The Best of Chris Benoit

[Uncle Sam]

This seems like the thing that we would have done half a dozen times by now. So either we have and everyone is so well versed in it that we'll fly through it, or we haven't and so we're restoring balance to the universe.

I've been getting through my boxsets lately. No, I've still not got to Batista: I Walk Alone (that will undoubtedly be the grand finale). Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero - that's the sort of thing. Conspicuous by his absence, for obvious reasons, is Chris Benoit. He's even edited out of the tribute shows which come with Eddie's DVD.

Let's make pretend and use that all-powerful tool we all have at our disposal - imagination! To steal a Slyfox idea, let's pretend that WWE is releasing a Chris Benoit DVD and giving all proceeds to an appropriate charity. What matches go on a Chris Benoit DVD? Are there any interviews you could use? What were the major landmarks in Benoit's career? Videos would be handy if they're available. I'll get the ball rolling.

Edge remembers Chris Benoit:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWiVe5c_PHI

Chris Benoit wins the WCW World Title by beating Sid Vicious (only to leave for the WWF twenty four hours later), Souled Out 2000:

• Part 1: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x597wt_chris-benoit-vs-sid-vicious-wcw-sou_sport
• Part 2: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59883_chris-benoit-vs-sid-vicious-wcw-sou_sport
• Part 3:http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x59ebx_chris-benoit-vs-sid-vicious-wcw-sou_sport

Chris Benoit loses the Intercontinental Championship to Chris Jericho in an incredible ladder match, Royal Rumble 2001:

• http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xj...s-benoit-ladder-match-royal-rumble-2001_sport

Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho defeat the Two Man Power Trip for the WWF Tag Team Championships in one of the greatest tag matches ever, Raw 21/05/01:

• Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAEnpBnxu-s
• Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y04DJUBNrXM

Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle defeat Rey Mysterio and Edge for the newly introduced, SmackDown exclusive WWE Tag Team Championships:

• Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2baXiRfvW8
• Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGTL9HT9a6s
• Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhVa6oj_bZc

Chris Benoit defeats Triple H and Shawn Michaels for the World Heavyweight Championship, embraces best friend and WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero in the ring afterwards, WrestleMania XX:

• Part 1: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9ploh_triple-h-vs-hbk-vs-chris-benoit-wre_sport
• Part 2: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9plvw_triple-h-vs-hbk-vs-chris-benoit-wre_sport
• Part 3: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9plxo_triple-h-vs-hbk-vs-chris-benoit-wre_sport

CM Punk remembers Chris Benoit:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45aYeTaI3P0

That's just a few I could think of off the top of my head. There are big gaps in my knowledge when it comes to Benoit's time in Stampede Wrestling, in Japan and even in WCW.

 

[AndThat'sTheBottomLine]

I definitely like the idea of a Chris Beniot tribute. The moment when he joined the four hoursemen should be on it too with a Ric Flair interview to go with it.

 

[Danger Burger]

My favourite Benoit night was Judgement day 2001 (?) where he basically wrestled four matches in one night. Or, technically, wrestled two matches.

The first was the great great two out of three falls "medals" match with Kurt Angle. (Single/Submission/Ladder I think) and later was the coming together of Benoit and Jericho in the tag turmoil match.

Great night and a great showing of the guys determination (and fitness).

 

[Beastmode 24]

Fuck Chris Benoit. I don't give a fuck what he did anymore. He's a scumbag piece of shit that killed his wife and his kid. Fuck him. I hope he's rotting in hell.

 

[Danger Burger]

Fuck Chris Benoit. I don't give a fuck what he did anymore. He's a scumbag piece of shit that killed his wife and his kid. Fuck him. I hope he's rotting in hell.

That DEFINITELY wont make it onto the tribute DVD... But I understand where your confusion arises from.

 

[Uncle Sam]

Fuck Chris Benoit. I don't give a fuck what he did anymore. He's a scumbag piece of shit that killed his wife and his kid. Fuck him. I hope he's rotting in hell.

I agree - at least with the sentiment. Unfortunately, I find it difficult (if not impossible) to reconcile what he did with my appreciation for his work and the work others did with him. It would be much easier for me if I could come across a Chris Benoit match and not find it compelling or entertaining. First and foremost, it should be remembered that Chris Benoit was a man who killed his wife and child in cold blood. Anything else is, at best, secondary.

Additionally, I understand and even support WWE's censorship - to a degree. On the one hand, why wouldn't you want to keep the man that nearly brought the whole house crashing down at arm's length? On the other, if we shut our eyes and put our fingers in our ears every time someone brings up Chris Benoit, have we really learned anything? Are we taking any responsibility?

 

[Poop Master Flex]

I was always a fan of his Great American Bash '96 match with Kevin Sullivan and of course his Owen Hart Tribute match with Bret Hart.

Also his match with Sasuke in the finals of the Super J Cup was also a fantastic match and this is coming from a guy who isn't the biggest fan of Japanese wrestling.

My favorite match of his would either be WM20 or his match with Kurt Angle at Royal Rumble 2003, that match was phenomenal and really drove the point home that Benoit is a world champion in the making. Benoit more than anyone knew how to get the best out of Kurt Angle.

 

[Nate DaMac]

Well of course there was the fucking awesome match he and Kurt Angle had at the Rumble. I don't remember which year though.

 

[Diet Soda]

I'd love to see a DVD extra of every German suplex compiled into one video. I wonder how long that will take?

