History of Chris Benoit in Timeline
Chris Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler known for his technical wrestling skills and performances in promotions like WWE, WCW, and ECW. He achieved considerable success, winning multiple championships across various organizations. However, his legacy is overshadowed by the tragic double murder-suicide in 2007, where he killed his wife and son before taking his own life. This event led to significant controversy and WWE effectively erasing Benoit from their history.
May 21, 1967: Chris Benoit's Birth
On May 21, 1967, Christopher Michael Benoit was born. He would later become a Canadian professional wrestler known for his 22-year career.
November 22, 1985: Debut Match
On November 22, 1985, Chris Benoit had his debut match in Calgary, Alberta. He teamed with "The Remarkable" Rick Patterson against Butch Moffat and Mike Hammer, with Benoit's team winning after he pinned Moffat.
1986: Japanese Debut
In 1986, Chris Benoit made his Japanese debut under his real name while training in the New Japan Dojo.
March 18, 1988: Wins Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship
On March 18, 1988, Chris Benoit won his first title, the Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship, defeating Gama Singh.
1989: Adoption of the Pegasus Kid Persona
In 1989, Chris Benoit started wearing a mask and assumed the name The Pegasus Kid while wrestling in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
August 1990: Wins IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
In August 1990, Chris Benoit won his first major championship, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, from Jushin Thunder Liger.
November 1990: Loses IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship
In November 1990, Chris Benoit lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship back to Jushin Thunder Liger.
July 1991: Loses Mask in Japan
In July 1991, Chris Benoit lost his mask in Japan to Jushin Thunder Liger.
November 1991: Loses Mask in Mexico
In November 1991, Chris Benoit lost his mask in Mexico to Jushin Thunder Liger.
June 1992: WCW Debut
In June 1992, Chris Benoit debuted in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), teaming with Biff Wellington for the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament, but they lost in the first round to Brian Pillman and Jushin Thunder Liger.
January 1993: Return to WCW
In January 1993, Chris Benoit returned to WCW at Clash of the Champions XXII, defeating Brad Armstrong.
1993: Wins Best of the Super Juniors Tournament
In 1993, Chris Benoit won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for the first time.
August 1994: ECW Debut
In August 1994, Chris Benoit began working with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in between tours of Japan. During his first appearance Benoit competed in a one-night eight-man tournament for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, losing to 2 Cold Scorpio in the quarter-finals match.
1994: Super J-Cup
Chris Benoit worked as a representative for New Japan in the Super J-Cup during 1994.
1994: Wins Super J-Cup Tournament
In 1994, Chris Benoit won the inaugural Super J-Cup tournament, defeating Black Tiger, Gedo, and The Great Sasuke in the finals.
1994: Matches in NWA New Jersey
In early 1994, Chris Benoit worked for NWA New Jersey where he defeated Jerry Lawler. A month later he fought Terry Funk to a double count out.
February 1995: Wins ECW World Tag Team Championship
In February 1995, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko won the ECW World Tag Team Championship from Sabu and The Tazmaniac at Return of the Funker. After winning, they were initiated into the Triple Threat stable, led by ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Shane Douglas.
June 1995: Dark Matches in ECW
In June 1995, while under contract with ECW, Chris Benoit worked in three dark matches losing to Bob Holly, Adam Bomb and Owen Hart.
August 1995: Departure from ECW
In August 1995, Chris Benoit was forced to leave ECW after his work visa expired. He toured Japan until WCW called.
October 1995: Return to WCW
In October 1995, Chris Benoit returned to WCW. WCW modified his ring name to "Canadian Crippler Chris Benoit".
1995: Joins the Four Horsemen
In 1995, Chris Benoit joined the reformed Four Horsemen in WCW. Later he was placed in a feud with Kevin Sullivan and was having an affair with Sullivan's real-life wife and onscreen valet, Nancy (also known as Woman).
1995: Induction into Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame
In 1995, Chris Benoit was inducted into the Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame, recognizing his early career achievements.
1995: Wins Best of the Super Juniors Tournament Again
In 1995, Chris Benoit won the Best of the Super Juniors tournament for the second time.
1995: Signs with WCW
In late 1995, Chris Benoit signed with WCW as part of a "talent exchange" program between New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
1997: Benoit's first marriage breakdown and relationship with Nancy Sullivan
In 1997, Chris Benoit's first marriage to Martina had broken down. He began living with Nancy Sullivan, who was married to Kevin Sullivan at the time.
