Thanks to substitute Randy Orton, an injured Booker T became United States Champion in January when Orton defeated Chris Benoit to win the final match of a best-of-seven series. For over a month after winning the title, Booker kept using substitutes to avoid wrestling Benoit, all the while doing whatever he could to make sure the gold stayed around his waist.

At No Way Out, Booker’s luck ran out, as he was forced to defend the gold against Benoit one on one. Despite the best efforts of both Booker and Sharmell, Benoit was able to make Booker tap out to the Crippler Crossface and become United States Champion once again.