Chris Benoit

At 40 years old, Chris Benoit has this physical status:

Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler.

Benoit served for many organisations over his 22 years, including the World Wrestling Federation (WWF/WWE), World Championship Wrestling Entertainment (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).

Dave Meltzer, a business journalist, ranked him as one of the top ten, if not the top five all-time champions"Benoit has hosted 22 championships between WWF/WWE, WCW, NJPW, and ECW.

He was a two-time world champion and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion in WWE, as well as a one-time World Heavyweight Champion; he was scheduled to win his third world championship at a WWE event on the night of his death.

Benoit was the twelfth WWE Triple Crown Champion and seventh WCW Triple Crown Champion, and the second of four men to win both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown Championships in history.

He was also the 2004 Royal Rumble champion, putting Shawn Michaels as the only two men to win a Royal Rumble as the number one entrant.

Benoit earned multiple pay-per-views for WWE, including a win in the World Heavyweight Championship main event match of WrestleMania XX in 2004.

According to study, depression and brain injury from many concussions are likely contributing factors to the crimes.

Early life

Benoit was born in Montreal, Quebec, and the son of Michael and Margaret Benoit. He grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, from where he was billed for the bulk of his career. He had a sister who lived near Edmonton.

Benoit idolized Tom "Dynamite Kid" Billington and Bret Hart during his childhood and early adolescence; at twelve years old, he attended a local wrestling festival in Edmonton, where the two performers "stood out over everybody." Benoit trained to become a professional wrestler in the Hart family's "Dungeon," after being given a scholarship from family patriarch Stu Hart. Benoit imitated Billington and Bret Hart, cultivating a high-risk look and physical appearance that was more reminiscent of the former (years later, he adopted Hart's trademark "Sharpshooter" hold as a finishing move).

Personal life

Benoit spoke both English and French fluently. He married twice and had two children (David and Megan) with his first wife, Martina. By 1997, Benoit was married to Nancy Sullivan, the WCW booker and regular critic Kevin Sullivan. Daniel, Chris and Nancy's son, was born on February 25, 2000; Chris and Nancy's daughter Charlotte was born on November 23, 2000; and Nancy and Nancy married on November 23, 2000. Nancy's third marriage. Nancy Benoit filed for divorce in 2003, citing the marriage as "irvocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment" in the marriage. She said that he'd break and drag furniture around. She and the restraining order were also dropped later.

Following a match in Japan, Benoit kicked Guerrero in the head and knocked him out cold, Benoit became good friends with fellow wrestler Eddie Guerrero. And after Guerrero's death in late 2005, in which Benoit had written diary entries to him just ten days after his death, a friendship began.

As the trio went from promotion to promotion, Benoit became close friends with Dean Malenko, who later became referred to as the "Three Amigos" by commentators, eventually being dubbed the "Three Amigos." The Crippler Crossface was taken from Malenko and later on used as Benoit's signature hold, according to Benoit.

Benoit's missing tooth, his top-right lateral incisor, was often attributed to preparation or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It came from an accident involving his pet rottweiler: The animal's skull struck Benoit's chin one day and his tooth "popped out":

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Professional wrestling career

In 1985, Benoit began his work in Stampede Wrestling promotion, according to Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion. The similarities between Benoit and Billington were apparent right from the start, as Benoit implemented several of his moves, including the diving headbutt and the snap suplex; the homage was complete with his initial billing as "Dynamite" Chris Benoit. Benoit tried the diving headbutt before learning how to land properly, and having the wind knocked out of him; he said he'd never do it again at that point. His debut match was a tag team match in Calgary, Alberta, where he teamed with "The Remarkable" Rick Patterson against Butch Moffat and Mike Hammer, proving that Benoit's team won the match after Benoit pinned Moffat with a sunset flip. The Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, against Gama Singh, was the first title Benoit ever won. He won four International Tag Team and three more British Commonwealth titles, as well as a long feud with Johnny Smith, which ended for more than a year, when the two men competed back-and-forth the British Commonwealth title. Stampede closed its doors in 1989, but Benoit departed for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, on Bad News Allen's suggestion.

