Angle (professional wrestling)
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In professional wrestling, an angle is a fictional storyline. (The wrestler Kurt Angle's name is a coincidence.)
The scope and variety of angles vary widely. An angle may be as small as a single match or a vendetta that lasts for years. In addition, an angle may be a part of a feud, or a feud part of an angle. Angles may often lead from one to another. The term angle implies an insight into a wrestler's gimmick; however the term dates back from when wrestling was a touring carnival sideshow, so this is unlikely.
During a wrestler's career, he may take part in very many, angles, which are often inconsistent, implausible and reused from one wrestler to the next (see kayfabe).
Examples of angles
- The New World Order: a group of heels formerly based at the WWF, that sought to take over WCW
- Kane being forced to remove his mask as the result of a match (this is an example of an angle within a feud)
- Stone Cold Steve Austin becoming WWF champion, to the disgust of owner Vince McMahon
- Cactus Jack getting amnesia after losing a match, and becoming a vagrant who thought he was a ship's captain
- Booker T and Goldust forming an Odd couple-style tag team and going on to win gold, discovering respect for themselves and each other in the process
- Eddie Guerrero's mother suffers a worked "heart attack" in the ring just after John Bradshaw Layfield attacks him during an in-ring celebration in Guerrero's hometown of El Paso (another example of an angle within a feud)
See also: professional wrestling slang