One of the most shocking and controversial storylines in WWE history was the revelation that Jason Jordan, a former NXT and SmackDown tag team champion, was the illegitimate son of Kurt Angle, the Olympic gold medalist and WWE Hall of Famer. The announcement was made by Angle himself on an episode of Raw in July 2017, after weeks of speculation and mystery. But how did this storyline come about, and is there any truth behind it? Here are some facts you need to know about the relationship between Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle.
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How did the storyline start?
The storyline began in June 2017, when Angle received a series of phone calls and text messages that threatened to ruin his career and personal life. He confided in his friend and fellow WWE legend Corey Graves, who advised him to reveal the truth before it was too late. Angle then announced that he had a secret that he had been hiding for years: he had a son that he never knew about, and that son was a WWE superstar. He then introduced Jason Jordan as his son, and hugged him in front of the shocked crowd.
What was the reason behind the storyline?
According to various reports, the reason behind the storyline was to give Jason Jordan a major push as a singles star, and to create a potential feud between him and Angle down the line. Jordan had previously been part of the popular tag team American Alpha with Chad Gable, but they were split up during the 2017 Superstar Shake-up. Jordan was then drafted to Raw, while Gable remained on SmackDown. The idea was to make Jordan a sympathetic babyface who would seek his father’s approval and guidance, while also showing signs of arrogance and entitlement. Angle would then mentor him and help him achieve success, but also face some challenges and conflicts with him.
How did the fans react to the storyline?
The fans were mostly negative and indifferent towards the storyline, as they felt it was unrealistic, illogical, and poorly executed. Many fans pointed out the obvious age difference between Jordan and Angle (Jordan is only 14 years younger than Angle), the lack of physical resemblance between them, and the fact that Jordan had already been established as having a different family background (he had previously mentioned that he was adopted by an African-American couple). Some fans also felt that Jordan was not charismatic or talented enough to carry such a high-profile storyline, and that he did not have good chemistry with Angle. The storyline also failed to generate much interest or excitement among the viewers, as it lacked drama, twists, and surprises.
What happened to the storyline?
The storyline was abruptly ended in January 2018, when Jordan suffered a serious neck injury that required surgery. He has not wrestled since then, and his status is uncertain. Angle continued to be involved in other storylines, such as his feud with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon at WrestleMania 34, his role as Raw general manager until October 2018, and his retirement match against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania 35. The relationship between Jordan and Angle was rarely mentioned or acknowledged after Jordan’s injury, and it is unclear if it will ever be resumed or resolved.
The answer is no. Jason Jordan is not really related to Kurt Angle in any way. The storyline was purely fictional and scripted by WWE writers. In real life, Jason Jordan’s birth name is Nathan Everhart, and he was born in Tinley Park, Illinois on September 28, 1988. He has three brothers, two of whom are in prison for undisclosed crimes. He attended Indiana University, where he was a successful amateur wrestler and earned a degree in biology. He signed with WWE in 2011 and trained at their developmental territories Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) and NXT before debuting on the main roster in 2016.
Kurt Angle’s birth name is Kurt Steven Angle, and he was born in Mt. Lebanon Township, Pennsylvania on December 9, 1968. He has four older brothers (one of whom died in 2003) and a sister (who died in 2015). He attended Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where he was a legendary amateur wrestler and won an Olympic gold medal in 1996. He signed with WWE in 1998 and became one of their most decorated and acclaimed superstars until his departure in 2006. He then wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2006 to 2016 before returning to WWE in 2017.
In real life, Jason Jordan is married to April Elizabeth since March 2017, and they have one daughter named Journi Everhart who was born in February 2020. Kurt Angle is married to Giovanna Yannotti since July 2012, and they have three daughters named Giuliana, Sophia, and Nikoletta. Angle also has two older children from his previous marriage to Karen Smedley (who later married Jeff Jarrett): a son named Kyler and a daughter named Kody. Angle and Jordan have never met or interacted before the storyline, and they have no biological or legal connection whatsoever.
Conclusion
The storyline between Jason Jordan and Kurt Angle was one of the most controversial and criticized storylines in WWE history. It was meant to elevate Jordan as a singles star, but it backfired due to the negative fan reaction, the lack of logic and realism, and the unfortunate injury that sidelined Jordan indefinitely. The storyline was never properly concluded or explained, and it left many fans disappointed and confused. The truth is that Jason Jordan is not really related to Kurt Angle, and the whole story was just a fictional plot created by WWE writers.
