10 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's The Radicalz Podcast

10. Perry Saturn Made The Initial Contact

On January 17, 2000, various WWF officials and creative team members convened for a production meeting headed by Vince McMahon to discuss the evening's Raw broadcast. Bruce Prichard was amongst that crew and halfway through discussions, Perry Saturn’s name lit up the caller ID on his phone.

Excusing himself from the meeting, Prichard was surprised to learn that Saturn wanted out of WCW. Not only that, but Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and Dean Malenko also wanted to free themselves from contracts with the company. Saturn was simply calling to ask if there would be any interest from the WWF.

Perry told Bruce what had happened at WCW's Souled Out 2000 pay-per-view the previous evening. Benoit had won the WCW World Title, but planned to get as far away from the organisation as he possibly could.

It may shock some to learn that it was Saturn who made that initial contact to the WWF. Had he not done so, Vince McMahon wouldn't have learned of their possible availability so quickly and the deal may not have come off as it did.