Benoit spent about a year training with the younger wrestlers in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) to develop his skills. He spent months in the dojo doing strenuous tasks such as push ups and floor sweeping before stepping into the ring. He made his Japanese debut in 1986 under his new name. He began wearing a mask and assumed the name The Pegasus Kid in 1989. Benoit said numerous times that he used to loathe the mask but that it later became a part of him. He came into his own in critically acclaimed matches with legends like Jushin Thunder Liger, Shinjiro Otani, Black Tiger, and El Samurai in their junior heavyweight division, while with NJPW.

Jushin Thunder Liger defeated him in August 1990 in his first major championship, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. He eventually lost the title in November 1990 (and in July 1991 in Japan, and in November 1991 in Mexico, his mask) was returned to Liger, causing him to rename himself as Wild Pegasus. Benoit spent the next two years in Japan, winning the Best of the Super Juniors tournament twice in 1993 and 1995. He went on to win the inaugural Super J-Cup tournament in 1994, defeating Black Tiger, Gedo, and The Great Sasuke in the finals. He traveled outside of New Japan occasionally to compete in Mexico and Europe, where he won a handful regional championships, including the UWA Light Heavyweight Championship. He competed in the tournament for more than a year, with Villano III claiming many forty-plus minutes.

Benoit made his first appearance at World Championship Wrestling in June 1992, partnering with fellow Canadian wrestler Biff Wellington for the NWA World Tag Team Championship Championship tournament; they were defeated by Brian Pillman and Jushin Thunder Liger in the first round of Clash of the Champions XIX.

He did not return to WCW until January 1993, defeating Brad Armstrong at Clash of the Champions XXII. He lost to 2 Cold Scorpio on the 20-minute time limit a month later, at SuperBrawl III. He formed a tag team with Bobby Eaton at the same time. Benoit and Eaton were back to Japan after losing to Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell at Slamboree.

Benoit started working with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in Japan's between tours of Japan in August 1994. He was billed as a main wrestler there, rising to fame as the "Crippler" after he knocked out Rocco Rock. Benoit appeared in his first appearance in the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time, losing to 2 Cold Scorpio in the quarterfinals match.

Benoit accidently broke Sabu's neck inside the first seconds of the game, and it was difficult to recall in November. Benoit threw Sabu with the intention of a face-first "pancake" bump, but Sabu refused to turn on and face a backdrop bump instead. He did not get complete rotation and landed almost directly on his neck.

After this match, Benoit returned to the locker room and wept over the possibility that he might have paralyzed someone. At the time, ECW's chief booker, Paul Heyman, suggested that Benoit's "Crippler" moniker be carried on. From that time to his expulsion from ECW, he was known as "Crippler Benoit." When he returned to WCW in October 1995, WCW changed his ring name to "Canadian Crippler Chris Benoit." Heyman said in The Rise and Fall of ECW books that he intended on using Benoit as a leading heel for a long time before bringing the company's main trophy, the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, on the company's main event.

In February 1995, Benoit and Dean Malenko won the ECW World Tag Team Championship, Benoit's first American title, beating Sabu and The Tazmaniac. Douglas was welcomed into the Triple Threat stable after winning, led by ECW World Heavyweight Champion Shane Douglas, as Douglas' attempt to recreate the 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 at Three Way Dance in April. Benoit spent time in ECW feuding with The Steiner Brothers and rekindling the feud with 2 Cold Scorpios. When his work visa expired, he was forced to leave ECW; Heyman was supposed to renew it, but he missed it on time; so Benoit resigned from ECW in August 1995 as a matter of career stability and entry into the United States. He toured Japan before being called WCW.

Benoit and the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) had a working relationship, and as part of their "talent exchange" program, he and a group of New Japan workers were involved in the story. He started out as a member of the cruiserweight division, facing long matches against several of his former rivals in Japan on almost every single broadcast, as the majority of those who joined WCW. Benoit returned to Japan in 1995 as part of the "tal exchange" to serve as a representative for New Japan in the Super J-Cup: 2nd Stage, defeating Lionheart in the quarterfinals (he received a bye to the quarterfinals, similar to the 1994 edition).

