Chris Benoit

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Chris Benoit
Statistics
Ring name(s)	Chris Benoit[1] Pegasus Kid[1] Wild Pegasus[1]
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Billed weight	220 lb (100 kg)[1]
Born	May 21, 1967(1967-05-21)[1] Montreal, Quebec, Canada[1]
Died	June 24, 2007 (aged 40) Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.[2]
Billed from	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Trained by	Stu Hart[1] New Japan Dojo Frank "Chic" Cullen[1]
Debut	November 22, 1985[1]

Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: [bə'nwɑ]) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). While he achieved moderate success in ECW, he was a main-event level star in WCW and WWE, and a former World Champion in both promotions. Throughout his career with those companies, Benoit accumulated twenty-one championship accolades and was also the 2004 WWE Royal Rumble winner.

Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia home on June 25, 2007. Authorities confirmed^[3] that Benoit killed his wife and son, and subsequently hanged himself.^[4] WWE officials had alerted police after Benoit missed several live appearances^[5] and have since confirmed that he was booked to win the World Championship of WWE's ECW brand on the night of his death.^[6] At the time of his death, Benoit was widely regarded as one of the most popular, respected and technically gifted performers in the history of professional wrestling.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Contents 1 Career 1.1 Stampede Wrestling (1985–1989) 1.2 New Japan Pro Wrestling/Independent circuit (1989–1994) 1.3 World Championship Wrestling (First run, 1992–1993) 1.4 Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1995) 1.5 World Championship Wrestling (1995–2000) 1.6 World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2000–2007) 1.6.1 The Radicalz (2000–2001) 1.6.2 Tag team with Chris Jericho (2001) 1.6.3 Early Raw run (2002) 1.6.4 Smackdown! (2002–2003) 1.6.5 Main event run (2004–2005) 1.6.6 Return to SmackDown! (2005–2006) 1.6.7 United States Champion (2006–2007) 1.6.8 ECW (2007) 1.6.9 Legacy 2 In wrestling 3 Championships and accomplishments 4 Personal life 5 Death 6 Notes 7 References 8 External links

Career

Stampede Wrestling (1985–1989)

During his childhood and early adolescence in Edmonton, Chris Benoit idolized Bret Hart^[12] and the Dynamite Kid (Tom Billington, later one-half of WWF tag team champions the British Bulldogs). After viewing countless pirated tapes of Dynamite's legendary matches from Japan against Tiger Mask, Benoit soon decided to join his idol in the wrestling profession. When Benoit was fifteen that he met Dynamite for the first time, flexed his biceps, and proclaimed he wanted to be just like him.^[13] Michael Benoit, Chris' father, though not a wrestling fan, nonetheless encouraged his son by buying him a set of weights for strength training and muscle development and, later, by allowing him to drive to Calgary, some three hours away, to train in the legendary Hart family "Dungeon." After years of strenuous training under Bruce Hart, and later under Stu Hart himself, Chris Benoit began his career in 1985, the year Hart promised to make him wait, as it was the year he finished high school, in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion. It was during this time that Benoit would grow close to Bret Hart, referring to him as a "role model". In subsequent years, Benoit looked up to and emulated Bret, along with Billington.^[12]

From the beginning, the similarities between Benoit and Billington were uncanny, as Benoit adopted many of his moves such as the diving headbutt and the snap suplex; the homage was complete with his initial billing as "Dynamite" Chris Benoit. According to Benoit, in his first match, he attempted the diving headbutt in his first match before learning how to land correctly, and had the wind knocked out of him; he said he would never do the move again at that point. His debut match was a tag team match on November 22, 1985 in Calgary, Alberta, where he teamed with "The Remarkable" Rick Patterson against Butch Moffat and Mike Hammer, which Benoit's team won the match after Benoit pinned Moffat with a Sunset flip. The first title Benoit ever won was the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship in 1986 against Gama Singh. During his tenure in Stampede, he won four International Tag Team and three more British Commonwealth titles,^[14] and had a lengthy feud with Johnny Smith that lasted for over a year, which both men traded back-and-forth the British Commonwealth title. In 1989, Stampede closed its doors later that year, and with a recommendation from Bad News Allen, Benoit departed for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

New Japan Pro Wrestling/Independent circuit (1989–1994)

Upon arriving in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Benoit spent about a year training in their "New Japan Dojo" with the younger wrestlers to improve his abilities. While in the dojo, he spent months doing strenuous activities like push ups and floor sweeping before stepping into the ring. He made his Japanese debut wearing a mask and assuming the name The Pegasus Kid. Benoit said numerous times that he originally hated the mask, but it eventually became a part of him. While with NJPW, he came into his own as a performer in critically-acclaimed matches with luminaries like Jushin Liger, Shinjiro Otani, The Black Tiger, and El Samurai in their junior heavyweight division.

