Editing Chris Benoit

{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler (1967–2007)}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{use Canadian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| image       = BenoitInTheRing.jpg 
| alt         = 
| caption     = Benoit in 2006
| birth_name  = Christopher Michael Benoit
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1967|5|21}}
| birth_place = [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2007|6|24|1967|5|21}}
| death_place = [[Fayetteville, Georgia]], U.S.
| death_cause = [[Suicide by hanging]]
| spouse      = {{plainlist}}
* {{marriage|Martina Benoit|1988|1997|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Nancy Benoit]]|November 23, 2000|June 22, 2007|end=[[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|died]]}}
{{endplainlist}}
| children    = 3 (2 living; 1 [[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|died]] 2007)
| height      = 5 ft 11 in<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/61 61]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/61}}</ref>
| weight      = 229 lb<ref name=Encyclopedia/>
| billed      = [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]<br />[[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], Canada
| trainer     = [[Bruce Hart (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]]<ref name="hell51">{{cite book |title=Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry |last=Randazzo V |first=Matthew |page=[https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/51 51] |publisher=Phoenix Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59777-622-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/51}}</ref><ref name="pain214-15">{{cite book |title=Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling |last=McCoy |first=Heath |pages=214–215 |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-55022-787-1}}</ref><ref name="Bruce130">{{cite book |title=Straight From the Hart |last=Hart |first=Bruce |page=130 |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-55022-939-4}}</ref><br>[[Stu Hart]]<br>Mike Hammer<br>[[Mr. Hito|Tokyo Joe]]<br>[[Tatsumi Fujinami]]<br />[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wrestlingexaminer.com/erased-the-tragic-story-of-chris-benoit/ |title=Erased! The Tragic Story of Chris Benoit |date=February 9, 2017 |quote=Benoit began training at the legendary New Japan Dojo, and began wrestling for NJPW |publisher=Wrestling Examiner |access-date=May 21, 2017 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922020739/https://wrestlingexaminer.com/erased-the-tragic-story-of-chris-benoit/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| debut       = November 22, 1985<ref name="archive">{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/benoit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624074945/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/benoit.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 24, 2015 |title=Chris Benoit Results Archive |work=Slam! Sports |publisher=[[Canoe.com|Canadian Online Explorer]] |access-date=February 8, 2019}}</ref>
| ring_names  = Chris Benoit<br />The Pegasus Kid<br />Wild Pegasus
}}
'''Christopher Michael Benoit''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ə|ˈ|n|w|ɑː}} {{respell|bə|NWAH}}; May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]<!-- don't include "murderer" or similar, per [[Talk:Chris_Benoit/Archive_7#Request_for_comment]] -->. He worked for various pro-wrestling promotions during his 22-year career, but is notorious for [[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|killing his wife and youngest son]].

Bearing the nicknames '''The (Canadian) Crippler''' alongside '''The Rabid Wolverine''' throughout his career, Benoit held 30 [[Professional wrestling championship|championships]] between
[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWF/WWE), [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW – all United States), [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW – Japan), and [[Stampede Wrestling]] (Canada). He was a two-time [[Professional wrestling championship#World championships|world champion]], Benoit having reigned as a one-time [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship|WCW World Heavyweight Champion]] and a one-time [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion]] in WWE;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship |title=Inside WWE > Title History > WCW World Championship |publisher=WWE |access-date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=May 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522014656/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight |title=Inside WWE > Title History > World Heavyweight Championship |publisher=WWE |access-date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=March 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312192029/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldheavyweight |url-status=live }}</ref> he was [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Book|booked]] to win a [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|third world championship]] at a WWE event on the [[Vengeance: Night of Champions|night of his death]].<ref name="oversight">{{cite web |url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/documents/20081231140942.pdf |title=U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Government Oversight and Reform – Interview of: Stephanie McMahon Levesque (p. 81) |access-date=December 3, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203033324/http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/documents/20081231140942.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2009 |quote=Ironically, Mr. Benoit was supposed to become [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW champion]] that night, and he didn't show up at the [[Vengeance: Night of Champions|[Vengeance: Night of Champions]]] pay‐per‐view because he was dead.}}</ref> Benoit was the twelfth [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#List of WWE Men's Triple Crown winners|WWE Triple Crown Champion]] and the seventh<!-- BRET HART AND GOLDBERG BECAME WCW TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY, MAKING BOTH EIGHTH. --> [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#List of WCW Triple Crown winners|WCW Triple Crown Champion]], and the second of four men in history to achieve both the WWE and the WCW Triple Crown Championships. He was also the [[Royal Rumble (2004)|2004 Royal Rumble]] winner, joining [[Shawn Michaels]] and preceding [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] as one of the three men to win a [[Royal Rumble#Match|Royal Rumble]] as the number one entrant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988118/mainevent |title=TV Shows > Royal Rumble > History > 2004 > Rumble Match |publisher=WWE |access-date=July 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611160405/http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988118/mainevent/ |archive-date=June 11, 2010 }}</ref> Benoit headlined multiple [[pay-per-view]]s for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) including a victory in the World Heavyweight Championship [[Card (sports)#Main event|main event]] [[Professional wrestling match types#Non-elimination matches with three competitors|triple threat]] match of [[WrestleMania XX]] in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/20/results |title=Full WrestleMania XX Results |publisher=WWE |access-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-date=November 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123063229/https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/20/results |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a [[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|three-day double-murder and suicide]], Benoit murdered [[Nancy Benoit|his wife]] in their residence on June 22, 2007, and his 7-year-old son the next day, before killing himself on June 24.<ref name="foxnews.com">{{cite news |date=June 27, 2007 |title=Wrestler Chris Benoit Double murder–suicide: Was It 'Roid Rage'? – Health News &#124; Current Health News |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286834,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605232337/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286834,00.html |archive-date=June 5, 2010 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |publisher=FOXNews.com}}</ref><ref name="abcnews.go.com">{{cite web |date=September 5, 2007 |title=Benoit's Dad, Doctors: Multiple Concussions Could Be Connected to murder–suicide – ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3562665&page=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612050932/http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Story?id=3562665&page=1 |archive-date=June 12, 2010 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |publisher=Abcnews.go.com}}</ref> The incident profoundly shocked and changed the professional wrestling industry and drew intense mainstream media criticism regarding brain injuries, substance abuse, and the long-term health of athletes in contact sports. Subsequent research undertaken by the Sports Legacy Institute (now the [[Christopher Nowinski#Concussion Legacy Foundation|Concussion Legacy Foundation]]) suggested that [[Depression (mood)|depression]] and [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE), a condition of [[brain damage]], from multiple [[concussion]]s that Benoit had sustained throughout his pro-wrestling career were likely contributing factors of the crimes.<ref name="bitchute.com">{{Citation |title=Chris Benoit murder-suicide full documentary, no commercials |url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/edFICJCRKRLS/ |access-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220721172804/https://www.bitchute.com/video/edFICJCRKRLS/ |archive-date=July 21, 2022 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref>

Due to his murders, Benoit's legacy in the professional wrestling industry is heavily debated.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-horrific-crime-that-changed-wwe-forever/|title=The Horrific Crime That Changed WWE Forever|work=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|first=Ian|last=Williams|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2022|archive-date=November 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107174923/https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7gyj4/the-horrific-crime-that-changed-wwe-forever|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/06/27/benoit.deaths.feedback/index.html|title=Your e-mails: Reaction to Chris Benoit deaths|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=June 26, 2007|access-date=February 7, 2022|archive-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122005934/https://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/06/27/benoit.deaths.feedback/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Benoit has been renowned by many for his exceptional [[technical wrestling]] ability. Prominent combat sports journalist [[Dave Meltzer]] considers Benoit "one of the top 10, maybe even [in] the top five, all-time greats" in professional wrestling history.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=068f9b38-4b0a-4b26-9e30-2867f415d514&p=2 |title=Benoit's Public Image Hid Monster |website=[[Calgary Herald]] |access-date=February 1, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404115632/http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=068f9b38-4b0a-4b26-9e30-2867f415d514&p=2 |archive-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref> Benoit was inducted into the [[Stampede Wrestling#Hall of Fame|Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame]] in 1995 and the [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/hof.html|title=Stampede Wrestling Hall Of Fame|website=Wrestling-Titles.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=September 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926233451/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/hof.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His WON induction was put to a re-vote in 2008 to determine if Benoit should remain a member of their Hall of Fame. The threshold percentage of votes required to remove Benoit was not met.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.profightdb.com/halls-of-fame/wrestling-observer-newsletter-hall-of-fame-2003-19.html|title=Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, 2003|website=Profightdb.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220213080829/http://www.profightdb.com/halls-of-fame/wrestling-observer-newsletter-hall-of-fame-2003-19.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Benoit was born in [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]], the son of Michael and Margaret Benoit. He grew up in [[Edmonton|Edmonton, Alberta]], from where he was billed throughout the bulk of his career.<ref name="bitchute.com"/> He had a sister who lived near Edmonton.<ref>Mentioned by his father in an interview with [[Larry King]] on [[CNN]].</ref>

During his childhood and early adolescence in Edmonton, Benoit idolized [[Dynamite Kid|Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington]]<ref name="lunney">{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/jan14_ins.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629093200/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive2000/jan14_ins.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |title=Benoit inspired by the Dynamite Kid, Crippler adopts idol's high-risk style |author=Lunney, Doug |access-date=May 10, 2007 |date=January 15, 2000}}</ref><ref name="maxim">{{cite web |url=http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/last-days-chris-benoit |title=The Last Days of Chris Benoit |last=Lewis |first=Michael |date=November 14, 2007 |website=[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]] |access-date=September 15, 2016 |archive-date=September 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925003015/http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/last-days-chris-benoit |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Bret Hart]];<ref name="maxim"/><ref name="bretdvd">{{cite AV media |year=2005 |title=[[Bret "Hit Man" Hart: The Best There Is, the Best There Was, the Best There Ever Will Be]] |medium=DVD |time=59 & 118 minutes |publisher=[[WWE Home Video]] |quote=Growing up as a fan, and once I began wrestling, I always looked up to him; I always emulated him [...] Bret Hart, the man that I spent so many years looking up to, idolizing; he was somewhat of a role model to me.}}</ref> at twelve years old, he attended a local wrestling event at which the two performers "stood out above everyone else".<ref name="lunney"/> Benoit trained to become a professional wrestler in the [[Hart wrestling family|Hart family]] "[[Hart Dungeon|Dungeon]]", receiving education from family patriarch [[Stu Hart]]. In-ring, Benoit emulated both Billington and Bret Hart,<ref name="lunney"/><ref name="bretdvd"/> cultivating a high-risk style and physical appearance more reminiscent of the former<ref name="lunney"/> (years later, he adopted Hart's own "[[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|Sharpshooter]]" hold as a finishing move).{{citation needed|date=February 2019}}

