Literary Squared Circle #14 – IT’S TRUE! IT’S TRUE!
Beatlemania. Hulkamania. WrestleMania. KofiMania. Milk-O-Mania?
Yes, Milk-O-Mania! This Friday (8/20) marks the 20th Anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in Monday Night Raw history. On August 20, 2001, Kurt Angle interrupted “’Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Appreciation Night” by driving a milk truck into Sacramento’s Arco Arena, and dousing The Rattlesnake and the other members of The Alliance with moo juice. “Milk-O-Mania” ran wild that night! As Stephanie McMahon was being hosed down with milk, Jim Ross delivered the memorable line, “The Million Dollar Princess has become a Dairy Queen!”
Kurt Angle driving the milk truck into the arena was, of course, reminiscent of Austin driving a beer truck the arena and spraying The Corporation down with beer two and a half years prior. In 2011, Milk-O-Mania was named the Number 30 “Most Incredible and Outrageous OMG Incident in WWE History”. In 2018, it was even immortalized with a Mattel Epic Moments Action Figure pack, featuring figures of Stephanie McMahon, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Kurt Angle that comes packaged in a box shaped like… what else? A milk truck!
To mark the 20th Anniversary of Milk-O-Mania, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews Kurt Angle’s memoir, It’s True! It’s True! by Kurt Angle with John Harper (HarperEntertainment, 2002). Similar to Rey Mysterio’s memoir, Behind the Mask (see Literary Squared Circle #10), Angle’s memoir was written very early on in his career. Being that his career continued on for 17 more years, I would hope that Angle would consider writing a follow-up memoir covering everything that has happened over the past two decades.
The first two-thirds of It’s True! It’s True! describe Angle’s life before getting into professional wrestling. Growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Angle was a decorated amateur wrestler both in high school and in college at Clarion University. After graduating college and winning gold at the Amateur Wrestling World Championships, Angle set his sights on the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was being trained by former Olympic wrestling champion and legendary wrestling coach, Dave Schultz (not to be confused with former pro wrestler “Dr. D” David Schultz), when Schultz was murdered by a deranged philanthropist who supported USA Wrestling.
Schultz had been a father figure to Kurt Angle. Angle tragically lost his own father in a worksite accident when Angle was just 16 years old. When Angle resumed his training he suffered a severe neck injury while competing in the 1996 Olympic Trails. Despite his injury, Angle persevered and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division. Hence, he really did “win a gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck” as would become one of his catchphrases later on in the WWE. Angle dedicated his gold medal win to his late mentor, Dave Schultz.
Angle was looking into a career in professional wrestling following the Olympics in 1996, however, that plan was derailed when he was a guest at an ECW show in Philadelphia during which Raven crucified Sandman. The incident offended Angle and turned him off on the idea becoming a pro wrestler for almost three years.
Kurt Angle finally debuted for WWF at the Survivor Series in November 1999. He fully embraced his “American Hero” persona wearing gold medals around his neck, and preaching the “3 I’s” (“Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence”). Fans, however, were not receptive to Angle. Instead, he was turned into a self-righteous heel. Angle won the European Championship and the Intercontinental Championship just three months after debuting in the WWF.
He quickly became a main event level talent, feuding with Triple H over a storyline love triangle involving Stephanie McMahon. Angle eventually defeated The Rock for the first of his eventual four WWF/WWE Championships. The book concludes with Angle dropping the WWF Championship back to The Rock at the No Way Out pay-per-view in February 2001.
I really enjoyed It’s True! It’s True! Oh, it’s true! It’s damn true! (See what I did there?) Despite having been co-authored by John Harper, the “voice” of the book is definitely Angle’s. As I read the book, I could hear his voice in my head, much like listening to an audiobook.
The stories of his early life and his amateur wrestling career were interesting, and his tale of winning Olympic gold was inspiring. My only wish is that it included more of his professional wrestling career. Although the first year and a half of his career were spectacular, I would have liked more. That is why I hope Kurt Angle considers writing a follow-up memoir covering the rest of his legendary, Hall of Fame career.
For example, Milk-O-Mania occurred just six months after the last pages of It’s True! It’s True! Other things I’d love to see featured in a second book include: Team Angle, “The Wrestling Machine”, The Angle Alliance in TNA, The Main Event Mafia, his return to WWE, and his time as Raw General Manager.
Overall, It’s True! It’s True! is a great read. It does not suck! Next year marks 20 years since it was published. One can only hope that Angle is considering a sequel to tell the rest of the story.
