5 WWE Smackdown Draft Picks That Ruled (And 5 That Sucked)

5 That Ruled...

5. Chris Benoit (2005)

Since returning from major neck surgery in the spring of 2002, The Rabid Wolverine had started out on Raw (despite being drafted to Smackdown), then moved to the blue brand with Eddie Guerrero a few months later, before moving back to Raw in February 2004 after winning the Royal Rumble and deciding to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Triple H instead of then-WWE Champion Brock Lesnar.

There was a lot of loopholin' going on here, folks.

Benoit was a standout on Raw for the first year or so he performed there, but he had dropped down the card somewhat by the time the spring of 2005 rolled around. He'd wrestled pretty much everyone of note, having great programmes opposite Edge, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho and so on. It was obvious that it was time for a change of scenery once more.

The Canadian Crippler was the first choice draft pick in the 2005 draft (where one wrestler moved shows every week) and he immediately entered into a feud with United States Champion Orlando Jordan, winning the belt at SummerSlam. From there, he contested feuds with the likes of Booker T, JBL, Randy Orton, Finlay and Chavo Guerrero, all of which were somewhat fresh and rewarding, before fully embracing the 'grizzled veteran' role in matches opposite the Ken Kennedys and MVPs of the world.

Benoit was great for Smackdown, viewed back then very much as the 'wrestling show', as he could always be counted on to produce a great match and act as a mentor to the younger talent.