The Radicalz (sometimes titled The Radicals) was a professional wrestling stable in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) that debuted in 2000 during the Attitude Era. The members were former World Championship Wrestling (WCW) wrestlers Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko. Terri 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.
The stable is notable for consisting of four well-known wrestlers that would jump ship during the Monday Night Wars. Within three months of joining the WWF, each member would hold a different championship at various points: Benoit with the WWF Intercontinental Championship, Guerrero with the WWF European Championship, Malenko with the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship, and Saturn with the WWF Hardcore Championship.
History
Origins
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.
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 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.
World Championship Wrestling
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.
In early 2000, Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn and Malenko headed to the WWF. At the time of the jump, Benoit, Malenko and Saturn were members of a stable in WCW called The Revolution, whose leader was "The Franchise" Shane Douglas, which further fueled the rumors that Douglas wanted in on the jump.
At the time of their departure to the WWF, Benoit was recognized as the WCW World Heavyweight Champion, having won the vacant title by defeating Sid Vicious at Souled Out. In reality, then WCW head booker Kevin Sullivan decided to give Benoit the title as an attempt to keep him in WCW. The two never saw eye-to-eye, however, a primary reason believed to have been Benoit becoming romantically involved in real-life with Sullivan's wife Nancy (Nancy and Sullivan were separated, but not yet divorced) – Benoit and Nancy later married. WCW management later stated on Nitro that Vicious' foot was under the ropes at the time Benoit forced the submission and therefore his title reign was deemed invalid. However, the WWF would recognize the title change.