Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero

[Guest Dames Edna]

Arguably the two best wrestlers in the company right now. They both came up together; went through Japan, ECW, WCW, and the WWF together. In Japan Benoit was more of a star, in ECW and the WCW Guerrero had probably the better run, and in the WWF Benoit has been more successful. Now that Eddie's personal problems have been dealt with, and Benoit is 100% - who is the all around better performer? Who is more charismatic? Who is better at working the crowd and getting them involved in the matches? Who has the slicker maneuvers? This is your chance to debate who is better between two of the best ever.

 

Uhm, I think my sig shows who I like better, I'll explain my stance more after I see a few of other people's responses. I am honestly curious to here what EVERYONE thinks

[Guest Olympic Slam]

It's close when you consider all the elements. They both can do it all in the ring, but Eddie out classes Chris in terms of mic skills. On the other hand, Benoit has the better character and his lack of personality/charisma only furthers that character. He's not like Lance Storm or Steve Blackman who have that "goofy" kind of seriousness. Benoit comes off as a no non-sense killing machine who's stiff offense acts as an extension of that character.

 

I gotta go with Benoit because his character actually is BETTER because of his lack of personality. While Eddie has great mic skills and buckets full of charisma, there's a ton of other superstars that can (or already) replicate his character and "style."

[Guest ISportsFan]

Right now, Benoit is because he isn't using as many stomps and kicks, like Guerrero is. They're one-two right now in workrate in WWE, with Angle in #3. But, they're all so close that they can interchange any moment.

 

Angle could be #1 after Sunday, or Eddy, or Benoit. They're so awesome right now, all of them, that it's a sight to behold.

 

Jason

[Guest RickyChosyu]

I'm not sure one would say that Benoit had the more successfull run in NJ. Eddy was given the Black Tiger gimick and won plenty of big matches.

 

It is true, though, that both are very diverse and can work pretty much any style and do it well. Neither one is at the top of his game right now, but they're doing a damn good job trying to get there while dragging everyone else along for the ride.

 

I guess the edge would have to go with Benoit, simply because he's been more consistent. Guererro's match with Flair was a total dissapointment, in my eyes. Otherwise, their work together, and appart, has been great.

[Guest XdojimeX]

"I'm not sure one would say that Benoit had the more successfull run in NJ. Eddy was given the Black Tiger gimick and won plenty of big matches."

 

Nah, Benoit was clearly the top Jr. gaijin in New Japan, and a clear cut number 2 under Liger for most of his tenure. Eddy was always a notch below in the heirarchy. As far as body of work I think Benoit wins hands down but that had just as much to do with booking and opportunity as it did with ability. They we're both about as even as it gets in their prime as workers. But Chris has clearly been more consistent post-prime. That said the car accident really seemed to start the downward spiral for Eddy. This is the best I've seen him in over 3 years.

 

So if I had a gun to my head I'd put Benoit slightly ahead at their peaks and a good margin ahead overall. Eddy has more natural talent than Benoit but Chris has done more with his. In America Eddy has had more charisma and became a much better talker but Benoit learned how to adapt to heavyweights equally better. Credibility in the ring is a big factor,and Benoit's gained that in spades.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Currently (since you disqualified past problems like Eddie's drinking) I'd say that Benoit is better. But if Eddie were allowed to crank it up (during the Kurt/Rey Interruption Match two weeks ago Eddie pulled a move on Rey that was smoking fast compared to anything else in the fed) then I would have to say Guererro.

[Guest Respect The 'Taker]

Personally, i find Eddie Guerrero to be far more under-rated and under-appreciated than Chris Benoit, and he entertains me on more levels than Benoit does. While i love watching Chris Benoit, and he is a true marvel in the ring, Eddie has that added charisma which really makes him come off as a superstar.

 

My vote goes to Latino Heat.

 

This has been the Taker Mark

[Zorin Industries 0]

Id mark Eddy up a couple of notches if he didn't use that irritating voice he has at the moment.

 

Personally I like Benoit a bit better, just cause of the aura he has around him.

[Guest Black Tiger]

Benoit and Guerrero both are excellent workers in mat based, brawling, and flying styles, but Guerrero has it all over Benoit in terms of mic skills.

 

Also, everyone natuarly comes to expect great matches out of Benoit, Guerrero has put on some great matches that nobody ever saw coming.

[Guest redbaron51]

I think Benoit is probably the more complete package than Eddy, but they both are very great wrestlers that started out in the right spot. (Benoit was taught by Stu Hart/Dungeon, Eddy has the whole Guerrero family name)

[Guest Strike Force!]

