8. WCW Championship Match: Chris Benoit vs. Sid Vicious - Souled Out 2000
At first glance, the Chris Benoit-Sid Vicious main event from Souled Out 2000 had little effect on the overall health of WCW at the time. In reality, the company had already dug itself a grave they could not possibly climb out of. Add to it the fact that Benoit vs. Sid was a makeshift main event following a concussion that ultimately ended the career of then-WCW champion Bret Hart and it would appear as though the company simply did the best with what it had available to them. But upon further investigation, it is clear that by booking Benoit to defeat Sid and capture the title, the company made the Edmonton, Alberta native much stronger in the eyes of the fans, just one day before he left for a bigger stage and brighter future in WWE. The inability of those in power to realize that putting a title on the Crippler would not convince him to stay after years of frustration both in the ring and behind the scenes, doomed the company even further than it already was. Within in a month, Benoit was well on his way to becoming one of WWE's premiere stars while WCW was forced to focus on Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Kevin Nash and the same group of aging and overexposed stars who had been as equally responsible or their downfall as they were their ascension.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
