30 WCW Matches You Must See Before You Die

5. Booker T vs. Chris Benoit (Great American Bash '98)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4tspr_great-american-bash-1998-chris-beno_sport By 1998, Booker T was in need of validation as a top-tier professional. Having split from brother Stevie Ray in 1997, Booker's rise as a potential new WCW top star was almost instantaneous. But it wasn't until he slugged it out in hard-fought technical exhibitions with Chris Benoit from April-July 1998 that he truly reached that next level of excellence and respect in the eyes of the fans and WCW as a company. Match seven at the Great American Bash in 1998 is a great back-and-forth contest that truly captivates the WCW fanbase. Booker's for certain their "guy," but they also love Benoit, too. A true competition, Booker's victory elevated not just him, but also Benoit as the best of professionals.
Contributor
Contributor

Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.