Benoit Deserves A Title Run

[Guest ligerbomb03]

TSN.ca Staff

www.tsn.ca/wrestling

12/16/2003

 

Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, Brock Lesnar and Chris Benoit.

 

One of these people is not like the others, and the big question that's been brought up on numerous YOUR CALL's and here at TSN.ca/Wrestling is 'Should he?' The "he" is Chris Benoit and the "should" refers to the question of whether or not Benoit should be given a chance to run with the WWE Championship.

 

Some say that Benoit is too small and has no charisma, while others counter that with the fact that Benoit is arguably one of the best actual wresters on Smackdown!.

 

While I see the point that each side makes, I would argue that Benoit should be given a run as the WWE Champion, and furthermore, I think he would be great with the title, as the negatives that most people bring up are, in my mind, not really relevant.

 

The first is that at 5'10", Benoit is too small to be the Champion. On Smackdown!, thats simply not the case. Brock Lesnar is listed at 6'4". Other recent contenders, however, are considerably smaller. Bob Holly - 6'1, John Cena - 6'1, Eddie Guerrero - 5'8" and of course Kurt Angle, who the WWE list at a generous 6'2" (Angles most likely around 6 in height).

 

Now, I know the Big Show, A-Train, Matt Morgan and the Undertaker are all much larger, but considering that none of them are really in the running for the WWE title, their height doesnt come into play. Smackdown! has a smaller roster, so a smaller Champion is only natural.

 

The Charisma argument is completely subjective, so finding common ground will be difficult, but I'll try. Should a champion have charisma? Yes. But is it a necessity? I dont think it is. The Current Smackdown! Champion doesnt have charisma, just a good gimmick.

 

To explain, people chanting 'You tapped out' doesn't make Lesnar have charisma; it's a really good gimmick that the writers came up with. When Brock was a face did anyone get captivated by his magnetic personality? Nope. Brock's appeal has always been his dominating physical presence.

 

That being said, why can't the same strategy be used with Benoit? The appeal to people who like Benoit has always been his intensity in the ring, and after watching Smackdown! on Thursday, it looks like theyre going to stick with the 'The only goal in my life is the WWE title' gimmick. Thats good news for Benoit fans. Here's how the angle could go:

 

In the next few weeks, Benoit will be forced to fight others as he watches Bob Holly face off against Lesnar. Then after Brock squashes Holly, the fans will look to the one man who might be able to beat Brock, but who's being held back by Heyman. Eventually, before the Royal Rumble, Heyman, who said that Benoit wouldnt get a title shot as long as he was GM, will get fired by the returning GM Stephanie McMahon. Shell listen to the fans and set Benoit vs. Lesner at the Rumble, with Benoit finally achieving his goal by being named the Champion.

 

From a wrestling standpoint, Benoit is clearly in the top five on his show, and considering that Smackdown! is largely based on in-ring talent, he would fit right in as champion. Besides, Benoit has a proven track record of having great matches with Kurt Angle who's scheduled to return in a month. How good would it be to see Benoit vs. Angle at WrestleMania XX?

 

Potential match-ups aside, Benoit is a veteran whos shown what he can do over the years, but hes never really been given a chance to truly shine. The WWE knows what it has in Brock Lesnar, and his future is bright, so why not try something new? Benoit could surprise everyone, and add another player in the main event level.

 

If he falters, just take the belt off him. It's not like Hunter's credibility was hurt when he dropped the title to Hogan for his nostalgic run a while ago. Sometimes in business youve got to take a chance.

 

At the end of the day, I'm not saying that Benoit would be the greatest champion of all time. What I am saying though is that he deserves a chance to run with the ball.

 

Worst case scenario, he'll be a damn-good transitional champion who can have a four-star classic when he gives the belt up - which, as a fan, is all I can ask for.

 

For TSN.ca/Wrestling, I'm Daan 'Double A' De Kerpel from the 'Worst Seat in the House'.

[The Mandarin 0]

The guys at TSN.ca are awesome writers. They have a way better section on wrestling than Canoe, IMO.

[1234-5678 0]

Chris Benoit deserves a run with the WWE title.

 

 

In other news, DUH!

[Guest ligerbomb03]

I can see the IQ level in this thread decreasing already

[1234-5678 0]

I can see the IQ level in this thread decreasing already

It was low enough from the beginning. I'm just not a big fan of reading a column that tells me stuff I and most of the other people here already know.

[Betty Houle 0]

I don't see that he "deserves" a title run. If they were going to do it, the should have done it long ago (and it wouldn't have lasted a month anyway). Everyone needs to accept that.

 

Where's Bill Shatner when you need him?

