The Kurt Angle Show - Vengeance 2003 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Following WrestleMania XIX in March you took a couple of months off due to neck surgery. This was Meltzer’s report at the time about it:

“Kurt Angle made the decision to go with the minimally invasive surgery techniques of Dr. Hae-Dong Jho, with an operation for his damaged neck scheduled on 4/11 in Pittsburgh. The decision had been one of considerable controversy because it was contradictory to the diagnosis of Dr. Lloyd Youngblood, who had been the company's go-to guy for wrestlers with neck problems.

Youngblood had recommended that Angle retire, while Jho said Angle could be back in action in four to six weeks, although internally the expectations are that he won't be back quite that quickly.

No exact time frame estimate for his return can be accurately assessed until after the surgery. Angle met with Jho again after Wrestlemania, and was leaning toward him until making the final decision a day or two later.

In an article on the company's web site, Angle cited the fact that after taking a year off for surgery from Youngblood, that a few years later, Steve Austin is in need of another neck fusion surgery. While still not publicly being said, his career is considered over whether he gets the surgery or not.”

Kurt - how involved is the WWE in this decision?

How worried are you about all the doctors different opinions?

Are you just looking for the easiest path to return? Were you just not a fan of the surgery?

“Angle's left arm had started to atrophy, as was noticeable at Wrestlemania, but has gotten worse as pressure on the nerve had limited blood flow into his left arm. He did more damage to his neck by attempting to perform a match of the year at Mania, as he was unable to lift his left arm above his head after the match. His strength, way down on the left side two weeks ago, is now almost non-existent going into the surgery. Angle, who turns 35 in December, will need neck fusion surgery at some point, which he said will be after his career is over. He isn't planning on that being for many years. Because this is a new procedure and six weeks out sounded too good to be true, many were skeptical. 

If Angle is going to be able to wrestle a few more years, no doubt future wrestlers with neck problems will be going to Dr. Jho. The worst case scenario is probably that Angle's neck will be back in bad shape if he returns too quickly, and would need the originally suggested surgery and be out a year.”

How do you remember hearing about this new type of surgery? Was it a difficult decision to not go with Youngblood, or was the fusion surgery just not an option as you wanted to keep wrestling?

You returned on the June 5th Smackdown in Anaheim, now as a babyface. They had been building it up by playing your classic moments.

Let’s watch the clip and the crowd is red hot for your return! And then Big Show spoils the fun.

We’ll cut away there as Big Show leaves when Brock comes to the ring, and then you and Brock hug and shake hands, showing mutual respect for each other.

Your return - how is it put together? How much contact are you with the WWE at the time? Are you involved creatively in your return?

Was the company hesitant to put you back into the ring?

Are you hesitant to get back into the ring and worrying about taking bumps? After Ric Flair broke his back in a plane crash he said he had to change how he bumped to protect it so he side bumped. Did you change how you bumped?

You’re not surprised you’re coming back as a babyface right?

The week after in Orlando you kicked out Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas from Team Angle, and then they attacked you backstage.

Were you upset that your little Team Angle group was disbanded? Was it not feasible to keep heels with you as a babyface?

You went back on the road beginning June 14 in Odessa, TX, and for a few shows it’s a mega 3-man team of you, Brock and Taker defeating the Full Blooded Italians - that of course being Nunzio, Chuck Palumbo, & Johnny the Bull Stamboli.

What do you remember about these house show matches with the FBI? And how did you get along with all those guys? Were these to be easy matches to ease you back into the ring?

 Your first match back on TV is the 200th episode of Smackdown from San Antonio aired on June 19, 2003, defeating former buddy Charlie Haas - who with Shelton were now called “The World’s Greatest Tag Team”.

Smackdown the next week was at Madison Square Garden, and you, Lesnar and Mr. America - Hulk Hogan of course lost to Big Show, Haas & Benjamin with Show pinning Mr. America with a chokeslam.

This was Hogan’s final appearance with the company for a while, what did you think of Hogan portraying this Mr. America gimmick for the short time he did?

Smackdown on July 3rd was in Rochester, NY.

You and Brock have a little backstage skit at catering and well let’s watch this ridiculous-ness:

Later in the show, we have more with you and Brock and you challenge him to a push up contest

Later in the show, Vince announces Vengeance will be Brock vs you and Big Show in a triple threat match after the previously said it would just be a singles match with you and Brock.

Were they just saving the big Kurt vs Brock singles rematch for the bigger SummerSlam PPV as opposed to Vengeance?

You then cost Big Show a no holds barred handicap match vs Zach Gowen & Stephanie McMahon, which in storyline earned Zach a WWE contract.

How did you get along with Zach? Do you think you could have worked out a fun match with him? Was it fun to a babyface again?

The next week on Smackdown, the show starts with a rap off with you and John Cena, and Big Show gets involved:

Later in the show, Lesnar is forced to face Big Show, Haas & Benjamin in a falls count anywhere handicap match by Vince, who also doesn’t allow you at ringside for it either.

The week after that in Columbus, OH, this time you are in the handicap match against Show, Haas & Benjamin, and Brock is not allowed at ringside. But you get the win after a bit of help from Zach. How’s your body and also yourself handling the road again?

On a Smackdown overseas tour in Japan and Thailand the next few days, they try out the upcoming Vengeance triple threat match a couple of times. That long flight after neck surgery though - that had to be painful did it not?

On the go-home Smackdown before Vengeance from Fresno, Show, Haas, & Benjamin again defeated you and Brock, this time teaming with Zach Gowen.

So Big Show is left standing tall before we head to the PPV, Kurt.

Going into the show did you know you were getting the title?

And here we are - Vengeance 2003 was in Denver, CO on July 27, 2003. This is also the first Smackdown only PPV.

Here’s Meltzer’s report on the match

8. Kurt Angle won the Smackdown title over champ Brock Lesnar and Big Show in 17:30. Show got tired fast, since they were in Denver. They worked a very good match. Show did a double suplex on both. Then the two of them choke slammed Show. Show is working so much better using the giant gimmick than at anytime since he came here. Lesnar gave Angle an F-5, but he rolled out of the ring. He gave Show an F-5, but Angle pulled the ref out of the ring. Angle juiced. Show was on the ropes and Lesnar gave him a running power bomb. Lesnar's freaky power can get him over if he's booked like a freak, but he's not charismatic enough to flourish under the 50/50 regime. Angle hit Lesnar twice with chair shots to save Show again. Angle started wearing out Show with a chair, but Show kicked the chair into Angle's face. Lesnar was bleeding by this point. The Spanish announcers table spot saw Angle give Show an Angle slam through the table. This gave Show several minutes of rest that he needed, plus allowed for an unencumbered Angle vs. Lesnar square-off. No mat wrestling here. Angle used a german suplex, and on his second one, Lesnar flipped all the way over in mid-air before landing. It's one thing when Benoit does it, but with Lesnar, that's a hell of a risk of a bad landing. Show recovered and gave Lesnar and Angle a double chokeslam. They both kicked out. Angle came back with the Angle slam on Show, and then one on Lesnar, and kind of surprisingly, Lesnar didn't kick out and the title changed hands. ***3/4

Denver - notorious for elevation and issues with breathing and keeping wind. Did you face that?

What did you think of the match Kurt?

Is it a big deal to you in the first main event after your return you’re back to being World Champion?

How much did you enjoy working with Brock & Show? Were they easy to put things together right?

Were you surprised they had you pin Lesnar? Did your relationship change much after WrestleMania and that finish?