What if Eddie died as world champion?

[ChitownKnight]

The day of his death. He was suppose to be in a triple threat match for the world heavyweight title with Batista and Orton. Batista was rumored to drop the title since he was injured. I know Orton was probably going to win it, but what if Eddie won instead? And died on the 14th instead of the 13th? I’m sure they would of held an Eddie Guerrero memorial tournament for the title

[Tiger Millionaire]

Aug 15, 2019 15:49:31 GMT -5 ChitownKnight said:

The day of his death. He was suppose to be in a triple threat match for the world heavyweight title with Batista and Orton. Batista was rumored to drop the title since he was injured. I know Orton was probably going to win it, but what if Eddie won instead? And died on the 14th instead of the 13th? I’m sure they would of held an Eddie Guerrero memorial tournament for the title

You answered your own question.

[chronocross]

I heard that he wasn't supposed to win the title that night, if he passed while he was champ, they'd probably still go the same route with Rey/Orton/Angle.

[thechase]

WWE wanted Eddie to win the title, but Eddie wasn't keen on it given the pressure he felt last time.

[Venti]

That sounds about right.

As the person above me said, he probably wouldn't want that stress again. According to Jericho, Eddie would take it personally if a show drew a little less when he was headlining as champ. He worked really hard to get to the top and probably didn't want WWE to think putting the title on him was a failure. Just lots of pressure.


Now the thing I've really always wondered, what if Benoit went ahead to Vengeance 07 and won the ECW title. Very morbid curiosity.

[Jake, The Jake, Jake]

Aug 15, 2019 16:19:31 GMT -5 Venti said:

That sounds about right.

As the person above me said, he probably wouldn't want that stress again. According to Jericho, Eddie would take it personally if a show drew a little less when he was headlining as champ. He worked really hard to get to the top and probably didn't want WWE to think putting the title on him was a failure. Just lots of pressure.


Now the thing I've really always wondered, what if Benoit went ahead to Vengeance 07 and won the ECW title. Very morbid curiosity.

I could see the ECW brand quickly disappearing. They were pretty done with that legacy at that point already, and if Benoit’s name was connected to that name and that title they would have changed it to Tuesday Night Heat or something right away.

[fw91]

Aug 15, 2019 16:22:51 GMT -5 Jake, The Jake, Jake said:

Aug 15, 2019 16:19:31 GMT -5 Venti said:

That sounds about right.

As the person above me said, he probably wouldn't want that stress again. According to Jericho, Eddie would take it personally if a show drew a little less when he was headlining as champ. He worked really hard to get to the top and probably didn't want WWE to think putting the title on him was a failure. Just lots of pressure.


Now the thing I've really always wondered, what if Benoit went ahead to Vengeance 07 and won the ECW title. Very morbid curiosity.

I could see the ECW brand quickly disappearing. They were pretty done with that legacy at that point already, and if Benoit’s name was connected to that name and that title they would have changed it to Tuesday Night Heat or something right away.

or when Vince gives his apology for airing the RAW tribute show, he'll announce there will be no further mention of Benoit's name and tonight starts a new 8 man tournament to crown a new ECW champion.

[Deleted]

Nothing would change. They would vacate the title and Angle would win the Battle Royal.

[nm]

Instead of just simply driving Eddie's lowrider through the set, Randy Orton would've had a Live Sex Celebration on Eddie's title beforehand.

[Deleted]

congressional hearings

[schma]

Aug 15, 2019 15:58:04 GMT -5 thechase said:

WWE wanted Eddie to win the title, but Eddie wasn't keen on it given the pressure he felt last time.

I remember Stephanie saying that one of the last things he said to her was that he was going to be a world champion again or something along those lines.  However, this was shortly after his death and this is Stephanie so we may have to take it with a grain of salt.

[ChitownKnight]

Aug 15, 2019 23:25:58 GMT -5 schma said:

Aug 15, 2019 15:58:04 GMT -5 thechase said:

WWE wanted Eddie to win the title, but Eddie wasn't keen on it given the pressure he felt last time.

