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Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe
Way back (in October 2006?) at Genesis 06, TNA promoted Kurt Angle versus Samoa Joe as a “dream matchâ€. And it was. However, the promotion hot-shotted their feud, and threw Angle into the path of the Samoan Submission Machine far too early. Whilst they had a scintillating match (albeit cut short thanks to Angle’s physical condition- they went twelve minutes, well short of the intended length), the rematches were largely considered mild disappointments (even though they were very impressive indeed, and factored in slight pops in buyrates). The highlight of their entire feud was in actuality, the first moment of it, when Angle head butted Joe moments after confronting one another on Impact. A brutal, breathtaking moment, this was actually the first instance in which we saw them engage in what looked like “real combatâ€. They endured one more encounter, following a forgettable mess with the tag belts, that saw Angle capture all the Gold in TNA. It was a poorly conceived storyline (Joe, the babyface couldn’t possibly win all the titles, although this is TNA, that’s crazy even for them), with a predictable outcome that led many to believe that the ship had sailed when it came to Joe/Angle, and the potentially huge rivalry had been, overall, a damp squib.
That may well still be the case.
Leading up to this PPV, many people expressed disinterest and apathy, largely because they felt TNA had missed the boat with Joe. That people would have cared more had they pulled the trigger on his title run last year, or as I personally feel, kept him away from Angle until they felt he was ready for the title. It didn’t help that much of the build up was muddled. At times glorious, it was more often silly. The notion that they would compete in an MMA-style match was a dumb means to promote a match, providing ammunition for those who feel that wrestling is phoney, and treading close to waters in which pro-wrestling has a tendency to drown. Additionally, they added the condition that if Joe lost, he would leave TNA. Yep, that’s right, TNA basically told us that this would Joe’s big moment, that epic, emotional moment, where he would lift the title. Thus, expectations were now largely that we’d have a dull match, that would leave people simply waiting for Joe’s inevitable victory.
However, at the Lockdown PPV itself, TNA almost completely redeemed their shlocky efforts with expert build. Seriously, the hype on the card for the main event was nothing short of sensational. Frank Trigg, noted MMA veteran, was brought in and interviewed. Marcus Davis cut a promo. Karen Angle talked about coming to the show to support her husband because she feared for his safety in light of the obsession he had with winning this. Superstars were asked who they thought would be victorious, throughout a fabulous video package prior to the match. Angle cut an intense promo, while Joe hit a home-run with his genuine PPV go-home effort.
When Angle and Joe walked out to the ring, and both were allowed to indulge in extended entrances, I find it hard to empathize with anyone who did not perceive this as a “big†match. It felt like an enormous, crucial occasion. But what I did share doubt over, was whether or not this match would deliver. Would it look like a UFC copycat match? Would it get over? Would anyone care? Here are my thoughts as I watched the action unfold.
I really do have mixed feelings towards this one. One hand, there’s the excitement of Joe possibly winning (which feels completely and utterly inevitable, thus devoid of that degree of suspense), but on the other, the utterly ridiculous context that immediately devalues the victory should it occur. It’s an environment in which Pro-Wrestling is almost admitting it’s falsities in order to put over one match, by associating it with MMA, which everyone knows is genuine. Complicating this further, is the fine promotion throughout the evening.
I like Angle’s MMA style shorts, it’s unique in TNA, and contradicting my doubts in the last paragraph, the look legitimizes him somewhat in what they’re trying to achiever. I don’t like the lack of boots however, There’s just no need, and in pro-wrestling, it’s an unnecessary risk. We get that this bout isn’t going to be a zany, soap-opera of a match, but trying to replicated the actual reality of the UFC is ridiculous. It’s influence, yes. It’s appeal, sure, but not it’s reality.
