Chris Benoit

Photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.

Real name: Christopher Michael Benoit
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 220 lbs.
Date of birth: May 21, 1967
Date of death: June 25, 2007
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Pro debut: December 1985
Trained at: Stu Hart’s Dungeon & at the
New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo
Finishing move: Crippler Crossface

Biography

– Benoit made his debut in December 1985 in Calgary. He teamed with Rich Patterson to defeat Karl Moffat and Mike Hammer.
– On March 1, 1986, Benoit teamed with Ben Bassarab to capture the Stampede International Tag Team titles from Wayne Farris (Honky Tonk Man) and Ron Starr in Regina, SK.
– Benoit and Keith Hart defeated Farris and the Cuban Assassin for the International Tag Team titles on May 9, 1986.
– Benoit moved to Japan, and spent most of 1987 wrestling for the New Japan promotion.
– On January 2, 1987, Chris made his New Japan debut against Yuki Funaki.
– On March 19, 1988, Benoit pinned Gama Singh for the British Commonwealth Mid-heavyweight title in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
– Benoit defeated Johnny Smith three times for three additional British Commonwealth titles from June 88 – July 1989.
– On October 7, 1988, Benoit and Lance Idol defeated the Cuban Commandos for the Stampede International Tag Team titles.
– Benoit teamed with Biff Wellington to capture the Stampede International Tag Team title from Makhan Singh and Vokkan Singn (the late Gary Albright) on April 8, 1989.
– After the Calgary based Stampede promotion folded in December 1989, Benoit returned to New Japan, and became the masked Pegasus Kid.
– On August 19, 1990, Benoit (as the Pegasus Kid) defeated Jushin Thunder Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title in Tokyo, Japan.
– In March 1991, Benoit moved to Mexico and the Universal Wrestling Alliance.
– On March 31, 1991, Pegasus defeated Villano III for the UWA Light Heavyweight title in Naucalpan, Japan.
– On December 21, 1991, Benoit and David Taylor captured the CWA World Tag Team titles from Miles Zrno and Franz Schumann in Bremen, Germany.
– At UWA’s 17th Anniversary show on January 26, 1992 in Naulcalpan, Mexico, Benoit successfully defended the WWF Light Heavyweight title against Villano III in three falls.
– In January 1993, Benoit signed with WCW. Due to his continued Japanese commitments, WCW used him as a jobber.
– Benoit lost a mask vs. mask match to Liger, and became the Wild Pegasus.
– On April 16, 1994, Benoit won the Super J Cup tournament in Tokyo, defeating the Black Tiger (Eddy Guerrero), Gedo, and the Great Sasuke, all in one night.
– After his short stint with the WWF, Chris wrestled on the independent circuit, and landed in ECW.
– While in ECW, “the Crippler” started teaming with Dean Malenko.
– On February 25, 1995, Benoit and Malenko beat Sabu and the Tasmaniac to win the ECW World Tag Team titles.
– Together with Malenko and Shane Douglas, Benoit formed the Triple Threat.
– In the summer of 1995, Benoit received a WWF try out match against Owen Hart in Youngstown, OH, but was not offered a contract.
– In September 1995, Benoit and Malenko joined WCW.
– Benoit joined the Four Horsemen with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman.
– Benoit feuded with Kevin Sullivan, resulting in many falls count anywhere matches.
– Benoit pinned Rad Radford on December 15, 1995 at the Stu Hart Tribute Show.
– On June 1, 1996 at the World Wrestling Peace Festival in Los Angeles, Benoit defeated Alex Wright.
– In early 1997, Benoit and Sullivan still feuded, and the feud got even more heated when Woman, Kevin’s then wife, sided with Benoit.
– On April 12, 1997, Benoit pinned Sullivan at the Egg Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
– Benoit defeated Sullivan in a retirement match at the Bash at the Beach ’97.
– United States champion Diamond Dallas Page offered Benoit a shot at the title on the February 5, 1998 “Thunder” show. In the end, Page retained the title.
– Benoit and Booker T had some classic matches over the next couple of months. On two occasions, Benoit actually defeated Booker T for the World Television title. Since neither match was televised, the title changes were never acknowledged.
– The two even had a best of seven series for the Television title, which Booker T won.
– “Mongo” McMichael and Benoit tried to convince Arn Anderson to reform the Four Horsemen. The group finally reunited on September 14, 1998, with the return of Ric Flair. Malenko was the newest member.
– Benoit and Malenko needed to defeat Barry Windham and Curt Hennig twice at SuperBrawl IX to win the double elimination tournament to crown new WCW tag team champions. The duo won the first match, but lost the second.
– The team finally won the tag team belts at “Uncensored,” defeating Hennig and Windham in a lumberjack/strap match.
– At Spring Stampede ’99, Benoit and Malenko defeated Perry Saturn and Raven in Tacoma, Washington.
– On October 4, 1999, Benoit faced Bret Hart at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. It was a match dedicated to the memory of Owen Hart.
– At Starrcade ’99, Benoit defeated Jeff Jarrett in a ladder match for the United States title.
– Benoit defeated Sid for the WCW title at Souled Out 2000. The next night on “Nitro,” he was stripped of the gold.