1998: Feud with Booker T
In 1998, Chris Benoit engaged in a long feud with Booker T over the WCW World Television Championship, which significantly elevated both men's careers. Booker won a "Best-of-Seven" series which was held between the two to determine a number one contender.
October 1999: Wrestling Bret Hart as tribute to Owen Hart
In October 1999, on Nitro in Kansas City, Missouri, Chris Benoit wrestled Bret Hart as a tribute to Bret's brother Owen Hart, who had recently died due to an equipment malfunction. Bret Hart defeated Benoit by submission, and the two received a standing ovation and an embrace from guest ring announcer, Harley Race.
1999: Wins WCW World Tag Team Championship
In 1999, Chris Benoit teamed with Dean Malenko to defeat Curt Hennig and Barry Windham, winning the WCW World Tag Team Championship. This led to a reformation of the Four Horsemen.
January 2000: Winning and Forfeiting the WCW World Heavyweight Championship
In January 2000, WCW attempted to keep Chris Benoit by awarding him the vacant WCW World Heavyweight Championship after he defeated Sid Vicious at Souled Out. However, due to disagreements with management and to protest the promotion of Kevin Sullivan to head booker, Benoit left WCW the next day alongside his friends Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, forfeiting his title in the process.
February 25, 2000: Birth of Chris and Nancy Benoit's son, Daniel
On February 25, 2000, Chris Benoit and Nancy Sullivan's son, Daniel Benoit, was born.
April 2000: Winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 2000
On April 2, 2000, at WrestleMania 2000, Chris Benoit won his first title in the WWF by pinning Chris Jericho in a triple threat match to win Kurt Angle's Intercontinental Championship.
November 23, 2000: Chris Benoit and Nancy Sullivan's Marriage
On November 23, 2000, Chris Benoit and Nancy Sullivan got married. This was Nancy's third marriage.
January 2001: Intercontinental Title Reign
Between April 2000 and January 2001, Chris Benoit won the Intercontinental title three times.
January 21, 2001: Losing Intercontinental title to Chris Jericho
On January 21, 2001, at the Royal Rumble, Chris Jericho defeated Chris Benoit in a ladder match, marking the end of their long-running feud over the Intercontinental title. Benoit lost the title that night.
2001: Feud with Kurt Angle
In early 2001, Chris Benoit broke away from The Radicalz and turned face, leading to a feud with Kurt Angle, whom he lost to at WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1. He gained revenge by beating Angle in an "Ultimate Submission" match at Backlash on April 29, after which the feud continued with Benoit stealing Angle's Olympic Gold Medal. At Judgment Day on May 20, Angle won a two out of three falls match with the help of Edge and Christian. Benoit teamed up with Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian to become the number one contenders to the WWF Tag Team Championship.
July 29, 2002: Winning Intercontinental Championship for the fourth time
On July 29, 2002, Chris Benoit defeated Rob Van Dam on Raw to become Intercontinental Champion for the fourth and final time.
October 20, 2002: Winning the WWE Tag Team Championship with Kurt Angle
On October 20, 2002, at No Mercy, Chris Benoit teamed with Kurt Angle to win a tournament and become the first-ever WWE Tag Team Champions. They became tweeners after betraying Los Guerreros.
January 19, 2003: Challenging Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship at Royal Rumble
On January 19, 2003, Chris Benoit faced Kurt Angle for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Despite losing the match, Benoit received a standing ovation for his performance.
April 2003: Feud with John Cena and The Full Blooded Italians
Following WrestleMania in April 2003, Chris Benoit feuded with John Cena and The Full Blooded Italians, occasionally teaming with Rhyno.
June 2003: Participation in the WWE United States Championship Tournament
In June 2003, Chris Benoit participated in the tournament for the reactivated WWE United States Championship.
2003: Induction into Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
In 2003, Chris Benoit was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, acknowledging his impact on professional wrestling.
2003: Nancy files for divorce, later drops suit
In 2003, Nancy Benoit filed for divorce from Chris Benoit, citing that their marriage was "irrevocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment." She later dropped the suit and the restraining order she had filed.