I remember Stephanie saying that one of the last things he said to her was that he was going to be a world champion again or something along those lines.  However, this was shortly after his death and this is Stephanie so we may have to take it with a grain of salt.

I think I read something in Eddie’s book where he talks about wanting to be world champ again

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Aug 15, 2019 16:22:51 GMT -5 Jake, The Jake, Jake said:

Aug 15, 2019 16:19:31 GMT -5 Venti said:

That sounds about right.

As the person above me said, he probably wouldn't want that stress again. According to Jericho, Eddie would take it personally if a show drew a little less when he was headlining as champ. He worked really hard to get to the top and probably didn't want WWE to think putting the title on him was a failure. Just lots of pressure.


Now the thing I've really always wondered, what if Benoit went ahead to Vengeance 07 and won the ECW title. Very morbid curiosity.

I could see the ECW brand quickly disappearing. They were pretty done with that legacy at that point already, and if Benoit’s name was connected to that name and that title they would have changed it to Tuesday Night Heat or something right away.

Having Benoit in the ECW title history probably doesn't change anything. He was all over several of the other title histories, and when they unified the tag titles a few years later, they kept the lineage that had him as the inaugural champion, so this probably isn't that big of a concern back then.

You might have the news media labeling him as a current champion instead of a former champion, but I can't imagine the media or lawmakers caring that much about a fake title that it makes the difference between congressional hearings or not.

[-Lithium-]

Aug 16, 2019 1:39:55 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

Aug 15, 2019 16:22:51 GMT -5 Jake, The Jake, Jake said:

I could see the ECW brand quickly disappearing. They were pretty done with that legacy at that point already, and if Benoit’s name was connected to that name and that title they would have changed it to Tuesday Night Heat or something right away.

Having Benoit in the ECW title history probably doesn't change anything. He was all over several of the other title histories, and when they unified the tag titles a few years later, they kept the lineage that had him as the inaugural champion, so this probably isn't that big of a concern back then.

You might have the news media labeling him as a current champion instead of a former champion, but I can't imagine the media or lawmakers caring that much about a fake title that it makes the difference between congressional hearings or not.

I don't know if they'd still list him as a champion if he did it shortly after winning. It's one thing for him to be in the history 3 years prior to the incident. It's another for him to have been the champion when he did it. Looking at the history and seeing "CHRIS BENOIT" and the date of title win being that close to the date of the murder-suicide.

[ChitownKnight]

Aug 16, 2019 5:59:25 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Aug 16, 2019 1:39:55 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

Having Benoit in the ECW title history probably doesn't change anything. He was all over several of the other title histories, and when they unified the tag titles a few years later, they kept the lineage that had him as the inaugural champion, so this probably isn't that big of a concern back then.

You might have the news media labeling him as a current champion instead of a former champion, but I can't imagine the media or lawmakers caring that much about a fake title that it makes the difference between congressional hearings or not.

I don't know if they'd still list him as a champion if he did it shortly after winning. It's one thing for him to be in the history 3 years prior to the incident. It's another for him to have been the champion when he did it. Looking at the history and seeing "CHRIS BENOIT" and the date of title win being that close to the date of the murder-suicide.

Especially if the won the title AFTER he did the murders and then got arrested

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

It would have been exactly as devastating but had more effect on the writing.

[Alice Syndrome]

Aug 16, 2019 5:59:25 GMT -5 -Lithium- said:

Aug 16, 2019 1:39:55 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

Having Benoit in the ECW title history probably doesn't change anything. He was all over several of the other title histories, and when they unified the tag titles a few years later, they kept the lineage that had him as the inaugural champion, so this probably isn't that big of a concern back then.

You might have the news media labeling him as a current champion instead of a former champion, but I can't imagine the media or lawmakers caring that much about a fake title that it makes the difference between congressional hearings or not.

I don't know if they'd still list him as a champion if he did it shortly after winning. It's one thing for him to be in the history 3 years prior to the incident. It's another for him to have been the champion when he did it. Looking at the history and seeing "CHRIS BENOIT" and the date of title win being that close to the date of the murder-suicide.

Yeah I think in that case, WWE pretends that Benoit never won the belt at all.