What if chris benoit

[Guest]

Just curious... HHH gets bashed alot here. Infact, he's replaced Billy Gunn as the internet's whipping boy. Most of it is due to supposed "backstage politics" that some of you are so sure of, but some of it has to do with the fact that he can't perform as well as he did before his quad injury. Personally, I think alot of this criticism is unfair because the guy is still capable of putting out a good *** match and is improving.

 

Some HHH bashers tend to forget that Austin had the same problem when he returned... and of course, some HHH bashers also tend to forget that Austin has a history of backstage politics as well... but the internet is full of hypocrits

 

Anyway, to my qustion... what if Benoit suffers from the exact same problem that HHH has... the fact that after his injury, he's not able to perform at the level he did before he left? What if he's too cautious? What if he's less INTENSE~?

 

What then? Will he be bashed here?

[Guest]

I think it still remains to be seen, as in until we see him in the ring we won't really know. But you have to take into consideration that a neck injury is way different from a torn quad. Also, Benoit doesn't look to have gained about 20 pounds in mass. We probably won't see too many swandive headbutts from the Crippler, but I doubt (read: hope) he'll be any less mobile on the mat.

 

Then again, none of my dislike for HHH stems from any of the stuff he gets bashed for on this board. I've never liked the guy or his style. Since day one back when he was the prissy snob character. Only saw "Terra Ryzin" wrestle once, and it just made me shudder... ;p

[Guest]

Much of the hatred on these boards for Triple H stems from backstage politics, both real and imaginary. His shitty ringwork (which has been improving lately) is just gravy.

 

That said, I'm willing to give Benoit a little time to adjust to being back in action. I keep hoping that the constant pushing back of his return would have something to do with insuring that he is in ultimate shape.

[Guest]

Much of the hatred on these boards for Triple H stems from backstage politics, both real and imaginary. His shitty ringwork (which has been improving lately) is just gravy.

 

That said, I'm willing to give Benoit a little time to adjust to being back in action. I keep hoping that the constant pushing back of his return would have something to do with insuring that he is in ultimate shape.

Well thats what I meant about some people on here being hypocrits... because they seem to praise Austin so much while ignoring that he's been engaging in politics since 1997.

 

And I mentioned that most of the criticism was due to his "backstage politics" but alot of it here also is because he can't wrestle as well anymore

 

Either way, I'm a huge Benoit fan, and I'm in no way bashing him... I'm just going to find it extremely funny to see some of you guys struggling to come up with excuses IF he's not able to perform at the same level that he was (even though I'm pretty sure he'll be as good or better.)

[Guest]

I didn't engage in much Austin bashing when he returned. I knew, like I know with Benoit, he needed some time to re-adjust. With Triple H, however, he came back with an extra 20-pounds of muscle mass, which only slowed him down further. The guy was big enough before, so why did he feel to need to become even more bloated? Austin and Benoit didn't do that.

[Guest]

good point

[Guest Brian]

Benoit's also the top wrestler in the world and has been working alot longer than Triple H. I bashed Austin early, felt bad later on, so I'm not bashing Triple H until he's fully healed because his injury is a lot different from Austin's.

[Guest]

I also believe that Chris is getting the benefit of the doubt. I bet you money that by having Chris up in the big leagues for a couple of weeks to get back into form, that he will be in better shape than Triple H, simply because he didn't gain 25 pounds in water mass. Plus, the neck has healed fine for him, and he seems to be in tip-top shape, aside from the fact that he did take steroids earlier in his career. Plus, Benoit can wrestle, and HHH can't.

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Big Tim has spoken!

[Guest]

But the real question

 

is what IF Benoit isn't as great?

 

I want to know, what IF Benoit comes back and can't perform at the same level, how will you guys react?

 

We can debate until we're blue in the face whether he'll be as good or not, because we won't know until we see. The question is just out of curiosity. What IF?

[Guest notJames]

...Benoit can wrestle, and HHH can't...

That pretty much sums it up for me.

