Ever since Kurt Angle first established himself as a top player in the WWE (formerly known as the WWF), he has been compared, more often than not, to Chris Benoit. Many people make the argument that Kurt is a better all-around wrestler than Chris Benoit, which theoretically states that since Angle uses a wider variety of moves, and has better mic skills, that this automatically puts Kurt Angle in a league above Chris Benoit.

Fistly, I happen to think that is a very shallow, ignorant statement. Secondly, a wrestler's greatness and all around worth shouldn't be determined based on the fact that he can get on a mic and talk, but on the fact that he can get in the ring and tell a story, regardless of how many moves that wrestler uses. Psychology, more than anything, is the most important part of a wrestler. And when it comes down to psychology Chris Benoit is a far superior in-ring competitor.

Some of you might be thinking "this guys nuts, he can't possibly prove this," well contrary to what you may be thinking, I can. Let's take a look at their respective move sets, and then analyze them. Kurt Angle: Angle Slam, Ankle Lock, German Suplexes, Belly to Belly Overhead Suplexes, Body Scissors (I'm sure I'm missing others, so please bear with me). Chris Benoit: Crippler Crossface, German Suplexes, back breaker Diving Headbutt, Snap Suplex, Sharpshooter, Shoulderbreaker(occasionally)

Let's start with Kurt Angle. If you have not figured it out yet, Angle does not have one move that sets up the ankle lock. If you've watched at least one of his matches you'd see that he never ever works on the ankle prior to locking in the ankle lock, he just goes from move to move in a poorly constructed series, then by some chance of luck gets his opponent into the ankle lock. Hell, in most of his matches, the ending consists of him locking in the ankle lock time and time again without effect, and then finally trapping the opponent, center ring, with the leg grapevined, thus forcing the opponent to tap. I'm sorry but locking in a submission time and time again without effect is the farthest thing from psychology.

Now onto Chris Benoit - if you take a look at his move set, you will see that everything goes together ... the German suplexes and the occasional shoulderbreaker both work on the shoulder/back area, which corresponds with the crippler crossface, thus making the move more effective. The snap suplex, along with the Germans, the back breaker and any other move which affects the back area, sets up for the sharpshooter. This once again makes the maneuver more effective.

"What about the diving head butt"" you may be asking. Targeting the shoulder area when executed, could be yet another setup for the crippler crossface, or the move could be used as a match closer, after wearing the opponent down to the extent where Benoit can use the head butt to finish the match. People could make this argument for Kurt Angle and his angle slam, but alas angle is more accustomed to using the ankle lock as his match closer.

So in conclusion, the fact that Chris Benoit has a superior sense of psychology in the ring, and is a better "storyteller," is what makes him a better wrestler than Kurt Angle. Angle may have more moves, as some people will mention. But in the end it's the quality of the match, and the moves used to tell the story of said match over the quantity of moves.

Authors Note: I would like to credit a good friend, who will remain anonymous, who helped me edit this article.

by Shane Cossey ..