The Kurt Angle Show - Armageddon 2004 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s get into our topic today Kurt and it’s the end of your 2004! Armageddon was the pay-per-view but the story dates back to April when Big Show killed you…literally…by choke slamming you off a ledge as you were SmackDown GM. Show then took time off for knee surgery and wouldn’t return until you were back in the ring taking on Eddie Guerrero in a lumberjack match. Kurt - Big Show recently wrestled for AEW just a few weeks ago in a street fight…are you shocked by this?

Working with Big Show at this point - 5 years into his time with WWE - was he excited to be back?

At Survivor Series Kurt…you’re 3-on-1 taking on Big Show, Eddie Guerrero & John Cena. That’s quite the lineup isn’t it Kurt?

Eventually you get bounced around…with Cena hitting the FU…Eddie with a frog splash…and Show getting the pin. Your Team Angle really didn’t help or come through here did it?

Coming out of the Survivor Series - you launch the Kurt Angle Invitational. Every week, a hometown star can get in the ring with you because you’re here to prove that no one can beat you - but if they do - they’ll win your goal medal. Kurt - where did this idea come from?

Working with some of these…enhancement guys…was it something you were worried about?

Your first opponent is Dean Visk - a man from Pittsburgh. But of course you finish him in like 2 minutes. It’s reported that you’re doing these because your body needs simple quick singles matches. How was your body feeling?

There’s an incident on the SmackDown house show on November 20th between Rene Dupree & Bob Holly where Holly supposedly beat the shit out of Dupree. Were you there for this - or did you hear about this? Was Bob in the right?

What do you remember of Rene Dupree and the heat he had backstage in the company?

Was it something he deserved in your mind?

The next week in your Invitational you have armed security for a promo. Where did that idea come from?

Them holding your gold medals is actually pretty smart Kurt…makes it feel super important, doesn’t it?

It’s the Thanksgiving edition of SmackDown so that means it’s a food fight. Did you enjoy any of these segments every year?

You’re limited with your neck on house shows managing Mark Jindrak & Luther Reigns. What did you think of those two?

Did you see them being stars in the company at any point?

The next week at SmackDown on the Invitational - you get the win in less than a minute but you call out Joy Giovanni because of the food fight the last week…and you invite her to dinner - but she already has plans with Big Show. Kurt - tell me about Joy and why was she involved in this story?

Big Show comes out for the save - and yeah…is this far down on your list of stories or programs during your time in the WWE?

On the go home for Armageddon - Big Show comes out and you powder out and put Mark Jindrak in your spot. Jindrak comes out - in street clothes - and gets destroyed until you help, and it turns into you hitting Show with a chair for a DQ. Jindrak & Show together - wasn’t great was it?

It’s reported that Paul Heyman was removed as a writer from SmackDown. When you hear that - what did you think?

Were you worried about who would replace him?

Did you ever see or witness the issues between Heyman & Vince?

How about Heyman & Gerwitz?

Heyman & Stephanie?

Did you enjoy working with him on SmackDown?

Was it a tough transition going into a pay-per-view without HEyman?

Sadly, Armageddon takes place and a lot of fans compare it to a WCW pay-per-view at the end - with a dead crowd, only 4500 fans in suburban Atlanta…far cry from where you debuted with the company right?

You’re booked to take on Santa Claus…SANTA CLAUS KURT.

Kurt vs Santa:

“2. Kurt Angle beat Santa Claus in :25 with an ankle lock after an Angle slam. Santa was this week’s hometown invitational. He wasn't really from Atlanta, but it was brought up that Angle actually won his gold medal in Atlanta. Angle was great here, and it's just so sad he's not taking time off to heal and rehab so he can at least try to be the

wrestler he once was. He gave this speech about how his daughter worships Santa Claus instead of a real hero like himself. The only negative is that Santa's wig came off immediately. I figured for sure Santa would show up again in the main event to save JBL.”

Would your body had needed time off to work on itself and you were being used for no reason?

Onto the handicap match between yourself, Luther & Jindrak taking on Big Show.

Kurt, Jindrak & Reigns vs Big Show:

“7. Big Show beat Kurt Angle & Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak in 9:55. Big Show kissed Joy Giovanni backstage before the match. Angle did almost nothing, which meant it was Reigns & Jindrak vs. Show. That meant no heat and nobody cared. Show gassed. Angle

finally tagged in and took a bump from a head-butt. He used an Angle slam and ankle lock but Show kicked him off. He finished off Jindrak with an F-5. Very strange. Match was a lot worse than it looked on paper. ½*”

Kurt - how banged up were you?

How bad was this?

Was this a disappointment to all involved?

Why do you think Jindrak & Reigns just never got anywhere in the WWE?

Was it them?

The rest of the show would feature Rob Van Dam & Rey Mysterio retaining the tag team titles over Rene Dupree & Kenzo Suzuki. Any Kenzo Suzuki stories for us?

The Basham’s defeated Bob Holly & Charlie Haas. The Basham’s were so well regarded by Jim Cornette in OVW - how did they not succeed do you think?

John Cena would retain the US title in a street fight over Jesus. The whole John Cena getting stabbed angle was quite the story Kurt wasn’t it?

This show featured Funaki defeating Spike Dudley in a little under 10 minutes to win the cruiserweight title. Do you have a fun Funaki or Spike story?

The main event would see JBL win a four-way over Undertaker, Eddie Guerrero & Booker T in almost 30 minutes. JBL as a top level heel - what did you think of JBL in this role?

When your 2nd or 3rd on the card as a heel - and looking up at JBL and Booker T, etc…does it feel like an ego hit?

Do you remember anything fondly about this time and era?