The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 11

Kurt Angle (December 15, 2002 - March 30, 2003)

Kurt Angle: Aligned with Paul Heyman to win a third WWE Championship

Kurt Angle had not held the WWE Championship since October 2001. By the time December 2002 rolled around he was overdue.

He challenged Big Show for the title at Armageddon 2002 and asked Brock Lesnar, who had been betrayed by Show and his new manager, Paul Heyman to be in his corner.

Lesnar was initially non-committal but did eventually intervene on Angle's behalf and assist the Olympian in becoming a three time WWE Champion.

However, it was a set up all along! Lesnar and Show had been duped by the dastardly Heyman, who was in cahoots with Angle. Heyman ditched Show and aligned himself with Angle, becoming the first manager in WWE history to manage three consecutive WWE Champions.

Angle wrestled long time rival/ally Chris Benoit in an instant classic technical battle at the 2003 Royal Rumble before finally clashing with Lesnar in a highly anticipated match-up at WrestleMania XIX.

Angle and Lesnar contested one of the greatest main event matches in WrestleMania history.

Angle, who entered the bout with a career threatening neck injury delivered an imperious performance and put his younger opponent over in a big way. But, more about that coming up soon.

Stay tuned for part 12 coming soon and be sure to leave your thoughts and memories in the comments below!