In 1990, he won his first major championship, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, from Jushin Liger. He eventually lost the title (and his mask) back to Liger,^[14] forcing him to reinvent himself as Wild Pegasus. Benoit would spend the next couple years in Japan having more classic matches, winning the Best of the Super Juniors tournament twice (1993 and 1995). He went on to win the Super J Cup Tournament in 1994, defeating Black Tiger, Gedo, and Great Sasuke in the finals, solidifying his status as one of the foremost junior heavyweights in the world.

Benoit would wrestle outside of New Japan occasionally to compete in Mexico and Germany, where he won a few regional championships, including the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He would hold that title for over a year, having many forty-plus minute matches with Villano III.

World Championship Wrestling (First run, 1992–1993)

Chris Benoit first came to World Championship Wrestling in June 1992, teaming up with fellow Canadian wrestler Biff Wellington for the NWA World Tag Team Title tournament; they were defeated by Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger in the first round at Clash of the Champions XIX.

He did not return to WCW until January 1993 at Clash of the Champions XXII, defeating Brad Armstrong. A month later, at Superbrawl III, he lost to 2 Cold Scorpio, getting pinned with only 3 seconds left in the 20-minute time limit. At the same time, he formed a tag team with Bobby Eaton. After he and Eaton lost to Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell at Slamboree, Benoit headed back to Japan.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1995)

In 1994, Benoit began working with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in between tours of Japan. He was booked as a dominant wrestler there, gaining notoriety as the "Crippler" after he put Rocco Rock out of action, and proceeded to behave in a cold, calculating, uncaring way towards his opponents. At November 2 Remember 1994, Benoit accidentally broke Sabu's neck within the opening seconds of the match. The injury came when Benoit threw Sabu with the intention that he take a face-first "pancake" bump, but Sabu attempted to turn mid-air and take a backdrop bump instead. He did not achieve full rotation and landed almost directly on his neck. After this match Benoit returned to the locker room, and broke down over the notion he might have paralyzed someone, demanding that he go to see Sabu to make sure he was alright; Paul Heyman, the head booker of ECW at the time, came up with the idea of continuing the "crippler" moniker for Benoit, which Chris confirms on his DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story. From that point until his departure from ECW, Chris was known as the "Crippler" Chris Benoit. However, when he returned to WCW in the fall of '95, WCW modified his ring name to the "Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit. Heyman had commented in the book version of The Rise and Fall of ECW that he planned on using Benoit as a dominant heel for quite some time, before putting the company's main title, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, on him to be the long-term champion of the company.

Benoit and Dean Malenko won the ECW Tag Team Championship from Sabu and The Tazmaniac in February 1995, Benoit's first American title.^[14] After winning, they were initiated into the Triple Threat stable, led by ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Shane Douglas, as Douglas's attempt to recreate the Four Horsemen, as the three-man contingency held all three of the ECW championships at the time (Malenko also held the ECW Television Championship at the time). The team lost the titles to The Public Enemy that April at ECW's Three Way Dance. Benoit would spend some time in ECW feuding with the Steiner Brothers and rekindling the feud with 2 Cold Scorpio having more classic matches. He was forced to leave ECW after his work visa expired, and Heyman was supposed to renew it, but he failed to make it on time, so Benoit left as a matter of job security and the ability to enter the United States. He toured Japan until WCW called.^[14]

World Championship Wrestling (1995–2000)

New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) had a working relationship, and because of their "talent exchange" program, Benoit signed with WCW in late 1995 along with a number of talent working in New Japan to be apart of the angle. Like the majority of those who came to WCW in the exchange, he started out in as a member of the cruiserweight division, having lengthy matches against many of his former rivals in Japan on pretty much every single broadcasting, which received rave reviews from the fans in attendance and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. At the end of 1995, Benoit went back to Japan as a part of the "talent exchange" to wrestle as a representative for New Japan in the Super J Cup: Second Stage, defeating Lionheart in the quarterfinals (he received a bye to the quarterfinals for his work in 1995, similarly to the way he adavanced in the 1994 edition) and losing to Gedo in the semifinals.

