Kurt Angle has set the record straight on his experience working with Taz.
Debuting at the 2000 Royal Rumble, Taz's arrival in the WWF also marked the end of Kurt Angle's undefeated streak. During their bout, The Human Suplex Machine hit Angle with a German Suplex that saw the Olympian nearly fall on the top of his head. In the past, Taz has been accused, by some, of being an unsafe worker, but Angle says that that's not the case. On the most recent episode of The Kurt Angle Show (via AdFreeShows), he said the following:
"Taz was not dangerous. That was my idea. I told Taz to give me a german suplex and throw me really high in the air and I would flip over to my stomach. I wanted to do a moonsault german suplex where I landed on my stomach. I thought it'd look really vicious and brutal. So that was all my call and I'm not sure why Tazz didn't tell the office that I'm the one that chose the move. Taz was never dangerous with his suplexes. He was relatively safe. I never had a problem with him."
Taz was appreciative of Kurt's comments, replying online.
So for me, aren't many more credible in the history of the biz than Kurt. For anyone who thought/think I was "dangerous" the man with the brightest GOLD has spoken. I appreciate you explaining this @RealKurtAngle ------ https://t.co/vOwNkkumRj
— taz (@OfficialTAZ) March 13, 2021
Angle would also say that the writers had planned for him to have an undefeated streak leading up to the Royal Rumble. As for the decision to have him lose, the WWE Hall of Famer was more than happy to elevate an incoming talent while also getting a "rub" from working with someone who was a main eventer in another successful wrestling company. Either way, though, Angle doesn't forget that an illegal choke was used, so in his mind, he never lost the fight. Here is what he said:
"We decided that Taz would go over. It was his debut. Taz was a big name in wrestling. He was one of those guys that hit main event level as far as any wrestling company. Taz was really popular. He had a great run in ECW and everybody knew who he was, so it was me giving him a rub, an elevation win and at the same time it's me getting a rub from somebody that was a main eventer in a wrestling company that was very successful. So the whole story was Taz would choke me out but it was an illegal choke, so I was still undefeated. That's what I said in my own mind after the match. When Taz made me choke out, I said 'this is an illegal chokehold, so I'm still undefeated. I still haven't been beaten.' It was good heat."
Taz currently works in AEW where he serves as the figurehead of Team Taz (Brian Cage, Ricky Starks, Will Hobbs, and Hook). They recently lost a street fight to Sting and Darby Allin at Revolution on March 7, 2021.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit The Kurt Angle Show with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
