IMPACT Wrestling World Champion Josh Alexander Talks Paying Tribute to Kurt Angle With Both Wrestling Gear and Moveset

Josh mentions getting approval from Ken Shamrock to use the famous Ankle Lock, and Shamrock appreciated the respect that Josh showed when asking to use it.

Alexander was a guest on the Kurt Angle Show and formally asked Angle if he could continue using the ankle lock. 

“I will keep putting on the ankle lock, in proper form. Kurt, when I went to my singles career, I had approached Ken Shamrock, who was still with the company, and I asked him, ‘Do you mind if I use the ankle lock?’ He was leaving the company that week. He said, ‘Yeah, I appreciate you asking.’ I said, ‘I’m old school in a sense, I wouldn’t do it if you didn’t give me the blessing. Is that okay?’ ‘I’d be honored, absolutely.’ I started using it then. Are you okay with me using?”asked Alexander. 

Angle replied, “Yes, Kenny let me use it, I asked him just like you did. I asked him too and he said, ‘Go ahead, I’d be happy for you to use it.’ I didn’t invent it. It’s a cool move, a great submission move. It should be going on in professional wrestling forever and you’re carrying it on and keeping it going.”

Alexander closed by saying, “I’m just happy I got the blessing from the two people who perfected using it before me.”

H/t Fightful’s Jeremy Lambert. Original article HERE

Josh respecting both men enough to ask permission to use a move – when he didn’t really have to – just goes to show not only what kind of World Champion is, but also what kind of a man he is as well.

Josh most recently teamed with his next challenger, AEW star Frankie Kazarian, to take on NJPW tag team Aussie Open on last weeks episode. Josh and Kazarian won the match after Josh used the signature Ankle Lock to submit one of the members of Aussie Open.

As of this past Saturday – 11/5 – Josh Alexander became #3 on the list of longest reigning IMPACT Wrestling World Champions.

As mentioned above, Josh is scheduled to defend his IMPACT Wrestling World Title against AEW star Frankie Kazarian at IMPACT’s next LIVE event – OVERDRIVE – on 11/18.

Matches announced for Overdrive so far:

IMPACT World Title-Josh Alexander (c) vs AEW star Frankie Kazarian

IMPACT Tag Team Titles-Heath & Rhyno (c) vs Major
Players (Matt Cardona/Brian Myers)

IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Tag Team Titles-Death Dollz (c) vs Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans

-Bully Ray vs Moose

Get your Live! OVERDRIVE & Kentucky Chaos TV taping tickets HERE

Follow Gerard at @BearDown316 on Twitter

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