Where does Benoit's name

[Guest Kid Kablam]

I've seen only a few matches of his in Japan, like the Sasuke J Cup match, and I was wondering what everybody thinks of him. Just curious.

[Guest Doyo]

Not really sure what you want to know about him,

but there is a good biography of him over here.

[Guest Kid Kablam]

I mean: In what regard is CHris Benoit held among serious Puro fans?

[Guest razazteca]

I do not think Beniot gets the Misawa worship here, but I could be wrong.

[Guest Black Tiger]

most of Benoit's puroresu praise comes from his work in NJPW from 1993-96. Particuarly in his J-Cup matches and his BOSJ matches. Benoit vs. Ohtani from 3/96 is a big favorite as well

[Guest XdojimeX]

"I mean: In what regard is CHris Benoit held among serious Puro fans?"

 

Most hardcore fans over here consider his stints overseas ('90-'96) the prime of his career, at least from a pure working standpoint. In Japan he was unofficially billed as the second coming of Dynamite Kid, and while no one could follow that hype up Benoit did etch out his status as the #2 Junior Heavyweight in the country right under Liger. He was considered the powerhouse of the division, although he probably didn't tour quite enough with NJ to achieve the following he maybe could have had. On the other hand the trips to Mexico and Europe helped round out his skill in the ring.

[Guest the 1inch punch]

When he jumped, Power Slam magazine ran a huge story about him. They said that the Benoit-Lyger series was held in the same regard as the Dynamite-Tiger Mask series 10 years previos, except this time, Benoit was allowed win

[Guest Jubuki]

Depends on what you mean by "where does he fit in?" He's big with US fans, obviously. In Japan, he's probably not a whole lot more than some WWE guy who won 3 Jrs. tournaments back in the day.

 

I'd like to know who it is that's making this judgment call on the Benoit/Liger vs. TM/DK stuff, too - the Power Slam guys, or a worthwhile Asian source?

[Guest the 1inch punch]

I lost the original magazine, so, I'm stumped

[Guest Corey291]

Depends on what you mean by "where does he fit in?"  He's big with US fans, obviously.  In Japan, he's probably not a whole lot more than some WWE guy who won 3 Jrs. tournaments back in the day.

Something tells me you haven't watched much Japanese wrestling from back in the 1990s. It looked like you guessed at that one figuring that the Japanese fans think like American fans.

 

The Japanese fans are very loyal to the wrestlers that came over there and made an honorable name for them selves. Chris Benoit is regarded as one of the greatest foreign Jr. Heavyweights in the history of Japanese wrestling. Unlike most American fans, the Japanese fans aren't as fickle and don't abandon a wrestler if they haven't seen him for a while, or brand him a sellout if he leaves to wrestle for another company, or in another country.

 

Chris Benoit is one of the most highly respected foreign wrestlers to ever compete in Japan. He worked fantastic matches, and he was very respectful to the Japanese audience. Every time he's returned to Japan, he's got an amazing reception.

 

I'd like to know who it is that's making this judgment call on the Benoit/Liger vs. TM/DK stuff, too - the Power Slam guys, or a worthwhile Asian source?

How about virtually everyone who's watched both feuds? I'm intrigued that you think the only source that's credible is an Asian one. I haven't read anything from the Power Slam guys, but I've heard more than a few fans on various message boards compare the Benoit/Liger and the Tigermask/Dynamite Kid stuff.

 

-Corey

[Guest BionicRedneck]

Depends on what you mean by "where does he fit in?"  He's big with US fans, obviously.  In Japan, he's probably not a whole lot more than some WWE guy who won 3 Jrs. tournaments back in the day.

 

Something tells me you haven't watched much Japanese wrestling from back in the 1990s.

[Guest PlatypusFool]

I think you'll find Jubuki has seen all the matches concerned and more than enough wrestling from back in the 90's to make a judgement call on this.

