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, which eventually resulted in a Triple Threat match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H. On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship by forcing Triple H to tap out to his signature submission move, the Crippler Crossface, marking the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended by submission. Upon investigating, no additional suspects were sought by authorities. When Pillman abruptly left the company for the WWF, Benoit was placed into his ongoing feud with Sullivan. The chief medical examiner attributed the testosterone level to Benoit possibly being treated for a deficiency caused by previous steroid abuse or testicular insufficiency. Benoit went up 3 to 1 before Booker caught up, forcing the 7th and final match on Monday Nitro. Chris Benoit lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. This started a friendship that lasted even after Guerrero's death in late 2005, in which Benoit had written diary entries to him just ten days after his passing. In 1989, he started wearing a mask and assuming the name The Pegasus Kid. Benoit underwent a special recall election in 2008 due to the, CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (, Mentioned by his father in an interview with. Rival 1 - Chris Jericho Rival 2 - Rikishi Rival 3 - The Rock Front Grappling Moves ===== Chop 01 - Weak A Club to Neck - Weak A + --> Head Butt 02 - Weak A + Up Scoop Slam - Weak A + Down Headlock Takedown - Weak B Arm Wrench/Elbow Smash - … The two hunted after the tag team championship for several months, feuding with teams like Raven and Perry Saturn or Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio, Jr. After a falling out with Anderson and McMichael, Benoit and Malenko left the Horsemen; he won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship[20] before bringing together Malenko, Perry Saturn, and Shane Douglas to form "The Revolution". 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 title. The Revolution was a 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. He had a sister living near Edmonton. [25] WCW then refused to acknowledge Benoit's victory as an official title reign, and Benoit's title reign was not listed in the title lineage at WCW.com. Benoit missed the weekend house shows, telling WWE officials that his wife and son were vomiting blood due to food poisoning. This led to the Revolution seceding from WCW, and forming their own nation, complete with a flag. After this match Benoit returned to the locker room and broke down over the possibility that he might have paralysed someone. At WrestleMania X-Seven, he successfully defended his title in a match against William Regal, only to lose it four days later to Triple H. [62] The feud finally culminated in a Last Man Standing match at Backlash, which Edge won with a brick shot to the back of Benoit's head. Over the next week, Benoit continued to wrestle despite having suffered a neck injury in a four-way TLC match. Benoit was once again the WWF Champion briefly but Foley once again restarted the match because Undertaker had his foot on the rope. The next week on SmackDown!, Benoit kayfabe broke John Bradshaw Layfield's (JBL) hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst). Chris Benoit, who was one of the most beloved & respected wrestlers … It was determined that Benoit had committed the murders. Better Finisher: Kurt Angle: 80%. Booker refused that victory, instead opting for an eighth match at the Great American Bash to see who would fight Finlay later that night. He would go on to feud with Edge (who had turned into a crazed heel with severe anger management problems), leading to Taboo Tuesday where 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. He also confirmed that his son was quietly cremated, but what was done with the ashes is not public knowledge. 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. [48] General Manager Paul Heyman had a vendetta against Benoit along with Lesnar, preventing him from gaining a shot at Lesnar's WWE title. Booker T won three times in a row, due largely to his wife's interference, and Benoit faced elimination in the series. The team lost the championship to The Public Enemy that April at Three Way Dance. After years of strenuous training under Bruce Hart, and later under Stu Hart himself, 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. On the next two editions of SmackDown, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 23.4 seconds and 22.5 seconds, respectively. Benoit performing Crossface and Headbutt. 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. Benoit's reign with the championship is not recognized by WWE, who does not recognize any reign prior to December 1997. Chris Benoit, Actor: WCW Thunder. His wife was bound before the killing. In his first appearance, Benoit competed in a one-night eight-man tournament for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, losing to 2 Cold Scorpio in the quarter-finals. Fresh off his show-stealing loss at Royal Rumble, Benoit opens the episode and holy shit is this dude over now. Stu Hart Benoit received nandrolone and anastrozole. – Health News | Current Health News | Medical News", "Benoit's Dad, Doctors: Multiple Concussions Could Be Connected to murder–suicide – ABC News", "Benoit inspired by the Dynamite Kid, Crippler adopts idol's high-risk style", Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be, "Stampede Wrestling British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title", "Wrestling Information Archive - Wrestling Timeline: (1999 - Present)", "World Heavyweight Champion and WCW/NWA Title History", "World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit defeats Triple H to retain", "Torch Flashbacks Keller's WWE Taboo Tuesday PPV Report 5 YRS. after being the first man selected by the SmackDown! On June 9, Benoit returned to SmackDown after being the first man selected by the SmackDown brand in the 2005 Draft Lottery and participated in an ECW-style revolution against the SmackDown heels. [53] The next night in Calgary, he and Edge won the World Tag Team Championship from Batista and Ric Flair, making Benoit a double champion. He was forced to leave ECW after his work visa expired; 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. in a two-out-of-three falls match. Dean Malenko's Texas Cloverleaf 49. Paul Heyman, head of the original ECW promotion, intended to book Benoit to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship in 1995 but did not renew his United States Work Visa in time; twelve years later, Benoit was booked by WWE to win the title in one of three world championship matches at pay-per-view event Vengeance: Night of Champions, which again did not come to fruition due to his death that night. 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, who won the match and became ECW World Champion. 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. During the investigation into steroid abuse, it was revealed that other wrestlers had also been given steroids. However, once the details of the murder-suicide became apparent, WWE quickly and quietly began distancing itself from the wrestler by removing merchandise and no longer mentioning him. 