Walking the Trail of a Rabid Wolverine
with Krissy Bomb

Based on the WWF's recent push for Chris Benoit I have been inspired to research and write this column. What I have found has given me an entirely new admiration for the man and his career. I hope you find the following profile as interesting as I have.

Chris Benoit was born in Montreal on May 21, 1967. At the age of 12 he moved to Edmonton, Alberta where he was introduced to professional wrestling in the form of Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. From the first match he was hooked. There was nothing more he wanted out of life than to be the next Tom Billington, also known as, "the Dynamite Kid". Chris started hangin' out at the shows and one night knocked on his idol's door and announced that he was going to be a professional wrestler!

Well there was nowhere better for him to get his start than with "Stampede" When he graduated from high school at 17 he immediately started training. He was lucky enough to be trained by some of the best this industry had to offer. Mr. Hito, Keith and Bruce Hart, and even Stu himself in the now infamous "Dungeon". Which of course is where he learned the art of submission wrestling.

Chris was determined to not only learn, but also master, everything he could pertaining to this sport and it was this desire that brought him to Japan in 1987. For the next year he continued his training in the Japanese Dojo where he learned to fine-tune his style. Upon returning to Canada and Stampede Wrestling he found himself facing opponents full time. I was lucky enough to be able to see Benoit at this particular junction in his career, and let me tell you, He was a sight to behold even then! He was raw, but even a star struck teenager like myself was able to see his potential! I will always cherish the memories I have of him wrestling men like Brett Hart, the Cuban Assassin, and Owen.

The next several years in Benoit's career are significant but to save time and length I will fast-forward slightly. Have no fear, I will highlight certain relevant points.

• 1990 saw Chris returning to Japan as the Pegasus Kid where he took the IWGP Jr. Title
• 1991 Chris was in Mexico where he held the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship ( at this point the belt was largely unrecognized by Vince McMahon and the WWF)
• 1993 Chris signed with WCW, but returned to Japan where he won "Top of the Super Junior" tournament
• 1994 he also claimed the Super J Cup in Tokyo
• 1994 ECW also had their hands on Benoit and it was during this time that he was dubbed "The Crippler"
• 1995 Chris tried out for the WWF in a blackout match, but contract difficulties kept him from signing at this time and he once again returned to Japan. Later this same year he re joined WCW where he became one of the Four Horsemen along with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman. During his stint as a member of the Four Horseman he had a vicious feud with Kevin Sullivan the Taskmaster.

Chris held just about every title WCW had including the WCW Television Title, WCW Tag Team Championship, WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title, and of course the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.