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.