Anyways, The bout starts out with the two standing off, as if it’s a real MMA fight, and throwing occasional, conservative strikes. Joe obviously dominates this. His kicks are tentative but vicious. At this point, I’m starting to see what they’re doing (or what I think they’re doing anyhow). That is, assembling a kind of compilation of MMA sequences, condensed into Pro-Wrestling spots. But these are movements that could end a genuine fight, and here they’re somewhat trivialised, treading dangerously close to a basic, worked MMA match. It’s odd, and I’m not sure it’s working at all. One thing it is doing though, is building anticipation for the time when Joe does get hold of Angle, and can convincingly pound the crap out of him. Thus, you could argue that it is indeed effective. “We want wrestling chants†start, which I can sympathize with. They are replicating the MMA environment, and throwing out an attempt to ape the “best†moments of that sport, but improve upon it, because it’s pro-wrestling, and these moments don’t end the fight. However, that’s in contrast to what makes MMA genuinely exciting. The fans know that it’s not going to end right now at any moment, and are rowdy, and invested in the action, but showing restlessness. This is absolutely fascinating. My enjoyment of actual shoot-fighting wants to dislike the structure they’re utilising to tell the story, but the fact itself that there’s so much depth in this is completely absorbing. They lock up repeatedly, both clinching the waist, while Joe repeatedly shoots for Judo throws. Angle sporadically lands some suplexes. If Joe wins this, I fear it’s going to translate as a novelty title win, rather than the necessary instigation of a new era. Just prior to the eight-minute mark, Angle synchs in a Figure-Four, which amazingly, and unrealistically lasts for almost two-minutes. Are you frickin’ serious? That’s ridiculous, and the crowd at one point, boo Joe’s attempts to reverse it. I’m not surprised at all. So they’re playing on the realism of MMA, and yet have a guy trapped in an accepted Pro-Wrestling Submission finishing hold, for a length of time, that if an authentic MMA hold, would have broken Joe’s leg ten times over? I question the logic, but on the other hand, Angle might well be shaking of the effects of the early part of the bout and this could be a necessary rest for the champion.
Angle continually works on Joe’s leg, which handily suggests some traditionally grappling could be in store. Joe comes back with a crazy clothesline, that’s good enough in itself to pop the crowd. Kurt traps Joe in the Ankle Lock at about the twelve-minute point, but Joe breaks free, catching Angle with a big-time slam, earning a near-fall. The former ROH star follows up with a Power bomb, and a Boston Crab, during which he completely tangles Angle up like a Nic-Nak. Joe then converts this into an STF, and when Angle almost grips the ropes, a Crossface. Whilst in the move, Angle is able to reach for Joe’s ankle, and stands up into another Ankle lock. Joe rolls back into the Crossface, which is uncomfortable, because the fans begin chanting the familiar, “Joe is gonna kill youâ€. Angle breaks free, but Joe again applies the manoeuvre, only for the Champ to roll through, and raise Joe up into a terrific Angle slam, which is a whisker from a three. Hot near fall, really, really dramatic sequence.
Back to yet another Ankle Lock, but this time, Joe teases tapping, then turns over, popping his opponent in his choke! Angle though, cleverly grabs hold of the referee, and as the ref attempts to pull away, uses him to draw himself close to the ropes. That’s an absolutely ingenious touch. Not genuine cheating, but sneaky enough to add that hint of Worked drama that really adds to this encounter. Joe’s peeved, but dodges another Angle slam attempt, rams Kurt’s head into the cage, super kicks him, and nails a Muscle Buster for the win.
Did that feel like a special moment to you?
The crowd reaction was not what it should have been. Joe’s big moment should have provoked leaping TNA-bots to pop their cherries all over the arena floor, but it wasn’t quite that emotional. It’s understandable because there was a contingent of the crowd that while hyped for the match, were somewhat unsure about it because TNA had made it so possible that it would be a dud. They probably should also have had his family come to the ring and celebrate, perhaps even with a couple of the bayfaces, just to add that special moment. As much as I love Joe, I didn’t get the impression that this title victory ushered in a new era, as it should. Instead, surprisingly what occurred, was that the content of the bout could well be what brings about a changing of the guard.
