The Kurt Angle Show - No Way Out 2005 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s get into our topic Kurt as we’re coming off the Royal Rumble which we talked about last month…and you’re going to be building to a WrestleMania match against Shawn Michaels which we’ve covered in our archives so be sure to check that out at our YouTube channel!

Do you know coming out of the Rumble you’re going to be working Shawn after what took place at the show?

Do you think with the beginning of that program being built it makes it hard for the fans to want to see you do anything else besides working with him?

The first SmackDown after the Rumble is part of a double taping the night after the Rumble because there’s a house show date in Honolulu, Hawaii. So let’s detail this Kurt…

Rumble is on Sunday in Fresno.

Raw & SmackDown is on Monday in San Jose.

On February 2nd there’s a house show in Hawaii that you all have to fly to…you guys did some miles back then didn’t you?

When you get your booking sheets and see what the travel is going to be like - that has to be a disappointment for you right?

How was your body at this point in time?

How long are these double tapings with Raw and Smackdown running back to back?

Is it any easier with it being on the West Coast and theoretically starting earlier in the day?

On SmackDown Teddy Long would announce an eight-man tournament to determine JBL’s WrestleMania challenger as at the Rumble Batista won…

Now I gotta ask Kurt - this is the Rumble where Batista & Cena went out together and Vince had to come to ringside and would end up getting injured. Were you back in gorilla when this happened?

What do you remember about this?

Since Batista is on Raw…it feels like it’s already assumed he will be staying on Raw but this is Teddy Long’s backup plan in case Batista does…does this feel hollow to you to have a tournament while Batista still hadn’t made his decision if he was going to challenge fellow Evolution member Triple H?

There had to be some better creative here right?

Let’s talk about the tournament matches…

Booker T would take on Eddie Guerrero, Orlando Jordan would take on John Cena, The Undertaker would face off against Rene Dupree and you would wrestle Rey Mysterio.

We don’t often talk about Orlando Jordan or Rene Dupree here on the show - do you have any memories or stories about them?

It’s announced that you would take Rey on in the first round next week while the company was in Japan. So from Hawaii to Japan…you didn’t really get a chance to take it easy did you?

Did you enjoy going to Japan for the WWE?

The same night on SmackDown you would cut a promo on Shawn - with you playing into the What chants that the crowd was giving you. Kurt - be honest - did you hate the what chants?

Since you were still doing your open challenge to hometown people - Nunzio took the spot of whoever it was supposed to be since you took his spot in the Rumble. The crowd…did not react kindly to this and booed both of you out of the building supposedly before you won in under 3 minutes with an ankle lock. Do you remember the crowd reaction from that night?

Obviously the WWE edited it since SmackDown was taped - did you enjoy when they would do that to help the TV experience - or do you think it should’ve left in what the crowd’s real reaction was?

Later that night Undertaker and Dupree would go to a double count out when Team Angle version 2 would come out - Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak - and interfere so you wouldn’t have to face Taker in the second round in case you won. Taker had Dupree pinned when Jindrak pulled the ref out while Reigns distracted Undertaker. Both guys were counted out of the ring. Undertaker was about to beat the count, but Reigns held his leg to keep him from getting in.

Did you see a program with Undertaker on the horizon after Shawn?

What did you think of working with Reigns & Jindrak? Were you surprised they didn’t really do much in the company in the long run?

This would line Reigns up for a singles match at No Way Out with Undertaker - do you remember giving Luther any advice of working with Taker?

Do you remember Taker discussing Reigns with you?

In Hawaii you would lose to John Cena before moving on to Japan. Any memories of the short stay in Hawaii?

Finally in Japan you would get to wrestle Rey in front of a sell out crowd for SmackDown and you two are in the main event. Do you think you & Rey ever had a bad match or was even capable of having one?

From the Observer

This was one of the best Smackdowns in a while, but I'm only saying that because the Angle vs. Mysterio main event was a **** match, and even topped Jericho-Benoit as the best match on the Japan tour. Angle ended up with a bloodied up mouth. It may have been from an early plancha. They combined amateur, basic U.S. pro, a little Lucha and a little Japanese style, and the crowd was really into it.

Because of the double count-out in the Taker-Dupree match, Angle gets a bye into the finals, and will face the winner of the Cena-Booker T match at No Way Out.