== Professional wrestling career ==
{{more citations needed|section|date=September 2016}}

=== Stampede Wrestling (1985–1989) ===
Benoit began his career in 1985, in Stu Hart's [[Stampede Wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion]]. From the beginning, similarities between Benoit and Billington were apparent, as Benoit adopted many of his moves such as the [[Diving head butt|diving headbutt]] and the [[Suplex#Snap suplex|snap suplex]]; the homage was complete with his initial billing as "Dynamite" Chris Benoit. According to Benoit, in his first match, he attempted the diving headbutt before learning how to land correctly, and had the wind knocked out of him; he said he would never do the move again at that point. His debut match was a tag team match on November 22, 1985, in [[Calgary, Alberta]], where he teamed with "The Remarkable" Rick Patterson against Butch Moffat and Mike Hammer, which Benoit's team won the match after Benoit pinned Moffat with a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Sunset flip|sunset flip]].<ref name="archive"/> The first title Benoit ever won was the [[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] on March 18, 1988, against [[Gadowar Singh Sahota|Gama Singh]].<ref name="stampede">{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-bc-mh.html |title=Stampede Wrestling British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title |publisher=wrestling-titles.com |access-date=February 8, 2019 |archive-date=December 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201050422/http://wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/stampede/ab-bc-mh.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During his tenure in Stampede, he won four International Tag Team and three more British Commonwealth titles,<ref name="Titles">{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories |publisher=Archeus Communications |edition=4th |year=2006 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref> and had a lengthy [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with [[John Hindley|Johnny Smith]] that lasted for over a year, which both men traded back-and-forth the British Commonwealth title. In 1989, Stampede closed its doors, and with a recommendation from [[Allen Coage|Bad News Allen]], Benoit departed for [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]].

=== New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1986–1999) ===
Upon arriving to [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW), Benoit spent about a year training in their "New Japan Dojo" with the younger wrestlers to improve his abilities. While in the dojo, he spent months doing strenuous activities like push-ups and floor sweeping before stepping into the ring. He made his Japanese debut in 1986 under his real name. In 1989, he started wearing a mask and assuming the [[Ring name|name]] The Pegasus Kid. Benoit said numerous times that he originally hated the mask, but it eventually became a part of him. While with NJPW, he came into his own as a performer in critically acclaimed matches with luminaries like [[Jushin Thunder Liger]], [[Shinjiro Otani]], [[Eddie Guerrero|Black Tiger]], and [[El Samurai]] in their junior heavyweight division.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

In August 1990, he won his first major championship, the [[IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship]], from Jushin Thunder Liger. He eventually lost the title in November 1990 (and in July 1991 in Japan and in November 1991 in Mexico, his [[Luchas de Apuestas|mask]]) back to Liger,<ref name="Titles"/> forcing him to reinvent himself as Wild Pegasus. Benoit spent the next couple years in Japan, winning the [[Best of the Super Juniors]] tournament twice in [[Best of the Super Juniors#1993|1993]] and [[Best of the Super Juniors#1995|1995]]. He went on to win the [[Super J-Cup (1994)|inaugural]] [[Super J-Cup|Super J-Cup tournament]] in 1994, defeating Black Tiger, [[Gedo (wrestler)|Gedo]], and [[The Great Sasuke]] in the finals. He wrestled outside New Japan occasionally to compete in Mexico and Europe, where he won a few regional championships, including the [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship|UWA Light Heavyweight Championship]]. He held that title for over a year, having many forty-plus minute matches with [[Villano III]].{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

=== World Championship Wrestling (1992–1993) ===
Benoit first came to [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) in June 1992, teaming up with fellow Canadian wrestler [[Biff Wellington]] for the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship]] tournament; they were defeated by [[Brian Pillman]] and Jushin Thunder Liger in the first round at [[Clash of the Champions XIX]].

He did not return to WCW until January 1993 at ''[[Clash of the Champions XXII]]'', defeating [[Brad Armstrong (wrestler)|Brad Armstrong]]. A month later, at [[SuperBrawl III]], he lost to [[2 Cold Scorpio]], getting pinned with only three seconds left in the 20-minute time limit. At the same time, he formed a tag team with [[Bobby Eaton]]. After he and Eaton lost to Scorpio and [[Marcus Bagwell]] at [[Slamboree (1993)|Slamboree]], Benoit headed back to Japan.

=== Various promotions (1993–1994) ===
After WCW, Benoit worked in [[Australia]], and [[CMLL]] in [[Mexico]]. In early 1994, he worked for NWA New Jersey where he defeated [[Jerry Lawler]]. A month later he fought [[Terry Funk]] to a double count out.

=== Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1995) ===
In August 1994, Benoit began working with [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] (ECW) in between tours of Japan. He was booked as a dominant wrestler there, gaining notoriety as the "Crippler" after he put [[Rocco Rock]] out. In his first appearance, Benoit competed in a [[NWA World Title Tournament|one-night eight-man tournament]] for the vacant [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]], losing to [[2 Cold Scorpio]] in the quarter-finals match.<ref name="Williams2013">{{cite book |author=Scott E. Williams |title=Hardcore History: The Extremely Unauthorized Story of ECW |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4EQtAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT56 |date=December 13, 2013 |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated |isbn=978-1-61321-582-1 |pages=56–57}}</ref><ref name="Loverro2007">{{cite book |author=Thom Loverro |title=The Rise & Fall of ECW: Extreme Championship Wrestling |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j0dlOLyCj6YC |date=May 22, 2007 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-4165-6156-9 |pages=67–78}}</ref>

At [[November to Remember (1994)|November to Remember]], Benoit accidentally broke [[Sabu (wrestler)|Sabu]]'s neck within the opening seconds of the match. The injury came when Benoit threw Sabu with the intention that he take a face-first "pancake" [[Bump (professional wrestling)|bump]], but Sabu attempted to turn mid-air and take a backdrop bump instead. He did not achieve full rotation and landed almost directly on his neck.<ref name="hell162163">{{cite book |title=Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & The Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry |last=Randazzo V |first=Matthew |publisher=Phoenix Books |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/162 162–163] |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-59777-622-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/ringofhellstoryo0000rand/page/162}}</ref>

After this match Benoit returned to the locker room and broke down over the possibility that he might have paralysed someone.<ref name="hell162163"/> [[Paul Heyman]], the head booker of ECW at the time, came up with the idea of continuing the "Crippler" moniker for Benoit. From that point until his departure from ECW, he was known as "Crippler Benoit". When he returned to WCW in October 1995, WCW modified his ring name to "Canadian Crippler Chris Benoit". In ''The Rise and Fall of ECW'' book, Heyman commented that he planned on using Benoit as a dominant heel for quite some time, before putting the company's main title, the [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship]], on him to be the long-term champion of the company.

Benoit and [[Dean Malenko]] won the [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]]{{snd}}Benoit's first American title{{snd}}from Sabu and [[Tazz|The Tazmaniac]] in February 1995 at [[Return of the Funker]].<ref name="Titles"/> After winning, they were initiated into the [[The Triple Threat|Triple Threat]] [[List of professional wrestling terms#S|stable]], led by ECW World Heavyweight Champion, [[Shane Douglas]], as Douglas's attempt to recreate the [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]], as the three-man contingency held all three of the ECW championships at the time (Malenko also held the [[ECW World Television Championship]] at the time). The team lost the championship to [[The Public Enemy (professional wrestling)|The Public Enemy]] that April at [[Three Way Dance]]. Benoit spent some time in ECW feuding with [[The Steiner Brothers]] and rekindling the feud with 2 Cold Scorpio. He was forced to leave ECW after his work visa expired; Heyman was supposed to renew it, but he failed to make it on time, so Benoit left ECW in August 1995 as a matter of job security and the ability to enter the United States. He toured Japan until WCW called.<ref name="Titles"/>

=== World Wrestling Federation (1995) ===
In June 1995, while under contract with ECW, Benoit worked in three [[dark match]]es losing to [[Bob Holly]], [[Bryan Clark|Adam Bomb]] and [[Owen Hart]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehistoryofwwe.com/wwf-results-1995/ |title=Yearly Results: 1995 |last=Cawthon |first=Graham |date=January 10, 2024 |website=TheHistoryOfWWE.com |publisher= |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204204129/https://thehistoryofwwe.com/wwf-results-1995/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Return to WCW (1995&ndash;2000) ===
==== The Four Horsemen (1995&ndash;1999) ====
[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW) and [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW) had a working relationship, and because of their "talent exchange" program, Benoit signed with WCW in late 1995 along with a number of talent working in New Japan to be a part of the [[List of professional wrestling terms#A|angle]]. Like the majority of those who came to WCW in the exchange, he started out in as a member of the [[cruiserweight (professional wrestling)|cruiserweight]] division, having lengthy matches against many of his former rivals in Japan on almost every single broadcast. At the end of 1995, Benoit went back to Japan as a part of the "talent exchange" to wrestle as a representative for New Japan in the [[Super J-Cup#1995|Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage]], defeating [[Chris Jericho|Lionheart]] in the quarterfinals (he received a bye to the quarterfinals for his work in 1995, similar to the way he advanced in the 1994 edition) and losing to [[Keiji Takayama|Gedo]] in the semifinals.

