October 18th 2024.
In 2013, there was a unique and unexpected meeting in the ring between two very different worlds. Liam Payne, the beloved pop star known worldwide, and Kurt Angle, the legendary wrestler, crossed paths and left a lasting impression on each other.
Despite his fame and success in the music industry, Liam had always been a huge fan of WWE and professional wrestling. So when he had the opportunity to step into the ring with Kurt Angle during 1D Day, he was overjoyed.
Tragically, Liam passed away at the young age of 31 after falling from a hotel balcony. In the wake of this devastating news, Kurt Angle was one of the many people who paid tribute to the talented singer. He shared a clip from their encounter in the ring, writing, "RIP @LiamPayne... it was an honor to step in the ring with you during 1 D Day!".
Fans of both wrestling and One Direction hold a special place in their hearts for this moment, where the 55-year-old Olympic gold medallist and the young pop star came together in the ring. It was arranged through TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, the company that Kurt was working for at the time, and it gave Liam the chance to live out his dream of wrestling.
Looking back at the surreal clip now, it's hard to believe that it actually happened. The video shows Scott Mills getting in between the two for some pre-match trash talk, before Liam reveals his luchadore mask. The DJ then turns to his bandmates for a quick chat, and the match begins.
The camera captures the intense back-and-forth action between the two, with Liam surprising everyone with his athleticism and even managing to pin the former world champion. Fans were amazed and couldn't stop talking about it even years later. "That arm drag was wild!" one fan exclaimed, while another commented on Zayn's shocked expression, saying, "It's the first time I've seen him flip like that!"
Louis Tomlinson, always one to tease his bandmates, shared his thoughts on Liam's performance, saying, "It was typically Liam if I'm being honest - he looked strong and confident, and he really showed that throughout the fight."
TNA also shared a photo of Liam and Kurt together and honored the late star, calling him "a wonderful man and artist". They also mentioned that Liam was a huge wrestling fan and that they were honored to have worked with him on 1D Day, where he not only got in the ring with Kurt Angle, but also managed to beat him.
However, it was later revealed that perhaps not everything was as it seemed. TNA wrestler Johnny Yumo claimed that he was actually the one behind the mask, and they had orchestrated a quick "switcheroo" to make the whole thing come together. He shared the story on Armbars & Sidebars, saying, "Liam can't wrestle, so we'll do the old switcheroo. We need someone that's roughly boyband size. Guess who doesn't really look like a wrestler? Me!"
As Kurt and Liam went to their respective corners, the cameras focused on One Direction, and the live crowd also turned their attention to the bandmates. While everyone was distracted, Johnny quickly made his way out from under the ring, ready to take on Kurt. He laughed as he recalled, "We were not very similar in size, not gonna lie! He was a little bit taller than me, I was much stockier, bigger butt."
Liam passed away at the age of 31 after falling from a balcony, leaving behind his son Bear, his parents, and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy. His bandmates, who shot to fame with him on The X Factor in 2014, have all paid tribute to him in their own individual ways.
Liam's love for wrestling and his brief but memorable encounter with Kurt Angle will always be a cherished memory for fans and for those who were lucky enough to witness it. Rest in peace, Liam. If you've got a celebrity story, video, or pictures, get in touch with us - we'd love to hear from you.
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