5 Stars out of 5
Yes, Milk-O-Mania! This Friday (8/20) marks the 20th Anniversary of one of the most iconic moments in Monday Night Raw history. On August 20, 2001, Kurt Angle interrupted “’Stone Cold’ Steve Austin Appreciation Night” by driving a milk truck into Sacramento’s Arco Arena, and dousing The Rattlesnake and the other members of The Alliance with moo juice. “Milk-O-Mania” ran wild that night! As Stephanie McMahon was being hosed down with milk, Jim Ross delivered the memorable line, “The Million Dollar Princess has become a Dairy Queen!”
Kurt Angle driving the milk truck into the arena was, of course, reminiscent of Austin driving a beer truck the arena and spraying The Corporation down with beer two and a half years prior. In 2011, Milk-O-Mania was named the Number 30 “Most Incredible and Outrageous OMG Incident in WWE History”. In 2018, it was even immortalized with a Mattel Epic Moments Action Figure pack, featuring figures of Stephanie McMahon, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Kurt Angle that comes packaged in a box shaped like… what else? A milk truck!
To mark the 20th Anniversary of Milk-O-Mania, the Literary Squared Circle blog reviews Kurt Angle’s memoir, It’s True! It’s True! by Kurt Angle with John Harper (HarperEntertainment, 2002). Similar to Rey Mysterio’s memoir, Behind the Mask (see Literary Squared Circle #10), Angle’s memoir was written very early on in his career. Being that his career continued on for 17 more years, I would hope that Angle would consider writing a follow-up memoir covering everything that has happened over the past two decades.
The first two-thirds of It’s True! It’s True! describe Angle’s life before getting into professional wrestling. Growing up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Angle was a decorated amateur wrestler both in high school and in college at Clarion University. After graduating college and winning gold at the Amateur Wrestling World Championships, Angle set his sights on the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was being trained by former Olympic wrestling champion and legendary wrestling coach, Dave Schultz (not to be confused with former pro wrestler “Dr. D” David Schultz), when Schultz was murdered by a deranged philanthropist who supported USA Wrestling.
Schultz had been a father figure to Kurt Angle. Angle tragically lost his own father in a worksite accident when Angle was just 16 years old. When Angle resumed his training he suffered a severe neck injury while competing in the 1996 Olympic Trails. Despite his injury, Angle persevered and won a gold medal in the heavyweight division. Hence, he really did “win a gold medal with a broken freakin’ neck” as would become one of his catchphrases later on in the WWE. Angle dedicated his gold medal win to his late mentor, Dave Schultz.
Angle was looking into a career in professional wrestling following the Olympics in 1996, however, that plan was derailed when he was a guest at an ECW show in Philadelphia during which Raven crucified Sandman. The incident offended Angle and turned him off on the idea becoming a pro wrestler for almost three years.
Kurt Angle finally debuted for WWF at the Survivor Series in November 1999. He fully embraced his “American Hero” persona wearing gold medals around his neck, and preaching the “3 I’s” (“Intensity, Integrity, and Intelligence”). Fans, however, were not receptive to Angle. Instead, he was turned into a self-righteous heel. Angle won the European Championship and the Intercontinental Championship just three months after debuting in the WWF.
He quickly became a main event level talent, feuding with Triple H over a storyline love triangle involving Stephanie McMahon. Angle eventually defeated The Rock for the first of his eventual four WWF/WWE Championships. The book concludes with Angle dropping the WWF Championship back to The Rock at the No Way Out pay-per-view in February 2001.
I really enjoyed It’s True! It’s True! Oh, it’s true! It’s damn true! (See what I did there?) Despite having been co-authored by John Harper, the “voice” of the book is definitely Angle’s. As I read the book, I could hear his voice in my head, much like listening to an audiobook.
The stories of his early life and his amateur wrestling career were interesting, and his tale of winning Olympic gold was inspiring. My only wish is that it included more of his professional wrestling career. Although the first year and a half of his career were spectacular, I would have liked more. That is why I hope Kurt Angle considers writing a follow-up memoir covering the rest of his legendary, Hall of Fame career.
For example, Milk-O-Mania occurred just six months after the last pages of It’s True! It’s True! Other things I’d love to see featured in a second book include: Team Angle, “The Wrestling Machine”, The Angle Alliance in TNA, The Main Event Mafia, his return to WWE, and his time as Raw General Manager.
Overall, It’s True! It’s True! is a great read. It does not suck! Next year marks 20 years since it was published. One can only hope that Angle is considering a sequel to tell the rest of the story.
5 Stars out of 5
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