Guest wildpegasus Report post Posted January 30, 2005 Go here if you want to see some pictures http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560...5042323,00.html By THE LILSBOYS WHEN Chris Benoit was 11-years-old he told his mum and dad that he wanted to be a professional wrestler. Twenty-five years later he was standing in the middle of America's most famous wrestling venue, at the industry's biggest event, holding its most sought-after prize. In an exclusive webchat Chris answered your questions on his remarkable story, which began in Stu Hart's infamous basement Dungeon in Calgary and took in Europe, Mexico, Japan, ECW, WCW and WWE along the way. The Rabid Wolverine revealed all about his tearful moment at WrestleMania XX, friendship with Bret Hart, idolisation of Britain's Dynamite Kid and much more. And you can see Chris battling 29 other men in this year's Royal Rumble event on Sky Box Office at 1am on Sunday January 30, with repeats throughout the next three days. Sky Digital subscribers should go to channel 770 or call 08705 800888, while NTL and Telewest customers need to contact their operator. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hey Chris, at Backlash Jim Ross said you left Edmonton with nothing but $20 in your pocket and dreams of becoming a professional wrestler - is that true? Kate Davies Yes - When I was around 17 I used to get the Greyhound bus to Calgary every Saturday to train with Stu Hart, with nothing but a pocket full of dreams. I was just so in love with wrestling, I would have walked if I had to. I was 11-years-old when I first said I wanted to be a wrestler, and my parents thought I was just going through a phase. But then they saw the passion that I had and realised this is what I really wanted. I just ate, slept and talked about wrestling - I was wrestling. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How important was Stu Hart in making you the man and the wrestler you are today and in what way? Also what are your memories of him? Kevin, Southampton I definitely wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for Stu. He gave me my first break in the industry and was a huge influence on me. He was a great role model and I spent a lot of time talking to him. He also educated me in how to carry myself outside of the ring and in the locker room, which is a very important part of the business. My favourite memory of Stu was watching him in the Dungeon with 6'6, 380lb gym rats who could bench 500lbs. They'd walk in there pounding their chests and come out wimpering. He would make them suffer. Stu stretched me, but he wouldn't lay into me as hard as he would them because he realised they didn't have any respect for what they were doing. If someone came in with any type of attitude Stu would straighten them out right away - and I used to love watching him do it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PURE DYNAMITE ... Chris tells us about his British hero Did you ever get to wrestle your childhood hero the Dynamite Kid? Is it strange thinking fans now idolise you, like you did Dynamite? Wendy Moss Yes, I got to wrestle him in Calgary and he presented his boots to me at the end of one of the shows, which was a real honour. I hope I might stimulate someone to enter wrestling and follow their dreams, but I don't think anyone will ever idolise me the same way I idolised Dynamite. He just meant so much to me. I still think he's the greatest wrestler. I still watch his stuff, on tapes and DVDs, and it always feels like I'm watching him again for the first time. His matches with Tiger Mask in Japan were 20 years ago, but if they took place today people would still be going crazy for them. I was talking with Chris Jericho the other day and we were saying how timeless those matches are. I was in contact with Dynamite until about three years ago, but sadly he's moved since then and we've lost touch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What went through your mind immediately after your infamous match with Sabu in ECW, where you broke his neck? John, London I was concerned. I didn't want to be responsible for ending someone's career or putting someone in a wheelchair. I didn't know the severity of Sabu's injuries and when I got back to Canada I immediately got on the phone to ECW boss Paul Heyman. All he would say was: "It's great, you're going to be called The Crippler. This is awesome, we're going to make so much money." And I was saying: "Paul, is Sabu OK? Is he going to walk?" But that's what Paul's like - he loves wrestling even more than I do. I know he's had his problems with some people, but I've always got along with him. I loved The Crippler name, I wanted to carry that with me into the WWE but they went with The Wolverine instead. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How did it feel to have Bret Hart choose you as an opponent for the classic Owen Hart tribute match in WCW? Darren Randall, Kent I was very emotional and I get goosebumps just talking about it. For Bret to come up to me and say, "I want you to do this for me, my family and my brother," meant so much. People always ask me, "what's your greatest match?" WrestleMania XX defined who I was, but the most meaningful bout was that Owen Hart tribute match at Kemper Arena in Kansas City. We got there at around 1pm and I remember walking in and watching Bret standing in the middle of the arena, just looking up. I was a lot closer to Owen than I was to Bret. I broke in with him, we went to Mexico, Japan and Europe together. I spent a lot of time with Owen and his death was a tragedy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you still see much of Bret Hart and his family? Do you think Bret will ever come back to the WWE? PJ I talk to Bret but I don't see him. He's in Calgary and I'm in Atlanta. We get three days off a week, in an ideal week, and I want to spend my free time with my wife and three children. I hope Bret will come back to the WWE, but I don't know if he will because I've never asked him about it. I don't want to put that between our friendship. I know that there are issues between Bret and Vince McMahon, Bret and Ric Flair, Bret and Shawn Michaels, Bret and the company - but that's between Bret and them and I won't get involved. I don't believe Bret could wrestle a match now, since his stroke, and he says he can't. I know he talks about the idea of it like he'd love to - as he grew up and spent his life around wrestling - but physically I don't think he could. But I'd still love to him come back and say farewell after everything he's done and given to this industry, as well as thanking the fans for being there for him. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why did you leave WCW, even though you won their world title just before you headed to the WWE? Azza, Bournemouth I just had to get out of there! I told them I wanted to leave long before I won the belt. There were so many negative things going on and I was really unhappy. I wasn't the only one who wanted to leave either. Bill Busch was running WCW at the time and when we originally went in to ask for our releases there were 21 of us. When Bill walked into the room there were 12, when our backs were against the wall there were five and when push came to shove it was just me, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn. I've tried to erase that WCW title win over Sid Viscous from my memory. It's not that I didn't like Sid or the match, but because it was such a negative time in my life. I may have been the champion, but it meant nothing. If you were that miserable in a job, hated it so much, took your work home and were miserable at home and had no happiness in your life - would it be a risk to leave? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What made Kurt Angle such a perfect opponent for you in the WWE and of your many memorable matches with him which is your favourite? Ash, Leeds I just clicked with Kurt and I look up to him and respect him as an athlete. To me, he's superhuman. How many people win a gold medal at the Olympics after recovering from a broken neck? He's our Michael Jordan. I loved our match at the Royal Rumble in 2003, where I got a standing ovation, but we both feel our bout at Unforgiven 2002 in Los Angeles was a better wrestling match. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- How draining was it winning the Royal Rumble when you entered at No1 and had to go through 29 other superstars? LJ Smith After that match I had cottonmouth. Then Steve Austin came into the ring and started cracking the beers open. I was so depleted, I was drunk after three beers! It was one of the most difficult matches I've ever done, but I would say my Iron Man match with Triple H was more demanding. The Iron Man match was one-on-one so you've always got someone beating on you and you always need to produce, whereas with the Royal Rumble there was a lot of other stuff going on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What did your world heavyweight title victory at WrestleMania XX mean to you? Dan It was the answer to all the negative questions I've ever been asked. It was the answer to all the people that doubted me and told me I wasn't good enough, big enough or talented enough, that I didn't know enough people or wasn't enough of a politician. But I never doubted myself or my ability - I wouldn't be here if I did. I don't think size is important, you don't have to be big to be good. It's about the drive, desire and passion that's in your heart. Rey Mysterio is one of the most entertaining wrestlers I know and I've seen monsters - some of who have recently been with the company - who absolutely sucked. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your celebration with Eddie was the most memorable moment in all my time of watching wrestling. Whose idea was it and was the emotion 100 per cent genuine? Col Doher I didn't know Eddie was going to come into the ring, but it meant so much to me because I've spent so much time with him. Eddie's life story is well known and I walked that path with him. I've laughed, cried and yelled with Eddie. We've done everything together and we're like brothers. There was a time when I wasn't sure if Eddie was going to live, because of his problems. I was afraid I was going to get a call one day telling me he was dead. After Eddie came back and overcame all his obstacles I was so proud of him. When he won the WWE title at No Way Out, I was so happy I felt like I'd won it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are your thoughts on you now being announced as being from Atlanta, Georgia rather than Edmonton, Alberta, Canada? Do you not feel like you've sold out in some way to the your long time Canadian fans? Vikram Sangar, Southall I spoke to Vince McMahon about it and he told me that was the direction the company wanted to go in. And this is what I do for a living, this is how I feed my family and pay my bills. Some people were up in arms saying I sold out - but are they going to sign my next cheque? Are they going to feed my kids? I'm Chris Benoit from Edmonton and that's never going to change, but the company want to say that I now reside in Atlanta. And that's the truth, I do live there, so I don't have a problem with it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Do you watch much non-WWE wrestling? Have you heard of an independent wrestler called Bryan Danielson, who many people are saying is the next Chris Benoit? Al, New Jersey Yes, I still sit down now and watch tapes from around the world. I enjoy watching each and every style because pro wrestling is art. I love Bryan Danielson's style and he's very talented. I think he's doing the right thing by wrestling in a whole lot of the independents, which is very similar to what me, Eddie, Dean and William Regal did. I think the day's going to come when Bryan is a major star in the US. Another guy I'm really excited for is Davey Boy Smith's son Harry, who's over in Japan right now. He's got a great look and is an absolutely incredible wrestler. Mark my words, he's going to be a huge star. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you had your chance to pick an opponent for WrestleMania 21 - from Raw or Smackdown - who would it be? M Hampson, Wigan Wrestling Eddie Guerrero would be an honour and I'd love to do something with Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho or Shawn Michaels. But my dream match would be against Triple H for the world title. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Niggardly King 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2005 Great read Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheFranchise 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2005 'I just clicked with Kurt and I look up to him and respect him as an athlete. To me, he's superhuman. How many people win a gold medal at the Olympics after recovering from a broken neck? He's our Michael Jordan.' Who does that make Benoit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
USC Wuz Robbed! 0 Report post Posted January 30, 2005 Larry Bird? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest JMA Report post Posted January 30, 2005 Interesting stuff. I'd really love to see Benoit do more interviews, I'm curious as to what his opinion is on certain issues. He's a real straight shooter who gives you his honest opinions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
