What if Orton didn't win WHC at SummerSlam '04....

[Unocal 76]

And Benoit had retained?

I think you could have done a lot more and could have made things a lot easier.

Maybe a better way to execute Evolution turning on Orton (I.e. Orton screws up an interference attempt and hits HHH)?

Benoit's champ for a few more months and perhaps Batista/Flair get cracks at the belt?

Does Orton maybe go down a different road? What of Benoit?

Also, you could have still executed the storyline where the belt got held up for New Year's Revolution? Remember the Benoit/Edge/HHH title match on RAW with a double pin fall that ended up getting the title vacated. Benoit could have been the champ in that same type of match, and you could still proceed with vacating the belt and have HHH win the title instead of giving him another of the WHC reigns he had.

[Cam]

Benoit as world champion was boring as hell. I don't know if I could have bared any more of that title reign.

[skulldouggory]

The belt still goes to trips at Unforgiven, Slow burn for Orton turn during build up to Mania instead of Batista.

[alliedbiscuit]

The image of Orton on Batista's shoulders when HHH gives the thumbs down is iconic. Man, I miss Evolution.

[bestthateverdidit]

As much as I enjoyed Chris Benoit's matches, the guy was TERRIBLE when it came to cutting a promo. 'CHRIS BENOIT IS 4 REEEEEEEAL' yeah OK Chris, but does anyone remember his motivation for feuding with anyone? I don't remember what his feud with Orton going into Summerslam was all about, or his midcard feud with Kane (which nearly destroyed the credibility of the world title). I've since discovered the feud between HHH and Benoit going into Vengeance revolved around Eugene.

And why the hell would WWE have Evolution screw Benoit out of the title on Raw if Orton had beaten him clean for it at Summerslam? Seeing as more people watch Raw than PPV, surely to most people Orton is still a heel? His face turn was a complete bust for so many reasons.

[xCompackx]

I personally never saw much interest in Chris Benoit. He was just a guy that put people in the crossface and did a flying headbutt. Orton was definitely the way to go in that situation.

[SAJ Forth]

Odds are whoever they would've picked to fade Lesnar's name out of the record books might not have been able to rise above having a reign that was little more than the means to said end. Then again they could've gotten a better build-up than just one month.