How was working with Rey?

Did you guys attempt to do something different being in Japan?

What’s different working in Japan compared to the United States and their crowds?

Do you know if you were given a bye to the next round to help ease the pain for yourself? Or was it just a heel booking tool?

The next day - the next day Kurt - you guys head to Alaska! That’s almost 10,000 miles traveled from California to Japan to Alaska! How crazy is that road trip?

You’d put over John Cena because really at this point he’s being groomed to be WWE Champion. Did you think he was ready?

Shawn is cutting promos on you over at Raw to really start to heighten up your program. Would you be watching Raw at this time on your off nights?

You’re off the road thankfully until a SmackDown at Cleveland where you destroy Dan Giamundo - who was signed that night to a developmental deal - in the Kurt Angle Invitational. Do you think by this point that had ran its course?

Later that night Cena would pin Booker to earn the match with you at No Way Out. Now the show is going to be taking place in your hometown of Pittsburgh. You’ve had some special moments - but at this point in your career did it mean as much?

You two would cut a promo backstage to hype the match - let’s take a look.

Well the show itself…is not well received. Only 8,000 fans with a lot less paying for it. Is this one of those things that stands out about how down the company was at the time?

From the Observer

The PPV Road to Wrestlemania ended with a show that should have had "detour" written all over it.

No Way Out, on 2/20 from the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, was a show that looked bad on paper, and in the end, was bad. If not for the performance of Kurt Angle, who may not have many show saving performances left in him, it probably would have been a worst show of the year candidate. It once again exemplified why changes are badly needed on the Smackdown side, when it comes to sending some new guys who can be headliners, preferably who can also work, over from Raw, of the Benoit and Jericho caliber. Few are over, and the title picture struggles. JBL works hard, but he can't carry anyone. John Cena will be more over as champion, but his match quality may be worse, unless he's programmed all year with Angle and Eddie Guerrero.

Is this a fair assessment of what you think of the Smackdown brand at the time? Or did we all need to give some patience to John Cena?

From the Observer

Angle was the star of the show, carrying John Cena to one of his better matches. While it wasn't as good as their October 19, 2003, PPV match from Baltimore, or even his recent TV match with Rey Mysterio from Japan, it showed Angle can still carry someone, when needed, to a strong match. The flip side of this is that after all these years, Cena really hasn't improved in the ring, and as champion, not everyone is going to be Angle. If he hasn't improved by now, he may never improve, particularly when the company is going to be pushing him in the crossover celebrity position which will mean wrestling in the ring won't be near the top of his priorities.

You’re not surprised to have seen what Cena would turn into later on - but at this point - 3 years in - do you think John should’ve been further along in terms of his in-ring?

When you sit down to put this match together - do you remember calling it?

CM Punk has told this famous story about how all the agents would come up to him when he had a match with Roman Reigns to make sure he would Roman look strong - was this the same type of scenario for you or did they all have trust in you to do this?

From the Observer

5. John Cena pinned Kurt Angle in 19:21 to earn the title shot at Mania. Angle did a heel promo on Heat, because they were afraid he'd be cheered like happened in Hawaii, and this wasn't the night that could happen. There were some cheers for Angle and one chant, but it was barely noticeable, and Cena was super popular. Angle German suplexed Cena into the buckles. He did a series of three German suplexes, leading to an ankle lock, but Cena escaped. Cena did a legdrop off the top rope to the back of Angle's head, as it draped over the apron, for a near fall. Angle kicked out of the FU. Angle then started working on Cena's ankle, including ramming it into the post. He set up the ankle lock, but Cena made the ropes. He pulled Cena to the center and put it on again, then switched to a heel hook, but Cena made the ropes again. There was a ref bump. The place started an "HBK" chant, figuring on interference. I'd have figured it as well, but it was better without it because Cena needed a strong win instead of a fluke win. Cena won clean with an FU as the ref struggled to make a slow count. ***3/4

Was this the match John needed to be ready to take the World Title at WrestleMania?

Were you surprised there was no Shawn Michaels run in - or was it more important to put John over clean?

Looking back - you’re 6 years into the company at this point - were you accepting of a role where you’re getting guys like John ready for the next push as a top guy?

Did you see long term being able to draw with John?