Kurt Angle On Vince McMahon Changing His Mind About First WWE Undisputed Champion

Vince McMahon can change his mind whenever he wants to and WWE has to book things to his liking because he owns the company. When WWE was deciding their first Undisputed Champion in 2001 Vince McMahon had a big decision to make and he changed his mind as well.

While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Kurt Angle explained that he was initially supposed to be the first Undisputed Champion. Then McMahon called him later on and explained why Chris Jericho was getting the big strap instead.

“Vince McMahon came to me two weeks prior and said ‘We’re going to give you the strap again. You’re going to be the Undisputed Champion,'” Angle began. “I thought that was pretty cool, considering that the pool was Chris Jericho, The Rock, and Austin. Those three are the best of all time. I knew going into it, I was going to win.

“Five days before (the event), Vince gives me a call and says ‘I really want to give it to Jericho. I really think he could benefit from it.’ I agreed. If anybody needs it and can run with it, it would be Chris Jericho. I was very honored that Vince had enough respect for me to tell me about the switch. For Jericho, it benefitted him. It put him in that title picture and main event. Chris was always up there. He was such an important factor in the company because he could make anyone look good. He was one of our supported assets. I have more respect for him today than I ever did before. I can’t believe the things he can do now.”

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It would be very interesting to see WWE History with Kurt Angle as first-ever Undisputed Champion, but we’ll never know. Chris Jericho held that big title as a heel and he used it to elevate himself in the process. Now WWE’s first-ever Undisputed Champion is Le Champion of AEW, but in 2001 Vince McMahon wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks to Wrestling Inc for the quote