After impressing higher-ups with his work, he was approached by Ric Flair and the WCW booking staff ti become a member of the reformed Four Horsemen in 1995, alongside Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman; he was introduced by Pillman as a gruff, no-nonsense heel similar to his ECW persona, The Crippler. He was brought in to add a new dynamic for Anderson and Flair's tormenting of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage in their "Alliance to End Hulkamania", which saw the Horsemen team up with the Dungeon of Doom, but that alliance ended with Dungeon leader and WCW booker, Kevin Sullivan feuding with Pillman. When Pillman abruptly left the company for the WWF, Benoit was placed into his ongoing feud with Sullivan. This would come to fruition through a dissention between the two in a tag team match with the two reluctantly teaming with each other against The Public Enemy, and Benoit being attacked by Sullivan at Slamboree. This would lead to the two having violent confrontations at pay-per-views, which led to Sullivan booking a feud in which Benoit was having an affair with Sullivan's real life wife and onscreen valet, Nancy (also known as Woman). Benoit and Nancy were forced to spend time together to make the affair look real, (hold hands in public, share hotel rooms, etc).^[15] This on-screen relationship developed into a real-life affair off-screen. Because of this, Sullivan and Benoit had a contentious backstage relationship at best and Benoit defeated Sullivan in a Retirement match at Bash at the Beach. Benoit did, however, admit having a certain amount of respect for Sullivan, saying on the DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story that Sullivan never took undue liberties in the ring during their feud, even though he blamed Benoit for breaking up his marriage. This would continue for over the course of a year with Sullivan having his enforcers apprehend Benoit in a multitude of matches. This would all culminate in a retirement match at the 1997 Bash at the Beach, where Benoit defeated Sullivan; this was used to explain Sullivan going to a behind-the-scenes role, where he could focus on his initial job of booking.

In 1998, Benoit had a long feud with Booker T. They fought over the WCW World Television Championship until Booker lost the title to Fit Finlay.^[14] Booker won a "Best-of-Seven" series which was held between the two to determine a Number One Contender. Benoit went up 3 to 1 before Booker caught up, forcing the 7th and final match on Monday Nitro. During the match, Bret Hart interjected himself, interfering on behalf of Benoit in an attempt to get him to join the New World Order. Benoit refused to win that way and told the referee what happened, getting himself disqualified. Booker refused that victory, instead opting for an eighth match at the Great American Bash to see who would fight Finlay later that night. Booker won the final match and went on to beat Finlay for the title.^[14] This feud significantly elevated both men's careers as singles competitors, and both remained at the top of the midcard afterwards.

In 1999, Benoit teamed with Dean Malenko once again and defeated Curt Hennig and Barry Windham to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship.^[14] This led to a reformation of the Four Horsemen with the tag team champions, Anderson, and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. This led to the two hunting after tag team championships for several months, feuding with the likes of the team of Raven and Perry Saturn and Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio. After a falling out with Anderson and McMichael, Benoit and Malenko left the Horsemen; he won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship^[14] before bringing together Malenko, Perry Saturn, and Shane Douglas to form "The Revolution." The Revolution was heel stable of younger wrestlers who felt slighted (both kayfabe and legitimate) by WCW management, believing they never gave them the chance to be stars, pushing older, more established wrestlers instead, despite their then-current questionable worthiness of their pushes. This led to the Revolution seceding from WCW, and forming their own nation, complete with a flag. This led to some friction being created between Benoit and leader, Douglas, who called into question Benoit's heart in the group, causing Benoit to quit the group, thus turning face, and having his own crusade against the top stars, winning the Television title one more time and the United States title from Jeff Jarrett in a ladder match. Benoit's most notable match of 1999 was with Bret Hart on WCW Nitro on October 1999, in Kansas City, Missouri, as a tribute to Owen Hart, who had recently died due to an equipment malfunction. Hart defeated Benoit by submission, and the two received a standing ovation, and an embrace from guest ring announcer, Harley Race.

Despite having many good moments on the undercard of WCW, Benoit had enough of the company's political atmosphere backstage, where he could not thrive at the top of the company. One last attempt in January 2000 was made to try and keep him with WCW, by putting the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship on him by defeating Sid Vicious at Souled Out.^[14] However, due to disagreements with management and to protest the promotion of Kevin Sullivan to head booker, Benoit left the company the next day alongside his friends Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, forfeiting his title in the process. He spent the next couple weeks in Japan before heading to the WWF.

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2000–2007)

The Radicalz (2000–2001)

Along with Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko, Benoit debuted in the WWF as a stable that became known as The Radicalz. After losing their "tryout matches" upon entry, The Radicalz aligned themselves with WWF Champion Triple H and became a heel faction. Benoit quickly won his first title in the WWF just over a month later at WrestleMania 2000, pinning Chris Jericho in a triple threat match to win Kurt Angle's Intercontinental Championship. Benoit then entered into a long-running feud with Jericho, who made fun of Benoit's demeanor by referring to him constantly as Mr. Roboto due to his cold personality. It was also in this time period that Benoit wrestled in his first WWF pay per view main events, challenging The Rock for the title in July 2000 and as part of a fatal four way title match in September. Both times, Benoit appeared to have won the WWF Championship, only to have the decision reversed by then-WWF commissioner Mick Foley due to cheating on Benoit's part.

Benoit and Jericho met on PPV four times in nine months, exchanging the title back and forth and culminating in Jericho defeating Benoit in a ladder match at the 2001 Royal Rumble. Benoit won the Intercontinental Title three times between April 2000 and January 2001.