January 25, 2004: Winning the Royal Rumble
On January 25, 2004, Chris Benoit won the Royal Rumble by last eliminating Big Show, earning a world title shot at WrestleMania XX. He became only the second WWE performer to win the Royal Rumble as the number one entrant along with Shawn Michaels.
March 2004: WrestleMania XX Victory
In March 2004, Chris Benoit headlined multiple pay-per-views for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), including a victory in the World Heavyweight Championship main event triple threat match of WrestleMania XX.
January 9, 2005: Competing in Elimination Chamber Match at New Year's Revolution
On January 9, 2005, Chris Benoit competed in an Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship at New Year's Revolution, but lost the match.
November 2005: Benoit's grief and diary after Eddie Guerrero's death
After Eddie Guerrero's death in November 2005, Chris Benoit started writing grief-stricken personal entries to Guerrero in a diary as a way to cope with the loss.
January 6, 2006: Defeating Randy Orton by Disqualification in a Best of Seven Series
On January 6, 2006, Chris Benoit defeated Randy Orton by disqualification on SmackDown! in the best of seven series.
February 2006: Benoit illegally given medications not in compliance with WWE's Talent Wellness Program
In February 2006, Chris Benoit was illegally given medications including nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, and anastrozole, a breast cancer medication, not in compliance with WWE's Talent Wellness Program.
January 19, 2007: Defeating Chavo Guerrero in No Disqualification Match
On January 19, 2007, Chris Benoit defeated Chavo Guerrero in a No Disqualification match on SmackDown!.
June 22, 2007: Murder of Wife
On June 22, 2007, Chris Benoit murdered his wife in their residence as part of a three-day double-murder and suicide.
June 24, 2007: Chris Benoit's Death
On June 24, 2007, Chris Benoit died. He murdered his wife and son before killing himself.
June 25, 2007: Discovery of the Benoit family deaths
On June 25, 2007, police discovered the bodies of Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their son Daniel in their Fayetteville, Georgia home after WWE requested a welfare check. It was determined that Benoit had murdered his wife and son before committing suicide.
July 17, 2007: Release of Toxicology Reports
On July 17, 2007, toxicology reports revealed the substances in the systems of Chris, Nancy, and Daniel Benoit at the time of their deaths. Nancy had Xanax, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone. Daniel had Xanax. Chris had Xanax, hydrocodone, and an elevated level of testosterone.
2007: Drafted to ECW Brand
In 2007, Chris Benoit was drafted to the ECW brand as part of the WWE draft.
2008: WON Hall of Fame Re-Vote
In 2008, a re-vote was held to determine if Chris Benoit should remain a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, following the circumstances of his death. The vote did not meet the threshold required to remove Benoit.
2017: Kurt Angle's comments on Benoit's wrestling ability
In 2017, former WWE rival Kurt Angle stated in an interview that Chris Benoit was among the top three wrestlers of all time.
Mentioned in this timeline
John Cena is an American actor and professional wrestler signed...
World Wrestling Entertainment WWE is a prominent American professional wrestling...
Ric Flair born Richard Morgan Fliehr is a highly celebrated...
Phillip Jack Brooks known as CM Punk is a highly...
Triple H real name Paul Michael Levesque is a retired...
Japan is an East Asian island country in the Pacific...
Trending
4 minutes ago Mookie Betts Decides on Dodgers' White House Visit Amidst Controversy with Donald Trump.
5 minutes ago Tanner Scott's Velocity, Dodgers' World Series Ambitions, and Kirk Gibson's First Pitch
5 minutes ago Venus Williams Reveals Her Admiration for an ATP Legend, Igniting Tennis World Passion.
5 minutes ago Tom Cruise's advice helps Hayley Atwell with social anxiety: 'Keep looking at it'.
5 minutes ago Michael Keaton's Batman: Catchphrase, Killer Moments, and Reboot Rescue Attempts Explored.
6 minutes ago Casey Mize Shines in Debut as Tigers Beat Mariners 4-1.
Popular
Bruce Pearl is an American college basketball coach currently head...
LeBron James nicknamed King James is a highly decorated American...
Jasmine Crockett is an American lawyer and politician currently serving...
Cristiano Ronaldo nicknamed CR is a Portuguese professional footballer widely...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is a celebrated American...
Pamela Jo Bondi is an American attorney lobbyist and politician...