One MIND-BLOWING Secret From EVERY Month Of The WWE Attitude Era

9. August 2000 | Fat Chance

This one feels likely and unlikely at the same time. 

According to the August 7 edition of the Observer, the WWF, during an early meeting designed to throw around tentative WrestleMania 17 plans, had Triple H Vs. Chris Benoit in mind. 

The idea was to give Benoit something “big” on the Grandest Stage. The pitch made sense for a wrestler of Benoit’s talents and lack thereof. Respected as he was, he got over big towards the end of his matches without first generating a big pop. He couldn’t spout some catchphrase and get a big reaction because he was so awkward and stilted by the standards of an Attitude Era character. A big match at a big show guaranteed to be very, very good at a minimum was the best vehicle for him. But was Triple H really going to do such a big job less than 18 months into his run as a bonafide main event star? 

That seems highly doubtful. Maybe the WWF had something adjacent to WrestleMania 13 in mind. Maybe something far less flattering was in play, and the match was pitched because Triple H wanted to beat the guy those loser smarks he definitely didn’t care about thought was the best wrestler in the world. 

To underscore how chaotic and significantly less productive things got when Chris Kreski was overthrown by Stephanie McMahon - sorry, when very experienced professional writer Stephanie McMahon earned the job on merit - Benoit’s match was only decided onscreen the week of WrestleMania 17. Angle complained that he wasn’t on the ‘Mania card, and a match with Benoit was made on the basis that it was going to be good. 

Cinema?