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Chris Benoit (born May 21, 1967) is a Canadian professional wrestler originally from Calgary, Alberta. He is widely known as one of the most technically proficient and skilled athletes in the pro wrestling world today. He trained under Stu Hart in his "Dungeon" and became one of the many stars to emerge from Stu's watch, alongside notables like Bret and Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Lance Storm, Chris Jericho, and others. He is known by well-earned nicknames such as "The Canadian Crippler" and "The Rabid Wolverine."

History

Early Days In Canada and Japan

Chris began his career in the mid-1980's in Stu's Stampede Wrestling promotion. He won several International Tag Team titles there before Stampede's demise in 1989, and at that point he departed for New Japan Pro Wrestling under the name and mask of "The Pegasus Kid," later simply "Wild Pegasus." While with NJPW, he came into his own as a performer in matches with luminaries like Jushin Liger, Shinjiro Ohtani, Black Tiger (Eddie Guerrero), and El Samurai. In 1991, he won the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title, his first major championship. He would go on to win the Super J Cup tournament in 1994, which, to this day, is considered one of the best wrestling cards of all time, solidifying his status as one of the foremost light heavyweights in the world.

Extreme Championship Wrestling

Upon his permanent return to the U.S. in 1995, he signed with Extreme Championship Wrestling. In his brief time with ECW, he and Dean Malenko won the ECW World Tag Team titles and created enough excitement to attract the attention of World Championship Wrestling, where Chris signed in late 1995.

World Championship Wrestling

His time in WCW was defined by highs and lows. He quickly was made a member of the reformed Four Horsemen in 1996 alongside Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman. A strikingly real feud with Kevin Sullivan and several matches on the hunt for the US Title highlighted much of 1996, but with the rise of the New World Order storylines in the middle of that year, Benoit struggled to keep himself in the public eye. Many of his fans began to perceive a lack of respect for his abilities from the higher-ups, and indeed for a short time he was promoted as "the best wrestler to never win a WCW title." Throughout, he continued to put on outstanding matches, as the issue with Diamond Dallas Page and Raven in early 1998 and the World Television title series with Booker T in mid-year proved. However, he remained firmly kept in the midcard, without a very visible chance to elevate himself.

In 1999, he began teaming with new Horseman Dean Malenko, and a series of World Tag Team title matches with Raven and Perry Saturn were among the best of the year. This gave Chris his first WCW title, and later in 1999 he would win the United States title as well. He formed the "Revolution" team with Malenko, Guerrero and Shane Douglas around this time, highlighting his disgruntledness with WCW management. From here, a last-ditch effort to raise his stakes was made, and by late 1999, he was facing Bret Hart on several occasions. One was their tribute match to Owen Hart in October of 1999, in Kansas City where Owen had died. In November, he wrestled Bret in Toronto in the finals of a World Heavyweight title tournament. He lost that match, though by January of 2000, WCW had made their last try at keeping him, giving him the World title in a victory over Sid Vicious. However, he vacated the title the next day and departed for the World Wrestling Federation.

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

Chris signed with the WWF alongside Malenko, Saturn, and Guerrero, and they were introduced as "The Radicals." He was quickly put into a feud with Chris Jericho, and in April of 2000 he won his first WWF title, the Intercontinental title. He would later team with Jericho to win the World Tag Team titles in 2001. A neck injury meant spinal fusion surgery and sidelined Benoit for almost all of 2002, but he returned late in that year.

On January 25, 2004, Chris Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble and put himself in line for a title shot at Wrestlemania XX. Using what the WWE called a "loophole" in the Royal Rumble rules, Benoit moved to Monday Night RAW to challenge the then-current RAW champion, Triple H.

On Sunday, March 14, 2004, Chris Benoit won the WWE RAW World Heavyweight Title, by causing Triple H to tap out using his signature move, the Crippler Crossface. The match was a triple threat match that also included Shawn Michaels. It took place at Wrestlemania XX. Besides the single day reign as WCW World Heavyweight Champion, this is Benoit's first real World Heavyweight Title reign in any promotion.

Title History and More

Title Reigns

Canadian Wrestling

March 1, 1986 – Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title

Defeated Wayne Farris & Ron Starr with Ben Bassarab – Regina, Saskatchewan

Lost to Wayne Farris & Cuban Assassin on March 21, 1986

May 5, 1986 - Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title (2)

Defeated Wayne Farris & Cuban Assassin with Keith Hart – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Duke Myers & Kerry Brown on June 6, 1986

March 18, 1988 - British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title

Defeated Gama Singh – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Johnny Smith on June 10, 1988

June 17, 1988 - British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title (2)

Defeated Johnny Smith – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Johnny Smith on June 24, 1988

October 7, 1988 - Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title (3)

