Kurt Angle Questions WWE’s Decision to Rename Olympic Gold Medalist

One big thing: WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle criticizes the company’s decision to change Tamyra Mensah-Stock’s ring name

Kurt Angle, a former Olympic gold medalist himself, expressed confusion over WWE’s choice to rename Tamyra Mensah-Stock to Tyra Mae Steele.

• Mensah-Stock won gold in freestyle wrestling at the 2021 Olympics
• She debuted in WWE earlier this year
• Angle believes changing her name doesn’t make sense

What they’re saying

“I don’t have any idea why they want to do that,” Angle said on his podcast. “She has a name, she’s built her name, incredible name. She has a great reputation in amateur wrestling.”

Why it matters

WWE’s decision to rename an Olympic gold medalist raises questions about their branding strategy and how they value established accomplishments outside of professional wrestling.

By the numbers

• Mensah-Stock made her WWE in-ring debut in March 2023
• Her televised debut on “NXT Level Up” was in June 2023

The other side

Some WWE officials reportedly believe the average fan wouldn’t recognize Mensah-Stock’s real name, justifying the change to make it more marketable.

The bottom line

WWE’s decision to rename Tamyra Mensah-Stock highlights the ongoing debate about the value of authenticity versus marketability in professional wrestling.

What do you think about WWE’s decision to change Tamyra Mensah-Stock’s name? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on this controversial move.