WWE Raw
Corpus Christi, Texas
June 25, 2007
thanks to: pwtorch.com
We open with "In Memory of
Chris Benoit."
Standing in a completely empty arena, Vince McMahon (the graphic said Vince
McMahon) said tonight's storyline was supposed to have been the continuation of
the demise of his character, Mr. McMahon, but the reality is that Chris Benoit,
his wife, Woman, and his son, Daniel, are dead. With heavy eyes, McMahon said
tonight is a tribute to Chris Benoit.
They cut to the classic Chris Benoit video package we've seen before, recapping
his journey from Japan to WCW to World champion at WrestleMania 20.
[Commercial Break]
They showed clips of Benoit's family members talking about Benoit from the video
packages they aired during his 2004 title run.
Ringside, Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler spoke from the announce table. Ross said
they hoped this situation would never come, as Benoit was one of his best
friends in the wrestling business. Lawler said this probably will be the most
difficult broadcast they ever have to do.
They went to clips of the last 10 minutes or so from the 2004 Royal Rumble when
Benoit eliminated Big Show to win the WrestleMania 20 title match opportunity.
They cut to Steve Austin, who spoke in front of the Tribute set. He talked about
Benoit giving 120 percent every night of the week in front of a few or thousands
of fans. Austin said Benoit is one of the most-honest and generous people he's
ever met in his life. He said he wishes Benoit was still with us.
[Commercial Break]
They cut to clips of Benoit talking about how he got into the wrestling
business. He spoke about how Dynamite Kid influenced him the most to get
started.
Ringside, Michael Cole and JBL spoke quietly. Cole said he's been thinking a lot
about the phrase "a child defines a father". He said Benoit used to always bring
his kids to the shows, and they were always very respectful to people backstage.
JBL got choked up talking about his memories wrestling with Benoit in Japan. He
said he wishes he didn't have to be here doing this, as he'd rather be calling a
wrestling match with Benoit.
They cut to John Cena at the Tribute set. Cena said he firmly believes this is
the most difficult thing he's ever had to do. He said some people will provide
some fantastic moments, and this has been a very sudden occurrence, and he
doesn't know how to react to it. He said his first instinct tells him to
celebrate Benoit's life. Cena said Benoit was the type of guy you want to go
with war with, but he would always look out for the wrestlers he formed bonds
with it. Cena said Benoit respected the business, did everything he could for
it, and his set of ideals toward the business were what he looked up to. "He
took no s--- from anybody," he said. Cena said that the fans watching would
hopefully appreciate everything Benoit has contributed to the business. Cena
said Benoit was like John Wayne because he was too tough to open up with, but
you could tell by the look in his eye whether he cared or didn't care about you.
Cena said he wishes he got the chance to tell him that he loves him.
[Commercial Break]
They cut to clips of Benoit in the early days of ECW when Benoit came in from
Japan. Benoit talked about 2 Cold Scorpio and their common bond in the ring.
Ringside, Joey Styles and Tazz talked about how excited they were that Chris
Benoit was in their locker room in ECW. Tazz said that when Paul Heyman told him
that back in the day, he told Heyman that it brought credibility to the ECW
brand. Tazz said Benoit always helped the younger guys out, but you always had
to up your game in the ring or he'd wear you out. Styles said the irony is how
excited they were when Benoit came over to the ECW brand in the Draft just two
weeks ago. They laughed at how excited they were at the prospect of calling some
Benoit matches on Tuesday nights.
They cut to a video package on Benoit's last televised match, against Elijah
Burke on ECW TV six days ago.
C.M. Punk, with tears in his eyes, spoke at the Tribute set. He said he couldn't
help but feel really guilty right now because he was so disappointed last night
when he didn't get to face Benoit at the PPV. Punk said he never got to wrestle
Benoit, but he taught him a lot. He said he hopes he can do Benoit's memory
right by leading the next generation of wrestlers in the right direction
following Benoit's lead.
[Commercial Break]
They opened the second hour with the same McMahon speech from the beginning of
the show.
Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler spoke from ringside again. Ross introduced a match
Benoit had with one of his closest friends, Dean Malenko, some ten years ago at
WCW Hog Wild '96. Just to hammer home the impact of Benoit's death even more,
ringside for the match were Miss Elizabeth and Woman. They cut to a break during
the match.
[Commercial Break]
Back ringside, Ross and Lawler briefly talked about Woman and her contributions
to the wrestling business. They went back to the conclusion of Benoit vs.
Malenko.