Defeated Cuban Commandos with Lance Idol – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Cuban Commandos on October 28, 1988

January 13, 1989 - British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title (3)

Defeated Johnny Smith – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Johnny Smith on July 7, 1989

April 8, 1989 - Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Title (4)

Defeated Makhan Singh and Vokkan Singh with Biff Wellington – Calgary, Alberta

Lost to Bob Brown and Kerry Brown on June 9, 1989

July 8, 1989 - British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title (4)

Defeated Johnny Smith – Grande Prairie, Alberta

Lost to Gama Sigh on July 7, 1989

New Japan Wrestling

August 19, 1990 - International Wrestling Grand Prix Junior Heavyweight Title

Defeated Jushin Thunder Liger – Tokyo

Lost to Jushin Thunder Liger on November 1, 1990

Extreme Championship Wrestling

February 25, 1995 - World Tag Team Title

Defeated Sabu and Tazmaniac with Dean Malenko – Philadelphia

Lost to Public Enemy on April 8, 1995

NOTE: The losing match was a triangle match against Taz and Rick Steiner and Public Enemy.

World Championship Wrestling

April 30, 1998 - World Television Title

Defeated Booker T – Augusta, Georgia

Lost to Booker T on May 1, 1998

May 2, 1998 - World Television Title (2)

Defeated Booker T – North Charleston, South Carolina

Lost to Booker T on May 3, 1998

March 14, 1999 - World Tag Team Title

Defeated Barry Windham and Curt Hennig – Louisville, Kentucky

Lost to Rey Mysterio Jr. and Billy Kidman on March 29, 1999

June 10, 1999 - World Tag Team Title (2)

Defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Kanyon – Syracuse, New York

Lost to New Jersey Triad on June 13, 1999

Note: The New Jersey Triad were Diamond Dallas Page, Bam Bam Bigelow, and Kanyon

August 9, 1999 - US Heavyweight Title

Defeated David Flair – Nampa, Idaho

Lost to Sid Vicious on September 12, 1999

September 13, 1999 - World Television Title (3)

Defeated Rick Steiner – Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Lost to Rick Steiner on October 24, 1999

December 19, 1999 - US Heavyweight Title (2)

Defeated Jeff Jarrett – Washington, DC

Lost to Jeff Jarrett on December 20, 1999

January 16, 2000 – World Heavyweight Title

Defeated Sid Vicious – Cincinnati, Ohio

Vacates the title the next day (January 17, 2000)

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

April 2, 2000 - Intercontinental Heavyweight Title

Defeated Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho - Anaheim, California

Lost to Chris Jericho on May 2, 2000

Note: This was a three way match with a stipulation that the first man to get the pin wins the Intercontinental title.

May 8, 2000 - Intercontinental Heavyweight Title (2)

Defeated Chris Jericho - Uniondale, New York

Lost to Rikishi Phatu on June 20, 2000

December 10, 2000 - Intercontinental Heavyweight Title (3)

Defeated Billy Gunn - Birmingham, Alabama

Lost to Chris Jericho on January 21, 2001

May 21, 2001 – WWF World Tag Team Title

Defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H with Chris Jericho – San Jose, California

Lost to The Dudley Boys on June 19, 2001

October 20, 2002 – WWE (Smackdown!) Tag Team Title

Defeated Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr. to win tournament final with Kurt Angle – North Little Rock, Arkansas

Lost to Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr. on November 5, 2002

March 14, 2004 - WWE (Raw) World Heavyweight Title

Defeatd Triple H - New York City, NY (@ Wrestlemania XX)

NOTE: The match was a triple treat match that also involved Shawn Michaels. He won by causing Triple H to submit via the Crippler Crossface submission move.

Event and non-belt Titles

• 1994 Super J Cup tournament
• 2004 Royal Rumble winner

Miscellaneous Information

Trademark Moves and Sayings

• The Crippler Crossface: Starting with a armlock drag down, he locks an arm in between his legs and locks his hands around the chin (or lower face) and pulls back. Submission hold.

• Triple Rolling German Suplexes: Grabs the opponent from behind and bends backwards, causing the man to land back on his shoulders. Then, holds on as he gets himself and his opponent to their feet and repeats two more times. He normally releases after the third suplex.

• Swandive Headbutt: Jumps off the turnbuckle headfirst and lands on the opponent with his head.

• Throat Slash: The throat slash gesture is Benoit's traditional "heat" tactic, designed to promote his intensity and get reaction from the crowd.

Rumors

The latest rumor about Benoit has been officially killed thanks to Wrestlemania XX. It was that Benoit wouldn't win the RAW World Title at Wrestlemania XX, but instead at the next PPV, Backlash. Benoit instead won the title officially at Wrestlemania XX.

Misc

Has the nicknames "Rabid Wolverine" and "the Canadian Crippler".