[Guest Brian]

Well, he'll never be as good as he was prior to the WWF, but that's a take on the style and parameters of the match he's forced to work. Benoit at 80% is second to only Eddie.

[Guest]

so I'm not bashing Triple H until he's fully healed because his injury is a lot different from Austin's.

 

I think Trips' injury can no longer be held accountable for his sluggishness. By the six month mark in Austin's return from a much more serious injury, he was already having awesome matches with Angle, HHH and the Rock. Triple H can't move like he use to because he's so goddamn huge.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

I don't think there has been a precedent in Benoits career of coming back from a long-term absence...At least I cannot remember the last time he was out for an extended period of time.

 

One of Benoits greatest qualities is consistency, he has been top notch for the past decade, something very few, if any, can attest to.  HHH was consistent for a little over a year (I personally say his 2000 years is extremely overrated in that he wrestled the same match throughout...that is basic brawling with strong workrate..)

 

If Benoit sucks 6 months after he returns, yet is still main eventing and in contention for a title spot and hogs up a strong percentage of television time and is on the writing team and is dating a mcmahon, then there will be criticism.  Hell, there will be MORE criticism from all the HHH/anti-smarks out there than there is now for anti-hhh’ers.  Guaranteed.  If Benoit sucks, the shit will definitely hit the fan at the smarks-board.

[Guest]

if benoit is not as good when he comes back, it will depend on how much his abilities decrease as to whether he'll be bashed like HHH. HHH's ability from 2000 and early 2001 is miles ahead from anything he's done lately, and that's one of the main points against him.

 

If benoit comes back at say 50% of what he was before, then he'll probably get bashed. But if he comes back close to what he was before (80%+) then he won't. Even at 80%, benoit is probably better than most of the roster except for angle and eddie.

[Guest]

Austin came back slowly at first, but once he shook off the ring rust, he had some of the best matches of his career.  His matches with Rikishi and HHH at his first two PPVs after returning weren't anything special.

 

In December, however, Austin really stepped up.  He had an AWESOME match with Benoit on Raw (I don't know why that doesn't get more hype in the 'great Raw matches' discussions... it was a technical masterpiece on free TV).  He had a really strong Royal Rumble.  He then came out with the "3 Stages of Hell" match at No Way Out and the WM main event against the Rock.

 

HHH hasn't come close to doing anything even close to that since returning.  I think part of it is the fact that, yes, he's got so much muscle mass now, he's gotten really slow.  But on top of that, he's working as a face now, something he wasn't doing when he was injured.

 

He came right out and said himself that he hasn't changed his act one bit since returning.  There is a difference between working as a monster heel and a bad ass face.  Slight nuances here and there and he hasn't picked them up.  That's a HUGE reason why he's not looking good right now.

 

Benoit left as a babyface last summer, but is clearly coming back as a heel.  He's worked as both.  I think a big part of how good he is when he returns will be how well he adapts his character back into killer heel mode.  Get the character down and show a little patience in working off the ring rust and by SummerSlam, Benoit could be 'da man' once again.

[Guest Mole]

Well, Triple-H is still sucking not just because of his quad, but the man does have a fracture in his knee. If I had a fracture in my knee, I don't think I'd be that mobile either.

 

On the other hand, Benoit doesn't have a hurt knee. He might not be great at first, but after awhile he will be back to his greatness.

[Guest Just call me Dan]

I was always keen on heel Benoit, because it was something that wasn't really developed and shoved into our faces until the first heel run in the WWF.  Around the time he was feuding with the Rock and HHH, he was a damn good heel.  I'll never forget Stephanie slapping Benoit with all she had and then him smiling with that missing tooth. Freaky.  I think the WWE needs a scary heel in Benoit, not so much the bad ass.

[Guest]

Also, if Benoit can make a good comeback, maybe win a world Title, and have GOOD MATCHES (HHH, take notes), then maybe we will give him the benefit of the the doubt. Fuck the fact that Benoit is small. HHH used to be small, about as small as Benoit. I love it when HHH gets roided out in about two years when he can't breathe as well, and Stephanie gets on the mike and tells him off. I'm gonna love that day.