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. The next week on SmackDown!, Benoit kayfabe broke John Bradshaw Layfield's (JBL) hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst). They received a rematch at Survivor Series in a triple threat elimination match against Edge and Mysterio and Los Guerreros, but failed to win the titles after being the first team eliminated. [63], On June 9, Benoit was drafted back to SmackDown! From that point until his departure from ECW, he was known as the "Crippler" Chris Benoit. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, from where he was billed throughout the bulk of his career. On the following edition of SmackDown, Mark Henry brutalized Benoit during a match, giving him (kayfabe) back and rib injuries and causing him to bleed from his mouth. [77][78] However, in the 7th and final match, Orton defeated Benoit with the help of Booker T, Sharmell, and Orlando Jordan, and Booker captured the United States Championship. This time, Benoit takes on Charlie Haas while Edge takes on Shelton Benjamin. In August 1994, Benoit began working with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in between tours of Japan. Benoit and Angle traded victories over the next two PPVs in submission (Backlash) and 2-out-of-3-falls (Judgment Day, the latter due to interference by Edge and Christian on Angle's behalf. [102], Benoit was renowned for his high-impact technical style. Along with Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko, Benoit debuted in the WWF as a stable that became known as The Radicalz. Pro Wrestling is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. [79] Benoit feuded with Orton for a short time, before defeating Orton in a No Holds Barred match on the January 27 episode of SmackDown! The feud continued after Benoit stole Angle's cherished Olympic Gold Medal. Jericho and Benoit ended their reign and used the win as a springboard to challenge Austin for his WWF Championship. [53] The match marked the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended in submission. However, when he returned to WCW in October 1995, WCW modified his ring name to the "Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit. [64][65] Benoit appeared at ECW One Night Stand, defeating Eddie Guerrero. Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, teaming with the returning Rhyno. She later dropped the suit, as well as the restraining order filed against her husband. He spent the next few days in Japan before heading to the WWF. In June 2003, the WCW United States Championship was reactivated by general manager Stephanie McMahon and renamed the WWE United States Championship, and Benoit participated in the tournament for the belt. 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. Stephanie McMahon later indicated that Benoit would have defeated Punk for the championship had he been present for the event. This culminated in a retirement match at the 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 response, Benoit teamed up with his former rival Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian in that night's Tag Team Turmoil match. While in the dojo, he spent months doing strenuous activities like push ups and floor sweeping before stepping into the ring. He also threw some wicked chops at Daniel Puder during the 2005 Royal Rumble. Brock Lesnar's Kimura Lock 44. That Angle/Benoit match is very good. On June 24, 2007, Benoit was found dead along with his wife, Nancy and son, Daniel. 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. A month later at Vengeance, Benoit retained the title against Triple H.[57], On August 15, 2004, Benoit was defeated by Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. Fayetteville, Georgia 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. [58] Benoit then teamed with William Regal at Unforgiven against Ric Flair and Batista in a winning effort. 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: 2nd Stage, defeating Lionheart in the quarterfinals (he received a bye to the quarterfinals for his work in 1995, similar to the way he advanced in the 1994 edition) and losing to Gedo in the semifinals. 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.". It was concluded that Benoit had murdered his wife and son and subsequently committed suicide. Christopher Michael Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler. Sheamus' Brogue Kick 34. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, from where he was billed throughout the bulk of his career. [101] This move would later be mimicked by multiple other wrestlers, including Brock Lesnar who uses it as Suplex City. [62] 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. It was also in this time period that Benoit wrestled in his first WWF pay-per-view main events, challenging The Rock for the WWF Championship at Fully Loaded in July and as part of a fatal four way title match at Unforgiven in September. It was eventually cancelled after Chris Jericho reportedly contacted the promoter, Smith Hart, and complained about Benoit's lack of training. 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. During his tenure in Stampede, he won four International Tag Team and three more British Commonwealth titles, 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. Best Finisher - Tie. Booker T's Scissors Kick 46. The only difference is that Benoit used technical moves. They lost the championships to Edge and Rey Mysterio on the November 7 episode of SmackDown! Booker won the final match and went on to beat Finlay for the title. After the match, an emotional Benoit celebrated his win with the then-reigning WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. 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. A month later, at SuperBrawl III, he lost to 2 Cold Scorpio, getting pinned with only three seconds left in the 20-minute time limit. On his first night back, he turned heel again and aligned himself with Eddie Guerrero by attacking Steve Austin. Booker T won three times in a row (at Survivor Series, the November 29 SmackDown! 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. 0 0. Benoit spent the next couple years in Japan, winning the Best of the Super Juniors tournament twice (1993 and 1995). [122][123], After the double-murder suicide, former wrestler Christopher Nowinski contacted Michael Benoit, Chris's father, suggesting that years of trauma to his son's brain may have led to his actions. [116] It was determined that Benoit had committed the murders. His signature move was the Diving Headbutt off the top rope, and the Crippler Crossface was his finisher. skills. [81] 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. [120], Toxicology reports released on July 17, 2007, revealed that at their time of death, Nancy had three different drugs in her system: Xanax, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, all of which were found at the therapeutic rather than toxic levels. At the end of the night he delivered a flying headbutt to his former WCW boss and former Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff. 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, similar to the way he advanced in the 1994 edition) and losing to Gedo in the semifinals. 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. [105] By 1997, that marriage had broken down, and Benoit was living with Nancy Sullivan, the wife of the WCW booker and frequent opponent Kevin Sullivan. chris benoit Chris benoit was one of the greatest wrestlers in WWE history. According to Benoit, in his first match, he attempted the diving headbutt 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. Height 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. 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