He was approached by Ric Flair and the WCW booking staff in 1995 to become a member of the reformed Four Horsemen, as well as Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman; he was introduced by Pillman as a gruff, no-nonsense heel like his ECW counterpart, "The Crippler." He was brought on to create a new dynamic for Anderson and Flair's torment in their "Alliance to End Hulkamania," which saw the Horsemen team up with The Dungeon of Doom, but that partnership came to an end with Dungeon founder Kevin Sullivan, who was feuding with Pillman. Benoit was thrown into a raging rivalry with Sullivan after Pillman abruptly left the company for the WWF. This came to an end after a dissension between the two teams in a tag team competition against The Public Enemy was a contest between the two teams despite each other against The Public Enemy and Benoit being struck by Sullivan at Slamboree. This resulted in violent on-view clashes between Benoit and Nancy (also known as Woman) during a feud in which Sullivan hired a rivalry between Sullivan's real-life wife and on-screen valet, Sullivan. Both Benoit and Nancy were required to spend time together to make the situation seem credible (hold hands in public, share hotel rooms, etc.). (In the United States) he had been a student at the University of On Saturday, he was a guest on the TV show Theodore of the Devil in the New Testament.

Offscreen, this on-screen romance developed into a true-life story. As a result, Sullivan and Benoit had a tumultuous backstage relationship at best, as well as an unrelent hatred for each other at worst. Benoit did, however, demonstrate a certain degree of admiration for Sullivan, saying on the DVD The Chris Benoit Story that Sullivan never took undue liberties in the ring during their feud, though he blamed Benoit for breaking up his union. With Benoit being apprehended by his enforcers in a slew of matches, it's been going on for more than a year. This culminated in a retirement match at the Bash at the Beach, where Benoit defeated Sullivan; this was used to announce that Sullivan will go back to a behind-the-scenes role, where he could concentrate on his first job, which was very relaxing.

Benoit had a long feud with Booker T. They fought over the WCW World Television Championship until Booker lost the title to Fit Finlay, which put the match in jeopardy. The booker obtained a "Best-of-Seven" series, which was held between the two countries in order to select a number one contender. Benoit went up 3 to 1 before Booker got caught up, resulting in the 7th and final match on Monday Nitro. Bret Hart interjected himself during the game, intervening on behalf of Benoit in the hopes of obtaining him to join the New World Order. Benoit refused to win that way and told the referee what happened, disqualifying him. The booker refused the victory, opting for his eighth match at the Great American Bash to see who will face Finlay later this evening. The booker won the final match and then went on to defeat Finlay for the title. Both men's careers as singles champions were greatly improved, and they both remained at the top of the midcard afterward.

Benoit defeated Curt Hennig and Barry Windham in 1999, defeating them once more in the WCW World Tag Team Championship. Anderson, Anderson, and Steve "Mongo" McMichael were among the Four Horsemen resurrecting. The two teams fought for several months after the tag team championship, whether it be Raven and Perry Saturn or Billy Kidman and Rey Mysterio Jr.

After being defeated by Anderson and McMichael, Benoit and Malenko left the Horsemen, he won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, bringing together Malenko, Perry Saturn, and Shane Douglas, aka "The Revolution."

The Revolution was a heel stable of younger wrestlers who were dissatisfied (both kayfabe and legitimate) by WCW management, who claimed they never gave them the opportunity to be stars, but instead, younger, more established wrestlers were pushed instead, amid their then-current questionable worthiness. WCW members seceded out and established their own nation, complete with a banner. This culminated in some friction between Benoit and CEO Douglas, who put Benoit's heart in the organisation into question, prompting Benoit to abandon the organization and embarking on the top performers' winning the Television award one more time and Jeff Jartt's wining the United States championship in a ladder match. Benoit defeated Bret Hart on Nitro in Kansas City, Missouri, who had recently died due to an equipment failure. Hart defeated Benoit by submission, and the two teams received a standing ovation and the embrace of the guest ring announcer, Harley Race.

Benoit was dissatisfied with his WCW service. In January 2000, one of the few attempts to keep him alive in WCW was defeated by defeating Sid Vicious at Souled Out. However, Kevin Sullivan, his brother Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn left the business the next day, despite disagreements with management and to protest his promotion of him as head booker, appointing his position in the process. Benoit's victory as a formality reign was not acknowledged by WCW.com, and Benoit's title reign was not included in the WCW's ranking list. However, the WWF acknowledged Benoit's victory in the championship lineage at WWE.com, while Benoit's reign is also listed. Benoit spent the next two weeks in Japan before heading to the WWF, who acknowledged his WCW World Heavyweight Championship victory and named him as a former world champion.

