For over two decades, Chris Benoit was regarded as one of professional wrestling’s most intense and technically gifted performers. Whether competing in Japan, ECW, WCW, or WWE, he built a reputation for relentless precision, brutal realism, and a work ethic that earned him nicknames like The Rabid Wolverine and The Canadian Crippler.
Yet his legacy is forever clouded — and rightfully so — by the horrific events of June 2007, when Benoit murdered his wife Nancy and seven-year-old son Daniel before taking his own life. WWE has since erased his name from promotional material, edited him out of highlight reels, and avoids direct reference to his career on television. His matches remain accessible on the WWE Network/Peacock, but often without commentary mention.
Despite that, the in-ring story of Benoit in WWE is one of elite performance — matches that blended crisp technical wrestling with intense physicality. Here is a chronological look at ten of his greatest WWE matches, framed within the full arc of his WWE run.
Chris Benoit’s Wrestling Origins – From Hart Dungeon to WWE
Born in Montreal, Canada, in 1967, Benoit trained in Calgary under Stu Hart in the legendary Hart Dungeon, debuting in 1985 with Stampede Wrestling. By 1986 he was competing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, wrestling under the mask as Wild Pegasus and sharpening his technical craft. Short stints in WCW (1992–93), ECW (1994–95), and a second, longer WCW run (1995–2000) made him a respected international name.
In January 2000, Benoit was part of WCW’s top storyline and briefly recognised as WCW World Champion before leaving the company in a contract dispute. Alongside Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn, and Dean Malenko, he debuted in WWF as part of The Radicalz.
Chris Benoit Best Matches – Fully Loaded 2000 vs. The Rock (WWF Championship)
Just six months after debuting, Benoit was already in the main event picture. His rivalry with The Rock in July 2000 played into his cold, calculating persona, with the disqualification stipulation adding suspense. The match was heated, physical, and established Benoit as a believable world title challenger.
Chris Benoit Best Matches – Royal Rumble 2001 Ladder Match vs. Chris Jericho
Benoit and Jericho’s chemistry was well-established from their WCW days, and here they took it to the next level. This was a vicious ladder match filled with creativity and physical punishment, with Jericho ultimately dethroning Benoit in what remains one of WWE’s most celebrated ladder bouts.
Career note: At this time, Benoit was firmly established as WWF’s mid-card workhorse, defending the Intercontinental Title in hard-hitting matches while The Radicalz faction gradually dissolved.
Chris Benoit Best Matches – WrestleMania X-Seven vs. Kurt Angle
A wrestling purist’s dream match. Benoit and Angle’s first singles clash in WWE delivered mat wrestling of a calibre rarely seen on the WrestleMania stage. While Angle escaped with a quick roll-up win, Benoit’s performance earned him respect from even casual fans.
Chris Benoit vs. Steve Austin – SmackDown! May 31, 2001 (WWF Championship)
Taking place in Benoit’s native Canada, this match became famous for one spot: ten consecutive German suplexes delivered to Austin. Though he didn’t win, Benoit’s toughness and crisp execution in the ring made this a career-defining TV performance.
Career note: This was part of the brief Benoit/Jericho alliance that saw them win the tag titles from Austin & Triple H, only for Benoit to suffer a severe neck injury in June 2001 that required surgery, sidelining him for a year.
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle – Raw Is War Steel Cage Match (June 11, 2001)
The blow-off to their heated spring rivalry. This Raw main event saw Angle moonsault from the top of the cage, Benoit hit multiple suplexes, and both men leave battered. It cemented their status as equals in the ring.
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle – Unforgiven 2002 Technical Classic
After returning from injury in mid-2002, Benoit was drafted to SmackDown and became part of the “SmackDown Six” — along with Angle, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Eddie Guerrero, and Chavo Guerrero — who elevated WWE’s Thursday night show with world-class matches. This bout was another technical masterclass, filled with counters and snug grappling.
Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle – Royal Rumble 2003 WWE Championship Match
This was Benoit at his babyface peak, chasing the title against a cocky champion. The Madison Square Garden crowd gave him a standing ovation after he tapped out to Angle’s Ankle Lock — a rare reaction for a losing challenger.
Chris Benoit vs. Brock Lesnar – SmackDown! December 4, 2003 (WWE Championship)
Four days after making Lesnar tap out in a Survivor Series elimination match (without the title on the line), Benoit challenged The Beast on SmackDown. The match was a brutal display of power vs. technique, with Benoit coming close to victory before Lesnar escaped.
Chris Benoit WrestleMania XX Victory – Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Benoit (World Heavyweight Championship)
The pinnacle of Benoit’s WWE career. Entering as the Royal Rumble winner from SmackDown, he forced Triple H to submit in the middle of Madison Square Garden. The emotional post-match celebration with Eddie Guerrero remains one of WrestleMania’s most famous endings.
Chris Benoit Backlash 2004 Rematch – Triple Threat for the World Heavyweight Championship
In front of a raucous hometown crowd in Edmonton, Benoit retained his title in a rematch of the WrestleMania XX main event, proving his win was no fluke.
Chris Benoit WWE Career – Later Years and Final Matches
After dropping the World Heavyweight Title to Randy Orton at SummerSlam 2004, Benoit spent the next three years as one of WWE’s most dependable veterans. He:
- Had acclaimed mid-card feuds with Edge, Booker T, JBL, and William Regal.
- Won the United States Championship multiple times, including a famously quick win over Orlando Jordan at SummerSlam 2005 (in 25 seconds).
- Acted as a mentor to younger stars like MVP, with their 2007 feud being his last major storyline.
- Was drafted to ECW in June 2007, scheduled to face CM Punk for the vacant ECW Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions — a match he never wrestled.
Chris Benoit Wrestling Style and Influence
Benoit’s wrestling style was defined by:
- Signature moves: Crippler Crossface, diving headbutt, rolling German suplexes, snap suplex, and stinging knife-edge chops.
- Approach: A realism-first philosophy, influenced by Japanese “strong style” and the Hart Dungeon’s focus on technical precision.
- Persona: Quietly intense, with short, direct promos, letting his ring work speak for itself.
He influenced a generation of wrestlers — from Daniel Bryan to CM Punk — who cited him as a blueprint for blending technical mastery with believable aggression.
Chris Benoit Legacy – Wrestling Greatness Overshadowed by Tragedy
In-ring, Chris Benoit was among the finest professional wrestlers of his generation. Out of the ring, his actions in June 2007 ended two lives and shattered his own legacy beyond repair. WWE’s choice to erase him from official history reflects the impossibility of separating his craft from his crimes.
His matches remain a part of wrestling’s past, available to watch but impossible to view without the weight of what followed. For many, Benoit stands as a reminder of wrestling’s human cost — a cautionary tale wrapped around a body of work that, for all its brilliance, will forever live in the shadow of tragedy.
