Career Timeline of Chris Benoit: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Chris Benoit built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

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.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

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.

1989: Departure for New Japan Pro-Wrestling

In 1989, after Stampede Wrestling closed, Chris Benoit left for New Japan Pro-Wrestling with a recommendation from Bad News Allen.

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: 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).

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.

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.

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.

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.