all remember hearing from you just a few days before...TIK TOK MY ASS.

(Who was your agent for the match? Who called spots in the ring? How much rehearsal time did you guys get to go over spots for the match?)

Let’s get to the match. Here’s how Meltzer broke it down...

7. The two traded suplexes. Rock got the sharpshooter on and Angle sold it great getting to the ropes. Angle also used an ankle lock as his new submission. Rock sold the ankle taking a bump over the top rope.

(This may be the first use of the ankle lock in a televised match by Kurt Angle. We couldn’t find any other examples of it. Who came up with the idea for you to begin using the Ankle Lock? Did this have anything to do with the Olympics not wanting you to use the term “Olympic Slam?” Or was this to prepare you for your program with Chris Benoit?)

(Also, can you please settle an age-old debate….is your version called the Ankle Lock...or the Angle Lock?)

There’s a moment here where Rock crawls to the ropes but you pull him away and dial up the intensity, slamming Rock’s leg into the mat and screaming at him loudly: “Tap out you son of a bitch! I’ll break your fucking leg!” The WWE Network even bleeped this part out!

(Did you get any heat from Vince over that? Or was that a scripted line?)

Meltzer continues...In an attempt to ruin a great match, Big Show came out and choke slammed ref Mike Cioda as well as Rock and Angle and walked off. Angle had Rock pinned. Tim White and Earl Hebner were helping Cioda off and Hebner carrying Cioda off, saw a pin attempt, and ran in the ring, causing Cioda to fall down on the ground. In a different match, it would have been hilarious. I laughed but it also took the edge off the match for a few minutes.

(I guess this is the payback from Big Show for weeks earlier when he lost on Smackdown. But, it ends up being a random, almost comedy spot. Were you okay with this seemingly random comedy spot in the middle of your match here?)

Meltzer goes on to say...They continued with near falls and near submissions. Angle kicked out of the people's elbow. Angle undid the padding on the turnbuckle and rammed Rock into it, then hit the Olympic slam for a near fall. Angle missed a charge and hit the exposed metal buckle and Rock gave him a rock bottom for a near fall. Angle never really kicked out but the ref held up the count which was kind of weird, but they announced he kicked out. Something was major screwed up there, apparently Hebner not realizing that was the finish. Rock went right back to the rock bottom a second time for the pin.

Let’s talk for a second about the finish of that match. Things were seemingly perfect and then, Earl Hebner stops the count while your shoulders are down. The crowd is hot, too. They wanted to pop and were on their feet only to see the mistake. It sort of works as a referee error, in story, but we all know this to be a screw up.

(Were you supposed to kick out on this one or was Earl mistaken?)

Rock (Dwayne Johnson) regains the WWF title for a record-breaking sixth time (breaking the record of five he shared with Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart, which at one time would have been a huge story but today literally nobody takes seriously title reigns) pinning Kurt Angle in 16:54. ****1/4

(Give us your thoughts on the match. Were you happy with the performance? Was Vince/Rocky? What’s the reaction like when you get back to the Gorilla Position?)

Meltzer said Rock had to beat Angle, which he did, but did so in a way where everyone worked, both from the scripting of the match to the call of the match, to make Angle stronger than ever.

(Did you feel like your character looked stronger than ever coming out of this loss? Was this the beginning of a more serious turn for the character?)

Fans loved the match and loved the show - but it was HHH and Steve Austin in their three-stages of hell match that ended up picking up top honors from readers of the Observer...

WWF NO WAY OUT: Thumbs up 240 (87.3%), Thumbs down 21 (7.6%), In the middle 14 (5.1%).

BEST MATCH POLL: Steve Austin vs. HHH 192, Rock vs. Kurt Angle 53, Chris Benoit vs. Eddy Guerrero vs. Chris Jericho vs. X-Pac 16;

WORST MATCH POLL: Jerry Lawler vs. Steven Richards 98, Stephanie McMahon vs. Trish Stratus 37, Hardcore Battle Royal 29, Undertaker & Kane vs. Edge & Christian vs. Dudleys 11