10 Things We Learned From Bruce Prichard's The Radicalz Podcast
2. Chris Benoit Wasn't As Big A Draw As Management Wanted
WrestleMania XX will forever be burned into the psyche of hardcore wrestling fans as a magical evening. Not only did Eddie Guerrero defend the WWE Title against Kurt Angle, but Chris Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship by beating both Shawn Michaels and Triple H in a headlining Triple Threat bout.
Closing out the show, Benoit and Guerrero - real life best friends - embraced as confetti fell from the ceiling. It was hard not to shed a tear, all that hard work from both men, and their decision to join the WWF in 2000, had paid off. Somewhat shockingly, Benoit's reign as champion was ended months later at SummerSlam and was seen as a dissapointment.
Giving some explanation for this, Prichard surmises that Benoit wasn't as big a draw as Vince McMahon wanted. Therefore, the boss decided to try something different in the form of a young Randy Orton. That's why the World Heavyweight Title switched hands at SummerSlam 2004.
Some fans have likely always thought that McMahon pulled the rug out from underneath Benoit following such a long journey to the top, but he wanted results in the form of house show crowds, TV ratings and pay-per-view buyrates.