Remembering "The Crippler" Chris Benoit

"The Canadian Crippler"
Chris Benoit

May 21, 1967 - June 24, 2007

Major Career Accomplishments:
WCW World Television Champion (3 times)
WCW/ECW/WWE Tag Team Champion (7 times)
WCW/WWE United States Champion (5 times)
WWE Intercontinental Champion (4 times)
WCW/WWE World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)

2004 Royal Rumble Winner
2004 Wrestler of the Year
2004 Feud of the Year (w/ Triple H)
2004 Match of the Year (WrestleMania 20)
Many more accomplishments in Japan, Canada, and Mexico

Became a Member of the Four Horsemen in 1996

As a wrestling fan for many years I have seen a lot of talent come and go, but none more intense or hard working than Chris Benoit.

Chris Benoit idolized the Dynamite Kid growing up, and because of him decided to get into professional wrestling. After training with the legendary Hart family and wrestling in promotions in Canada, Mexico, and Japan, Chris brought his talent to the United States at WCW.

According to Wikipedia, Chris Benoit first came to WCW in June 1992, teaming up with fellow Canadian wrestler Beef Wellington for the NWA World Tag Team title tournament; they were defeated by Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger in the first round. He wouldn't return to WCW, until January 1993 at the Clash of the Champions, defeating Brad Armstrong. A month later at SuperBrawl III, he took 2 Cold Scorpio to the limit, but got 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. During this first run I was not a WCW fan and only briefly remember him from this time period.

After spending some time back in the orient, Benoit came back to the states in 1994 and wrestled for about a year in ECW before returning to WCW. During this run Benoit rose to national prominence and stayed with the company as a rising, and later, main event star until around Jan. 2000.

After winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship in January of 2000, Chris Benoit forfeited the belt and left WCW to go wrestle for the WWE. When Chris got to WCW it was as if he had to start all over and he had to work his way back up the ladder. From the time he came to the WWE until 2004, Chris won multiple title belts and accomplished alot. He broke his neck in 2001 and continued to wrestle for a period of time before undergoing surgery to correct the problem.

In 2004, "The Crippler" had his best year in the business. He won the Royale Rumble in January, beat Shawn Michaels and, incumbent champion, Triple H to win the World Heavyweight Title at WrestleMania 20, and at years end declared Wrestler of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.

Since losing the World Heavyweight Title in August later that year he won more titles and was the number one contender for the ECW Heavyweight Championship, now under the WWE umbrella, as of last week.

As a fan it is my privilege to say that I got to see one of the very best ring technicians work his magic in person at WrestleMania 23 this past April. Chris Benoit was one of the best in ring performers I ever saw and nothing can take that away.

Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year old son Daniel were found dead in their home this past Monday, June 25, 2007. Chris Benoit was 40.

The Benoit Family Tragedy (UPDATED 6/27)

Yesterday afternoon, Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their only child together Daniel were found dead in their Georgia home. Cause of death has yet to be determined although their is no one outside of the home being suspected.

Before the grizzly details of this tragic tale come out later today and in the coming weeks, I want to make it known that I love and cherish the memory of Chris Benoit. What happened at the horrid end could put Chris in a bad light, and there is nothing right about murder under any circumstances, but I will remember the Chris Benoit who entertained me for ten plus years and the person who showed more intensity in the ring and respect for the "sport" outside the ring more than almost anyone else ever. He was a true champion in the wrestling business. He earned everything he ever got.

I have been up for over twenty four hours and have been very upset about this whole story, but I will update this blog entry later with some memories of the Chris Benoit his fans loved and cheered for along with some of the hard theological truths God is teaching me throughout this most saddening event.

Till then, pray for Chris Benoit's family, including his two children from a previous marriage and also pray for any family Nancy had. God Bless The Benoit Family...

Pray for the best,
H (9:37 AM, 6/26/07)


It is now about 1:30 AM (6/27) and the details I am reading of the Benoit family deaths are even more sick and twisted than I could have imagined. Until another day or two has passed I am holding off on blogging about the tragic side of this story. I am changing the title of this blog and making a new post to celebrate the career of Chris Benoit. Once I am ready to discuss my feelings on the real life tragedy I will delete this post and replace it with a new one.

Continue to pray for Chris and Nancy's respective families as they grieve the loss of their loved ones.

(1:54, 6/27/07)

Totally Different

As I sit here in my cousin's room at my Aunt and Uncle's home in Firebrick, Ky I reflect on the changes that have taken place in my life over the past year. Although I am still a bum living at home with my parents, and although I am still only employed at UPS working less than part time, I have changed alot over the last year.

Some of the changes are as trivial as the fact that my favorite show on Monday nights is not WWE Raw anymore, but has been replaced by '24'.

Other changes are more politically minded seeing as I no longer will base my votes as much on who is anti-gay but more so on who is serious about immigration reform.

My concern no longer is as much with people who say four letter words like hell, damn, shit, and fu...well you get my drift...but is more so with people who say four letter words like love and care yet show none to anyone who doesn't eventually benefit themselves.

I am still bothered by abortion and evolution but now more equally bothered by people who blow up abortion clinics in the name of Christ and those who defend the literal six day Creation story by obnoxiously shouting Bible verses in judgement and screaming that the evolutionists are going straight to hell.

I am also more bothered by me. I am the worst offender at times and I fail God on a daily basis, but instead of begging and pleading for God to rapture me out of this old world or let me die, I am asking God to change me daily to make me more of who He wants me to be and thanking Him for the oportunity to serve in His kingdom and live life in faith that no matter how bad it seemingly gets I am in my Father's hand and He will work everything out to where He gets the glory regardless of how bad my circumstances may seem.

Thank you Jesus for your continuous work in the redemption of my outlook on life. Let me always be Gospel minded, spreading redemption, and busy representing your kingdom, rule, and reign.

CHLOE! STOP DOWNLOADING THOSE SCHEMATICS FOR JACK AND GIVE ME A FREAKIN' HUG!

Yesterday was a big day for the city of Trenton, MI. Arguably it's biggest native star came back for a very special homecoming. Last night the mayor of Trenton proclaimed June 4, 2007 as Mary Lynn Rajskub Day to honor the actress who plays Chloe O'Brien on the Emmy Award winning TV series '24'!

Since I love 24 so much I went and was the first person there (along with my two friends Spears and Decker). Because we arrived earlier than anyone else we were interviewed by our local Fox affiliate and were rushed to the front of the line to meet the hometown star. All in all it was a fun day. Thanks to the Mayor and City Council people of Trenton for treating "the five o'clockers" like stars and thanks to Mary Lynn for being so down to earth and a genuinely nice person.

Click here to see me on the news...

Confederate Memorial Day

In Loving Memory of
John Bumgardner II
February 2, 1838 - October 9, 1891

A Distinguished Service Member of the 6th North Carolina Cavalry
in the
Confederate States of America

... and my Great, Great, Great Grandfather

Confederate Memorial Day

Author Unknown

The marching armies of the past

Along our Southern plains,

Are sleeping now in quiet rest

Beneath the Southern rains.

The bugle call is now in vain

To rouse them from their bed;

To arms they’ll never march again—

They are sleeping with the dead.

No more will Shiloh’s plains be stained

With blood our heroes shed,

Nor Chancellorsville resound again

To our noble warriors’ tread.

For them no more shall reveille

Sound at the break of dawn,

But may their sleep peaceful be

Till God’s great judgment morn.

We bow our heads in solemn prayer

For those who wore the gray,

And clasp again their unseen hands

On our Memorial Day.