March 17, 2003 Observer Newsletter: Kurt Angle injury to lead to toned down style, more
The injury to Kurt Angle, has caused something of a continuation of what has long been an attempt to change the style within the company. Angle will be undergoing neck fusion surgery shortly.
The surgery was originally scheduled for 3/17, but is being moved to early April. The planned title change on 3/11 to Brock Lesnar in Pittsburgh didn’t happen when Angle himself asked Vince McMahon on 3/10 to allow him to do the match at Wrestlemania. Angle went to all the key parties such as Lesnar, Chris Benoit (who was to get the spot at Mania) as well as his wife to talk over his decision. McMahon was expecting that Angle would change his mind at the end, but he didn’t. The plan is for Angle to work a real match as opposed to a short gimmick oriented match, and drop the title.
Angle is expected to be out of action for a minimum of one year, getting similar surgery, from Dr. Lloyd Youngblood in San Antonio, that Terry Gerin (Rhyno), Steve Williams (Austin) and Benoit among others have recovered from and that Edge underwent on 3/10.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.