Dave Meltzer seemingly loved the match, citing the way in which the two competitors built to an overall feeling of being an epic, as overcoming the awkward, and historically disastrous combination of faux-MMA and Wrestling. Other pundits seemed to suggest that it was something of a landmark too, in what it achieved by going against the grain of current expectation. It’s hard to disagree. The “work-rateâ€, as folks like to say, was tremendous, but was within the context of a beautifully told story. These two were psychologically playing their total A-Games throughout the evening, and brought to the table a totally fresh wrestling match. The win for Joe felt secondary to the action (which it shouldn’t have, but nonetheless), because this felt like a make-or-break attempt to prove something. And they did. They proved that an audience can be captivated (it was tough going at times for some of the fans in attendance, but most, if not all were won over), without a wacky bunch of high-spots. They proved that a slow-burner needn’t be boring, and that logic, style, and technique are essential elements of wrestling.
For me, the whole situation was both good, and bad. The main negative, being that Joe’s special moment was diluted by the bizarre, experimental structure. As much as I love what they achieved, I don’t agree that this was the right time to experiment with that experiment. They almost lost the crowd in the first half of the match, with the MMA style pace and build. The slow storytelling isn’t what bothered me though (I love such intricate, slow-burner stuff), but the very idea of applying real, legitimate MMA sequences into worked spots that carried no believable threat. But to their credit, they at least made this interesting and exciting. I don’t know how many TNA fans can appreciate the fact that this type of match almost never, ever works, so for these two to pull it off, is even more remarkable. It’s also an achievement because the outcome was so obvious, yet the wrestlers, not the company, not the build-up, were able to create doubt over the outcome (similar to Edge/Undertaker at Wrestlemania).
On the plus side, in ironically, wrestling tradition, the match unraveled at a deliberate speed, expertly picking it’s moments and rising to a suitable crescendo. Also, Frank Trigg’s commentary was absolutely bloody fantastic. We need more of this. Screw Don West’s imbecile shouts and barks of “What a move!â€, here we had, for the first time in recent memory, genuine analysis, that lifted the action, and for non-regulars helped absorb them into the fight, by explaining in a sensible, but exciting manner, what was occurring on the screen. If the WWE were able to bring in Trigg, and boot the risible Adamle, it would be cause for celebration, and worth whatever the cost may be. And TNA, if they could alternatively use him regularly, even for just PPV’s, would benefit enormously.
The biggest positive trait that the match exhibited in my opinion, was the realism of the action, with a reduced emphasis on high-spots, and an increased focus on logic and strategy. This is surely the way forward for wrestling in this day and age. Long term, if TNA can follow up with this style of match, it’s a huge plus for the business in an era of too many risks and concussions, not enough value placed on the Bret Hart style of grappling, and confusing WWE’s boring developmental style with telling a story. But that could be an issue. TNA has many great performers, but they only have one Joe. And even more to the point, they only have one Kurt Angle. It will take some learning, and a huge amount of patience from fans to embrace this approach wholeheartedly. I for one, hope they make a notable effort to borrow from MMA, it’s conviction, it’s promotion, and it’s focus, whilst not attempting to be a carbon copy of the UFC.
The rest of the PPV, however, was as satisfying as a regurgitated dog biscuit. Thankfully then, Angle versus Joe delivered. And it didn’t just deliver, it may well be the most important Pro-Wrestling match seen in America in years.
Thank for reading this gibbering rant. It probably made less sense than usual. I hope it was at least as entertaining as one of those Snoop Dog albums, and more thought-provoking than Festus’ hygiene. If you have any comments/questions/queries/or anything to say, get in touch at bazilalfonso@hotmail.com, whether you agree/disagree/hate me, or whatever if may be, I welcome all correspondence. I have also finally got on My Space! So slabber to me at www.myspace.com/michaelwrestlingetc
