Match of the Day: Austin vs Angle

This is a few days late, as it was a busy last half to last week...

Raw - Monday 8th October 2001 - WWF Championship: Kurt Angle (c) vs Stone Cold Steve Austin

As I continue to look through the Invasion angle of 2001, I was looking through heel turns of the angle. I found this one where Commissioner Regal turned his back on the WWF by setting up the finish to allow Stone Cold to regain the WWF Championship.

This was probably "known" or "predicted" by most smart-arse wrestling fans who like to suck the enjoyment out of it for everyone, but for me it was another great twist to this angle that I enjoyed.

I loved it that Regal ejected Debra and sat at ringside himself to ensure fairness throughout. He then stopped Austin at every opportunity from getting a steel chair. As Austin retrieved the title belt and entered the ring, Regal again entered the ring to intervene, taking the belt from Austin only to turn around and smash Angle with it.

The best part about the finish for me was that Austin didn't get the job done with that belt shot, so was forced to use his ultimate trump card in using the Stone Cold Stunner - how great does it make your finish look if it ends up being more definitive than a chair shot. Superb!

Two other things of note here is that you have two of the best in the ring (three, if you count Regal) along with two of the best on commentary in JR and Paul Heyman; massively underrated as a pairing, playing off each other so well. Heyman, in particular is how a colour commentator SHOULD act - COMPLETELY on the heel's side.

@jimmosangle