Retired wrestling star Perry Saturn first entered WWE alongside Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Chris Benoit as part of the group known as The Radicalz. This faction was one of WWE’s smartest acquisitions from WCW, with Guerrero and Benoit becoming central figures during WWE’s Ruthless Aggression era.
In a conversation on “INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet,” Saturn reflected on their rapid move to WWE, noting that the group felt stalled in WCW at the time, although he now acknowledges they misjudged their potential there. He attributed their departure partly to backlash involving Benoit and Kevin Sullivan—whose then-wife Nancy had an affair with Benoit after being linked in a WCW storyline—causing tensions and ultimately tragedy. Saturn revealed that WCW was attempting to renegotiate contracts as they prepared to leave, but when WWE’s Bruce Prichard reached out, they decided to jump ship.
The Radicalz exited WCW shortly before the company folded, and looking back, Saturn praised the generosity of their WWE contracts, mentioning they received everything except first-class travel accommodations.
Saturn detailed how WWE presented The Radicalz with highly favorable contracts, granting them ownership of their intellectual property and guaranteed payments that couldn’t be terminated arbitrarily. “If they fired me today, they’d still owe me every penny,” he said, highlighting the financial security Vince McMahon was willing to offer.
Adjusting to WWE’s style was challenging, Saturn explained, as the company expected wrestlers to find their own way without much guidance. Both he and Benoit were considered too stiff for WWE’s style, and Saturn shared how he was unfairly blamed when R-Truth was injured by Benoit in a match, despite evidence showing Benoit caused the concussion.
Reflecting on Eddie Guerrero’s talent, Saturn described him as the best wrestler he ever worked with. “Eddie was smooth and could make anyone look good no matter what they tried,” Saturn remarked. “Chris was a great worker, but Eddie was exceptional.”
If quoting, please credit “INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet” and attribute the transcription to Wrestling Inc.
Fan Take: This insider perspective from Perry Saturn provides valuable insight into one of wrestling’s most pivotal talent migrations, showing how backstage realities shape the sport’s evolution. For fight fans, understanding such moves highlights the complex business decisions behind the scenes and how they impact the future of wrestling storytelling and athlete development.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
