Felix Upton on September 9, 2025
Kurt Angle didn’t mince words when he recalled his chaotic first experience with professional wrestling.
On ECW: Six Feet Under, the Olympic gold medalist revealed that Paul Heyman lured him into making an ECW appearance under completely false pretenses—and what he witnessed nearly led to a lawsuit.
Angle had just won gold at the 1996 Olympics when Heyman mysteriously got his number and made a pitch that seemed harmless enough.
“Paul Heyman calls… I don’t know how he gets my number, but he calls me. He says, ‘Listen, Kurt, we have this new wrestling. It’s kind of identical to your type of wrestling—it’s real.’”
Expecting a legitimate amateur-style showcase, Angle agreed to attend the event and even do guest commentary during a Taz vs. Little Guido “amateur match.” But once the match began, he realized they had no clue how to actually score a wrestling bout.
“Taz took him down—it was like two points. And then Guido got up and escaped and they said, ‘Two points.’ I’m like, no, that’s a point. So they weren’t exactly getting it right.”
Then came the moment that sent Angle over the edge. During the same taping, Raven and The Sandman performed the infamous crucifixion stunt—something Kurt, as a devout Christian, couldn’t believe was happening in front of him.
“Here I am, a Christian kid, a believer of God, and they’re doing a crucifixion where Raven’s up on a crucifix and Sandman’s crucifying him.”
Horrified by what he saw, Angle confronted Heyman and issued a firm legal threat on the spot.
“I looked at Paul Heyman, I said, ‘Listen, if this is aired on the same night as me, you’re gonna hear from my attorney.’”
Adding to the absurdity, Sandman thought Kurt had demanded he apologize for the segment—something Angle says never happened.
“Sandman, stupid bastard… he thought I told Paul for him to go out and to apologize. I never told anyone to apologize. I just didn’t get it back then.”
Years later, Angle even challenged Sandman online when lingering resentment surfaced.
“I sent a message to Sandman on social media saying, ‘If you have a problem with me, do something about it.’”
Today, Angle looks back with more understanding but acknowledges how surreal and jarring the moment was.
“He knew that I didn’t tell Paul to apologize, and he knew that I was Olympic gold medalist, never been in the business. And the first thing I see is a crucifixion. Of course, I’m gonna freak out a little bit.”
Kurt Angle’s introduction to the wrestling world was anything but normal, and it’s no surprise that the ECW crucifixion angle left a lasting impression. His brutal honesty about that night proves just how far pro wrestling can sometimes go to shock—and how easily it can backfire when the wrong person is in the building.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
What’s your reaction to Kurt Angle’s story about nearly suing ECW? Do you think ECW went too far, or was it just another example of 90s-era shock wrestling? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
September 9, 2025 12:24 pm
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