[2005-03-17-WWE-Smackdown] Kurt Angle vs Marty Jannetty

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[ohtani's jacket]

I remember there being quite a bit of buzz around this match when it happened. It's kind of surreal seeing Jannetty in the WWE in 2005. He was 45 years old when he wrestled this match and looked every bit his age, but still managed to put on a fantastic showing against Angle. This was the second Angle match I've enjoyed from 2005 after he went off the boil a bit in 2004. He's a guy who can take a flimsy premise like teaching Shawn Michaels to tap by submitting Marty Jannetty and make it seem utterly convincing. I also appreciate the way he works spots into his matches that the crowd have no interest in, but ignores the need to pander to the crowd and keeps working his match. Phenomenal intensity. People were excited for other Jannetty matchups, but he went and blew it. I'm sure his stint would have fizzled out one way or another, but this was a heck of a one night performance. 

[Superstar Sleeze]

Kurt Angle vs Marty Jannetty - Smackdown 3/17/05

”Marty Jannetty is still Cant walk! Im just a Sexy Kurt! Sexy Kurt! I make your ankle hurt! Ankle Hurt!”

I often say there was nothing nostalgic about my teenage years But digging into this stuff again I do have some fond memories and Sexy Kurt is still something me and my brother bring up. The good shit. 
 

This is a great build to the Angle/Shawn match and in the video package they show the Rockers reunion on RAW which I totally forgot about. This is a great example of Kurt Angle as an effective Ring general. He guzzles Marty on the mat and presents a clear contrast to Marty‘s feed. He is constantly feeding spots to make Marty look good. He is letting Marty bring the uptempo rhythm and pop the crowd and this crowd definitely was popping for Marty fucking hip tosses were getting pops like it was 1988 BABY! Angle would ground him again and we do it all over again. It was the perfect “You still got it” match. During the break Angle shoved Marty into the post. He was clinical in the dissection of the back. Good variety of throws and holds. The arm drag out of the Angle Slam popped off the page because of the story they were telling. Marty gets a DDT and we get the big rah rah sis boom bah grand finale from Marty. Spinning heel kick looked great. Crossbody roll through after that they timed near falls so well that you thought Marty had a chance. Angle lock fake out to get the real one on the Rocker Dropper was the cherry on the Sundae. Perfect TV match to get everyone over. I miss these kind of matches  *** 1/2