Various websites have suggested that Kurt Angle may participate in Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”). Generally, I haven’t been that interested in MMA. I’ve seen some UFC stuff (after it was cleaned up), but I didn’t become a fan.
Pro Wrestling or Sports Entertainment or whatever you want to call it has succeeded because of storylines. Some of the greatest matches have excellent storylines around them with the characters having some kind of conflict.
In the world of MMA, there isn’t this kind of fabricated storyline system.
Whether Kurt Angle can jump from Olympic Gold Medalist Wrestler to Professional Wrestler to Shoot Fighter is a very intriguing proposition. If he succeeds, it may bring a layer of toughness to the “fake sport” of pro wrestling. If he fails, it will just reinforce the idea that wrestlers are not athletes.
Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar in a true shoot fight could generate serious money for whatever promotion could put that together. This kind of match could pull hardcore wrestling fans away from pro wrestling. I know I want to see who would win such a match.
Angle would be a very high profile competitor in the world of MMA. Unfortunately, I think that if he joins a true competitive sport that he could be killed in the ring. Angle has yet to get proper treatment for his neck. In pro wrestling, your opponent is supposed to take care of you. In MMA, that’s not going to happen. By the way, when I say “killed,” I mean it in the literal sense.
The idea of Angle in MMA is interesting, but it probably won’t happen. Kurt Angle wanted to be known as the greatest Pro Wrestler ever. Why would he switch from pro wrestler to shoot fighter? Arguably, he could be a professional fighter who wrestles. He would have to add a strike-based arsenal to go with his takedowns to succeed. If anyone has the determination to succeed – it’s Kurt Angle.
Whatever he chooses to do, good luck to him.
State of Wrestling 