[Guest hunger4unger]

As good a worker as Benoit is, I don't think he is the right person to be feuding for the title let alone be the title holder. Cena/Lesnar is the money feud they need to get going.

[1234-5678 0]

As good a worker as Benoit is, I don't think he is the right person to be feuding for the title let alone be the title holder. Cena/Lesnar is the money feud they need to get going.

Cena-Lesnar? Good God, did you see their PPV match earlier this year? Horrid, horrid stuff.

[Guest hunger4unger]

As good a worker as Benoit is, I don't think he is the right person to be feuding for the title let alone be the title holder. Cena/Lesnar is the money feud they need to get going.

Cena-Lesnar? Good God, did you see their PPV match earlier this year? Horrid, horrid stuff.

Whilst that match was hardly a classic, a Cena/Lesnar feud will draw.

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

No charisma? Wrong, TSN. Benoit has charisma, he just doesn't have the mic skills.

[Guest Goodear]

I find it hysterical that people that claim they are smart to the business get so tied up in who has a title belt that has no actual significance. I just thought I would point that out.. carry on.

[Guest Danny Dubya v 2.0]

I find it hysterical that people that claim they are smart to the business get so tied up in who has a title belt that has no actual significance. I just thought I would point that out.. carry on.

Oh, anyone to any degree can work anyone. At various times, the WWE likes to act as if they're working the smarks. Seems like they're doing an actual decent job of it too.

[Guest netslob]

I find it hysterical that people that claim they are smart to the business get so tied up in who has a title belt that has no actual significance. I just thought I would point that out.. carry on.

EXACTLY...no body in wrestling...N-O-B-O-D-Y has ever "won" a belt in the strictest sense of the word...they were given the belt. Russo was right...they are just props, and they are worthless.

[Nighthawk 0]

With that attitude, I don't even know why you watch it.

[2GOLD 0]

I find it hysterical that people that claim they are smart to the business get so tied up in who has a title belt that has no actual significance.  I just thought I would point that out.. carry on.

EXACTLY...no body in wrestling...N-O-B-O-D-Y has ever "won" a belt in the strictest sense of the word...they were given the belt. Russo was right...they are just props, and they are worthless.

 

The belts aren't worthless since they usually mean a higher pay day, as Foley has pointed out and have many other wrestlers.

 

Not to mention to the fans they are supposed to be a sign that the company actually gives a crap what you think when they put it on someone who the crowd reacts to and enjoys seeing.

[Guest Jimbo]

No charisma? Wrong, TSN. Benoit has charisma, he just doesn't have the mic skills.

No, he has mic skills, and he plays the intense crippler very well, he just isn't the flamboyant, Rock'ish kind of guy that hgas 1000 catchphrases and makes fun of interviewers, which is 'terrible' in the WWE so he's always looked down upon.

[Guest Goodear]

No, he has mic skills, and he plays the intense crippler very well, he just isn't the flamboyant, Rock'ish kind of guy that has 1000 catchphrases and makes fun of interviewers, which is 'terrible' in the WWE so he's always looked down upon.

Come on now in the listing of WWE guys and their microphone skills, Benoit is somewhere in the A-Train area where you aren't bothered by what he said, but you don't remember it two hours later. Chris is just a below average microphone worker... accept it and move on. It's not like he doesn't have a dozen other strengths to get over that one weakness.

Edited December 17, 2003 by Goodear

[Cherry Blossom Viscount 0]

I'm going to say A-Tain is better on the mic than Benoit, mainly because the WWE gives him material he can work with such as yelling in his Boston accent. Benoit's promos are too boring and long winded at times, most times in fact. He's a good wrestler though so allow him one weakness and move on please.

[1234-5678 0]

They should've made Arn Anderson his manager and mouthpiece a long time ago.

[Guest hunger4unger]

To say that title belts are worthless or props is not entirely correct. By being a title holder it shows that the company has faith in you and that you can draw.

[Guest GreatMuta]

Ric Flair said that they used to have meaning to the boys in the back, and whole respect issue, but once David Arqiuette(however you spell it) and Vince Russo became WCW Heavyweight Champs, he said that pretty much every title lost it's value to him, and he also said when it's involved with a shitty feud, than he could care less.

[Dandy 0]

I just hate how hypocritical the WWE is when it comes to certain workers. Benoit is kept from the main event for the most part because they are low on his mic skills. Goldberg is liked because he doesn't talk much and lets his actions do the talking. The difference is the size. If Benoit was a great talker and had a funny character, he probably wouldn't be any higher than what he is right now. They discriminate on his size. I for one think that Benoit is way more dangerous in the ring (character-wise) than Goldberg. But he is only 5'10", so no Title push.