DATE: November 26, 2000
LOCATION: Kemper Arena, Kansas City, MO
COMMENTARY: Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant, and Lennox Lewis
[[ THE TALE OF THE TAPE: THE HOLY GRAIL ]]
| STATISTIC | HULK HOGAN (#1) | KURT ANGLE (#4) |
| AGE | 37 | 31 |
| HEIGHT | 6’7″ | 6’0″ |
| WEIGHT | 302 lbs | 237 lbs |
| REACH | 78 in | 72 in |
| ACCOLADES | Former Intercontinental Champ | 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist |
| STYLE | Power / American Brawling | Freestyle Wrestling / Technical |
[[ RINGSIDE ANALYSIS: THE POLITICS OF THE PURSE ]]
JIM LAMPLEY: We have reached the moment of truth. The Undisputed World Wrestling Federation Championship. The “Holy Grail.”
LARRY MERCHANT: (Scoffing) Jim, let’s not get carried away with the jewelry. This fight is a symptom of a sick system. This should be the Main Event of the evening. Instead, it’s the Co-Main because the “WWF Mafia” wants to squeeze every last drop out of Hogan’s brand. Hogan should be in there with the #2 guy, The Rock, for the world title. But because of “backstage brawls” and convenient injuries—politics disguised as strategy—we have Ted DiBiase sitting in the back like a vulture.
LENNOX LEWIS: It’s a tactical drain, Larry. DiBiase is a businessman. He knows that if Hogan goes 12 rounds with a technical genius like Kurt Angle, by the time the Main Event for that regional USA belt starts, Hogan will be a hollow shell. It’s the ultimate “Million Dollar” setup.
LARRY MERCHANT: It’s a sham! They’ve removed the “luck factor” of the 4-way to ensure Hogan gets the first UWC title for the ratings. They want their icon to hold the big gold, but they’re willing to sacrifice his health to do it. Angle is the best pure wrestler in this building, but he’s fighting a man who weighs 70 pounds more than him and has the refereeing board in his pocket.
[[ MATCH SUMMARY: POWER OVER PRECISION ]]
The fight was a masterclass in physical disparity. Kurt Angle showcased his Olympic pedigree early, diving for a single leg and transitioning beautifully into a grapevine. He locked in the Ankle Lock center-ring, and for a moment, the arena went silent as the Hulkster’s face contorted in pain.
However, the size difference was insurmountable. Hogan used his massive frame to crawl toward the ropes, and once back on his feet, he simply overwhelmed the Olympian. Angle caught a big boot to the jaw that would have leveled a normal man, followed by the “Leg Drop of Doom.” Hulk Hogan wins via Pinfall. He looks remarkably fresh—hardly a sweat broken.
[[ POST-MATCH INTERVIEW: LARRY MERCHANT ]]
LARRY MERCHANT: (Stepping into the ring as the confetti falls) Hulk, I have to be honest with you. Most of the “experts” expected the Olympic Gold Medalist to take you to deep water. But that looked… surprisingly easy. You’re standing here, you’re not bleeding, you’re barely breathing hard. Are you surprised that the “Holy Grail” match was such a one-sided affair?
HULK HOGAN: (Grinning, holding the UWC Gold over his head) Larry Merchant, brother! You can have all the medals in the world, but when you step into the ring with 300 pounds of Hulkamania, the physics change! Kurt Angle is a great athlete, but he’s a Light Heavyweight trying to swim with a Great White Shark! I feel great, I feel fresh, and I’m ready for whatever “Vulture” is waiting in the back!
LARRY MERCHANT: Well, congratulations are in order. You are now the first Triple Champion in the history of the WWF. You won the first Intercontinental tournament, you held the USA belt at the launch, and now you’re the first Undisputed World Champion. You’ve achieved immortality. But Ted DiBiase is expecting a bloodied champion for the Main Event. What do you have to say to the “Million Dollar Man” who thought Kurt Angle would do his dirty work for him?
HULK HOGAN: Tell Ted to count his money, because he can’t buy the strength I’ve got left in these pythons! I’m coming for my second win of the night, brother!
LARRY MERCHANT: (Turning to a dejected Kurt Angle) Kurt, you’re the Light Heavyweight Champion, you’re an Olympic hero. You had that ankle lock cinched in tight. In a legitimate wrestling room, he taps out. Why couldn’t you finish him tonight? Was the weight gap just too much to bridge, or did you feel the pressure of the “Hulkamania” atmosphere?
KURT ANGLE: (Shaking his head, frustrated) It’s the weight, Larry. I felt his tendons popping, I knew I had the hold… but he just dragged me across the ring like I was a child. You can’t technical-wrestle a tank. I’ll go back to the drawing board, but tonight… the big man was just too big.
[[ ADMIN_NEIL NOTE: Hogan has defied the odds and the “Mafia’s” plan by finishing Angle quickly. He enters the Main Event for the USA Belt against Ted DiBiase at nearly 100% health. DiBiase is reportedly furious in the locker room—his “vulture” strategy just fell apart. ]]