Tag team with Chris Jericho (2001)

In early 2001, Benoit broke away from The Radicalz (who had recently reformed three months earlier) and turned babyface, feuding first with his former stablemates and then with Kurt Angle, whom he wrestled at WrestleMania X-Seven. The feud continued after Benoit stole Angle's cherished Olympic Gold Medal. This culminated in a match at Judgment Day where Angle won a two out of three falls match with the help of Edge and Christian. In response, Benoit teamed up with his former rival Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian in that night's Tag Team Turmoil match.

The next night on Raw in San Jose, California, Jericho and Benoit challenged WWF Tag Team Champions Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H for their titles. Jericho and Benoit ended their reign and used the win as a springboard to challenge Austin for his world title (this was the night that Triple H suffered a legit injury by tearing his quadricep muscle while attempting to clothesline Jericho). Benoit got two title matches the following week, first losing in a manner similar to the Montreal Screwjob in Calgary and then just barely losing to Austin in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton. Unfortunately, Benoit suffered a neck injury in a four-way TLC match that required surgery with Dr. Lloyd Youngblood. Despite this, he continued to wrestle until the King of the Ring, where he was pinned in a triple threat match versus Austin and Jericho. Benoit missed the next year due to his neck injury.

Early Raw run (2002)

During the first WWE Draft, he was picked by Vince McMahon third to be part of the new SmackDown! roster,^[16] although still on the injured list. However, when he returned, he did so as a member of the Raw roster. On his first night back, he turned heel again and aligned himself with Eddie Guerrero, and he feuded with Steve Austin briefly.^[17] He and Eddie Guerrero were then moved to SmackDown during a storyline "open season" on wrestler contracts,^[18] with Benoit taking his newly won Intercontinental championship with him.^[19] Rob Van Dam defeated Benoit at SummerSlam and returned the title to Raw.^[20][21]

Smackdown! (2002–2003)

After returning to SmackDown! in October, he was crowned the first winner of the WWE Tag Team Championship, alongside foe and partner Kurt Angle.^[20][22] They both turned face again by betraying Los Guerreros. The two made an impressive combination, but could not stand each other.^[23]

Angle won his third WWE Championship from Big Show at Armageddon 2002,^[24] and Benoit faced him for the title at the 2003 Royal Rumble. Although Benoit lost the match, he received a standing ovation for his efforts after a very outstanding match.^[25] Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, teaming with the returning Rhyno.^[26] At WrestleMania XIX, the WWE Tag Team Champions, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, put their belts on the line against Benoit and his partner Rhyno and Los Guerreros in a triple threat tag team match. Team Angle retained when Shelton Benjamin pinned Chavo.^[27]

Benoit feuded with John Cena and the Full Blooded Italians,^[28][29] teaming with Rhyno occasionally.^[30] In June 2003, the WWE United States Championship was reactivated, and Benoit participated in the tournament for the belt. He beat Rhyno in the first round^[31] and then Matt Hardy in the second,^[32] before losing the final match to Eddie Guerrero at Vengeance.^[30] The two feuded over the title for the next month,^[33] and Benoit's popularity ascended to an all-time high. He defeated the likes of A-Train,^[34] The Big Show, and Brock Lesnar by submission.^[34] General Manager Paul Heyman began a vendetta against Benoit along with Lesnar, preventing him from gaining a shot at Lesnar's WWE Title.^[35]

Main event run (2004–2005)

When Benoit won a qualifying match for the 2004 Royal Rumble against the Full Blooded Italians in a handicap match with John Cena, Heyman named him as the number one entry, but Benoit swore victory.^[36] On January 25, 2004 Benoit won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating Big Show, and thus earned a WWE Championship title shot at WrestleMania XX.^[34] As a result of the long-standing Royal Rumble tradition that the winner receives a shot at the world champion at WrestleMania, being on the SmackDown! brand at the time, Benoit was scheduled to compete for the WWE Championship. Benoit, however, exploited a "loophole" in the rules and challenged World Heavyweight Champion Triple H.^[37] This "loophole" clause has become standard storyline practice, with the Royal Rumble winner being free to choose which title he will challenge for. With this win, Benoit became one of only two men to enter at #1 and win the Royal Rumble (the other being Shawn Michaels at the 1995 Royal Rumble). Though the match was originally intended to be a one-on-one match, Shawn Michaels, whose Last Man Standing match against Triple H at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Championship ended in a draw,^[34] thought that he deserved to be in the main event. When it was time for Benoit to sign the contract putting himself in the main event, Michaels superkicked him and signed his name on the contract,^[34] which eventually resulted in a Triple Threat Match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H.^[38]

