Chris Benoit

name=Chris Benoit

In wrestling

Previous managers

• Woman
• Arn Anderson
• Shane McMahon

Quotes

• "Prove me wrong!"
• "I am the greatest technical wrestler in the history of the WWF."
• "I am for real."
• "It's not about the money, the women, the cars...it's about the passion!"

Finishing and signature moves

• Crippler Crossface: A submission hold in which, beginning with a fujiwara armbar takedown, Benoit traps an arm of the victim between his legs while locking his hands around the chin, lower face or neck of the victim and pulling back. This hold is rumoured to have been created by Benoit's friend Dean Malenko.
• Sharpshooter: Standing over an opponent lying supine, Benoit wraps the victim's legs around one of his legs so that they create an plus shape. He then turns around while maintaining the hold, thus twisting the opponent over so they are face down. Benoit then leans backwards, usually in a sitting position, thus placing great strain on the lower back and quadriceps of the victim. This hold was popularised by Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a fellow Canadian and the son of Benoit's trainer, Stu Hart.
• Rolling German suplexes: Benoit takes hold of his opponent from behind in a waistlock and then throws himself backwards, simultaneously throwing the opponent over his head (though without breaking the hold), this driving the shoulders and upper back of the victim into the ground behind Benoit. Benoit will then roll over, still maintaining the hold, and drag the victim to their feet from behind. Benoit will then throw his opponent overhead once more, restarting the process. He has been known to deliver between three and ten suplexes before releasing the victim or bridging into a pin.
• Swandive headbutt: Benoit jumps off a corner turnbuckle and falls on a supine opponent, connecting with his forehead. Benoit adopted this maneuver as a tribute to the Dynamite Kid, whom he greatly admired. It is occasionally referred to as "Air Canada".
• Snap suplex: Benoit executes a swift, high-impact front-facelock suplex, a move also associated with the Dynamite Kid.
• Backhand chop
• Superbomb
• Dragon suplex
• Gutwrench suplex
• Backdrop suplex
• Hooking clothesline

Trademarks

• Throat Slash: The throat slash gesture is Benoit's traditional heat tactic, designed to promote his intensity and get a reaction from the crowd. This gesture also signals that Benoit is about to attempt his swandive headbutt.
• Snot Rockets: Benoit stands over his fallen opponent and holds one nostril shut, breathing out hard, to effectively blow snot on them. He was more well known for this during his earlier career in ECW and WCW, and does it more often when he plays the heel, but has done it to Kane, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Kurt Angle, at such notable shows as Wrestlemania XX.
• Missing Tooth: Benoit is missing a front tooth. This is something that he has become famous for. Many fans often bring signs to shows reading "Toothless Aggression." This is a play on the phrase "Ruthless Aggression" which was coined by Vince McMahon in reference to the manner in which people who wanted to move up in the world should behave.

Character

Like many wrestlers, Benoit fluctuates between playing a heel and a babyface. Unlike most wrestlers, however, Benoit only has two major characters that he plays, one for each role, and both are based heavily on his real life.

Related Topics:
Heel - Babyface

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As a heel, Benoit is a ruthless wrestling machine. He is a man who knows every hold, every throw, and every counter and loves to brag about this. His only real joys come from winning matches and tying people in knots, and he will go to extraordinary lengths to do one or the other. He's an extremely dangerous person, and often serves as a "hired gun" for others in order to satisfy his own need to win.

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As a face, Benoit is a thankless toiler, somebody who has worked for years, and sacrificed heavily, in order to perfect his craft, to become the best there is at what he does (and a ruthless wrestling machine--that part doesn't change). He doesn't have many catchphrases; he prefers to allow his actions to speak for him. He's often passed over by promoters/commissioners/general managers who want a hand-picked "corporate champion", and has to work harder than anybody else to make it to the top. However, his drive and determination are such that he will gladly do the extra work just for one shot at glory.

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