When the Champ takes the back seat

FlaskandStein here and the Orton discussion recently brought me back to thinking about Benoits first big championship build and then reign. Now at the time, Benoit was my absolute fav, and has been since he joined the Horsemen. And to see him win the rumble then the title, that was, up until 2007, my biggest moment as a wrestling fan. But that whole period still ticked me off as they kept him more as the 3rd wheel to shoehorn the Triple H/HBK feud, and Triple H overall.

Wins the Rumble, clear path to WM.

Gotta have Benoit lose to Michaels weeks later to setup that 3-way

Wins the title at Mania

Wins at Backlash in the immediate rematch (I can't knock it with the canadian victory here)

Wins tag-titles with Edge, which no disrespect to all involved, devalued him as who they see top of the card in my eyes.

Defeats Michaels on RAW only because Trips has to get his kick-wham-pedigree and still be involved.

Gets Kane of all people for a feud, that isn't the main event of a ppv, they go with Trips/Michaels lovefest

Defeats Triple H at a ppv in a goofy finish, just so Triple H can remind us his feud with Eugene is that important.

Defeats Triple H in an iron-man match, with the Eugene save needed.

Loses to Orton at Summerslam

Next ppv Orton loses that title right back to Triple H, & Benoit is in the opening Tag.

Now that I'm looking at it once again, there was more effort to keep Triple H the center of attention then there was making Benoit a fighting champ he should have been. I was too young to remember, did it feel like this when Savage and Warrior were champs, but Hulk was always there? Was there any relatable nwa/wcw reigns?