Cheap Heat 12.13.00: Overpushed…It's True, It's True

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Overpushed: It's True, It's True

Kurt Angle has, without a doubt, had the most successful rookie year ever in the WWF. He debuted at last year's Survivor Series, in November of 1999. In three months time, he won the WWF European Title. Two weeks later, he would be the first man to hold both the European and the Intercontinental Title at the same time. At Wrestlemania 2000, Angle lost both belts without being pinned for either of them. Chris Benoit beat Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title, and Chris Jericho beat Chris Benoit for the European title in a Triple Threat match. Angle escaped a double title reign without losing either belt. Six months later, at No Mercy, Kurt Angle won his first WWF World Title. Eleven months after his television debut, Kurt Angle was the most successful rookie in WWF history.

But is it all coming too soon?

Few would argue Angle's credentials. He is an Olympic gold medalist. This immediately makes him a viable, legitimate competitor in professional wrestling. He was trained in the WWF minors for a solid year before getting brought up. He managed to get himself over as a heel and, for a brief time, began down the road to face. He got himself over in an incredibly short span of time, practically being a full-fledged heel before he even hit the ring for his first match. Angle is a great all around wrestler, but he very well could be a flash in the pan.

Angle is Vince McMahon's golden boy. He is the first superstar created in the Post-Russo WWF. He's to the WWF what Rhino is to ECW and Goldberg is to WCW. He's the superstar shoved down our throats whether we want him or not. Goldberg got the World Title incredibly quickly after his debut, and the Internet revolted. Rhino got the ECW Television Title quickly after his debut, and the Internet revolted. Angle won the WWF World Title quickly after his debut, and majority of folks were happy and satsified. Many WCW and ECW enthusiasts say it's because WWF fans will accept anything. They don't question what Vince McMahon does, and defend the WWF to the hilt. In this case, they may be right.

In the two months of Kurt Angle's title reign, there has been no heat surrounding the belt. He was the champion going into, perhaps, the least anticipated WWF title match in Survivor Series history. A PayPerView with the distinction of hosting some incredibly historic World Title moments this year hosted a World Title match third from the main event and, arguably, could have gone off sooner. The only drama surrounding Angle, the quest for Stephanie, has apparently been forgotten. Trying to steal another man's wife from under his ample nose, those were solid heel tactics. Now, Kurt Angle is forced into a repetitive, quickly-growing-stale role. He comes out, insults the town he's in, gets booed, and then interferes in a match. What does this do for the World Title? That's right, absolutely nothing.

So, what's the difference between he and Goldberg, or he and Rhino? Why does he escape the criticism the other two have received? They're all getting pushed to the moon. They're all receiving things it takes some wrestlers years to receive, if they ever do. Out of the three men, only Goldberg had reached a level of believable stardom when he was handed the title, from Hulk Hogan no less. Angle, at best, is a now a glorified mid-carder. He is in a younger generation, with the Jerichos and Benoits. He is being pushed into a spotlight that he is not ready for. He cannot carry a federation on his own, proven by the simple fact he is not main eventing with the belt. The World Title should be involved with the federation's top feuds. Right now, the top of the World Wrestling Federation is HHH vs Austin and Rock vs Rikishi. Rikishi is the newest addition to the World Title picture. If they wanted to hotshot the belt onto someone unexpected, it should have been him. This way, the federation's top feud can have the belt involved. Without the love triangle behind him, Angle comes off as an afterthought. The World Title should not be an afterthought.

Angle is a tremendous wrestler and he does seem to have 'it.' But the WWF seems to be wasting 'it.' Angle is already the WWF champion, what is left for him? There is plenty Angle can be doing that does not involve the WWF championship. What I don't understand is why the Internet hasn't turned on him. Perhaps it's because Vince McMahon is a marketing genius. Somehow, he's managed to package Angle and put the title on him without bothering anyone. In the age of the Internet, where everything a federation does is dissected and redissected to the point you can see the insides of their organs, it amazes me that no one else sees Angle as an overpushed rookie. No one wasted any time crucifying WCW when Goldberg got the belt. People shouted about "paying his dues" and "he's not ready" a month BEFORE they put the belt him. What dues has Angle paid? At Armageddon, he managed to go over the five biggest stars the WWF currently has, and keep the belt. No one says a word.

I often argued against the "double standard" between the federations, primarily because it has consistently been the WWF putting forth the better product. Recently, the WWF's compelling storylines have been falling to the wayside. Rather than resolve the "love triangle," they set it aside with nary another word mentioned. The worst to suffer was Angle because it was the only thing he was involved in, and he hasn't jumped to anything else yet.

Angle could be a tremendous asset to the WWF, but they need to slow down with him a bit. Now that he's a World Champion, he stays in "main event" status, even though he doesn't seem ready for it. He's not involved in top feuds and doesn't seem like he will be any time soon. He is certainly not, or at least shouldn't be, ready to headline major PPVs. Angle will likely be facing the Rock at the Royal Rumble, yet I still can't see the title match coming before the Rumble itself. If they slow down and let Angle develop more fully, add some depth to his character other than "the guy who can bust on the town," it will only help the WWF in the long run. Otherwise, they're going to burn all interest out of Kurt Angle before his second complete year in the federation.