On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, Chris Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship by forcing Triple H to tap out to his signature submission move, the Crippler Crossface.^[39] It marked the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended in submission (it happened again at WrestleMania 22, WrestleMania 23, and WrestleMania XXIV).^[40][41] After the match, an emotional Benoit celebrated his win with the then-reigning WWE Champion and best friend Eddie Guerrero. Four years after they came to WWE together, they stood in the ring at Madison Square Garden, both of them world champions. It is considered the biggest win of Benoit's 19-year career, as he won his second official World Championship in the main event of the biggest show of the year. The match was voted the 2004 PWI Match of the Year. This was Benoit's first World Heavyweight Title reign. The rematch was held at Backlash in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was Michaels who ended up submitting to Benoit's Sharpshooter, allowing Benoit to retain his title,^[39] once again proving he was worthy of the main event. The next night in Calgary, he and Edge won the World Tag Team titles from Batista and Ric Flair, making Benoit a double champion.^[42]

On Raw, Benoit defeated Triple H in a one-hour Iron Man match. Benoit scored the first fall with a pinning predicament out of a Crossface attempt. Triple H then rallied to take a 3–1 fall advantage by a Pedigree pinfall, spinebuster pinfall, and a count out decision. After Benoit evened the falls up 3–3 via Sharpshooter and Crippler Crossface submissions, he got the final pin in the match's closing seconds (due to the outside interference of Eugene) to retain the title.

On August 15, 2004, Chris Benoit was defeated by Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam.^[43] This title change is notable because it is rare for a top face World Champion to drop the title cleanly to a heel and not through a screwjob. His reign lasted 5 months, and he gained 7 straight pay-per-view victories. Benoit then feuded with Edge, leading to Taboo Tuesday where Chris Benoit, Edge, and Shawn Michaels were all put into a poll to see who would face Triple H for the World Heavyweight title that night.^[44] Michaels received the most votes and as a result, Edge and Benoit were forced to team up to face the then tag team champions, La Résistance, in the same night. However, Edge deserted Benoit during the match and Benoit was forced to take on both members of La Résistance by himself. He still managed to win the World Tag Team titles.^[43] At Survivor Series, Benoit sided with Randy Orton's team while Edge teamed with Triple H's team, and while Edge was able to pin Benoit after a Pedigree, Orton's team won.^[45]

The Benoit-Edge feud ended at New Year's Revolution.^[46] The feud stopped abruptly, as Edge feuded with Shawn Michaels, and Benoit entered the Royal Rumble.^[47] The two then continued to have matches in the following weeks until the two of them, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Christian were placed in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Edge won the match by knocking Benoit off of and smashing his arm with the ladder.^[47] The feud finally culminated in a Last Man Standing Match at Backlash. Edge won with a brick shot to the back of Benoit's head.^[48]

Return to SmackDown! (2005–2006)

On June 9, Benoit returned to SmackDown! after being the first man selected by the SmackDown! side in the 2005 Draft Lottery, and participated in an ECW-style revolution against the SmackDown! heels.^[49][50] Benoit appeared at One Night Stand, defeating Eddie Guerrero. At the end of the night he delivered a flying headbutt to his former WCW boss and former Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff.^[51]

On July 24 at The Great American Bash, Benoit failed to win the WWE United States Championship from Orlando Jordan,^[52] but he faced him in a rematch at SummerSlam. Benoit defeated Jordan in 25 seconds with the Crippler Crossface to win the title.^[52] On the next two editions of SmackDown!, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 23.4 seconds^[53] and 22.5 seconds.^[54] Two weeks later, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 49.8 seconds.^[55] Benoit then started wrestling Booker T in some friendly competitions,^[52] but it was all a ploy, as Booker and his wife, Sharmell, cheated Benoit out of the US title on an episode of SmackDown!.^[56]

On November 13, 2005, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room. The following night, Raw held a Guerrero tribute show hosted by both Raw and SmackDown! superstars. Chris Benoit was devastated at the loss of his best friend and was very emotional during a series of video testimonials, where he said that he loved Eddie and will never forget him, eventually breaking down on camera.^[57] The same week on SmackDown! (taped on the same night as Raw), Benoit defeated Triple H in a tribute match to his fallen friend. Following the contest, Benoit, Helmsley, and Dean Malenko all assembled in the ring and pointed to the sky in salute of Guerrero.^[58]

After controversy surrounding a US title defense against Booker T, Theodore Long set up a "Best of Seven" series between the two. Booker T won three times in a row, due largely to his wife's interference, and Chris Benoit faced elimination in the series.^[59][60][61] Benoit won the fourth match to stay alive,^[59] but after the match, Booker suffered a legitimate groin injury, and Randy Orton was chosen as a stand-in. Benoit defeated Orton twice by disqualification.^[62][63] However, in the 7th and final match, Orton defeated Benoit with the help of Booker T, Sharmell, and Orlando Jordan, and Booker captured the US title.^[64] Benoit feuded with Orton for a short time,^[65] only to compete against Booker for the US title. Benoit was given one last chance at the US title at No Way Out 2006 and won it by making Booker submit to the Crippler Crossface, ending the feud.^[59] Soon after, Benoit defeated Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred match on SmackDown! via Crippler Crossface.