 

[Uncle Sam]

Benoit's Owen Hart tribute match versus Bret Hart:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buy-rjKknzw

Versus Kurt Angle, Royal Rumble 2003:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw-Nxn5bj7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XzLOK5Qe5E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TDrL6sSzg

 

[Beastmode 24]

I agree - at least with the sentiment. Unfortunately, I find it difficult (if not impossible) to reconcile what he did with my appreciation for his work and the work others did with him. It would be much easier for me if I could come across a Chris Benoit match and not find it compelling or entertaining. First and foremost, it should be remembered that Chris Benoit was a man who killed his wife and child in cold blood. Anything else is, at best, secondary.

Additionally, I understand and even support WWE's censorship - to a degree. On the one hand, why wouldn't you want to keep the man that nearly brought the whole house crashing down at arm's length? On the other, if we shut our eyes and put our fingers in our ears every time someone brings up Chris Benoit, have we really learned anything? Are we taking any responsibility?

Let me sort of explain my rant earlier.

When I was a little kid, my dad and I used to watch wrestling together. I was a HUGE fan of guys like Hogan, you know, characters. My cousin was a tape trader, and he brought over a tape one day of two guys wrestling in Japan:

Chris Jericho vs Chris Benoit. I was hooked. From that day on I was Chris Benoit's biggest fan. When kids were dressing up as Hogan or Sting or Goldberg for Christmas, I was Benoit. Every year.

When Benoit and Guerrero hugged in the middle of the ring at WM 20, I as a 16 year old teenager cried. Bawled my eyes out. I was so damn proud of both of them.

When I heard that Benoit died, I was devastated. Absolutley fucking crushed that another one of my heroes was gone too soon, and then the stories started coming in.

I've hated Benoit over the last 5 years because when he did what he did, he killed the last piece of innocence that I had in my childood. I had a rough life growing up, and having a hero like him made my life a little better. To find out that my hero is a child killer sickened me to my soul.

One day, I might be able to appreciate his matches again, and I've tried to, but I honestly don't think I'll ever completely get over what he did.

 

[TLC]

The Smackdown match he had with Austin.

 

[The Dragon Saga]

For the extras, Chris Benoit promos and moments. Most will probably feature Kurt Angle considering any time those two were on screen they were gold, but Benoit had the odd glimpse of brilliance himself, like when he and Cena made Paul Heyman eat soap.

 

[Slash-LN]

Benoit vs Regal at the Brian Pillman memorial show. The video on Youtube is private. This is the one where at the start of the match people were chanting boring and by the end of the match the guys got a standing ovation.

 

[JGlass]

I agree - at least with the sentiment. Unfortunately, I find it difficult (if not impossible) to reconcile what he did with my appreciation for his work and the work others did with him. It would be much easier for me if I could come across a Chris Benoit match and not find it compelling or entertaining. First and foremost, it should be remembered that Chris Benoit was a man who killed his wife and child in cold blood. Anything else is, at best, secondary.

Additionally, I understand and even support WWE's censorship - to a degree. On the one hand, why wouldn't you want to keep the man that nearly brought the whole house crashing down at arm's length? On the other, if we shut our eyes and put our fingers in our ears every time someone brings up Chris Benoit, have we really learned anything? Are we taking any responsibility?

And thus Sam said the most reasonable and profound thing anybody has ever said about Chris Benoit on the internet.

As for your DVD, Pegasus Kid vs. The Lionheart, a look at his earliest years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJH1TMpePR4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBdDkp19hW8

 

[Showtime]

The cage match he had with Angle years back on RAW from either 2000 or 2001 (I guess we could include just about every match he ever had with Angle) It's the one where Angle misses the moonsault off the top of the cage and Benoit, rather than escape the cage after, climbs to the top and drops the headbutt.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Personal favourite of mine is his match against The Rock at Fully Loaded 2000 which, was a great show in itself, also had Shane O'Mac in Benoit's corner and the stipulation of if Rock got DQ'd he'd lose his title. Think there was a decent Foley moment too in there.

Rock's "crossface" face is a gem.

 

[Uncle Sam]

I've got it on DVD upstairs. Now I know what's going on after The Shining.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

His match with Triple H at No Mercy in 2000.

 

[Wolf Pac]

Highlights of his feud with Kevin Sullivan, with their Great American Bash 96 and Bash At The Beach 97 matches.

For DVD Extras:

One of his matches with Booker T from their Best Of Seven Series in WCW, not WWE.

US Title match with DDP at Superbrawl VIII.

The WM XX rematch at Backlash 2004.

 

[Slash-LN]

Highlights of his feud with Kevin Sullivan, with their Great American Bash 96 and Bash At The Beach 97 matches.

For DVD Extras:

One of his matches with Booker T from their Best Of Seven Series in WCW, not WWE.

US Title match with DDP at Superbrawl VIII.

The WM XX rematch at Backlash 2004.

I was there live for one of the series matches. I don't think I saw them all but I do remember the one I saw live was awesome. It was for Thunder.

 

[Lowdown]

Well of course there was the fucking awesome match he and Kurt Angle had at the Rumble. I don't remember which year though.

2003. And still one of my all time favorite matches.

 

[Lee]

I have no idea who he is. Never heard him mentioned on WWE in the five years I've been watching.

 

[SD619]

Angle/Benoit vs Rey/Edge at No Mercy '02.

 

[rickyc]

Any Chris Benoit DVD has to include the moment where he EARNED his nickname as "The Crippler". He was already called it before this moment, but this is the moment where his name met reality. I present Chris Benoit legit breaking Sabu's Neck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-25o0UXrls