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It is September of 1995. Kurt Angle and the Big Bossman are in Gold’s Gym lifting weights. Angle is doing some squats and the Bossman is doing a 490 lb. bench press. After 20 reps, he puts the weights down, gets up and says, “ungh, yes! Feel the burn, baby! I’m the Man!”
Angle, nonplused, says, “what’s your sport?”
“I’m uh perfeshunal rassler’,” the Bossman replies.
“Oh, I’m a wrestler myself. Why don’t you rest up and we’ll have a match. Amateur rules, of course. I don’t want you hitting me with a chair.”
“I’m a real athlete, boy. That fake chair stuff is for TV. I could take on anyone in the world!”
Angle laughs to himself as the Bossman chugs some vodka from a flask. He’s not a real wrestler. I’ll tear him apart. I’m good enough to try out for the Olympics! And I’m going to get that Gold Medal if it takes every effort I have. He warms up by doing some quick stretches.
What a fool, the Bossman thinks, doesn’t he know that kinesthetic stretching is totally ineffective? I’ll just go into my redneck hick routine and lure him into a false sense of security.
The Bossman signals that he is ready by throwing the empty flask into his gym bag, along with the sap gloves, nightsticks and his extensive collection of yo-yos. Angle walks onto the mat and gets into a deep stance. Bossman puts up his dukes.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Angle says, “this is amateur rules; no punching or kicking. And take those black leather gloves off.”
“Whatever you say, boy. I cun rassle’ with anyun’ in the world.”
Angle gets back in his stance and Bossman gets into a similar stance, but a little to deep for his center of gravity. Angle sees the opening and goes for a double leg take down and they hit the mat with tremendous force! Angle moves up to get a foothold, but Bossman grabs hold of the arm! Bossman grabs hold of the arm! Angle is in trouble! He taps!
“Is...huh...huh... that a legal move?”
“I don’t know and I don’t care. All I know is that I can kick butt! I told you I could wrestle with anyone in the world. What’s your name, boy?”
“Kurt...huh...huh... Angle.”
“Heeeeey, I saw you rassle’ on ESPN2. I thought you looked familiar. Your problem is that you are too limited in the techniques you use.”
“Please...huh...huh... teach me. I want to be the best in the world! I have the intensity and the intelligence to do it!”
“Well, what you really need, son, is some integrity. You have to be true to yourself and not to one style of wrestling. That will be your downfall.”
“But I’m going to be wrestling other freestyle wrestlers. Why would I need to learn techniques that I wouldn’t be able to use?”
“It ain’t about technique, boy, it’s about being true to yourself and not to your style. Bruce Lee said that.”
The Bossman goes on to teach Kurt Angle in various forms of submission wrestling, including Vale Tudo, the TK Guard, Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Jeet Kun Do and Lucha Libre. Angle is his first and his best student. The Bossman knows that it is time to test his young student.
“It’s time you see some real competition, some professional competition, Kurt.”
“None of that chair stuff. I don’t want to tarnish my reputation as a wrestler.”
“It’s true, it’s true, boy,” the Bossman says, “no one would ever take me seriously as a wrestler after I started doing pro wrestling. Let me think. I’ve got some connections in the Mixed Martial Arts world. I bet I could get you a dark match at the World Combat Championships.”
“All right, but I have to go under a different name. How about Fred Floyd?”
“That sounds as good as any. I’ll make the call.”
The Bossman makes the call and it is found out that Ange will be facing a young martial artist by the name of Jerry Flynn. He tells Angle, “this young guy is damn good, but he’s green, and he doesn’t know enough about wrestler. You’re going to tear him apart because you have?”
“Intensity!” Angle says, “Integrity! And Intelligence!”
“You got it, boy. I’m going to have you train with a striker for the next three weeks. You’re going to have to be in top competition if you’re going to beat Jerry Flynn.”
Angle continues his training, and gets to the point where he can reverse any kick into a take down. His skills are complete. It is time.
In the third dark match of the night, Angle, under the guise of Fred Floyd, steps in the ring to face Lightning Foot. The match begins. Flynn starts off with a jab to the face followed by a roundhouse kick to the thigh. Angle quickly reverses it into a single leg sweep and puts Flynn in a full guard. Despite being a world class martial artist, Flynn doesn’t have the training to compete with a world class wrestler. Flynn taps out at 3:02.
“I told you you could do it, Kurt. You’re ready for the Olympics. If you ever need me, just give me a call.”
His training complete and proven, Angle competes in the Olympic trials the next month, dominating the competition. Eight months later, he wins the Gold Medal.
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