Benoit debuted in the WWF as a member of Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko, as The Radicalz. The Radicalz joined WWF Champion Triple H and became a heel team after losing their "test out matches" on entry. Benoit won his first title in the WWF less than a month after defeating Chris Jericho in a triple threat match to capture Kurt Angle's Intercontinental Championship. Benoit wrestled in his first WWF pay-per-view main events in July and September, respectively, as part of a crucial four-way championship match at Unforgiven. On both occasions, Benoit appeared to have won the title, but then-WWF commissioner Mick Foley had the decision reversed due to fraud on Benoit's behalf. Benoit and Jericho were locked in a long-running battle for the Intercontinental Championship, with the two teams clashing at Backlash, Judgment Day, and SummerSlam, with Benoit winning all three matches. The feud came to an end in Jericho defeating Benoit in a ladder match at the Royal Rumble in January 2001. Between April 2000 and January 2001, Benoit captured the Intercontinental title three times.

Benoit turned face three months earlier, fighting first with his old mates and then with Kurt Angle, who then wrestled and lost to WrestleMania X-Seven. Since beating Angle in a "Ultimate Submission" match at Backlash, he recovered a little bit of revenge. After Benoit took Angle's coveted Olympic Gold Medal, the rivalry raged. This culminated in a match at Judgment Day, where Angle won two out of three falls matches with the assistance of Edge and Christian. In reaction, Benoit teamed up with his former colleague Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian in the Tag Team Turmoil match that night.

Benoit and Jericho defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H for their titles on Raw Is War. The pair defeated Austin in the WWF Championship, using the victory as a springboard. The following week, Benoit gained two title matches, the first losing in a manner similar to the Montreal Screwjob in Calgary and then losing in a close match in Benoit's hometown. However, Benoit sustained his neck in a four-way TLC match that needed surgery with Dr. Lloyd Youngblood. Despite this, he continued to wrestle until the King of the Ring, where he was pinned in a triple threat match against Austin and Jericho. Benoit missed the next year due to a neck injury, and he missed the entire Invasion storyline.

He was Vince McMahon's third wrestler to be selected by Vince McMahon to be a member of the new SmackDown during the first WWF draft. The roster is still on the active list, though it is also on the injured list. When he returned, however, he did so as a member of the Raw roster. On his first night back, he turned heel and allied himself with Eddie Guerrero, and briefly sparred with Stone Cold Steve Austin. For the fourth time, Benoit defeated Rob Van Dam on July 29, 2002 in Raw to become the Intercontinental Champion. He and Guerrero were then relocated to SmackDown! Benoit took his recently won belt with him during a storyline "open season" on wrestler contracts. At SummerSlam, Van Dam defeated Benoit and regained the title to Raw.

He embarked on a feud with Kurt Angle, which he defeated him at Unfortune. He teamed with Angle in October 20, 2002, at No Mercy, to win a tournament for the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions. After betraying Los Guerreros, they became tweeners. Benoit and Angle made their strong title defense at Rebellion, defeating Los Guerreros. On the November 7 episode of SmackDown, they lost the championships to Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr. In a two out-of-three falls match, the winner of a two-out-three falls tournament. They were rematching at Survivor Series in a triple threat elimination match against Edge and Mysterio and Los Guerreros, but they were unable to win the titles after being the first team eliminated. The team dissolved shortly afterward, and Benoit became a name.

Angle claimed his third WWE Championship at Armageddon, and Benoit defeated him for the first time at the 2003 Royal Rumble. Fans and commentators alike lauded the match. Despite losing the game, Benoit received a standing ovation for his efforts. Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, as part of the returning Rhyno.

The WWE Tag Team Champions, Team Angle, Charlie Haas, and Shelton Benjamin, all put their names in jeopardy against Benoit and his partner Rhyno and Los Guerreros in a triple threat tag team match. When Benjamin pinned Chavo, Team Angle was retained.

Following WrestleMania XIX, Benoit and John Cena feuded with John Cena (wearing a shirt that reads "Moothless Aggression") and The Full Blooded Italians, who also worked with Rhyno occasionally.

The WCW United States Championship was revived and renamed the WWE United States Championship in June 2003, and Benoit competed in the tournament for the first time. In the final match against Eddie Guerrero at Vengeance, he lost. The two teams competed for the title next month, and Benoit went on to defeat A-Train at No Mercy, Big Show, and eliminating Brock Lesnar by submission at Survivor Series as part of a Survivor Series elimination tag team match between Team Angle and Team Lesnar. As a result, Benoit took on Lesnar for the WWE Championship on December 4 of SmackDown! But lose after being held out due to Lesnar's debuting Brock Lock submission hold. Paul Heyman, the general manager of Losnar, had a vendetta against Benoit as a pair alongside Lesnar, preventing him from winning a shot at Lesnar's WWE crown.