The next week on SmackDown!, Benoit kayfabe broke John Bradshaw Layfield's (JBL) hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst).^[66] A match was set up for the two at WrestleMania 22 for Benoit's title, and for the next several weeks, they attacked each other. At WrestleMania, JBL won the match with an illegal cradle to win the title.^[40] Benoit used his rematch clause two weeks later in a steel cage match on SmackDown!, but JBL again won with illegal tactics.^[67]

Benoit entered the King of the Ring tournament, only to be defeated by Finlay in the opening round, after Finlay struck Benoit's neck with a chair and delivered a Celtic Cross.^[68] At Judgment Day, Benoit gained some revenge by defeating Finlay with the Crippler Crossface in a grudge match.^[69][70] On the following edition of SmackDown!, Mark Henry brutalized Benoit during their match, giving him (kayfabe) back and rib injuries and causing him to bleed from his mouth.^[71] Benoit then took a sabbatical to heal nagging shoulder injuries.

United States Champion (2006–2007)

On October 8, Benoit made his return at No Mercy, defeating William Regal by submission in a surprise match.^[72] Later that week, he won his fifth United States Championship from Mr. Kennedy, also by submission.^[73]

Benoit then engaged in a feud with Chavo and Vickie Guerrero. He wanted answers from the Guerreros for their rash behavior towards Rey Mysterio, but was avoided by the two and was eventually assaulted.^[74] Benoit retained his United States Championship in matches with Chavo at Survivor Series^[72] and Armageddon.^[72]

Benoit and Chavo's feud finally ended after a match with no-disqualification rules, which Benoit won to retain his United States title.^[75]

His next feud was with Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), who claimed that he was the best man to hold the US title; he challenged Benoit for the title at WrestleMania 23, where Benoit retained.^[41] Their rivalry continued with similar results again at Backlash.^[76] At Judgment Day, however, MVP gained the upper hand and won the title in a two out of three falls match.^[77]

ECW (2007)

On the June 11 edition of Raw, Benoit was drafted from SmackDown! to ECW as part of the 2007 WWE Draft, after losing a match to Bobby Lashley.^[78] Benoit won his ECW debut match teaming up with CM Punk and defeating Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von by disqualification.^[79]

On June 19, Benoit wrestled his last match, defeating Elijah Burke in a match to determine who would face CM Punk for the vacated ECW World Championship at Vengeance.^[80] Benoit missed the weekend house shows, telling WWE officials that his wife and son were vomiting blood due to food poisoning. When he failed to show up for the pay-per-view, viewers were informed that he was unable to compete due to a "family emergency" and he was replaced in the title match by Johnny Nitro. Nitro won the match and became ECW Champion.^[81] Stephanie McMahon later indicated that Benoit would have defeated Punk for the championship had he been present for the event.^[6]

Legacy

Chris Benoit's legacy is a hot topic of debate within professional wrestling circles, with even the WWE going so far as to refuse to reference Benoit in most material. Since his death, Benoit has been featured in re-released DVD's of Pay Per View events that he was in, but has been notably absent from match collections. Benoit is rarely mentioned in offical interviews with WWE talent, on WWE television, or in WWE's printed publications although references to him still exist in archived articles and title histories on WWE's official web site. Fans are also polarized, as some recognize Benoit for his talent and contributions to professional wrestling, and some fans agree with the WWE's choice to downplay Benoit's legacy.

Benoit was recently listed in three of the Top 24 Matches in WrestleMania History on WWE's WrestleMania 25 website.^[82] The matches include his triple threat match for the Intercontinental and European Championships with Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 2000, the triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship with Triple H and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XX, and his match against Kurt Angle at WrestleMania X-Seven.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
• As Chris Benoit
  • Bridging dragon suplex – 1992–1998; Used as a regular move from 1998–2007
  • Crippler Crossface (Arm trap crossface)
  • Diving headbutt
  • High speed release powerbomb, sometimes from the top rope – 1994–2002
  • Sharpshooter
  • Backhand chop
  • Backbreaker
  • Belly to belly shoulderbreaker – 2001–2003
  • Dragon screw
  • Elevated Boston crab with a knee to the back – 1993–1999
  • Enzuigiri
  • Figure four leglock
  • Forearm tackle
  • Lariat
  • Spinebuster – 1991–1994
  • Springboard clothesline – 1994–1998
  • Suicide dive
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Belly to back
    • Bridging / Release German, sometimes done on the floor and apron
    • Bridging northern lights
    • Gutwrench
    • Hat Trick (Triple rolling Germans)
    • Slingshot
    • Snap
    • Super
    • Three Amigos (Triple rolling verticals) – Used as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero

• As Pegasus Kid / Wild Pegasus
  • Bridging dragon suplex
  • Diving headbutt
  • Tombstone Piledriver, sometimes from the second rope
  • Wild Bomb (High speed release powerbomb, sometimes from the top rope)
  • Cloverleaf leg laced Boston crab
  • Diving leg drop – 1990–1994
  • Elevated Boston crab with a knee to the back
  • Frankensteiner, sometimes from the top rope
  • Inverted STF
  • Lariat
  • Military press slam – 1990–1992
  • Springboard clothesline
  • Suicide dive
  • Multiple suplex variations
    • Belly to back, sometimes from the top rope
    • Bridging / Release German, sometimes done on the floor and apron
    • Gutwrench, sometimes from the top rope
    • Inverted
    • Bridging northern lights
    • Snap
    • Super
  • Tilt–a–whirl backbreaker

• Nicknames
  • "The Rabid Wolverine"
  • "The Crippler"
  • "The Canadian Crippler"

• Taunts
  • Throat Slash – Slowly slides his thumb over his throat in a "cutting motion"
  • Repeatingly pounding his chest with one hand, some times done with a title
  • Cracking his knuckles and bend his neck from side to side in preparation for a match
  • Giving a toothless grin to the crowd

• Managers and valets
  • Arn Anderson
  • Shane Douglas
  • Shane McMahon
  • Woman
  • Ted DiBiase (During his WWF tryout matches in 1995)
  • Miss Elizabeth

• Theme music
  • "Jump" by Van Halen (Japan)
  • "Woman from Tokyo" by Deep Purple (Japan)
  • "Back in the Saddle" by Aerosmith (ECW)
  • "Perfect Strangers" by Deep Purple (ECW) (He used this theme after joining the Triple Threat since it was Shane Douglas' theme. He and Malenko both came out to this theme and ECW even did a video package of Benoit using this theme.)
  • "Scattered" (WCW production theme)
  • "Replica B" (WCW production theme)
  • "Too Much Information" (WCW production theme)
  • "Shooter" from WWF The Music, Vol. 5 (WWF)
  • "Whatever" by Our Lady Peace from WWF Forceable Entry (WWE)

Championships and accomplishments

• Cauliflower Alley Club
  • Future Legend Award (2002)

• Catch Wrestling Association
  • CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[83] – with Dave Taylor

• Extreme Championship Wrestling
  • ECW World Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[84] – with Dean Malenko

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[85]
  • Super J Cup Winner (1994)
  • Top of the Super Juniors (1993)
  • Best of the Super Juniors (1995)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Feud of the Year (2004)^[86] vs. Triple H
  • PWI Match of the Year (2004)^[87] vs. Shawn Michaels and Triple H
  • PWI Wrestler of the Year (2004)^[88]
  • PWI ranked him # 1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004.^[89]

• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times)^[90]
  • Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship (4 times)^[91] – with Ben Bassarab (1), Keith Hart (1), Lance Idol (1), and Biff Wellington (1)
  • Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame^[92]

• Universal Wrestling Association
  • WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^1[93]

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[94]
  • WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[95]
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times)^[96] – with Dean Malenko (1) and Perry Saturn (1)
  • WCW World Television Championship (3 times)^[97]

• World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment
  • World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[98]
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[99] – with Kurt Angle
  • WWE United States Championship (3 times)^[100]
  • WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (4 times)^[101]
  • WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (3 times)^[102] – with Chris Jericho (1) and Edge (2)
  • Royal Rumble (2004)
  • Twelfth Triple Crown Champion

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • 5 Star Match (1994) vs. Great Sasuke at Super J Cup
  • Best Brawler (2004)
  • Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Triple H and Shawn Michaels
  • Best Technical Wrestler (1994, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2004)
  • Most Underrated (1998)
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler (2000, 2004)
  • Match of the Year (2002) with Kurt Angle vs. Edge and Rey Mysterio
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)*
    • Benoit underwent a special recall election in 2008 due to the double murder-suicide of his wife and son. The recall was supported by a majority of 53.6% of voters, but was below the 60% threshold necessary to remove him.

Personal life

Benoit was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada to Michael and Margaret Benoit, but grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, from which he was billed in ring introductions throughout the bulk of his career. Benoit spoke both English and French fluently.^[104] In an interview with Larry King on CNN, Michael Benoit mentioned in passing that Chris had a sister living near Edmonton.

