Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 18:31, 24 March 2004

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

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.