 

Since we're talking about how the Japanese perceive Benoit, not how some people on some message boards perceive him, it is important that the powerslam comment came from an Asian source.

 

I also find it unlikely that the Benoit / Lyger matches are held in the same respect as the Dynamite Kid / Tiger Mask ones by any long time fans. The DK matches were revolutionary, changing the way that juniors wrestled forever. The Benoit matches were simply very good examples of modern junior wrestling. The difference is clear.

[Guest Jubuki]

Corey, you're an idiot.

 

I know how Japanese fans tend to be. I've also seen that, by and large, Japanese fans aren't gonzo over Jr. heavyweights unless they have good reason to be, not like they can be with the heavyweight icons. Liger has a following. Tiger Mask gets a good reception. And yes, foreigners like Eddy or Benoit are known to the fans and get respect during their tours. Does this mean they get "amazing" receptions? Hardly. Amazing, at least in terms of gaijin, tends to apply to the Hansens and Hogans and Funks of the world. And not only does the WWE have little physical presence in Japan, but they also haven't even bothered to put the title on Benoit at any point. He certainly is known as a top-notch wrestler, but he's no star by any stretch of the imagination.

 

And yes, I would have to hear someone from Japan making parallels between Benoit/Liger and TM/DK before I gave a shit. I've seen plenty of North Americans and Europeans pimp the crap out of both series (even if I do find TM/DK to be overrated as Hell), though I can safely say I've never seen anyone directly compare the two. To be honest, I can hardly recall any Meltzer-unbiased discussion of TM/DK, let alone someone from Japan who was discussing it and then also making comparisons to Liger/Benoit. It's a safe guess that the person who wrote the article was going on his own opinions after seeing both series, which isn't much good when the original question concerns the opinions of Japanese fans.

[Guest Rob Edwards]

I'm not sure theres any sensible way of calling TK/DM overrated based on the effect it had at the time, sure the matches have aged a little over time due to everyone and anyone trying to copy them but I wouldn't call them overrated by any stretch of the imagination (assuming most people have the matches in the series at between ***1/2 - ****1/2 that is)

[Guest Jubuki]

Just taking that from the general opinion you think you've heard, or have you actually watched other Jrs. matches from the time period? TM/Kobayashi? DK/Kobayashi? The early Yamazaki/Takada? Billy Robinson? Destroyer? Anything, or are you just ripping off ideas others have had?

[Guest The Hamburglar]

Corey, you're an idiot.

Jeez, I was expecting a little more than that. Or was his comment just too dumb to bother?

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Where did the name "Wild Pegasus" come from?

 

I can only assume it was given to him because Pegasuses are white and Benoit is too. Or maybe it's one of those sill Puro names that honestly have no real meaning. (Shining Wizard anyone?)

[Guest Rob Edwards]

Just taking that from the general opinion you think you've heard, or have you actually watched other Jrs. matches from the time period? TM/Kobayashi? DK/Kobayashi? The early Yamazaki/Takada? Billy Robinson? Destroyer? Anything, or are you just ripping off ideas others have had?

I've seen much of Tiger's work against other guys and his work with DK was by far the best for me (although he had some good stuff with El Canek) just the combination of the high flyer and the big bumper seemed to work, Billy and Destroyer I've seen nothing off although they will be among the next batch of stuff I order from Lynch

 

I really don't see why some of you guys have to be so uppity about things, just because someone made a post you don't agree with it hardy makes them an idiot

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Say Jubuki hasn't seen much early 90's wrestling.......hehehe..........BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Guest Black Tiger]

Where did the name "Wild Pegasus" come from?

In the early 1990's Benoit was under a mask as "Pegasus Kid" He lost the mask in late 1990-early 1991 (not sure of date).

 

In the TOSJ 1993 he was still calling himself Pegasus Kid, but by The Super J-Cup (4/16/94) he was Wild Pegasus.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

I see. I assume Pegasus Kid was a tribute to DK.