Benoit became good friends with wrestler Eddie Guerrero following a match in Japan, when Benoit utilized an Enzuigiri kick and knocked him out cold. This started a friendship that lasted until Guerrero's death in late 2005. He was also close friends with Dean Malenko as the trio traveled from promotion to promotion together putting on matches, eventually being dubbed the "Three Amigos" by commentators.^[105] According to Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was borrowed from Malenko and eventually caught on as Benoit's signature hold.^[105][106]

Benoit's lost tooth, his top-right lateral incisor, was usually attributed to training or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It actually resulted from an accident involving his pet Rottweiler: one day while playing with the dog, the animal's skull struck Benoit's chin and his tooth "popped out."^[107]

Benoit married twice, having two children by his first wife, Martina: David (born 1993) and Megan (born May 26, 1997).^[108][109] By 1997, that marriage had broken down and Benoit was living with Nancy Sullivan, the wife of WCW booker and frequent opponent Kevin Sullivan. On February 25, 2000, Chris and Nancy's son Daniel was born; on November 23, 2000, Chris married Nancy. It was Nancy's third marriage.

In 2003, Nancy filed for divorce from Benoit, citing the marriage as "irrevocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment"; she claimed that he would break and throw furniture around.^[110][111] She later dropped the suit, as well as the restraining order filed against her husband.^[110]

Death

On June 25, 2007, Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia, home at around 2:30 p.m. EDT.^[112] Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County, Georgia Sheriff's Department reported to ABC News that police entered Benoit's home on a "welfare check" after several missed appointments, leading to concerns.^[113] Pope also stated the police were not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at the scene of the crime.^[114] Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told television station WAGA-TV that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide. The station reported that investigators had discovered, and would eventually cite as an official ruling,^[3] that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and hanged himself sometime on Monday.^[115]

It was first reported to fans of WWE on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to their official website soon after. On their website, World Wrestling Entertainment released the following statement:

“

World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities. Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy.

”

WWE cancelled the scheduled three hour long live Raw show on June 25, and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers.^[116] However, once the details of the events became apparent, WWE quickly and quietly began distancing itself from the wrestler by removing merchandise and no longer mentioning him.

Toxicology reports released on July 17, 2007 revealed that at their time of death, Nancy Benoit had three different drugs in her system: Xanax, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, all of which were found at the therapeutic rather than toxic levels. Daniel Benoit was found to have Xanax in his system, which led the chief medical examiner, Kris Sperry, to believe that he was sedated before he was murdered. Chris Benoit was found to have Xanax, hydrocodone, and an elevated level of testosterone, caused by a synthetic form of testosterone, in his system. The chief medical examiner attributed the testosterone level to Benoit possibly being treated for a deficiency caused by previous steroid abuse. There was no indication that anything in Chris' body contributed to his violent behavior that led to the murder-suicide, concluding that there was no "roid-rage" involved.^[117]

On August 30, 2007, it was reported that Benoit had been given illegal steroids not in compliance with WWE's Talent Wellness Program in February 2006. Benoit received nandrolone and anastrozole. During the investigation, it was also revealed that Eddie Guerrero and Brian Adams had also been given steroids prior to their deaths, as well as former WWE superstar Sylvain Grenier‎ and eleven other WWE superstars, who were suspended in accordance with the WWE Talent Wellness program.^[118][119]

After the double-murder suicide, former wrestler Chris Nowinski contacted Michael Benoit, father of Chris Benoit, suggesting that years of trauma to his son's brain may have led to his actions. Tests were conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, and results showed that "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient."^[120] He was reported to have had an advanced form of dementia, similar to the brains of four retired NFL players who had suffered multiple concussions, sank into depression and harmed themselves or others. Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to dementia, which can contribute to severe behavioral problems.^[121] Benoit's father suggests that brain damage may have been the leading cause of the crime.^[122] He also confirmed that his son was quietly cremated, but what was done with the ashes is not public knowledge.^[123]

WSB-TV in Atlanta, Georgia obtained the last known photograph of Chris Benoit. The photo was taken in the office of Dr. Phil Astin, on Friday June 22, 2007, mere hours before the murders.^[124]

Notes

References

• Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th edition ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7. 
• Kevin Dunn (Director). (2004). Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story [DVD]. WWE Home Video.
• SLAM! Wrestling — Chris Benoit
• The Sun — Over the Top Rope: Why TNA appalls Chris Benoit
• Metro — 60 Seconds: Chris Benoit by Andrew Williams
• Wrestling Digest: Technically Speaking, wrestler and sports entertainer Chris Benoit

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Chris Benoit

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chris Benoit

• Chris Benoit on OWW
• WrestleView.com — Chris Benoit FAQ
• The Fifth Estate: Fight To The Death
• Review of Ring of Hell at Letters On Pages

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Persondata
NAME	Benoit, Christopher Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Professional wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH	May 21, 1967
PLACE OF BIRTH	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DATE OF DEATH	June 24, 2007
PLACE OF DEATH	Fayetteville, Georgia, United States