NJPW rookie Aaron Wolf pays homage to Kurt Angle with move name
NJPW newcomer Aaron Wolf is paying homage to fellow Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle with one of his wrestling moves.
Wolf, a decorated judo champion, made his pro wrestling debut at Wrestle Kingdom 20 and used a triangle choke to defeat EVIL for the NEVER Openweight Championship. Wolf also performed an Olympic Slam during the match — and the move is set to be a regular part of Wolf’s arsenal. He is asking for the move to be called the Angle Slam as a nod to Kurt Angle and the Olympic heritage they share.
Aaron Wolf wants his Olympic Slam referred to as the Angle Slam, in reverence to fellow Olympic gold medalist and former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. That’s badass! 🔥
— Walker Stewart (ウォーカー・スチュワート) (@VelvetVoiceWS) January 6, 2026
“Aaron Wolf wants his Olympic Slam referred to as the Angle Slam, in reverence to fellow Olympic gold medalist and former IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle,” NJPW English-language commentator Walker Stewart tweeted. “That’s badass!”
The move has been called both the Olympic Slam and Angle Slam in the past.
Along with his Olympic and WWE success, Angle did work some NJPW matches in the late 2000s and held a version of the IWGP Championship, though his reign is not officially recognized by NJPW. The 57-year-old Angle is currently a broadcaster and partner in Real American Freestyle.
NJPW is hoping that Wolf will become a significant star as the company enters a new era following the retirement of Hiroshi Tanahashi. At New Year Dash, Wolf teamed with Toru Yano, YOH & Master Wato in a victory over EVIL, Ren Narita, Don Fale & Dick Togo.
Wolf’s first NEVER title defense will take place at the New Beginning in Osaka on February 11 with him putting the championship on the line against Narita.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.