WWE Hall of Famer Kurt angle is on a quest to unearth a rare piece of wrestling history: a lost match against the legendary Owen Hart, just five days before Hart’s tragic passing. Angle took to social media platform X to appeal to the wrestling community for any existing footage of this important bout, which has become a coveted item among wrestling enthusiasts.
“In 1999 I had the privilege of wrestling the legendary Owen Hart in a dark match in the WWE 5 days before his unfortunate death,” Angle shared. “Til this day, I haven’t seen any video footage of it. If anyone has ever seen the footage of my match with Owen, message me in the comments below. Someone had to record it. #itstrue”
The match,which occurred on May 17,1999,before a WWF Sunday Night Heat taping,was a “dark match” – meaning it was not intended for television broadcast. It served as a crucial tryout for Angle, who had not yet made his official on-screen debut. This encounter pitted the highly respected Owen Hart against the future WWE Champion, in what would tragically be one of Hart’s final performances.
As the match was never aired, no official footage has ever been commercially released. The hope for its discovery largely rests on fans who may have attended the event and recorded the bout.There’s also a possibility that WWE might hold a master tape within its extensive archives, as the company often recorded non-televised matches for internal review.Should such a recording exist, fans are optimistic it could eventually be shared on platforms like the official WWE Vault YouTube channel.
This match is considered historically significant as it represents a “passing of the torch” moment,even though it was unseen by the public. It showcased a beloved veteran, Hart, providing an early WWE ring experience for Angle, who would go on to become a major star. Angle has previously spoken about the match, recalling his own nervousness and Hart’s welcoming demeanor towards him as a newcomer. The bout itself was reportedly a technically sound performance that impressed WWE officials. Angle’s public appeal has reignited hope that this important, yet unreleased, piece of wrestling history might finally see the light of day.