[[File:Lisa and Chris Benoit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1|Benoit with a fan during his time in WCW]]
After impressing higher-ups with his work, he was approached by [[Ric Flair]] and the WCW booking staff to become a member of the reformed [[Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] in 1995, alongside Flair, [[Arn Anderson]], and [[Brian Pillman]]; he was introduced by Pillman as a gruff, no-nonsense heel similar to his ECW persona, "The Crippler". He was brought in to add a new dynamic for Anderson and Flair's tormenting of [[Hulk Hogan]] and [[Randy Savage]] in their "Alliance to End Hulkamania", which saw the Horsemen team up with [[The Dungeon of Doom]], but that alliance ended with Dungeon leader and WCW [[List of professional wrestling terms#B|booker]], [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] feuding with Pillman. When Pillman abruptly left the company for the WWF, Benoit was placed into his ongoing feud with Sullivan. This came to fruition through a dissension between the two in a tag team match with the two reluctantly teaming with each other against [[The Public Enemy (professional wrestling)|The Public Enemy]], and Benoit being attacked by Sullivan at [[Slamboree 1996|Slamboree]]. This led to the two having violent confrontations at [[pay-per-view]]s, which led to Sullivan booking a feud in which Benoit was having an [[affair]] with Sullivan's real-life wife and [[Kayfabe|onscreen]] [[List of professional wrestling terms#V|valet]], [[Nancy Benoit|Nancy]] (also known as Woman). Benoit and Nancy were forced to spend time together to make the affair look real, (hold hands in public, share hotel rooms, etc.).<ref>[http://www.metafilter.com/62384/Chris-Benoit-19672007 Chris Benoit (1967–2007) profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202041755/https://www.metafilter.com/62384/Chris-Benoit-19672007 |date=December 2, 2017 }}, MetaFilter.com; accessed June 30, 2015.</ref>

This onscreen relationship developed into a real-life affair offscreen. As a result, Sullivan and Benoit had a contentious backstage relationship at best, and an undying hatred for each other at worst. Benoit did, however, admit having a certain amount of respect for Sullivan, saying on the DVD ''[[Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story]]'' that Sullivan never took undue liberties in the ring during their feud, even though he blamed Benoit for breaking up his marriage. This continued for over the course of a year with Sullivan having his [[enforcer (professional wrestling)|enforcers]] apprehend Benoit in a multitude of matches. This culminated in a [[retirement match]] at the [[Bash at the Beach 1997|Bash at the Beach]], where Benoit defeated Sullivan; this was used to explain Sullivan going to a behind-the-scenes role, where he could focus on his initial job of booking.

[[File:Chris Benoit 1999 (03).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Benoit in 1999]]
In 1998, Benoit had a long feud with [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]]. They fought over the [[WCW World Television Championship]] until Booker lost the title to [[Dave Finlay|Fit Finlay]].<ref name="Titles"/> Booker won a "Best-of-Seven" series which was held between the two to determine a number one contender. Benoit went up 3 to 1 before Booker caught up, forcing the 7th and final match on [[WCW Monday Nitro|''Monday Nitro'']]. During the match, [[Bret Hart]] interjected himself, interfering on behalf of Benoit in an attempt to get him to join the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)|New World Order]]. Benoit refused to win that way and told the referee what happened, getting himself disqualified. Booker refused that victory, instead opting for an eighth match at the [[Great American Bash 1998|Great American Bash]] to see who would fight Finlay later that night. Booker won the final match and went on to beat Finlay for the title.<ref name="Titles"/> This feud significantly elevated both men's careers as singles competitors, and both remained at the top of the midcard afterward.

In 1999, Benoit teamed with Dean Malenko once again and defeated [[Curt Hennig]] and [[Barry Windham]] to win the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]].<ref name="Titles"/> This led to a reformation of the Four Horsemen with the tag team champions, Anderson, and [[Steve McMichael|Steve "Mongo" McMichael]]. The two hunted after the tag team championship for several months, feuding with teams like [[Raven (wrestler)|Raven]] and [[Perry Saturn]] or [[Billy Kidman]] and [[Rey Mysterio Jr.]]

==== The Revolution and World Heavyweight Champion (1999&ndash;2000) ====
After a falling out with Anderson and McMichael, Benoit and Malenko left the Horsemen; he won the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]]<ref name="Titles"/> before bringing together Malenko, Perry Saturn, and [[Shane Douglas]] to form "[[Revolution (WCW)|the Revolution]]".

The Revolution was a heel stable of younger wrestlers who felt slighted (both kayfabe and legitimate) by WCW management, believing they never gave them the chance to be stars, [[Push (professional wrestling)|pushing]] older, more established wrestlers instead, despite their then-current questionable worthiness of their pushes. This led to the Revolution seceding from WCW, and forming their own nation, complete with a flag. This led to some friction being created between Benoit and leader, Douglas, who called into question Benoit's heart in the group, causing Benoit to quit the group, thus turning face, and having his own crusade against the top stars, winning the Television title one more time and the United States title from [[Jeff Jarrett]] in a [[ladder match]]. In October 1999 on ''Nitro'' in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], Benoit wrestled Bret Hart as a tribute to Bret's brother [[Owen Hart]], who had recently died due to an [[Over the Edge (1999)#Owen Hart accident|equipment malfunction]]. Hart defeated Benoit by submission, and the two received a standing ovation, and an embrace from guest ring announcer, [[Harley Race]].

Benoit was unhappy working for WCW.<ref name="unhappy">{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/apr17_ring.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150609123857/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/apr17_ring.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 9, 2015 |title=Ring of intrigue in WWF shows |last=Cole |first=Glenn |date=April 17, 1999 |work=SLAM! Sports |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |access-date=May 12, 2009}}</ref> One last attempt in January 2000 was made to try to keep him with WCW, by putting the vacant [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] on him by defeating [[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]] at [[Souled Out 2000|Souled Out]].<ref name="Titles"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Souled Out 2000 |work=Pro Wrestling History |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/nwoppv.html#99 |access-date=October 3, 2007 |archive-date=June 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623094940/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/nwoppv.html#99 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, due to disagreements with management and to protest the promotion of Kevin Sullivan to head booker,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/other/timelin5.htm |title=Wrestling Information Archive - Wrestling Timeline: (1999 - Present) |date=August 4, 2001|url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010804085453/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/other/timelin5.htm |archive-date=August 4, 2001}}</ref> Benoit left WCW the next day alongside his friends [[Eddie Guerrero]], Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, forfeiting his title in the process.<ref name="unhappy"/> WCW then refused to acknowledge Benoit's victory as an official title reign, and Benoit's title reign was not listed in the title lineage at WCW.com.<ref name="WCW.com">{{cite web |title=World Heavyweight Champion and WCW/NWA Title History |publisher=WCW.com |url=http://www.wcw.com/2000/superstars/world/ |access-date=October 20, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817233603/http://www.wcw.com/2000/superstars/world/ |archive-date=August 17, 2000}}</ref> However, the WWF recognized Benoit's title win, and Benoit's title reign is still listed in the title lineage at WWE.com.<ref name="WWE.com">{{cite web |title=WCW World Championship |publisher=WWE.com |url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship |access-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715203500/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wcwchampionship |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit spent the next few weeks in Japan before heading to the WWF, who acknowledged his WCW World Heavyweight Championship win and presented him as a former world champion.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Benoit |publisher=WWE.com |url=http://raw.wwe.com/superstars/benoit_c/index.html |access-date=October 23, 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020802221928/http://raw.wwe.com/superstars/benoit_c/index.html |archive-date=August 2, 2002}}</ref>

=== World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2000–2007) ===
==== The Radicalz (2000–2001) ====
{{main|The Radicalz}}
[[File:Rikishi vs. Chris Benoit.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Benoit was disqualified from the [[King of the Ring (2000)|2000 King of the Ring]] for using a chair against [[Rikishi (wrestler)|Rikishi]]]]
Benoit joined the [[World Wrestling Federation]] near the end of its [[Attitude Era]]. Along with Guerrero, Saturn and Malenko, he debuted in the WWF as a stable that became known as [[the Radicalz]]. After losing their "tryout matches" upon entry, The Radicalz aligned themselves with WWF Champion [[Triple H]] and became a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[glossary of professional wrestling terms#Faction|faction]]. Benoit quickly won his first title in the WWF just over a month later at [[WrestleMania 2000]] on April 2, pinning [[Chris Jericho]] in a triple threat match to win [[Kurt Angle]]'s [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]]. It was also in this time period that Benoit wrestled in his first WWF pay-per-view main events, challenging [[Dwayne Johnson|The Rock]] for the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] at [[Fully Loaded (2000)|Fully Loaded]] on July 23 and as part of a fatal four-way title match at [[Unforgiven (2000)|Unforgiven]] on September 24. On both occasions Benoit appeared to have won the title, only to have the decision reversed by then-WWF [[Professional wrestling authority figures|commissioner]] [[Mick Foley]] due to cheating on Benoit's part. Benoit simultaneously entered into a long-running feud with Jericho for the Intercontinental title, with the two meeting at [[Backlash (2000)|Backlash]] on April 30, [[Judgment Day (2000)|Judgment Day]] on May 21 and [[SummerSlam (2000)|SummerSlam]] on August 27; Benoit winning all three matches. The feud finally culminated in Jericho defeating Benoit in a [[ladder match]] at the [[Royal Rumble (2001)|Royal Rumble]] on January 21, 2001. Benoit won the Intercontinental title three times between April 2000 and January 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/intercontinental-championship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201144004/https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/intercontinental-championship |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |title=Intercontinental Championship |publisher=[[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]] |access-date=February 5, 2023}}</ref>

In early 2001, Benoit broke away from The Radicalz (who had recently reformed three months earlier) and turned face, feuding first with his former stablemates and then with Kurt Angle, whom he wrestled and lost to at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]] on April 1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001/wwf040101 |title=WrestleMania X-Seven report |access-date=February 9, 2008 |publisher=The Other Arena |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404173136/http://www.otherarena.com/htm/cgi-bin/history.cgi?2001%2Fwwf040101 |archive-date=April 4, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He gained some amount of revenge after beating Angle in an "Ultimate Submission" match at [[Backlash (2001)|Backlash]] on April 29. The feud continued after Benoit stole Angle's cherished [[Gold medal|Olympic Gold Medal]]. This culminated in a match at [[Judgment Day (2001)|Judgment Day]] on May 20 where Angle won a [[Professional wrestling match types#Series variations|two out of three falls match]] with the help of [[Edge and Christian]]. In response, Benoit teamed up with his former rival Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian in that night's [[professional wrestling tag team match types#Tag Team Turmoil|Tag Team Turmoil match]] to become the number one contenders to the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF Tag Team Championship]].