[Guest]

I'll never forget Stephanie slapping Benoit with all she had and then him smiling with that missing tooth.

 

Don't forget the glorius moment where he headbutted her. God, I hate Stephanie.

[Guest alfdogg]

I don't ignore that Austin had and has politics.  He's just not as bad as Hunter is with them (could you have seen HHH pushing for a program with someone like Eddie?  I couldn't), and may or may not even be a victim of Hunter as we speak.  And Austin had a couple really good ones with Angle. No Way Out?  Nuff said there.  Mania was awesome despite the dumbass finish.   HHH has had Hell in a Cell.  For which anything above ***1/2 is being pretty generous.  And I don't see Taker getting a good match out of him. But Hunter is definitely not reaching 2000 again anytime soon, and I don't see him being depushed for the shitty match quality.

 

As for Benoit, if the same thing happens to him, he won't be pushed because he's not fucking Stephanie.

[Guest]

Unlike Triple H & Austin. Chris Benoit will have a good month or two of OVW/HWA "Training" under his belt when he finally returns to the ring.

[Guest]

To be perfectly honest, Benoit is probably never going to be as good as he once was. Now does that mean he's gonna suck? Christ in hell no, he'll still be the best worker on the roster, he just won't be as good as he formerly was. Or at the very least, he's gonna have to wrestle a completley different style. Similar to Austin and him going from insane brawls to a more mat friendly type match. In the end, everyone will still be all over Benoit's proverbial dick. Nothin wrong with that mind you.

[Guest RavishingRickRudo]

Considering that Benoit's peak was in like 95, 'never going to be like he was' doesn't have me very worried.  The man has 'aged' gracefully.

[Guest El Satanico]

Well of course Beniot will probably look like he's missing a step. But it's different with him then it is with HHH. Beniot has always ranged from good to great no matter who he wrestled so him having troubles at first would just make him decent to good instead, so it won't be that big of a deal.

 

On the other hand HHH was always a decent at best wrestler who could be good when he had a good opponent. So him showing signs of lost ability after returning was a bigger deal because now it means he's an average wrestler who can look decent with a good opponent.

 

Also alot of the "HHH haters" weren't just bitching about HHH losing a step. Alot of them had bigger problems with giving a big push and the title to a guy that was still rusty in the ring and wasn't in shape to put on good matches.

[Guest wolverine]

Benoit's also the top wrestler in the world

 

I'll agree with you, but you have to throw in the word "male."

[Guest Risk]

The differance between Austin and Triple H is this: Austin cares about other people besides himself.

[Guest]

The differance between Austin and Triple H is this: Austin cares about other people besides himself.

I think I'll quote a very wise man who posts here (Goodear) to sum up my thoughts on this

 

This was in reference to a sign suggestion

 

SOMEONE PLEASE NOTICE ME BECAUSE I HAVE A SIGN THAT'S UNDERGROUND AND WITTY AND WISHES INJURY ON WRESTLERS WHO I DON'T KNOW PERSONALLY BUT I'VE HEARD BAD THINGS ABOUT ON THE INTERNET

[Guest Goodear]

I'm wise!  ...................... Who knew?

 

Seriously, Austin cares about himself as much as Triple H does, as much as any wrestler cares about themselves.  It is not like people split their paychecks with each other when one gets payed more and they have a feud.  Its not like if your injured, another worker passes you their paycheck because you're part of the brotherhood.  And its not like Austin shares the merchandising money he makes with Eddie Guerrero.

[Guest Army Eye]

The differance between Austin and Triple H is this: Austin cares about other people besides himself.

How far do your psychic powers reach?  Just wrestlers or can you read everybody's mind..

[Guest bps "The Truth" 21]

I'll tell you what.

 

If Benoit comes back and becomes the main storyline overshadowing the champion...wins the KOTR and the title 2 months later...all while having shitty matches...and generally looking shiity in the ring...and not being nearly over enough to hold the title...

 

...yeah I'll complain.  Other than that happening...it wouldn't be comprable to the HHH return though.