It's easy for me. Eddie Guerrero is better. He has more charisma and a better persona. He has the ability to play both face and heel. Benoit, for all his years in wrestling, doesn't seem to know how to do that.

[Guest Goodear]

Right now, Benoit is because he isn't using as many stomps and kicks, like Guerrero is. They're one-two right now in workrate in WWE, with Angle in #3. But, they're all so close that they can interchange any moment.

Oh man, are Eddie and Benoit using wayyyyy too much brawling right now. Look at last night's heat segment on Rock and it's all kicking and punching and no actual wrestling. Where's the holds and suplexes?

[Guest NazMistry]

I prefer Eddie and would make the case his matches are more entertaining than Benoit's.

Before evryone jumps on me let me explain.

The series of Eddie-RVD matches a couple of months back were some of the best matches this year from the WWE. Benoit's match with RVD on RAW, and in all likelihood their SummerSlam match will also be two of the best matches we see this year. But for flat out entertainment level, Eddie-RVD is better. Technically inferior, but more fun to watch for me, and most marks you would have to believe.

[Guest The Metal Maniac]

I think Eddy's main advantage over Benoit is his high-flying moves, like his slingshot senton, frog splash, or a host of others..

 

Benoit just doesn't do stuff like that. And stuff like that is exciting to see, and if done well, can make for a more entertaining match. And Eddy does it well.

[Guest HartFan86]

Both guys are great, but I enjoy Benoit's smoother style rather than Eddy's. I dunno...Eddy is better on the mic than Benoit...so it does even out.

 

I'll be biased and say I enjoy Benoit more.

[Guest FeArHaVoC]

With out question both these guys are great. It's kind of hard to explain but (depending on who he's in the ring with) Eddie is more fun to watch. Only in that "OHHHH, AWWWWWW" type of way.

 

However, Benoit gets me PUMPED! That's what I look for in a match. A wrestler that can get me to jumped up and be like "HOLY SHIT!" Just by watching the guy work can get your adrenaline going. That's what Benoit does for me. His Aggressiveness, Hard-hitting, Take no Bullshit attitude, and his willingness to take a sick bump if called for.

 

Like I said, hard to explain but Benoit can make me believe he's really beating the Crap out of his opponent and himself with his bumping. He's a little stiff, but not to the point of where he makes his opponent look bad and the match goes to Hell. (Fuck you, Bradshaw!)

 

Okay, I'm ranting now. I'm done...

 

(Spits Water and leaves)

[Guest $leepwalka]

Well, as far as WWE goes, I prefer Benoit, but as an overall career I like Eddie's better, I just don't think he's used right in WWE. I'm going with Guerrero, I think watching his farewell match with Dean Malenko (ECW) just put him over.

[Guest cabbageboy]

I like Eddie better. He has more of a personality, charisma. Benoit has never had a real defined character as long as I've seen him....he's just a tough dude that wrestles and blows snot at people. Eddie can work a face character fairly well, or he can go rudo heel.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Eddy is great, don't get me wrong, but he just doesn't have 'it' the way Benoit does. When Benoit comes out, the world basically stops as I turn to watch him. He has this aura about him that Eddy doesn't. Also, Benoit can wrestle pretty much every style, where Eddy is more limited. Eddy just simply can't wrestle the North American style as well as Benoit. He is not that great a brawler either, where Benoit has been in some fantastic brawls with Sullivan & Raven. Benoit is also more consistant. Bad Benoit matches are far rarer than bad Guerrero matches. Guerrero's best match is better than Benoit's best match, but overall Benoit delivers more often.

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

However, Benoit gets me PUMPED! That's what I look for in a match. A wrestler that can get me to jumped up and be like "HOLY SHIT!" Just by watching the guy work can get your adrenaline going. That's what Benoit does for me. His Aggressiveness, Hard-hitting, Take no Bullshit attitude, and his willingness to take a sick bump if called for.

Exactly. I like Eddie just fine and I'm glad his career has recovered after being shat on again and again in the latter half of 2000, and after the drug and alcohol problems, but he doesn't have the calm, cool and collected kick ass style that riles me up and makes me take notice that Benoit has.

 

Of course, not everyone can expect to like it. Then again, some people don't like Kurt Angle either (gasp!), so that's neither here nor there.

[Guest Brian]

I *heart* Eddie, but Benoit is king.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

In all fairness, some of Eddy's matches with Rob were just as flawed as Benoit/Van Dam was. By the second time, Eddy was able to work him pretty well, so Benoit deserves the same chance.