The next night on ''[[WWE Raw|Raw Is War]]'', Benoit and Jericho defeated [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] and Triple H to win the WWF Tag Team Championship. On the May 24 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'', Benoit suffered a legitimate neck injury in a four-way [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match|TLC match]]. Benoit challenged Austin for the WWF Championship on two occasions, first losing in a manner similar to the [[Montreal Screwjob]] in Calgary on the May 28 episode of ''Raw is War'' and then losing in a close match in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton on the May 31 episode of ''SmackDown!''. Despite the neck injury, he continued to wrestle until the [[King of the Ring (2001)|King of the Ring]] on June 24, where he was pinned by Austin in a triple threat match for the WWF Championship also involving Jericho. Benoit missed the next year due to his neck injury, missing the entire [[The Invasion (professional wrestling)|Invasion storyline]].

==== Championship pursuits and reigns (2002–2003) ====
[[File:Chris Benoit.jpg|thumb|left|Benoit at the ''[[WWE Tribute to the Troops|Tribute to the Troops]]'' in [[WWE Tribute to the Troops results#2022|2003]]]]
During the first [[WWE brand extension|WWF draft]], he was the third wrestler picked by Vince McMahon to be part of the new [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown!]] roster,<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |page=102}}</ref> although still on the injured list. However, when he returned, he did so as a member of the [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]] roster. On his first night back, he turned heel by aligning himself with Eddie Guerrero, and he feuded with Stone Cold Steve Austin briefly.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |page=148}}</ref> Benoit defeated [[Rob Van Dam]] on the July 29, 2002, edition of ''Raw'' to become Intercontinental Champion for the fourth and final time. He and Guerrero were then moved to SmackDown! during a storyline "open season" on wrestler contracts,<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |page=200}}</ref> with Benoit taking the Intercontinental Championship to ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |page=197}}</ref> Van Dam defeated Benoit at [[SummerSlam (2002)|SummerSlam]] on August 25 and returned the title to ''Raw''.<ref name=pwi111>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=111}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003}}</ref>

After returning to ''SmackDown!'', he embarked on a feud with Kurt Angle in which he defeated him at [[Unforgiven (2002)|Unforgiven]] on September 22. On October 20, 2002, at [[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]], he teamed with Angle to win a [[WWE tournaments#WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament|tournament]] to crown the first-ever [[WWE Raw Tag Team Championship|WWE Tag Team Champions]].<ref name=pwi111/><ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |pages=279–280}}</ref> They became [[List of professional wrestling slang#Tweener|tweeners]] after betraying [[Los Guerreros#World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–2004)|Los Guerreros]]. At [[Rebellion (2002)|Rebellion]], Benoit and Angle made their successful title defence, defeating [[Los Guerreros]]. They lost the championships to [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] and [[Rey Mysterio]] on the November 7 episode of ''SmackDown!'' in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Series variations|two-out-of-three falls match]]. They received a rematch at [[Survivor Series (2002)|Survivor Series]] on November 17 in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Three-way elimination tag team match|triple threat elimination match]] against Edge and Mysterio and Los Guerreros, but failed to win the titles after being the first team eliminated.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=McAvennie |title=WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |pages=291–296}}</ref> The team split up shortly afterward and Benoit became a face.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

Angle won his third WWE Championship from [[Big Show]] at [[Armageddon (2002)|Armageddon]] on December 15,<ref>{{cite book |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts |chapter=Wrestling's historical cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=112}}</ref> and Benoit faced him for the title at the [[Royal Rumble (2003)|Royal Rumble]] on January 19, 2003. The match was highly praised from fans and critics. Although Benoit lost the match, he received a standing ovation for his efforts.<ref name="PS104">{{cite news |last=Hurley |first=Oliver |work=Power Slam Magazine, issue 104 |title="Every Man for himself" (Royal Rumble 2003) |publisher=SW Publishing |date=February 21, 2003 |pages=16–19}}</ref> Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, teaming with the returning [[Rhyno]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030227.html |title=SmackDown—February 27, 2003 Results |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205234433/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030227.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

At [[WrestleMania XIX]] on March 30, the WWE Tag Team Champions, [[The World's Greatest Tag Team|Team Angle]] ([[Charlie Haas]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]]), put their titles on the line against Benoit and his partner Rhyno and Los Guerreros in a triple threat tag team match. Team Angle retained when Benjamin pinned [[Chavo Guerrero Jr.|Chavo]].<ref>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |pages=112–113}}</ref>

In April 2003, following WrestleMania, Benoit then feuded with [[John Cena]] (wearing a shirt saying "Toothless Aggression") and [[The Full Blooded Italians]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030417.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=April 17, 2003 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=August 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100803003139/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030417.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030424.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=April 24, 2003 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422224708/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030424.html |url-status=live }}</ref> teaming with Rhyno occasionally.<ref name=pwi113>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=113}}</ref>

In June 2003, the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Championship]] was reactivated and renamed the WWE United States Championship, and Benoit participated in the tournament for the title. He lost in the final match to Eddie Guerrero at [[Vengeance (2003)|Vengeance]] on July 27.<ref name=pwi113/> The two feuded over the title for the next month,<ref>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |pages=113–114}}</ref> and Benoit went on to defeat the likes of [[Matt Bloom|A-Train]] at [[No Mercy (2003)|No Mercy]] on October 19,<ref name=pwi114>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=114}}</ref> Big Show, and eliminating [[Brock Lesnar]] by submission at [[Survivor Series (2003)|Survivor Series]] on November 16 as part of a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Elimination tag team elimination|Survivor Series elimination tag team match]] between Team Angle against Team Lesnar. As a result, Benoit challenged Lesnar for the [[WWE Championship]] on the December 4 episode of ''SmackDown!'', but lost after passing out to Lesnar's debuting [[Boston crab#Over-the-shoulder single leg Boston crab|''Brock Lock'']] [[Grappling hold#Submission hold|submission hold]].<ref name=pwi114/> SmackDown! General Manager [[Paul Heyman]] had a vendetta against Benoit along with Lesnar, preventing him from gaining a shot at Lesnar's WWE Championship.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031204.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=December 4, 2003 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127074418/http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/031204.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== World Heavyweight Champion (2004–2005) ====
When Benoit won a qualifying match for the [[Royal Rumble (2004)|2004 Royal Rumble]] against the Full Blooded Italians in a handicap match with John Cena, Heyman named him as the number one entry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040101.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=January 1, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128014654/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/040101.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 25, 2004, he won the [[Royal Rumble (2004)|Royal Rumble]] by last eliminating Big Show, and thus earned a world title shot at [[WrestleMania XX]] on March 14.<ref name=pwi114/> He became only the second WWE performer to win the Royal Rumble as the number one entrant along with Shawn Michaels. With Benoit being on the SmackDown! brand at the time, it was assumed that he was going to compete for his brand's championship, the WWE Championship. However, Benoit exploited a "loophole" in the rules and moved to the Raw brand the following night to announce he would instead challenge [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Triple H]] at WrestleMania.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040126.html |title=RAW Results |date=January 24, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230145447/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040126.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Though the match was originally intended to be a one-on-one match, Shawn Michaels, whose [[professional wrestling match types#Last Man/Woman Standing match|Last Man Standing match]] against Triple H at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Championship ended in a draw,<ref name=pwi114/> thought that he deserved to be in the main event. When it was time for Benoit to sign the contract putting himself in the main event, Michaels [[professional wrestling attacks#superkick|superkicked]] him and signed his name on the contract,<ref name=pwi114/> which eventually resulted in a Triple Threat match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040216.html |title=RAW Results |date=February 16, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129104011/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040216.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:EddieandBenoitWMXX.jpg|thumb|Benoit with his [[Real life|real-life]] best friend [[Eddie Guerrero]], celebrating their respective world championship victories at [[WrestleMania XX]]]]
At WrestleMania, Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship by forcing Triple H to tap out to his signature submission move, the Crippler Crossface, in a highly acclaimed match.<ref name=pwi115>{{cite book |author=PWI Staff |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts |chapter=Wrestling's historical cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=115}}</ref> The match marked the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended in submission.<ref name="WrestleMania22">{{cite news |author=Hurley, Oliver |title=Power Slam Magazine, issue 142 |work="WrestleMania In Person" (WrestleMania 22) |publisher=SW Publishing |date=April 20, 2006 |pages=16–19}}</ref><ref name="WrestleMania23">{{cite news |author=McElvaney, Kevin |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |work=WrestleMania 23 |publisher=Kappa Publishing |date=June 2007 |pages=74–101}}</ref> After the match, Benoit celebrated his win with then-reigning [[WWE Championship|WWE Champion]] Eddie Guerrero. The rematch was held at [[Backlash (2004)|Backlash]] on April 18 in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton. It was Michaels who ended up submitting to Benoit's Sharpshooter, allowing Benoit to retain his title.<ref name=pwi115/> The next night in Calgary on the April 19 episode of ''Raw'', he and Edge won the World Tag Team Championship from [[Dave Bautista|Batista]] and [[Ric Flair]], making Benoit a double champion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040419.html |title=RAW Results |date=April 19, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 19, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119045331/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040419.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following his victories, Benoit and Edge engaged in a rivalry with [[La Résistance (professional wrestling)|La Résistance]] for the World Tag Team Championship, which saw a series of matches (including losing the titles to La Résistance on the May 31 episode of ''Raw''), while simultaneously having confrontations with [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] over the World Heavyweight Championship. Benoit wrestled in two matches at [[WWE Bad Blood (2004)|Bad Blood]] on June 13 in his respective rivalries; he and Edge failed to regain the World Tag Team Championship (winning by disqualification when Kane interfered) while he successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Kane. A month later at [[Vengeance (2004)|Vengeance]] on July 11, Benoit retained the title against Triple H.<ref>{{cite news |title=World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit defeats Triple H to retain |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/2004/results |publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment |access-date=July 29, 2007 |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012180710/http://www.wwe.com/shows/vengeance/2004/results |url-status=live }}</ref>

