Chris Benoit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:27, 11 June 2007

Revision as of 19:28, 11 June 2007

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===Extreme Championship Wrestling===

In 1994, Benoit signed with [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW). While there, he dropped the "Pegasus" [[gimmick (professional wrestling)|gimmick]], becoming ''The Canadian Crippler'', because of his rougher style, and an incident where he took out [[Rocco Rock]] with a [[powerbomb]] through a table. Although he was already known by the same name, Gary Roberts allowed Benoit to use the moniker. To this day fans are begging to see Roberts vs. Benoit in an exploding barded wire match. Benoit has declined the offer on many occasions citing that Gary Roberts is the true Canadian Crippler. Coincidentally, after taking up this gimmick, Benoit was involved in a match with [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]] during which Sabu broke his neck. The injury came when Benoit threw Sabu with the intention that he take a face-first "pancake" [[Bump (professional wrestling)|bump]], but Sabu attempted to turn mid-air and take a backdrop bump instead. He did not achieve full rotation and landed almost directly on his neck. The incident was extremely traumatic for Benoit, but Paul Heyman took the opportunity to change Benoit's character even more. He changed him into a ruthless "wrestling machine" with no mercy for his opponents or their bodies. Heyman had him cut long monologue [[Promo (professional wrestling)|promos]] to give him the chance to come out of his shell and to express a tough, dark persona.

Benoit and [[Dean Malenko]] won the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]] from Sabu and [[Tazz|The Tazmaniac]] in February 1995.<ref name="Titles"/> After winning, they were initiated into the [[Triple Threat]] [[Stable (professional wrestling)|stable]], led by [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW World Heavyweight Champion]], [[Shane Douglas]]. The team lost the titles to [[The Public Enemy (professional wrestling)|The Public Enemy]] that April at ''ECW's Three Way Dance''.<ref name="Titles"/> In mid-1995, Benoit's work visa was on its way to expiring, and Heyman was unable to get him the visa in time to make sure he could stay in the country legally. This opted him to leave for other work.