Kurt Angle Obtained No Mistreatment, however Tamyra Mensah-Inventory WWE Debut After Tokyo Olympics Medal Echoes Malice

“I’m now a freaking Olympic Champion” – Again on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Tamyra Mensah-Inventory etched her title within the historical past books! She clinched a gold within the girls’s 68-kilogram freestyle last and have become the primary Black girl representing the US to take action. Nonetheless, whereas she wasn’t the primary feminine American to realize this feat, the final time an American wrestler received a gold was Helen Maroulis in 2016. Whereas this wasn’t her first Olympic run, this was the primary and solely Summer time Video games she had made it to the finals and received.

Her historic win in Tokyo put her within the highlight. However after clinching one other gold on the 2022 Tunis Rating Sequence in Tunisia, Mensah-Inventory determined to finish her novice profession and pursue her dream of becoming a member of WWE. She grew to become part of it in Might 2023, and after over a yr, she lastly made her In-Ring TV debut on July 2nd, 2024. Whereas most of us know her as Tamyra-Mensah Inventory, she graced our screens with a very completely different title!

From Tamyra Mensah-Inventory to Tyra Mae Steele

Tamyra Mensah-Inventory is the primary feminine Olympic wrestling gold medalist to affix WWE. Like many earlier than her, Mensah-Inventory could be utilizing a pseudonym within the ring. WrestleTalk introduced the information on Twitter, captioning it “WWE has filed to trademark Tyra Mae Steele, the new name for Olympic gold medalist Tamyra Mensah Stock” Whereas this isn’t out of the extraordinary for wrestling followers, this isn’t one thing Corridor of Famer Kurt Angle needed to face!

Kurt Angle received his solely Olympic gold on the 1996 Summer time Video games in Atlanta, Georgia. In an exhilarating showdown with Iranian wrestler Abbas Jadidi, they each ended up being tied 1-1. After cautious hypothesis by the officers, Angle was declared because the rightful winner. He did all of this with a damaged neck too! WWE rapidly prolonged a contract to Angle, though he didn’t be part of till 1998. He made historical past by turning into the primary Olympic wrestling gold medalist to affix the group.

Nonetheless, not like Mensah-Inventory, Angle determined to go forward together with his personal title. Whereas this isn’t odd, the choice to trademark a stage title for the 2020 Olympic gold medalist has rubbed many followers the improper manner. WWE typically permits widespread personalities to maintain their title since this could assist convey their massive fan following to the game. Nonetheless, in addition they typically trademark stage names to make use of for merchandise. Whereas they will nonetheless market somebody’s authorized title, nobody else can use their stage title, submit them being launched.

Mensah-Inventory’s stage title, Tyra Mae Steele, has been derived from her authorized title itself. Tyra, taken from Tamyra, whereas Mae Steele has the identical initials as Mensah-Inventory. The Olympian made just a few non-televised appearances earlier within the yr, however she was seen locking horns with WWE NXT’s Wren Sinclair in her TV debut.

From Tokyo to the WWE ring

In her Olympic Debut, Tamyra Mensah-Inventory battled it out with Blessing Oborududu. She clinched a gold within the girls’s 68kg freestyle last by defeating the Nigerian wrestler 4-1. Regardless of the loss, Oborududu grew to become the primary athlete from her nation to win an Olympic wrestling medal. “I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at us representing. It’s so freaking awesome. You’re making history, I’m making history. We’re making history. So it meant a lot.”

Mensah-Inventory, refusing to interrupt down, ran to hug her coaches. However she couldn’t hold it collectively as soon as she draped the American flag round her!

After the historic win in Tokyo, the Olympian competed on the 2021 World Championships and walked away with a bronze. Whereas the celebrity and recognition saved her going, a again damage abruptly put a cease to her profession for eight arduous months. After some much-needed relaxation, she returned to the wrestling ring. A second world title, early retirement, and a brand new dream. Mensah-Inventory shifted her focus to WWE and joined in Might final yr.

As Tamyra Mensah-Inventory begins her second profession from scratch, followers are excited to see what Tyra Mae Steele will convey to the desk. Will we see extra of her within the ring? Will she stroll away with any new titles within the ring? We’ll simply have to attend and watch. Keep tuned, as a result of we all know there’s a lot extra to come back!