At [[SummerSlam (2004)|SummerSlam]] on August 15, Benoit lost the World Heavyweight Championship to [[Randy Orton]].<ref name=pwi116>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=116}}</ref> Benoit then teamed with [[William Regal]] at [[Unforgiven (2004)|Unforgiven]] on September 12 against [[Ric Flair]] and Batista in a winning effort. Benoit then feuded with Edge (who had turned into an arrogant and conceited heel), leading to [[Taboo Tuesday (2004)|Taboo Tuesday]] on October 19 where Benoit, Edge, and Shawn Michaels were all put into a poll to see who would face Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship that night.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041018.html |title=RAW Results |date=October 18, 2004 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715132334/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/041018.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Michaels received the most votes and as a result, Edge and Benoit were forced to team up to face the World Tag Team Champions, La Résistance, in the same night. However, Edge deserted Benoit during the match and Benoit was forced to take on both members of La Résistance by himself. He and Edge still managed to regain the World Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles back to La Résistance on the November 1 episode of ''Raw''.<ref name=pwi116/> At [[Survivor Series (2004)|Survivor Series]] on November 14, Benoit sided with Randy Orton's team while Edge teamed with Triple H's team, and while Edge was able to pin Benoit after a Pedigree from Triple H, Orton's team won.<ref>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |pages=116–117}}</ref>

The Benoit-Edge feud ended at [[New Year's Revolution (2005)|New Year's Revolution]] on January 9, 2005 in an [[Elimination Chamber]] match for the World Heavyweight Championship, which both men lost.<ref name="PS127">{{cite news |author=Evans, Anthony |title=Power Slam Magazine, issue 127 |work=Tripper strikes back (New Years Revolution 2005) |publisher=SW Publishing |date=January 21, 2005 |pages=30–31}}</ref> The feud stopped abruptly, as Edge feuded with Shawn Michaels, and Benoit entered the [[Royal Rumble (2005)|Royal Rumble]] as the second entrant on January 30, lasting longer than any competitor before being eliminated by Ric Flair.<ref name=pwi117>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=117}}</ref> The two then continued to have matches in the following weeks until the two of them, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Christian were placed in the [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] at [[WrestleMania 21]] on April 3. Edge won the match by knocking Benoit off of the ladder by smashing his arm with a chair.<ref name=pwi117/> The feud finally culminated in a Last Man Standing match at [[Backlash (2005)|Backlash]] on May 1, which Edge won with a brick shot to the back of Benoit's head.<ref name="PS131">{{cite news |author=Power Slam Staff |title=WrestleMania rerun (Backlash 2005) |work=Power Slam Magazine, issue 131 |publisher=SW Publishing |date=May 21, 2005 |pages=32–33}}</ref>

==== United States Champion (2005–2007) ====
On June 9, Benoit was drafted to the SmackDown! brand after being the first man selected by ''SmackDown!'' in the [[2005 WWE draft lottery|2005 Draft Lottery]] and participated in an ECW-style revolution against the ''SmackDown!'' heels.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050609.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=June 9, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715103405/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050609.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="PS132">{{cite news |title=Power Slam |work=What's going down... |publisher=SW Publishing LTD |id=132 |page=5}}</ref> Benoit appeared at [[ECW One Night Stand (2005)|ECW One Night Stand]] on June 12, defeating Eddie Guerrero.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ons05results |title=ECW One Night Stand 2005 Results |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=April 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428140956/http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/history/ons05results/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:CBenoit.jpg|thumb|left|Benoit in September 2005 holding the [[WWE United States Championship]] belt]]
On July 24 at [[The Great American Bash (2005)|The Great American Bash]], Benoit failed to win the WWE United States Championship from [[Orlando Jordan]],<ref name=pwi118>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Card |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=118}}</ref> but won a rematch at [[SummerSlam (2005)|SummerSlam]] on August 21 in 25 seconds.<ref name=pwi118/> Benoit then won three consecutive matches against Jordan in less than a minute.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050901.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=September 1, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201234115/http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050901.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/smackdown/smackdown2005.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213174433/http://www.wrestleview.com/results/smackdown/smackdown2005.shtml |archive-date=February 13, 2008 |title=SmackDown Results |date=September 8, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050923.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=September 23, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715103415/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/050923.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit later wrestled Booker T in friendly competitions,<ref name=pwi118/> until Booker T and his wife, [[Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman|Sharmell]], cheated Benoit out of the United States title on the October 21 episode of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051021.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=October 21, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100716215514/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051021.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 13, Eddie Guerrero was found dead in his hotel room. The following night, ''Raw'' held a Guerrero tribute show hosted by both Raw and SmackDown! wrestlers. Benoit was devastated at Guerrero's death and was very emotional during a series of video testimonials, eventually breaking down on camera.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051114.html |title=RAW — 14 November 2005 Results |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=March 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318164237/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051114.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The same week on ''SmackDown!'' (taped on the same night as ''Raw''), Benoit defeated Triple H in a tribute match to Guerrero. Following the contest, Benoit, Triple H, and Dean Malenko all assembled in the ring and pointed to the sky in salute of Guerrero.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051118.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=November 18, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=December 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201223121/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051118.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After controversy surrounding a United States Championship match against Booker T on the November 25 episode of ''SmackDown!'', [[Theodore Long]] set up a "Best of Seven" series between the two. Booker T won three times in a row (at [[Survivor Series (2005)|Survivor Series]] on November 27, the November 29 ''SmackDown! Special'', and the December 9 episode of ''SmackDown!''), due largely to Sharmell's interference, and Benoit faced elimination in the series.<ref name=pwi119>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=119}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051129.html |title=SmackDown Special Results |date=November 29, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421103906/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051129.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051209.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=December 9, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715103425/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051209.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit won the fourth match to stay alive at [[Armageddon (2005)|Armageddon]] on December 18,<ref name=pwi119/> but after the match, Booker T suffered a legitimate groin injury, and Randy Orton was chosen as a stand-in. Benoit defeated Orton twice by disqualification on the December 30 and January 6, 2006, episodes of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051230.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=December 30, 2005 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715104258/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/051230.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060106.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=January 6, 2006 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101071837/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060106.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, in the seventh and final match, Orton defeated Benoit with the help of Booker T, Sharmell, and Orlando Jordan, and Booker T captured the United States Championship.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated, May 2006 |work=Arena Reports |publisher=Kappa Publishing |date=May 2006 |page=130}}</ref> Benoit feuded with Orton for a short time, before defeating Orton in a [[professional wrestling match types#No Disqualification match/No Holds Barred match|No Holds Barred match]] on the January 27 episode of ''SmackDown!'' via the Crippler Crossface.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |date=May 2006 |work=Arena Reports |publisher=Kappa Publishing |page=132}}</ref> Benoit was given one last chance at the United States Championship at [[No Way Out (2006)|No Way Out]] on February 19 and won it by making Booker T submit to the Crippler Crossface, ending the feud.<ref name=pwi119/>

The next week on ''SmackDown!'', Benoit ([[kayfabe]]) broke [[John Layfield|John "Bradshaw" Layfield]] (JBL)'s hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060224.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=February 24, 2006 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=July 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724211842/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060224.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A match was set up for the two at [[WrestleMania 22]] on April 2 for Benoit's title, and for the next several weeks, they attacked each other. At WrestleMania, JBL won the match with an illegal cradle to win the title.<ref name="WrestleMania22"/> Benoit used his rematch clause two weeks later in a steel cage match on ''SmackDown!'', but JBL again won with illegal tactics.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060414.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=April 14, 2006 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101085953/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060414.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit entered the [[King of the Ring 2006|King of the Ring]] tournament, only to be defeated by [[Dave Finlay|Finlay]] in the opening round on the May 5 episode of ''SmackDown!'', after Finlay struck Benoit's neck with a chair and delivered a Celtic Cross.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060505.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101060818/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060505.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At [[Judgment Day (2006)|Judgment Day]] on May 21, Benoit gained some revenge by defeating Finlay with the Crippler Crossface in a grudge match.<ref>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=121}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2006/matches/2384844211/results |title=A Good Old-Fashioned Fight |date=May 21, 2006 |author=Brett Hoffman |access-date=January 5, 2008 |publisher=WWE |archive-date=January 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103092348/http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/history/2006/matches/2384844211/results/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On the following episode of ''SmackDown!'', [[Mark Henry]] brutalized Benoit during their match, giving him (kayfabe) back and rib injuries and causing him to bleed from his mouth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060526.html |title=SmackDown Results |date=May 26, 2006 |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101071905/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/060526.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit then took a sabbatical to heal nagging shoulder injuries.

