The Kurt Angle Show - Vengeance 2001 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Today we’re going to close out 2001 with talking about one of the most talked about shows in WWF history...Vengeance 2001!

But first we have to discuss how we got there and it all starts on the Monday night after Survivor Series when you helped the WWF end the Alliance. The show is in Charlotte and the focus of the show is the WWF winning is you saving the company. You go up to Rock and asked to be thanked for saving the WWF. Were you excited to be back as a heel?

This is going to lead to you and the Rock facing off for the World Title since WCW is done. Rock gets the win when he reverses an ankle lock into a cradle. You attack Rock afterwards but the tables are turned until Jericho comes out and you destroy him. Are you more comfortable wrestling as a heel at this time?

The close of the show has Vince McMahon come out and attempt to strip Steve Austin of the WWF Title and reward it to you until he’s interrupted by Ric Flair’s return to the WWF. The pop is gigantic and the show ends with Austin attacking you while Flair watches. Was this your first time meeting Flair?

What were your thoughts on being in the ring when his music hits and considering you’re in the ring at that point with 3 mega stars how great was that going to be?

The next day you’re in Fayetteville, NC for SmackDown and wrestling the Undertaker when Vince tries to interfere on your behalf and Taker walks off. Meltzer called it a great match in the Observer - any memories of this?

It’s also announced that you, Chris Jericho, Steve Austin and the Rock will have a mini tournament to merge the WCW and WWF titles together. That’s a big deal Kurt. Did you feel a lot of pressure being in that position?

Did you think putting the two titles together was too fast and you could’ve stretched it out further?

An infamous Raw takes place the next week in Oklahoma City which we just covered recently on Grilling JR. Before we get to the infamous segment in the main event Kurt you open that Raw bragging about your sports and academic accomplishments. Being a heel in the ring cutting a promo with Vince McMahon talking about how great you are…not that hard to do is it?

Vince makes a handicap match with you & Jericho against Rock but Flair comes out and inserts Kane into the match and Rock gets the win over Jericho in a DDT. Do you think you’re the top heel in the company at this point or is it neck and neck with Jericho?

It’s you in the ring with Vince McMahon when he attempts to make Steve Austin kiss his ass. Austin low blows Vince and whips Vince’s bare ass. So as an Olympic gold medalist…what’s going on in your mind? This is just sports entertainment?

When it’s all over you point to Jim Ross laughing at Vince from commentary and you drag him in the ring to make him kiss Vince’s ass. Taker comes out to save him and buttttt turns heel and forces Ross’ face in Vince’s ass. Any issues with this? Did you feel bad being part of this?

You wrestle Edge on SmackDown and get a win. Do you think Edge was ready to be a top guy?

You’re working with Austin on top at all the house shows. Do you remember what the money was like back then?

There’s talk with the emergence of Flair of turning Raw and Smackdown into separate brands at the time. Do you remember hear rumblings of this? Did you have a preference if you ended up on Raw or SmackDown?

Do you think it was a smart business move to split the brands?

The next week on Raw you team up with Vince McMahon to take on the Rock & Trish Stratus in a tag team match. It’s setup with a promo where you have to help Vince McMahon get through it because of a sore throat and the stipulation is if Rock & Trish lose…Rock has to kiss Vince’s ass but if Rock & Trish win Vince would have to kiss Rock’s ass. This is a lot of ass kissing talk isn’t it?

Rock pins you to win the match and to force Vince to kiss his ass on SmackDown. You try to attack Vince on Smackdown to save him but Austin cuts you off. Not a lot of momentum for you considering you just turned heel. That continues into the main event as you & Jericho team up and lose to Rock & Austin and then you give Jericho an Angle Slam after the match.

Do you think you had the right amount of heat going into Vengeance?

Well we’re here in San Diego Kurt. Vengeance takes place on December 9th and it’s based around the unification of the WCW & WWF world titles for the first time in history. Were you ever told you’d be the first unified champion?

This takes place on your 32nd birthday. Any good or funny birthday stories?

Let’s fire up the Peacock machine and watch Austin vs. Angle! It’s Season 1 Episode 1 on Vengeance of course. Time cue is 1:35:30.

During this show you & Jericho confronted Flair about not being an undisputed champion. Are you thinking at that point you’re going to be working in the ring against Flair eventually?

Is it different working Austin as a heel when he’s a babyface?

Would you had rather to have faced Rock in the first round?

7. Steve Austin retained the WWF title for the last time pinning Kurt Angle in 15:01. Austin posted Angle's left arm a few times. Angle went to the ankle lock several times to work the leg, and also did a figure four around the ring post. Angle did three back suplexes for a near fall, then missed a moonsault. Austin came back with five back suplexes for a near fall. Angle used an Angle slam, but Austin kicked out. Austin came back with a stunner. ***½

Dave Meltzer in the Observer would comment that this wasn’t as good as your other matches. Do you think that’s a fair criticism?

Do you think Austin held back knowing he had to work Jericho right after again in the main event?

After you lose and Jericho defeats the Rock you come out and hit Austin with a chair shot to begin his match against Jericho.

As a heel…when the champion is a heel…and you know you’re not going to be working on top how does that affect you? Mentally and financially?

Kurt we’ve covered a lot of your 2001. When you look back at the year…what stands out to you?

Were you happy with the year?