5 Superstars who were released while holding a title

Chris Benoit

#2 Chris Benoit

While Chris Benoit's wrestling career will forever take a back seat to the events that unfolded in 2007, his name will still remain in history books, as a former World Heavyweight Champion.

Benoit worked for all the major promotions that existed in the 90's in North America, and while WCW refused to acknowledge Benoit as a former WCW World Heavyweight Champion, he did win the title at Souled Out in 2000.

Benoit married Nancy, who was earlier married to Kevin Sullivan. Nancy, who was known as 'Woman' in WCW, was dragged into a storyline involving Sullivan and Benoit, where she was forced to spend time with Chris. Their on – screen relationship soon turned real, and Nancy divorced Sullivan.

So when Kevin Sullivan was promoted to the position of a head booker in the company, Chris Benoit wasn't exactly thrilled. Kevin and the WCW management, in an attempt to pacify Benoit put the WCW World Heavyweight title on him at Souled Out in 2000, but Chris had already made up his mind to leave WCW.

Chris, along with Eddie, Malenko and Saturn jumped ships to WWE, and WCW stripped Benoit off the title. The WCW management explained that Sid Vicious, who was Benoit's opponent, had his leg under the bottom rope, and thereby Benoit's win was annulled. While WCW did not acknowledge Benoit as a champion, WWE has since listed Benoit as a former WCW World Heavyweight Champion on their website.