The Radicalz
| The Radicalz | |
|---|---|
| Stable | |
| Name(s) | The Radicalz |
| Former member(s) |
Chris Benoit (leader, 2000–2001) Eddie Guerrero (leader, 2001) Dean Malenko Perry Saturn Terri Runnels |
| Debut | January 31, 2000 |
| Disbanded | June 2001 |
| Years active | 2000–2001 |
| Promotions | WWF |
The Radicalz (sometimes titled The Radicals) were a professional wrestling stable in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The members were former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) wrestlers Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko.Terri Runnels later joined the group by proxy after becoming Saturn's on-screen girlfriend. Benoit, Malenko, and Saturn all had previously been a part of a similar small stable of younger talent while in WCW, The Revolution, which was dismantled by their defection.
Benoit, Malenko and Guerrero toured the world before signing with WCW. Their lack of size did not translate well in the United States, but their respective styles were popular in countries like Mexico, Canada and particularly Japan. The trio would face off repeatedly, forcing them to spend a lot of time together. Their matches were usually considered to be so good that they were frequently booked in the same matches again and again.
They caught the attention of Philadelphia-based promotion Extreme Championship Wrestling's (ECW) booker and promoter Paul Heyman. Heyman was keen to introduce the Mexican lucha libre style to the United States professional wrestling fans, and he saw Guerrero as an ideal example of this. He also loved the purist, technical styles of Benoit and Malenko, so Heyman booked all three men in his company. It would be here that they met Perry Saturn, a traditional power wrestler and brawler, but he did not become a member of the group until they all signed contracts with WCW.
In 1999, many WCW mid-card to upper-level stars became unhappy with the political environment of WCW. Management offered anyone who was unhappy a chance to be released from their contracts. Scott Levy aka Raven was singled out for his comments on WCW by WCW President Eric Bischoff and offered an opportunity to negotiate his release with the WCW lawyers immediately if he was so unhappy, which Levy did. The contract forbid Levy from signing with the WWF for the length of terms of his original WCW contract. However, Levy did not see this as an issue and re-debuted in ECW less than a week later in August 1999. His attitude inspired other wrestlers who followed suit.
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