Alabama
Pro wrestling legend, dressed as Alabama icon, weighs in on election
No one would mistake Kurt Angle for Forrest Gump, but the wrestling legend gave it a shot while urging people to vote this week.
The World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist took to social media this week to encourage his followers to exercise their civic duty during Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“Hey, everybody. This is my costume for Halloween. I’m Forrest Gump if you haven’t noticed,” Angle posted on X/Twitter. “I just want to encourage everyone to vote this year. You have until November 5th. And it’s the most important election in the history of our country. Make sure you vote.”
READ: 35 fascinating facts about ‘Forrest Gump’
He ended the video with his signature catchphrase: “Oh it’s true. It’s damn true.”
Angle, 55, did not express support for any candidate or issue in the video. In January 2016, Angle publicly supported Sen. Marco Rubio’s bid for the GOP nomination during the primary in the presidential election.
Sporting a red Bubba/Gump Shrimp hat and a light blue button-down shirt, Angle had the outfit down, but he did not attempt an Alabama accent, at least not in the 18-second video he posted.
In April 2016, Angle posted on X about the 45th president, who was then a nominee, “So Trump is leading the delegate votes,” followed by a meme of Angle in this wrestling gear that read, “That’s cute…but can he do it with a broken freakin’ neck?”
Pittsburgh native Olympic Gold Medal wrestler Kurt Angle attends the pre-game festivities before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)AP
Prior to his debut as a WWE superstar, Angle won a gold medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1996 Summer Olmpyics in Atlanta, while competing with a broken neck.
Angle signed with WWE in 1998. He has held the European Championship, Intercontinental Championship, WWF Championship, WCW Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. He became the 10th person to achieve the WWE Triple Crown and fifth to achieve the WWE Grand Slam. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 along with Beth Phoenix, Diamond Dallas Page, Rick Rude, Theodore Long, and The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express.
“Forrest Gump” opened in theaters June 1994. It won six Oscars including best picture and actor (Tom Hanks) and grossed nearly $700 million worldwide. Gump grows up in the fictional town of Greenbow, Ala., and eventually plays football for the University of Alabama under Paul “Bear” Bryant.
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Alabama football will see one of its ex-starters next season. Wilkin Formby is joining Texas A&M out of the transfer portal, after three seasons with the Crimson Tide.
Formby shared the news to his Instagram account on Wednesday. He opted to enter the transfer portal after the 2025 season came to an end with a 38-3 loss to Indiana in the Rose Bowl.
The Tuscaloosa native and Northridge product played both guard and tackle this past season. Coaches praised his versatility.
“Wilkin obviously has the athleticism to to play inside, and the size,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said in September. “So I think there’s a couple things that happen for Wilkin in there, his natural pad-level because he’s got his hand in the dirt, and he’s got a good base and wide frame, so he’d done a really nice job in there. So we keep working on that and expand. As long as he can stay right-handed, playing on the right side, I think the transition for him is easy.”
Formby started out the year at right tackle, where he had previously played. He eventually moved over to guard, after Michael Carroll emerged as a viable tackle option.
The departure of Formby is part of a larger renovation of the Crimson Tide’s offensive line, which has now lost every starter besides Carroll. Kadyn Proctor and Parker Brailsford opted to leave early for the NFL Draft, while Geno VanDeMark, Kam Dewberry and Jaeden Roberts are out of eligibility.
Alabama is also losing several reserve linemen to the portal. Arkel Anugwom is entering, joining Olaus Alinen (who committed to Kentucky), Joseph Ionata and Micah DeBose.
UA has made one offensive line pickup from the portal. Former Michigan center Kaden Strayhorn is joining the Tide.
Alabama will face Formby in Tuscaloosa this season. Texas A&M visits Bryant-Denny Stadium on Oct. 24.
Undergraduate players can opt to enter the transfer portal through Jan. 16.
After an impressive home win over Kentucky this past Saturday afternoon, the SEC road opener has now arrived for the Alabama Crimson Tide, which is a trip to Nashville to face the unbeaten Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night.
Two teams ranked in the Top 15 nationally in the latest USA TODAY Sports Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll, Alabama and Vanderbilt have emerged as two of the SEC’s top teams this season, and are also both currently among the top scoring teams in all of college basketball.
Both of Alabama and Vanderbilt are also loaded with talent as well, headlined by a talented group of guards such as Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway for the Crimson Tide, as well as the Commodores duo of Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner.
Stream Alabama vs. Vanderbilt on Fubo
Stream Alabama vs. Vanderbilt on ESPN+
One of college basketball’s top matchups of the week, following are the latest odds for the SEC showdown between Alabama and Vanderbilt in Nashville.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Jan. 6:
- Money Line: Alabama (plus-145), Vanderbilt (minus-180)
- Spread: Vanderbilt by 4 1/2
- Over/Under: 178 1/2
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores prediction, pick:
Memorial Gymnasium can be a difficult place to play for a road team at times, and it will likely be challenging for the Crimson Tide on Wednesday night, especially with the undefeated Commodores on the opposite end of the floor. A matchup in which Alabama has won four-straight dating back to 2023, as well as the last five in Nashville, I’ll go with Alabama to hand Vanderbilt their first loss Wednesday night in a high-scoring contest. Prediction: Alabama 88, Vanderbilt 82
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Vanderbilt Commodores channel, start time, streaming:
A Top 25 showdown, Alabama and Vanderbilt are set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, from inside Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET live on ESPN2.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Joseph Ionata, who spent two years with the Tide, will be joining former teammate Jaylen Mbakwe.
Georgia Tech fans celebrate during the second half against Syracuse on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at Bobby Dodd Stadium in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin/AJC 2025)
A second former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide is transferring to Georgia Tech.
Offensive lineman Joseph Ionata intends to play for the Yellow Jackets, according to On3. Ionata spent two years with the Tide and would be joining former Alabama defensive back and wide receiver Jaylen Mbakwe.
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Chad Bishop is a Georgia Tech sports reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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