Heyman named Benoit as the number one entry in a handicap match with John Cena when he won a qualifying match for the 2004 Royal Rumble against the Full Blooded Italians in a handicap match with John Cena. He won the Royal Rumble by the end of the year and won a world championship shot at WrestleMania XX on January 25, 2004. He became the second WWE superstar to win the Royal Rumble as the number one entrant along with Shawn Michaels.

With Benoit being on the SmackDown!

At the time, the WWE Championship was rumored to be a contender for his brand's championship, the WWE Championship. Benoit, on the other hand, exploited a "loophole" in the legislation and was traded on Raw the following night to announce that he will face World Heavyweight Champion Triple H at WrestleMania. Shawn Michaels, whose Last Man Standing match against Triple H at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Championship ended in a draw, felt that he deserved to be in the main event, despite the fact that it was not supposed to be a one-on-one match. Michaels kicked Benoit and signed his name on the page, resulting in a Triple Threat match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H.

In a highly acclaimed match, Benoit defeated Triple H in the World Heavyweight Championship by compelled Triple H to tap out the Crippler Crossface, his signature submission move. The match was the first time a WrestleMania main event ended in submission. Benoit celebrated his victory with then-reigning WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero after the match. The match was held at Backlash in Benoit, Benoit's hometown. Michaels was the one who eventually submitted to Benoit's Sharpshooter, allowing Benoit to keep his position. He and Edge won the World Tag Team Championship from Batista and Ric Flair in Calgary, making Benoit a double champion.

Following his victories, Benoit and Edge became involved in a feud with La Résistance over the World Tag Team Championships, which culminated in a string of matches (including losing the titles to La Résistance on the May 31 episode of Raw) while simultaneously fighting Kane over the World Heavyweight Championship. Benoit wrestled in two matches at Bad Blood in his respective rivalries; he and Edge failed to regain the World Tag Team Championship (winning by disqualification after Kane interfered), while Edge successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Kane. Benoit retained the title against Triple H a month later at Vengeance.

At SummerSlam on August 15, 2004, Benoit was defeated by Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship. In a winning effort, Benoit teamed with William Regal at Unfortun against Ric Flair and Batista. Benoit and Edge (who had developed into an arrogant and conceited heel) clashed later Tuesday, triggering Benoit's Taboo, where Benoit, Edge, and Shawn Michaels were all put into a poll to see who would face Triple H for the World Heavyweight title that night. Michaels received the most votes, and Edge and Benoit were forced to team up against the World Tag Team Champions, La Résistance, in the same night. Edge deserted Benoit during the game, and Benoit was forced to face both members of La Résistance by himself. Edge and Hendrick also managed to regain the World Tag Team Championship. On the November 1 episode of Raw, they lost the titles to La Résistance. Benoit sided with Randy Orton's crew, while Edge partnered with Triple H's team, and Edge was able to pin Benoit after a Pedigree, Orton's team triumphed.

Both men lost in an Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution. Edge and Shawn Michaels feuded with Benoit, and Benoit entered the Royal Rumble, a long time rival before being defeated by Ric Flair. The two players then continued to play in the following weeks until Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Christian were all placed in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Edge won the match by knocking Benoit off the ladder by securing his arm with a chair. Edge won a Last Man Standing match at Backlash, which culminated in a brick shot to Benoit's head.

Benoit was drafted back to SmackDown on June 9, and it was a good thing! After being the first man chosen by the SmackDown, he was voted the first man on the SmackDown! Originally bought in the 2005 Draft Lottery and participated in an ECW-style rebellion against the SmackDown. Heels. At ECW One Night Stand, Benoit defeated Eddie Guerrero, defeating him on Sunday.

Benoit failed to win the WWE United States Championship from Orlando Jordan on July 24, but regained a rematch in 25 seconds at SummerSlam. Benoit then won three consecutive matches against Jordan in less than a minute. On the October 21 episode of SmackDown, Benoit defeated Booker T in friendly competitions until Booker and his wife, Sharmell, cheated Benoit out of the United States championship.

