WHO is the greatest professional wrestler alive today? It's the debate on most fans lips and here to make the case for four-time WWE champion Kurt Angle is, erm, Kurt Angle. In the first part of our exclusive interview with the 1996 Olympic gold medallist, Kurt told us about the classic matches and unique style that he feels make him the best in the business.

And who are we to disagree with the man who can have a good match with anyone and had some of our favourite bouts of all time with opponents ranging from Chris Benoit and Edge to Brock Lesnar and Shane McMahon.

In our chat, Kurt revealed why he wants to add The Undertaker to that list of classic battles – at next year's WrestleMania.

The star also told us how he hated being Smackdown's general manager and has toned down his in-ring antics to make sure he's never out with injury again.

So read on to get inside the head of Kurt Angle, and find out how you can see him live in the UK next month at wwe.com.

Hi Kurt, great to have you back wrestling again after your neck injury. Who do you rate as the best grappler in the business?

Honestly, when I'm healthy, I believe I'm the best in the world.

People call me the "new era Ric Flair" and to be compared to Ric makes me ecstatic.

I think Triple H, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero are some of the best wrestlers around, and Randy Orton and Edge are coming on very well.

Then there are the big guys who are very impressive, like Undertaker and Big Show.

There are also guys that aren't usually mentioned, because they're not accepted main eventers, who are top workers - like Christian and Jamie Noble.

But when it comes down to it I don't think anybody has as much technique, credibility and charisma as I do – I have the whole package.

CHRISTORY IN THE MAKING ... Angle says his Royal Rumble bout with Benoit was one of the best ever

You've had so many memorable matches – which one stands out as your favourite?

My match with Chris Benoit at the Royal Rumble in 2003 was the best I've ever had.

When you watch it you realise that here are two guys who legitimately know how to wrestle.

We didn't have to throw a lot of punches, hit the ropes or do loads of high spots.

We wrestled in the middle of the ring for 40 minutes and had the fans biting their nails and on the edge of their seats.

A lot of people think you have to fly off the top rope and do crazy stuff to get people interested, but Chris and I simply wrestled and had the best match of the year and possibly one of the best matches ever.

I also loved my match with Eddie Guerrero at this year's SummerSlam - we hit the ropes once and I punched Eddie twice.

My whole psychology is different to other people's – I believe in wrestling, not high spots and fighting.

I believe if you were really wrestling someone then you're not going to run and fly around, you're going to go after the guy and pin him.

How have you been feeling since getting back in the ring?

I'm always going to have neck pain but I'm feeling better right now than I did before I injured my neck the first time.

I'm going to be around for a long while to come and I'm also going to be a lot smarter about what I do in the ring.

I'm not going to change my style drastically, but I am going to avoid anything unnecessary like taking chair shots to the head.