On October 8, Benoit made his return at [[No Mercy (2006)|No Mercy]], defeating [[Darren Matthews|William Regal]] in a surprise match.<ref name=pwi122>{{cite book |title=2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts |chapter=Wrestling's Historical Cards |publisher=Kappa Publishing |year=2007 |page=122}}</ref> Later that week, he won his fifth and final United States Championship from [[Mr. Kennedy]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/061013.html |title=SmackDown-October 13, 2006 Results |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=January 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101072035/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/061013.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit then engaged in a feud with [[Chavo Guerrero Jr.|Chavo]] and [[Vickie Guerrero]]. He wanted answers from the Guerreros for their rash behaviour towards [[Rey Mysterio]], but was avoided by the two and was eventually assaulted. This led to the two embarking on a feud with title matches at [[Survivor Series (2006)|Survivor Series]] on November 26 and [[Armageddon (2006)|Armageddon]] on December 17; Benoit won both matches.<ref name=pwi122/> The feud culminated with one last title match as a [[No Disqualification match|No disqualification match]] on the January 19, 2007 episode of ''SmackDown!'', which was also won by Benoit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |date=May 2007 |work=Arena Reports |publisher=Kappa Publishing |page=130}}</ref> Later, [[Montel Vontavious Porter]] (MVP), who claimed that he was the best man to hold the United States title, challenged Benoit for the title at [[WrestleMania 23]] on April 1, where Benoit retained.<ref name="WrestleMania23"/> Their rivalry continued with Benoit defeating MVP again at [[Backlash (2007)|Backlash]] on April 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/backlash07.html |title=Backlash 2007 Results |access-date=May 14, 2007 |archive-date=November 26, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071126062520/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/backlash07.html |url-status=live }}</ref> At [[Judgment Day (2007)|Judgment Day]] on May 20, however, MVP gained the upper hand and defeated Benoit to win the title in a two out of three falls match, thus ending the feud.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday07.html |title=Judgment Day 2007 Results |access-date=June 29, 2007 |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413110544/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/judgementday07.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Benoit would wrestle MVP one last time on the June 2 episode ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event XXXIV|Saturday Night's Main Event]]'', in a winning effort in a tag-team match where Benoit partnered with [[Dave Bautista|Batista]] and MVP partnered with then-[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2em6k8|title=Edge & MVP vs Chris Benoit & Batista, Saturday Night's Main Event XXXIV|website=[[Dailymotion]]|date=January 13, 2015|access-date=April 13, 2021|archive-date=April 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427084811/https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2em6k8|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== ECW (2007) ====
On the June 11 episode of ''Raw'', Benoit was drafted to the [[ECW (WWE brand)|ECW]] brand as part of the [[2007 WWE draft]] after losing to [[ECW World Champion]] [[Bobby Lashley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070611.html |title=Raw Results |date=June 11, 2007 |access-date=June 29, 2007 |archive-date=December 15, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215123400/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/070611.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In his debut on the ECW brand, Benoit teamed up with [[CM Punk]] in a [[tag team]] match against [[Elijah Burke]] and [[Monty Brown|Marcus Cor Von]], in which Benoit and Punk won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw-wwe/070612.html|title=ECW results - June 12, 2007|access-date=2008-04-03|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> On the June 19 episode of ''[[WWE ECW|ECW]]'', Benoit wrestled his final match, defeating [[D'Angelo Dinero|Elijah Burke]] in a match to determine who would compete for the vacated [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW World Championship]] at [[Vengeance: Night of Champions|Vengeance]] on June 24. Since Lashley was drafted to Raw, he had vacated the title.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw-wwe/070619.html |title=ECW Results |date=June 19, 2007 |access-date=June 29, 2007 |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723215140/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/ecw-wwe/070619.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:BenoitHbWm23.jpg|right|thumb|The diving headbutt was blamed as one of the primary causes of Benoit's death]]
Benoit missed the weekend [[house show]]s, informing close colleagues that his wife and son were vomiting blood due to [[food poisoning]]. When he failed to show up for Vengeance, viewers were informed that he was unable to compete due to a "family emergency" and he was replaced in the title match by [[John Morrison (wrestler)|Johnny Nitro]], who defeated Punk to become ECW World Champion. The crowd spent the majority of the match chanting for Benoit.<ref>{{cite web |first1=John |last1=Powell |last2=Powell |first2=Justin |title=Vengeance banal and badly booked |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/06/24/4287727.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519060127/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/06/24/4287727.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 19, 2015 |work=SLAM! Sports |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |date=June 25, 2007 |access-date=November 6, 2007}}</ref> It would be revealed in the following days that Benoit [[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|had murdered his wife Nancy and son Daniel before committing suicide]].

WWE executive [[Stephanie McMahon]] later indicated that Benoit would have defeated [[CM Punk]] for the ECW World Championship had he been present for Vengeance.<ref name="oversight"/> Professional wrestler and MMA fighter [[Bob Sapp]], whom WWE had tried to sign up before a contract dispute with [[K-1]] rendered it impossible, reported he would have been put into an oncoming [[Angle (professional wrestling)|angle]] with Benoit in case he would have been able to debut.<ref name=Total>{{cite book |author=Jonathan Snowden |title=Total Mma: Inside Ultimate Fighting |url=https://archive.org/details/totalmmainsideul0000snow |date=2010 |publisher=[[ECW Press]] |isbn=978-15-549033-7-5 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

== Professional wrestling style ==
Benoit included a wide array of submission holds in his move-set and used a [[Professional wrestling holds#Crossface|crossface]], dubbed the ''Crippler Crossface'', and a [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|sharpshooter]] as finishers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_36289.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027234327/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Torch_Flashbacks_19/article_36289.shtml |access-date=November 11, 2009 |date=October 25, 2009 |archive-date=October 27, 2009 |last=Keller |first=Wade |title=Torch Flashbacks Keller's WWE Taboo Tuesday PPV Report 5 YRS. Ago (10–19–04): Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton vs. Ric Flair, Shelton Benjamin IC Title victory vs. Chris Jericho |publisher=PW Torch}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Martin |url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2004/1082342965.shtml |title=Full WWE Backlash (Raw) PPV Results – 4/18/04 from Edmonton, Alberta, CA |access-date=February 15, 2008 |date=April 18, 2004 |publisher=WrestleView |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207231011/http://www.wrestleview.com/news2004/1082342965.shtml |archive-date=February 7, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> He also used a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving headbutt|diving headbutt]] to finish off opponents.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/benoit.html |title=Chris Benoit |website=accelerator3359.com |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-date=June 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608075321/http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/benoit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The diving headbutt, which saw the deliverer leap off the top rope and land head first on the opponent, was partially blamed for the head trauma that caused Benoit to commit his crimes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.unilad.co.uk/sport/two-big-things-played-a-part-in-chris-benoits-death-and-we-need-to-talk-about-it/ |title=Two Big Things Played A Part In Chris Benoit's Death And We Need To Talk About It |website=Unilad.co.uk |access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415203239/https://www.unilad.co.uk/sport/two-big-things-played-a-part-in-chris-benoits-death-and-we-need-to-talk-about-it/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://deadspin.com/10-years-after-the-chris-benoit-killings-pro-wrestling-1794183640 |title=10 Years After The Chris Benoit Killings, Pro Wrestling Still Can't Fix Itself |last=Bixenspan |first=David |website=Deadspin |date=June 26, 2017 |language=en-US |access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415131754/https://deadspin.com/10-years-after-the-chris-benoit-killings-pro-wrestling-1794183640 |url-status=live }}</ref> Another of Benoit's trademark moves was three rolling [[Suplex (professional wrestling)|German suplexes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/07/12/537080.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161111070932/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/07/12/537080.html |access-date=November 11, 2009 |date=July 11, 2004 |archive-date=November 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |last=Sokol |first=Chris |title=Canadians have Edge at Vengeance |publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]] |work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> This move would later be mimicked by multiple other wrestlers, including [[Brock Lesnar]] who uses it as ''Suplex City''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/10-coolest-moves-right-now/page-2 |title=The 10 coolest moves in WWE right now |date=September 26, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2014 |publisher=WWE |archive-date=September 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929051226/http://www.wwe.com/inside/10-coolest-moves-right-now/page-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Benoit was renowned for his high-impact technical style. Former WWE rival [[Kurt Angle]] said in a 2017 interview that "he has to got to be in the top three of all time."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.screengeek.net/2017/04/17/kurt-angle-chris-benoit-top-3-wrestler-all-time/ |title=Kurt Angle Says Chris Benoit Is Top 3 Wrestler All Time |last=Edwards |first=Jonathan |date=April 17, 2017 |website=ScreenGeek |language=en-US |access-date=March 18, 2019 |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415202835/https://www.screengeek.net/2017/04/17/kurt-angle-chris-benoit-top-3-wrestler-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{clear}}

== Professional wrestling games ==
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Notes
|-
| 1997
| ''[[WCW vs. the World]]''
| First American video game appearance
|-
| 1997
| ''[[WCW vs. nWo: World Tour]]''
| 
|-
| 1997 
| ''[[Virtual Pro Wrestling 64]]''
| Only released in Japan
|-
| 1998
| ''Shin Nippon Pro Wrestling: Toukon Retsuden 3''
| Only released in Japan
|-
| 1998
| ''[[WCW Nitro]]''
|
|-
| 1998
| ''[[WCW/nWo Revenge]]''
| 
|-
| 1999
| ''[[WCW/nWo Thunder]]''
| 
|-
| 1999
| ''[[WCW Mayhem (video game)|WCW Mayhem]]''
|Last WCW video game appearance
|-	
| 2000
| ''[[WWF No Mercy (video game)|WWF No Mercy]]''
|First WWF/E video game appearance
|-	
| 2000
| ''[[WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role]]''
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[With Authority!]]''
| Cover athlete; Online game
|-
| 2001
| ''[[WWF Road to WrestleMania]]''
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It]]''	
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[WWF Raw (2002 video game)|WWF Raw]]''
|
|-
| 2002
| ''[[WWE WrestleMania X8 (video game)|WWE WrestleMania X8]]''
|
|-
| 2002 
| ''[[WWE Road to WrestleMania X8]]''	
|
|-	
| 2002
| ''[[WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth]]''
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[WWE Crush Hour]]''
|
|-
| 2003	
| ''[[WWE WrestleMania XIX (video game)|WWE WrestleMania XIX]]''	
|
|-
| 2003
| ''[[WWE Raw 2]]''
| 
|-	
| 2003
| ''[[WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain]]''
|
|-
| 2004	
| ''[[WWE Day of Reckoning]]''	
|
|-
| 2004
| ''[[WWE Survivor Series (video game)|WWE Survivor Series]]''
| Cover athlete
|-
| 2004 
| ''[[WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw]]''
|
|-	
| 2005 
| ''[[WWE WrestleMania 21 (video game)|WWE WrestleMania 21]]''
| Cover athlete ([[PAL]] version)
|- 
| 2005
| ''[[WWE Aftershock]]''
| Cover athlete (PAL version)
|-
| 2005 
| ''[[WWE Day of Reckoning 2]]''
|
|-	
| 2005 
| ''[[WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006]]''
|
|-	
| 2006	
| ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007]]''
| Last video game appearance
|}

