On March 7, 1999, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) gave pro wrestling fans their first look at amateur wrestler extraordinaire and Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle, who recently signed a multi-year contract to compete in the land of make believe.

So how do you get an American hero over?

Quite simply, really, you pair him with an aggressive foreigner. Since the Bolsheviks were long gone and Muhammad Hassan was still in high school, Tiger Ali Singh had the thankless role of playing International buffoon on Sunday Night HEAT. He came out and offered $500 to anyone willing to blow their nose in the American flag.

Oh, hello Vince.

And as if to prove a point, he called out "special plant guest" Kurt Angle to do the dirty, but alas, it was the flag of India that became the recipient of some Olympic snot. Singh tried to retaliate, but the much more agile Angle rag-dolled him with relative ease.

Watch the WWF set the stage for things to come, after the jump.

Join me in silent mourning for the old Kurt Angle. Sigh ... what could have been.