Kurt Angle has credited Ronda Rousey for putting over Shayna Baszler at SummerSlam.
At the Premium Live Event, the former Women’s Tag Team Champions collided in an MMA rules match so there would be no doubt as to who the better fighter was.
Speaking on The Kurt Angle Show, the Hall of Famer stated that Rousey could have called an audible and made the decision that she was going to be victorious, but instead chose to elevate Baszler:
“You know what? I thought it was really cool. Ronda probably didn’t have to [give Baszler the win], you know? Ronda Rousey probably could call her own shots whether she wants to win or lose, so I’d imagine this was a team effort between Shayna and Ronda, and Ronda assisted Shayna. … I think this was a really cool, giving a spot for Ronda Rousey to make Shayna a bigger star. You have to give Ronda a lot of credit for that.”
With a post on social media seemingly signalling her exit, the match at SummerSlam was Rousey’s final WWE appearance until further notice.
Kurt Angle Teamed With Ronda Rousey For Debut Match
Following a confrontation with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 31, Rousey would make her in-ring debut 3 years later. The match would see the former UFC Champion team with Kurt Angle to defeat the power couple. One year later, The Rowdy One would make history by being in the first-ever all-female WrestleMania main event, an accolade that Mick Foley feels Rousey was integral to making a reality.
Mania 35 was also where Angle’s in-ring career would come to an end. Hoping to elevate an existing talent on the way out, The Olympic Gold Medalist would lose his final-ever match to Baron Corbin.
In discussing one of his previous SummerSlam matches, Angles admits he expected better.
H/t to Wrestling Inc.