10 Shocking Aftermaths Of Wrestling Matches You Don't Remember
5. Mike Graham's Threat Allows The Radicalz To Leave WCW
WCW knew full well that they might need an out should Chris Benoit do what he said he'd intended to in January 2000 and leave for the World Wrestling Federation alongside Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn and Eddie Guerrero.
It mattered not that the company had given 'The Crippler' an overdue World Heavyweight Championship, and he'd told them that too. The four of them were heading to what looked far more like the land of opportunity than their existing employers would ever prove to be ever again.
As noted, the structure of the match did at least feed into this possibility - Sid's foot hit the rope right as he tapped, and WCW were able to use this when Benoit did what he said and left. This entire process was made even easier for the new Champion when WCW official Mike Graham created an HR headache. After confronting them backstage about the rumoured departure, it was alleged that Graham threatened significant physical harm on the new champion had had his actions with the belt damaged his livelihood. Benoit took this straight to internal management, who granted the all four future Radicalz unconditional releases just to make the problem very literally go away.