[2000-09-13-UPW-Truth or Consequences] Kurt Angle vs Christopher Daniels

[soup23]

This is an interesting match with Daniels vs a big WWF name in Angle. Angle is treated like the face as Daniels does a promo saying that its True according to the gospel of Christopher Daniels. This show has live commentary over the PA System which is one of the more offensive acts in wrestling presentation IMO. The match carries a quick pace and again here we are in September and Angle hasn’t really had that 15 minute long match yet. The work is good though with Daniels targeting the leg and going back to it in a multitude of ways. Daniels gets a close nearfall off of the Best Moonsault Ever. Some more reversals and Angle is able to hit the Angle Slam for the pin and he continues to limp around which is a solid sell job. This was cool to watch. *** (6)

[AstroBoy]

Daniels goes after the leg of Angle to good results. Kurt is a real trooper in selling it but his inexperience shows here as he just doesn't have enough to carry a match on offense yet. Lots of bad looking punches and nothing really interesting between his spots. Daniels, on the other hand, was excellent here. He really wrestled like a pro and impressed with good leg work, came across credible against a legit WWF main eventer, and held together a match very proficient in execution. Daniels also worked in some exciting and credible near falls down the stretch.

 

***1/4

[Migs]

Interesting bit of business, as Angle lets Daniels take basically the whole match, and Daniels looks pretty good in the process. Liked the reversals leading to the finish. Nice to see Angle keep selling past the bell.

[GSR]

“God’s gift to Professional Wrestling” wishes to express his gratitude to Kurt Angle for coming all the way out to UPW.  While he doesn’t have a WWF title for him, or doesn’t have a wife he could steal, he does have a burning desire to kick his ass all over the Galaxy Theatre!  Just as he’s finishing his promo out sprints Kurt who attacks him from behind.  Daniels blocks the hip toss, scissors Angle’s legs and locks on a knee bar come heel hook.  Kurt with the rope break but the ‘Fallen Angel’ is right back on that knee, stomping away and dropping elbows across it.  Slingshot leg drop to the knee.  The whip to the corner is reversed and Angle launches Daniels with an overhead belly to belly.  He counters the ‘Angel’s Wings’ with a back drop, however Daniels holds on and takes him down with a sunset flip.  When he realises he’s not going to be able to get him over, throws a strike to that weakened knee and then rolls backwards into a single leg crab.  The two go toe to toe exchanging punches before Daniels ducks a right and lands a pair of dropkicks to the knee.  Best Moonsault Ever for a near fall.  That’s the start of a series of near falls for both men, Daniels picking up his following a couple of cool cradle variations.  With things looking desperate for Kurt, he shoots ‘the Fallen Angel’ into the ropes to counter the reverse DDT and hits the Olympic Slam, at the second try, to close out a contest that I’m sure was much tougher than he expected going in.

Something that wouldn’t have looked out of place on an episode of Raw, and if it had have taken place there would be one of the best matches on the show.  Daniels looks every bit as good, if not better than Angle, who gives him the majority of the match.  Really liked the varied way he targeted that knee, whilst Kurt sold it throughout and even continued to do so after.  There wasn’t even a size issue between the two which you may have thought, and I’m at a loss how Daniels never got a shot in the WWF on the back of this as he held his own, was credible and also cut a decent promo beforehand.  Lone negative was the commentary which was being done over the house mic and did provide a bit of a distraction.