Kurt Angle and the late Liam Payne once shared the squared circle… or did they?
Kurt Angle was on hand for “1D Day,” a 7-hour livestream event that took place in 2013. At the time, One Direction was celebrating the release of a new album, while Angle was the reigning TNA Champion. During the livestream event, Liam Payne wore a teal and gold bodysuit and called himself “The Payne Train.”
The late singer appeared to wrestle Kurt Angle and even won the match, which left many fans confused. But it turns out, Liam Payne wasn’t the one actually in the ring. Independent wrestler Johnny Yuma was the one behind the mask, wearing the same outfit as Payne to play the part. The broadcast cut to the ringside interviewer, which allowed the real Payne to re-enter the ring and take his mask off, completing the switch.
The real Payne Train comes clean
Recently, Yuma shared the news on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said he pinned Kurt Angle while dressed as Liam Payne and used his own finishing move to get the win. He also mentioned that Liam and the rest of One Direction were great to work with.
Yuma even shared backstage photos with Kurt Angle and Liam, both wearing the matching gear from the event. He wrote, “I held Kurt Angle down for a three count after hitting the finishing move I invented, all while disguised as Liam Payne from One Direction. Liam and the entire group were very cool! Grateful to Bob Ryder, Peter Avalon, Kurt, and Liam for the unforgettable day.”
In 2024, Liam Payne died at 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. An autopsy confirmed fatal head injuries. Reports revealed that he was alone and drugs and alcohol were found in his room.
Kurt Angle is retired from in-ring competition. He was inducted into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2013, and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
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