== Championships and accomplishments ==
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 200
| image1            = Chris Benoit holding the World Heavyweight Championship belt at WrestleMania XX.jpg
| caption1          = Benoit celebrating with the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] at [[WrestleMania XX]]
| image2            = Benoitustitle.jpg
| caption2          = Benoit won the [[WWE United States Championship|WWE/WCW United States Champion]] a total of five times across WWE and WCW.
}}
* '''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
** [[Cauliflower Alley Club#2002|Future Legend Award (2002)]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/reunion-news/past-honorees/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411213015/http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/reunion-news/past-honorees/ |title=Past Honorees |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>
* '''[[Catch Wrestling Association]]'''
** [[CWA World Tag Team Championship (Germany)|CWA World Tag Team Championship]] ([[CWA World Tag Team Championship (Germany)#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Dave Taylor (wrestler, born 1957)|Dave Taylor]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.titlehistories.com/Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm |title=Catch Wrestling Association Title Histories |access-date=July 11, 2008 |publisher=titlehistories.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720162309/http://www.titlehistories.com/Catch_Wrestling_Association.htm|archive-date=July 20, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[ECW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Dean Malenko]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ecw/ecw-t.html |title=ECW World Tag Team Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=October 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004062927/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ecw/ecw-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''[[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'''
** [[IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-j.html |title=IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=April 12, 2008 |archive-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161216045409/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/newjapan/iwgp-j.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Super J-Cup]] ([[Super J-Cup (1994)|1994]])<ref name=SuperJ94>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories |publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter=Japan; New Japan Super Junior Heavyweight (Super J) Cup Tournament Champions |page=375 |year=2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
** [[Best of the Super Juniors|Top/Best of the Super Juniors]] ([[Best of the Super Juniors#1993|1993]], [[Best of the Super Juniors#1995|1995]])<ref name=BOSJ>{{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories |publisher=Archeus Communications |chapter=Japan; Top of the Super Junior Heavyweight Champions |page=375 |year=2000 |isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
** Super Grade Junior Heavyweight Tag League (1994) – with [[Shinjiro Otani]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/miscjr.html#sg|title=New Japan Misc. Junior Tournaments|website=Prowrestlinghistory.com|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010053/http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/newjapan/miscjr.html#sg|url-status=live}}</ref>
* '''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (2004) {{small|vs. [[Triple H]]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwifoty.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Feud of the Year |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616062707/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwifoty.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2008 }}</ref>
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (2004) {{small|vs. [[Shawn Michaels]] and Triple H at [[WrestleMania XX]]}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Match of the Year |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080616063308/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm |archive-date=June 16, 2008 }}</ref>
** [[List of Pro Wrestling Illustrated awards#Wrestler of the Year|Wrestler of the Year]] (2004)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiwoty.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners – Wrestler of the Year |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619065216/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiwoty.htm |archive-date=June 19, 2008 }}</ref>
** Ranked No. 1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the ''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]]'' in 2004<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50004.htm |title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 – 2004 |access-date=May 4, 2008 |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209025014/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50004.htm |archive-date=February 9, 2009 }}</ref>
** Ranked No. 69 of the top 500 greatest wrestlers in the ''PWI Years'' in 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm |title=PWI 500 of the PWI Years |access-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401195630/http://willywrestlefest.fr/Ressources/PWI/PWI500_PWI_Years_2003.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''[[Stampede Wrestling]]'''
** [[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship]] ([[Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship#Title history|4 times]])<ref name="stampede"/>
** [[Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship]] ([[Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 times]]) – with [[Ben Bassarab]] (1), [[Keith Hart (wrestler)|Keith Hart]] (1), Lance Idol (1), and [[Biff Wellington]] (1)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-t.html |title=Stampede International Tag Team Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505025114/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/canada/ab/calg-t.html |archive-date=May 5, 2008 }}</ref>
** [[Stampede Wrestling#Hall of Fame|Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame]] (1995)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfhof.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010816062842/http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/wwf/wwfhof.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 16, 2001 |title=Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 }}</ref>
* '''[[Universal Wrestling Association]]'''
** [[WWF Light Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWF Light Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/wwf-lh.html |title=WWF World Light Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311031623/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/mexico/uwa/wwf-lh.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|Benoit's reign with the championship is not recognized by WWE, who does not recognize any reign prior to December 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/ |title=WWE light Heavyweight Championship official history |publisher=WWE |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=March 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309162750/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
* '''[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
** [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Heavyweight Champions|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html |title=WCW World Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213205630/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|After Benoit left WCW for the WWF, WCW refused to acknowledge Benoit's victory as an official title reign, and Benoit's title reign was not listed in the title lineage at WCW.com.<ref name="WCW.com"/> However, the WWF recognized Benoit's title win, and Benoit's title reign is still listed in the title lineage at WWE.com.<ref name="WWE.com"/>}}
** [[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|2 times]]) – with Dean Malenko (1) and [[Perry Saturn]] (1)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html |title=WCW World Tag Team Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=February 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226100206/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[WCW World Television Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Television Champions|3 times]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-tv.html |title=NWA/WCW World Television Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=January 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119061229/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-tv.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|2 times]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-h.html |title=NWA/WCW United States Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=August 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803162134/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-h.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** Seventh [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#WCW Triple Crown Champions|WCW Triple Crown Champion]]<!-- BRET HART AND GOLDBERG BECAME WCW TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY, MAKING BOTH FIFTH. --><ref name="Sportskeeda">{{cite web |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/wrestling/in-memory-of-chris-benoit-more |title=In Memory of Chris Benoit & more |work=Sportskeeda |date=June 25, 2012 |access-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116200730/https://www.sportskeeda.com/wrestling/in-memory-of-chris-benoit-more |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''[[WWE|World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment]]'''
** [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE, 2002–2013)|World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of World Heavyweight Champions (WWE)|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-h.html |title=World Heavyweight Title (WWE Smackdown) history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=August 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820034918/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwe-world-h.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWE Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE)|1 time, inaugural]]) – with [[Kurt Angle]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/sd/wwe-sd-t.html |title=WWE Tag Team Title (Smackdown) history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=January 12, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100112115309/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/sd/wwe-sd-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[WWE United States Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|3 times]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-us-h.html |title=WWWF/WWE United States Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=March 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307134108/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-us-h.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/|title=WWE United States Championship|access-date=May 25, 2020|archive-date=December 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212060631/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates|url-status=live}}</ref>
** [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF/WWE Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|4 times]])<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html |title=WWF/WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705173318/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE, 1971–2010)|WWF/World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)|3 times]]) – with [[Chris Jericho]] (1) and [[Edge (wrestler)|Edge]] (2)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-t.html |title=WWWF/WWF/WWE World Tag Team Title history |publisher=Wrestling-titles.com |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=April 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417050926/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-t.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Royal Rumble]] ([[Royal Rumble (2004)|2004]])<ref name=rumble>{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988118/results |title=Royal Rumble 2004 Full Event Results |website=[[WWE]] |access-date=May 28, 2018 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211135936/https://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988118/results |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[WWE tournaments#WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament|WWE Tag Team Championship Tournament (2002)]] – with Kurt Angle<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/tagtitle.html#tag2002 |title=WWE Tag Team Title Tournaments |work=Pro Wrestling History |access-date=January 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630160324/http://prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/tagtitle.html#tag2002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** [[Triple Crown (professional wrestling)#List of WWE Men's Triple Crown winners|12th Triple Crown Champion]]<ref name="Sportskeeda"/>
* '''''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]'''''
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Bruiser Brody Memorial Award (Best Brawler)|Best Brawler]] (2004)<ref name=WONAwards>{{cite magazine |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |date=January 26, 2015 |title=Jan. 26, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2014 awards issue w/ results & Dave's commentary, Conor McGregor, and much more |magazine=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] |location=[[Campbell, California]] |issn=1083-9593 |pages=4–29 |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/40865-jan-26-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-2014-awards-issue-w-results-a-daves-commentary-conor-mcgregor-and-much-more|access-date=February 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215081415/http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/40865-jan-26-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-2014-awards-issue-w-results-a-daves-commentary-conor-mcgregor-and-much-more|archive-date=February 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Technical Wrestler|Best Technical Wrestler]] (1994, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2004)<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Feud of the Year|Feud of the Year]] (2004) {{small|vs. Shawn Michaels and Triple H}}<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Pro Wrestling Match of the Year|Match of the Year]] (2002) {{small|with Kurt Angle vs. Edge and [[Rey Mysterio]] at [[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]]}}<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Outstanding Wrestler|Most Outstanding Wrestler]] (2000, 2004)<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Underrated|Most Underrated]] (1998)<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[List of Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Readers' Favorite Wrestler|Readers' Favorite Wrestler]] (1997, 2000)<ref name=WONAwards/>
** [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame]] ([[Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame#Inductees|Class of 2003]]){{efn|Benoit underwent a special recall election in 2008 due to the [[Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide|double murder-suicide]] of his wife and son. The recall was supported by a majority of 53.6% of voters, but was below the 60% threshold necessary to remove him.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|title=Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame|work=PWI-Online.com|access-date=October 19, 2020|archive-date=May 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505214329/http://pwi-online.com/pages/hallofame.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Personal life==
Benoit spoke both English and French fluently.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Benoit/2008/06/23/5966026.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120728103706/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Benoit/2008/06/23/5966026.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=July 9, 2008 |title=Benoit tragedy, one year later |publisher=SLAM! sports}}</ref> He married twice, and had two children (David and Megan) with his first wife, Martina.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.tsn.ca/headlines/news_story/?ID=211878 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213045555/http://www.tsn.ca/headlines/news_story/?ID=211878 |archive-date=February 13, 2008 |title=Details of Benoit family deaths revealed |agency=Associated Press |publisher=TSN |access-date=June 28, 2007 |date=June 26, 2007}}</ref> By 1997, that marriage had broken down, and Benoit was living with [[Nancy Benoit|Nancy Sullivan]], the wife of the WCW booker and frequent opponent [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]]. On February 25, 2000, Chris and Nancy's son Daniel was born; on November 23, 2000, Chris and Nancy married. It was Nancy's third marriage. In 2003, Nancy filed for divorce from Benoit, citing the marriage as "irrevocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment". She claimed that he would break and throw furniture around.<ref name=divorce>{{cite news |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/06/25/wrestler.dead.ap/index.html?cnn=yes |title=WWE star killed family, self |agency=Associated Press |publisher=SportsIllustrated.cnn.com |access-date=June 26, 2007 |date=June 26, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524052903/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/06/25/wrestler.dead.ap/index.html?cnn=yes |archive-date=May 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0626_benoit_dismiss.pdf |publisher=TMZ.com |title=Released divorce papers and restraining order |access-date=June 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627232104/http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0626_benoit_dismiss.pdf|archive-date=June 27, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> She later dropped the suit as well as the [[restraining order]] she had filed.<ref name=divorce/>