– Benoit received his WCW release on January 25, 2000, per his request, and six days later, debuted on “Raw” with Malenko, Guerrero, and Saturn.
– At Wrestlemania 2000 in Anaheim, CA, Benoit defeated Kurt Angle for the Intercontinental title.
– On the May 8, 2000 edition of “Raw,” Benoit defeated Chris Jericho for his second IC title in Uniondale, NY. Triple H served as the self-appointed guest referee.
– Benoit defeated Jericho in a submission match at Judgment 2000 to retain the IC title.
– At Summerslam 2000 in Raleigh, NC, Benoit beat Jericho 2-1 in a best of 3 falls match.
– A few months later, the Radicalz (Benoit, Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko) reformed.
– At Survivor Series ’00 in Tampa, FL, the Radicalz defeated Chyna, Billy Gunn, K-Kwik (K-Krush), and the Road Dogg in an elimination match. The survivors were Benoit and Saturn.
– At Armageddon, Benoit defeated Billy Gunn for the Intercontinental title.
– In early 2001, Benoit broke away from the Radicalz.
– Benoit defeated Angle in a “30-minute Ultimate Submission” match at Backlash ’01 in Chicago, IL. At the end of thirty minutes, the match was tied at three submissions each. Benoit ended the tie in overtime.
– At Insurrextion in London, England, Benoit beat Angle in a best of three falls match (two falls to none).
– Despite dropping a best of 2 out of 3 falls match to Angle earlier on the show, Benoit (who turned out to be Jericho’s mystery partner) and Jericho defeated Edge and Christian to win the tag team turmoil match at Judgment Day PPV.
– The next night on “Raw” in San Jose, CA, Benoit and Jericho defeated Steve Austin and Triple H for the WWF World Tag Team title.
– On the May 24, 2001 edition of “Smackdown,” Benoit and Jericho successfully defended the WWF World Tag Team titles against the Dudley Boyz, Edge and Christian, and the Hardy Boyz in a TLC match.
– On June 28, 2001, Benoit under went successful neck surgery in San Antonio, TX.
– On the March 25, 2002 edition of “Raw,” Benoit was drafted by Vince McMahon to be apart of the WWF Smackdown! roster.
– Benoit made his return to WWE television on the May 27, 2002 episode of “Raw” in Edmonton. At the end of the show, Benoit turned heel.
– On the July 29, 2002 edition of “Raw” in Greensboro, NC, Benoit defeated Rob Van Dam to captured the Intercontinental title.
– At Unforgiven ’02, Benoit defeated Kurt Angle.
– At No Mercy ’02 in Little Rock, AR, Benoit and Angle defeated Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr. to capture the newly created Smackdown brand Tag Team titles.
– Benoit forced Eddy Guerrero to tap out to the crossface at the 2002 Armageddon PPV.
– At No Mercy ’03 in Baltimore, MD, Benoit defeated the A-Train.
– At the 2003 Survivor Series, Team Angle (Angle, Benoit, Cena, Bradshaw and Hardcore Holly) defeated Team Lesnar (Lesnar, Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Big Show, and A-Train).
– Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble battle royal in Philadelphia, PA. The next night, Benoit switched from the Smackdown to the Raw roster.
– At Wrestlemania XX in New York, NY, Benoit defeated Triple H and Shawn Michaels to capture the World Heavyweight title.
– Benoit successfully defended the World Heavyweight title at Backlash 2004 in Edmonton by once again defeating Triple H and Michaels.
– The next night on “Raw” in Calgary, Benoit and Edge defeated Dave Batista and Ric Flair to capture the World Tag Team titles.
– At Badd Blood ’04, Benoit successfully defended the World title against Kane.
– Benoit defeated Triple H at the 2004 Vengeance PPV to retain the World Heavyweight title.
– At Unforgiven ’04, Benoit and William Regal defeated Ric Flair and Batista.
– At Taboo Tuesday in Milwaukee, WI, Benoit (and Edge who left the building during the match) defeated La Resistance to capture the World Tag Team titles when the Crippler forced Conway to tap out to the crossface.
– Team Orton (Orton, Benoit, Chris Jerico, and Maven) defeated Team Triple H (Triple H, Batista, Gene Snitsky, and Edge) at the 2004 Survivor Series.
– At the June 7, 2005 Smackdown taping in Kansas City, MO, Benoit was drafted back to the Smackdown roster.
– Benoit defeated Eddy Guerrero at the ECW One Night Stand PPV.
– At Summerslam ’05 in Washington, D.C., Benoit forced Orlando Jordan to tap out to the crippler crossface in under 30 seconds to capture the U.S. title.
– At No Mercy ’05, Benoit defeated Christian, Jordan, and Booker T in a fatal four way match to retain the U.S. title.
– Benoit defeated Booker T in match four of the best of seven series for the vacant U.S. title at Armageddon ’05.
– At No Way Out ’06, Benoit forced Booker T to tap out in Baltimore, MD to regain the U.S. title.
– At Judgment Day ’06, Benoit defeated Finlay.
– After months away from the squared circle, Benoit returned at No Mercy ’06 to defeated William Regal.
– At the October 10, 2006 Smackdown tapings in Jacksonville, FL, Benoit defeated Ken Kennedy to regain the U.S. title.
– At Survivor Series ’06, Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. to retain the U.S. title.
– Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero Jr. again at Armageddon ’06 to retain the U.S. title.
– At No Way Out ’07, Benoit and the Hardy Boyz defeated MVP and MNM.
– Benoit defeated MVP at Wrestlemania 23 to retain the U.S. title.
– At Backlash ’07, Benoit defeated MVP to again retain the United States title.
– On the June 11, 2007 edition of Raw, Benoit was drafted to the ECW roster.