When Kurt Angle was representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, he claims he couldn't escape the imposing shadow of Shawn Michaels.
Nine glorious years later, all of that changed. Mr. WrestleMania tapped out.
After weeks of mocking HBK's career on SmackDown! and a pair of brutal surprise attacks on RAW, Angle finished the job Sunday when a marathon ankle lock finally forced Michaels to give in.
The seeds of this rivalry were officially planted at the Royal Rumble, when HBK eliminated Angle only to have the enraged Olympic Champ re-enter the ring and dismantle Michaels with an ankle lock.
The match featured both Superstars at their best. Angle connected with a ferocious suplex and worked HBK over with some painful mat maneuvers.
Angle worked mercilessly on HBK's back, ramming Michaels into the ring post with an angle slam and then avoiding an HBK elbow drop from the top rope as Michaels landed hard on his back.
HBK would come back with a corkscrew moonsault off the apron, sending both legends onto the announce table.
HBK would go on to hit an elbow drop and began to warm up the band for Sweet Chin Music, only to have Angle reverse the famous move into an ankle lock. HBK escaped a pair of ankle locks and then kicked out of the angle slam.
A frustrated and bleeding Angle then went for the kill with a moonsault, only to have HBK crawl forward, sending Angle crashing to the mat. Angle then connected with an Angle slam from the top rope with HBK amazingly escaping again.
HBK would finally hit Sweet Chin Music, but Angle, not to be outdone, barely kicked out. With both men exhausted, Angle somehow managed to apply the ankle lock one last fateful time for the victory.
When Kurt Angle was representing the United States and winning a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics, he claims he couldn't escape the imposing shadow of Shawn Michaels.
Nine glorious years later, all of that changed. Mr. WrestleMania tapped out.
After weeks of mocking HBK's career on SmackDown! and a pair of brutal surprise attacks on RAW, Angle finished the job Sunday when a marathon ankle lock finally forced Michaels to give in.
The seeds of this rivalry were officially planted at the Royal Rumble, when HBK eliminated Angle only to have the enraged Olympic Champ re-enter the ring and dismantle Michaels with an ankle lock.
The match featured both Superstars at their best. Angle connected with a ferocious suplex and worked HBK over with some painful mat maneuvers.
Angle worked mercilessly on HBK's back, ramming Michaels into the ring post with an angle slam and then avoiding an HBK elbow drop from the top rope as Michaels landed hard on his back.
HBK would come back with a corkscrew moonsault off the apron, sending both legends onto the announce table.
HBK would go on to hit an elbow drop and began to warm up the band for Sweet Chin Music, only to have Angle reverse the famous move into an ankle lock. HBK escaped a pair of ankle locks and then kicked out of the angle slam.
A frustrated and bleeding Angle then went for the kill with a moonsault, only to have HBK crawl forward, sending Angle crashing to the mat. Angle then connected with an Angle slam from the top rope with HBK amazingly escaping again.
HBK would finally hit Sweet Chin Music, but Angle, not to be outdone, barely kicked out. With both men exhausted, Angle somehow managed to apply the ankle lock one last fateful time for the victory.