Benoit was good friends with fellow pro-wrestlers [[Eddie Guerrero]] and [[Dean Malenko]]; the trio travelled from promotion to promotion together putting on matches, eventually being dubbed the "Three Amigos" by commentators.<ref name="Hard Knocks"/> According to Benoit, the [[Crippler Crossface]] was borrowed from Malenko and eventually caught on as Benoit's finishing hold.<ref name="Hard Knocks">Benoit interview, "Chris Benoit: Hard Knocks" DVD, WWE Home Video.</ref><ref>Malenko comments on Benoit, ''WWE Raw'', June 25, 2007.</ref> After [[Eddie Guerrero#Death|Guerrero died in November 2005]], Benoit acquired a [[diary]] in which he wrote [[grief|grief-stricken]] personal entries to a deceased Guerrero as a [[coping|coping mechanism]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Wrestler's Diary Reveals Grief, Depression - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wrestlers-diary-reveals-grief-depression/ |website=www.cbsnews.com |access-date=9 March 2025 |date=14 September 2007}}</ref>

Benoit's lost tooth, his top-right lateral incisor, was commonly misattributed to training or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It actually resulted from an accident involving his pet [[rottweiler]]: one day while playing with the dog, the animal's skull struck Benoit's chin, and his tooth "popped out".<ref name="father interview">Interview with his father, "Hard Knocks" DVD</ref>

== Death ==
{{main|Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide}}
{{Wikinews|Professional wrestler Chris Benoit and family found dead}}
{{Listen|filename=Chris Benoit Voice Message.ogg|title="Chris Benoit Voice Message"|description=This is a voice message left by Chris Benoit for Michael Parker. According to the police, the message was left at approximately 1:57 PM on Saturday, June 23, 2007. The police report states that Benoit was calling Parker regarding a situation where Parker had allegedly been mistreated in some work-related dealings.}}
On June 25, 2007, police entered Benoit's home in [[Fayetteville, Georgia]],<ref name="Newsday/Benoit"> {{cite web |title=WWE wrestler Chris Benoit and family found dead |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usbenoit0626,0,4246396.story?coll=ny-top-headlines |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705113805/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usbenoit0626%2C0%2C4246396.story?coll=ny-top-headlines |archive-date=July 5, 2007 |date=June 25, 2007 |access-date=June 25, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> when WWE, Benoit's employers, requested a "welfare check" after Benoit missed weekend events without notice, leading to concerns.<ref name="Benoit Found Dead">{{cite web |url=http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070627182538/http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html |archive-date=June 27, 2007 |title=Pro wrestler, family found dead in Fayetteville home |author=Ahmed, Saeed and Kathy Jefcoats |publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=November 27, 2008 |date=June 25, 2007}}</ref> The officers discovered the bodies of Benoit, his wife [[Nancy Benoit|Nancy]], and their 7-year-old son Daniel at around 2:30&nbsp;p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]].<ref name="CBC article">{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/canadian-wrestler-chris-benoit-family-found-dead-1.655834 |title=Canadian wrestler Chris Benoit, family found dead |access-date=June 25, 2007 |date=June 25, 2007 |publisher=CBC.ca |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611164032/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2007/06/25/wwe-benoit-obit.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Upon investigating, no additional suspects were sought by authorities.<ref name="Double Murder Suicide">{{cite web |url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3315501&page=1 |title=Wrestling Champ Chris Benoit Found Dead with Family |work=ABC News |access-date=June 25, 2007 |date=June 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415143225/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3315501&page=1 |archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> It was determined that Benoit had committed the murders.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330440,00.html |title=Sheriff: Wrestler Chris Benoit murder–suicide Case Closed – Local News &#124; News Articles &#124; National News |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114083214/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330440,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Over a three-day period, Benoit had killed his wife and son before committing [[suicide]].<ref name="foxnews.com"/><ref name="abcnews.go.com"/> His wife was bound before the killing. Benoit's son was drugged with [[alprazolam|Xanax]] and likely unconscious before Benoit strangled him.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/07/18/2007-07-18_benoit_strangled_unconscious_son__doc-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910020550/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2007/07/18/2007-07-18_benoit_strangled_unconscious_son__doc-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2010 |title=Benoit strangled unconscious son – doc |publisher=Nydailynews.com |date=July 18, 2007 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |location=New York |first1=Christian |last1=Red }}</ref> Benoit then committed suicide by hanging himself on his lat pulldown machine.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="press conference">{{cite news |title=Authorities Confirm Chris Benoit Murdered Wife and Son |url=http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0607/2701_chris_benoit.html |author=David Lohr |publisher=CrimeLibrary.com |access-date=May 21, 2008 |date=June 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417023522/http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0607/2701_chris_benoit.html |archive-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref>

WWE cancelled the scheduled three-hour-long live ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' show on June 25 and replaced the broadcast version with a three-hour tribute to Benoit's life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the ''Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story'' DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers.<ref name="Raw cancelled">{{cite web |url=http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jun/25/wwe-cancels-show-american-bank-center/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628082251/http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jun/25/wwe-cancels-show-american-bank-center/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 28, 2007 |title=WWE postpones show at American Bank Center |publisher=Caller-Times |access-date=June 25, 2007 |date=June 25, 2007 }}</ref>

[[Toxicology]] reports released on July 17, 2007, revealed that at their time of death, Nancy had three different drugs in her system: Xanax, [[hydrocodone]], and [[hydromorphone]], all of which were found at the therapeutic rather than toxic levels. Daniel was found to have Xanax in his system, which led the chief medical examiner to believe that he was sedated before he was murdered. Benoit was found to have Xanax, hydrocodone, and an elevated level of [[testosterone (medication)|testosterone]], caused by a synthetic form of the hormone, in his system. The chief medical examiner attributed the testosterone level to Benoit possibly being treated for a deficiency caused by previous [[steroid]] abuse or testicular insufficiency. There was no indication that anything in Benoit's body contributed to his violent behaviour that led to the murder-suicide, concluding that there was no "[[Anabolic steroid#Aggression and hypomania|roid-rage]]" involved.<ref name=FOX>{{cite news |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289649,00.html |access-date=July 15, 2008 |date=July 17, 2007 |title=Wrestler Chris Benoit Used Steroid Testosterone; Son Sedated Before Murders |work=FOXnews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904025150/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289649,00.html |archive-date=September 4, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Prior to the murder-suicide, Benoit had illegally been given medications not in compliance with [[WWE#Drug testing and wellness program|WWE's Talent Wellness Program]] in February 2006, including [[nandrolone]], an [[anabolic steroid]], and [[anastrozole]], a [[breast cancer]] medication which is used by [[bodybuilding|bodybuilders]] for its powerful [[antiestrogen]]ic effects. During the investigation into [[steroid]] abuse, it was revealed that other wrestlers had also been given steroids.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/08/30/wrestlers/ |title=Fourteen wrestlers tied to pipeline |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=September 1, 2007 |date=August 30, 2007 |archive-date=February 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227035900/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/08/30/wrestlers/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083101961.html |title=Pro Wrestling Suspends 10 Linked to Steroid Ring |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 1, 2007 |first=Paul |last=Farhi |date=September 1, 2007 |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628225622/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083101961.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the double-murder suicide, neuroscientist and retired professional wrestler [[Christopher Nowinski]] contacted Michael Benoit, Chris's father, suggesting that years of [[traumatic brain injury|trauma]] to his son's brain may have led to his actions. Tests were conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at [[West Virginia University]], and results showed that "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]] patient."<ref name="benoitbrain">{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3560015&page=1 |title=Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say |publisher=abcnews.go.com |access-date=September 5, 2007 |archive-date=September 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070908232002/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3560015&page=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was reported to have had an advanced form of dementia, similar to the brains of four retired NFL players who had multiple concussions, sank into depression, and harmed themselves or others. Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to [[dementia]], which can contribute to severe behavioural problems.<ref name="benoitbrain"/> Benoit's father suggests that brain damage may have been the leading cause.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14047066/detail.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116191052/http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14047066/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 16, 2007 |title=Brain Study: Concussions Caused Benoit's Rage |publisher=WSB Atlanta |access-date=September 5, 2007 }}</ref>

Once the details of Benoit's actions became apparent, WWE made the decision to remove nearly all mentions of Chris Benoit from their website,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/chrisbenoit|title=Superstars|website=WWE|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105121413/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/chrisbenoit/|archive-date=January 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> future broadcasts, and all publications.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/sheriff-wrestler-chris-benoit-murder-suicide-case-closed |title=Sheriff: Wrestler Chris Benoit murder–suicide Case Closed |publisher=FOXNews.com |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=July 9, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080322015134/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330440,00.html|archive-date=March 22, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]
* [[List of premature professional wrestling deaths]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite book |author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will |title=Wrestling Title Histories |edition=4th |publisher=Archeus Communications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-9698161-5-7}}
* {{cite video |people=Kevin Dunn (Director) |title=Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story |medium=DVD |publisher=WWE Home Video |date=2004}}
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120716104516/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/benoit.html SLAM! Wrestling — Chris Benoit]}}
* [http://www.metro.co.uk/fame/interviews/article.html?in_article_id=43417&in_page_id=11 Metro — 60 Seconds: Chris Benoit] by Andrew Williams
* [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090628120711/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_4_2/ai_67872121 Wrestling Digest: Technically Speaking, wrestler and sports entertainer Chris Benoit]

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{IMDb name|name=Chris Benoit}}
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990508223152/http://www.wcw.com/superstars/benoit.shtml|date=May 8, 1999|title=World Championship Wrestling profile}}
* {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050617005911/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/chrisbenoit/|date=June 17, 2005|title=World Wrestling Entertainment profile}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

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