[Guest Shaved Bear]

well it is close, Eddy can get over as a more hatable heel, but benoit is the better worker IMO

[Guest Dames Edna]

I agree with what everyone says about each wrestler, except with the one that Guerrero is all punching and kicking. That is not all he does, he simply does that as a transition to the next move. While other wrestlers would simply pick their opoonant up and do the next move, Eddie gives him a few lightening quick jabs then continues on.

 

I think the beauty with Eddie Guerrero is that he is the most versatile competitor in the company. Someone said that Eddie can't work every style, well thats flat out wrong. Eddie is extremely educated in every style, North America style included. Eddie took his Japanese and Mexican styles, and fused them into HIS North American style. Judging by his latest matches against the Rock, he has no problem working the North American style.

 

I guess I don't understand the GOD-like following Benoit gets. It may mean I don't understand the business correctly, or I just haven't fallen victim to the hype. If I was pressured to say, I'd chose Malenko over Benoit as well. I guess my main problem with Benoit is that he wrestles the same match over and over again. Its the strong submission type, with the same moves, with the same arm and neck submissions that set up the Crossface. Eddie, on the other hand, has a much wider arsenal of moves. Whether he decides to work over the legs, arms, or head - Eddie always keeps it interesting. Also, he incorporates high spots that gets the crowd back into the match yet does not take away from the main task of working over his opponant.

 

I know Eddie is universally regarded as being pretty much a wrestling GOD, next to Benoit - but I do feel he is underated. He plays second fiddle to Benoit, and will never be a strong title threat as long as he teams with him. During their tag matches Benoit mainly gets the credit for holding them together, when its a team effort. While everyone continues to shill Benoit, I'll just go to my room, put on my LWO shirt and sob - for I see Eddie as the better of the two.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Flair basically worked the same match over and over again his entire career, and still managed to become a God among men when it came to consistantly putting on great matches.

 

Right now, Benoit has slipped into something of a similiar mold, but he's just a versatile as Eddy is when it comes to working over different holds, brawling, working in high spots, stiffness, or what have you. He's been just as successfull at fitting in the Lucha and Japanese styles as Eddy, if not more.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Well Benoit's is like just there, you know? It's flowin free and that's how it should be. It's just a good straight up style he was rockin.

 

And Guerrero, well guerreros hard to tell, because he has reinvented it so many times that it's hard to keep up. In pre-WWC phase, even as Black Tiger he couldn't keep it down, it was still exposed. And when he was just plain Eddie Guerrero, it was balls-out -just all over the place.. yet ordered... Such a beautiful dichotomy...

 

Then, in especially 97, and now today, it's just workin in... You know? Wer-kin-it. But when he first got to the Wwf, it was like, "whoa, what happened?" and it went under the knife for the while and it was like he was a different person.

 

But that doesn't matter now... I must make a choice... Straight up, no-nonsense.. Or Beautifully crafted and wild?

 

I...I.... I am just so conflicted! Dammit, I will have to go with my gut-instinct on this one...

 

Eddie Guerrero has the better mullet..

 

There... I said it.

 

Chris Benoit has had *more* high-quality matches for a longer period of time.

[Guest notJames]

I'm gonna let my Canadian bias shine through and proclaim Benoit the better overall wrestler.

 

Kinda like Kahran said, when Benoit is on, I stop what I'm doing and pay attention. He's got that silent killer charisma that gets me way more than Eddy's Machismo bit. Not to say that Eddy isn't awesome in his own right, but Benoit just has that certain je ne sais quois that makes him untouchable.

 

Plus, he was able to bring out the Stunning in Steve Austin during that awesome RAW match they had last year, not to mention the tag title match with Trips and Jericho. Basically, I've seen more awesome Benoit moments than Eddy moments.

[Guest Mulatto Heat]

Well BDub, life isn't fair, is it. Malenko hasn't been on TV for more than a year and Benoit's higher on the pecking order than Eddie.

 

Sorry, but being on the other side of the fence does have its good points.

[Guest Dames Edna]

Meh, I'm not bitter, I just think Eddie gets short changed when compared to Benoit. And I am not one of those Benoit bashers, he does indeed rule, I just think Eddie rules the world

 

1. Eddie

2. Malenko

3. Benoit

 

They are basically tied as my GODS, but Eddie shines through

 

PS. I don't watch any Puro, thus my Gods are from North America

[Guest RickyChosyu]

Well, none of them are really Gods anymore, but basically they were the best in North America for the mid to late ninties.

 

Eddy does seem to be getting short-changed quite a bit. I don't unerstand why he was de-pushed so badly after lossing the feud with Austin.