Eddie Guerrero was discovered dead in his hotel room on November 13, 2005. Raw hosted a Guerrero tribute show hosted by both Raw and SmackDown the night before. WWE wrestlers. During a string of video testimonials, Benoit was devastated at the death of his best friend and became extremely emotional, finally breaking down on camera.

The same week on SmackDown!

In a tribute match to Guerrero that took place on the same night as Raw), Benoit defeated Triple H. In the ring's salute to Guerrero, Benoit, Triple H, and Dean Malenko all assembled in the ring, bowing to the heaven.

Theodore Long developed a "Best of Seven" series between the two characters following controversies surrounding a United States Championship match against Booker T. Booker T won three times in a row (the SmackDown, November 29). SmackDown's special edition and the episode of December 9! ), owing to largely to Sharmell's meddling, Benoit was eventually ruled out of the series. Benoit won the fourth match to return to Armageddon, but Booker sustained a legitimate groin injury during the game, and Randy Orton was selected as a stand-in. On the December 30 and January 6 episodes of SmackDown, Benoit defeated Orton twice by disqualification. Orton defeated Benoit with the assistance of Booker T, Sharmell, and Orlando Jordan, who also won the United States Championship. Before defeating Orton in a No Holds Barred match on January 27, the Benoit feud ensued for a brief period of SmackDown! Become a Crippler Crossface user. Benoit had one last chance at the United States Championship at No Way Out and claimed it by forcing Booker to register to the Crippler Crossface, putting an end to the feud.

Benoit kayfabe broke John Bradshaw Layfield's (JBL) hand (JBL) will need surgery to remove a cyst from the board, and SmackDown's (JBL) will be back next week. For Benoit's championship, a match was planned, and the two wrestlers engaged each other for the next two weeks. JBL took the title at WrestleMania thanks to an unlawful cradle. Benoit used his rematch clause in a steel cage match on SmackDown two weeks later, but JBL won with unlawful tactics two weeks later. After Finlay struck Benoit's neck with a chair and delivered a Celtic Cross, the King of the Ring tournament was declared by the university, only to be defeated by Finlay in the first round of SmackDown! Benoit retaliated by defeating Finlay with the Crippler Crossface in a grudge match on Judgment Day. Mark Henry brutalized Benoit during their match, causing him (kayfabe) to recover and rib injuries, causing him to bleed from his mouth. Benoit's nagging shoulder injury healed after a sabbatical.

Benoit returned to No Mercy on October 8, defeating William Regal in a surprise match. He claimed his fifth United States Championship from Mr. Kennedy later this week. Benoit soon became involved in a feud with Chavo and Vickie Guerrero. He needed answers from the Guerreros for their rash behavior toward Rey Mysterio, but the two were eventually attacked, and he was eventually assaulted. These two characters became involved in a feud between Survivor Series and Armageddon, matches that Benoit won. The feud came to an end with one last championship match as a No disqualification match, which was also won by Benoit. Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), who claimed that he was the best man to hold the United States title, met Benoit later at WrestleMania 23, where Benoit retained. Their rivalry at Backlash stalled, with similar findings. MVP had the upper hand and captured the title in a two out of three falls finals, putting an end to the feud. Benoit will face MVP at XXXIV on Saturday Night (televised June 2) in a thrilling contest in a tag-team match where Benoit competed with Batista and MVP partnered with then-World Heavyweight Champion Edge.

Benoit was drafted from SmackDown on the June 11 episode of Raw! After losing to ECW World Champion Bobby Lashley, the WWE draft returned to ECW as part of the 2007 WWE draft. On June 19, Benoit fought his final match, defeating Elijah Burke in a match that determines who will compete for the vacated ECW World Championship at Vengeance. Since Lashley was drafted to Raw, he had vacated the position.

Benoit missed the weekend house shows by informing WWE that his wife and son were vomiting blood as a result of food poisoning. When he didn't turn up for the pay-per-view, viewers were told that he was unable to participate due to a "family emergency" and was suspended in the championship match by Johnny Nitro, who won the match and became the ECW World Champion. The majority of the match was chanting for Benoit. Stephanie McMahon later revealed that Benoit would have defeated CM Punk for the ECW World Championship if he had been present for the event. Bob Sapp, a professional wrestler and MMA wrestler who had tried to sign up before a wage dispute with K-1 made it impossible, said he would have been put into an oncoming angle with Benoit in case he was able to make his debut.

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