After they finished airing the match, they cut to Dean Malenko at the Tribute
set. He talked about Benoit enriching his life and career. Malenko said he met
Benoit and Eddie Guerrero in the early '90s wrestling in Japan, and they all
supported and leaned on each other. Malenko said only a select few got to really
know Benoit because he was very guarded and private. He said he felt honored to
spend 15 years in and out of the ring with Benoit. Malenko talked about the
irony of losing two of his closest friends in the last two years, and how the
original Three Amigos were the three of them, not the Eddie suplexes. Malenko
talked about the legacy Benoit left in the business as someone wrestlers can
model their careers after. He said he loaned the Crippler Crossface to Benoit
back in the day when Benoit was looking for a finisher. Malenko closed that his
two closest friends over the last 15 years are now together and he'll never
forget Chris.
[Commercial Break]
They showed a video package on Chris Benoit standing in an empty arena, with
clips of Benoit in action, and in surgery.
Back ringside, Cole and JBL talked about Benoit being known as one of the best
professional wrestlers of all-time. Cole talked about no matter whether Benoit
won or lost, he would always look into the crowd and receive a standing ovation
from the appreciative fans. JBL said Benoit was never a great talker, but a
great wrestler. He introduced a match he had with Benoit for the U.S. Title at
the beginning of 2006.
They cut to footage from Smackdown in April 2006 when Benoit faced JBL for the
U.S. Title in a steel cage.
And now the Stephanie McMahon Tribute. Stephanie said people considered him a
passionate wrestler, but he experienced Benoit's passion for his family. He said
Benoit thought it was so cool that she married Triple H. All the cards are on
the table tonight. Stephanie said Benoit was genuinely warm and excited when
news came of Stephanie being pregnant. He said he knows how much Benoit's kids
loved his dad. Stephanie said she will always know him as his friend.
[Commercial Break]
Chavo Guerrero spoke at the Tribute set. He said Benoit was one of his best
friends, as part of the Guerrero family. He talked about Benoit being the first
person he called after finding Eddie dead. Chavo said it broke up Benoit, a guy
who never really showed emotion. He said Benoit wailed and cried and sobbed
uncontrollably because Eddie was his best friend. Chavo said he was given a gift
of being the last person to be with Eddie, while he was also given another gift
of being at Benoit's house last week. He said they did a few house shows
together, went to TV, had dinner, and Chavo missed his flight home. Chavo said
it's so difficult to go through this again. He said being in the ring with
Benoit was such a pleasure, privilege, and an honor. Chavo said some of their
matches were the best of his career, and he was able to learn so much. Chavo
said their last phone called ended with Benoit saying, "I love you, Chavo." He
said Benoit was part of his family. He tried to hold back tears, and said he
reminisced on their families spending time together at WrestleMania.
[Commercial Break]
Joey Styles and Tazz talked ringside about the deaths of Benoit's family. Styles
took us back to the Pegasus Kid days in Japan prior to him coming to the U.S. He
said some of Benoit's best matches of all-time were against Jushin Liger in
Japan.
They went to a Pegasus Kid vs. Liger match from 1990, with Michael Cole and Tazz
doing voice-overs on the match. They showed Benoit winning the Jr. Hvt. Title
with a top rope guillotine leg drop.
They cut to William Regal at the Tribute set. He said he hopes to sit down and
talk great things about Benoit at a later date. Regal said all he can say now is
that Benoit was the hardest-working wrestler in the business of anyone he ever
met. "He was the absolute best," Regal said.
[Commercial Break]
They started the third hour of the show with Vince McMahon's announcement from
the top of the show.
Ross and Lawler spoke from ringside about Benoit's adoration for Dynamite Kid.
They cut to footage from Benoit speaking on his first match in Calgary where no
one knew who he was. Family and friends talked about Benoit using Dynamite's
moves. Benoit talked about emulating Dynamite's pattern and style into his
action. He said the first time he did the diving headbutt, he knocked the wind
out of himself because he didn't protect his body doing the move. Ross and
Lawler then talked about Benoit wrestling his friends and rivals. They went to
January 2001 when Benoit and Chris Jericho wrestled for the IC Title in a ladder
match at the Royal Rumble.
We joined the Benoit vs. Jericho Rumble ladder match in progress. They cut to a
break after the sweet octopus-spot where Jericho stretched Benoit's back across
the top of the ladder.
[Commercial Break]
They re-joined the match in progress, with Jericho winning the IC Title after
knocking Benoit off the ladder to the floor.
Ross and Lawler spoke ringside. Ross said Jericho was very upset after hearing
about the death of one of his best friends. Lawler said Benoit wasn't a wrestler
for the money, but because he loved performing in front of the fans. He said no
one was more intense inside the ring than Benoit. Ross said we would Benoit's
crowning moment at WM 20 later in the show.
[Commercial Break]
Styles and Tazz talked from ringside, then we went to comments from Edge. He
said at the Tribute set with his arms folded, not sure what to say. Edge said he
has three people in this industry that he feels he can talk to about anything in
wrestling. He said two of them are gone now. Edge said he first saw Benoit as an
eighteen-year-old in Calgary and he thought to himself that he would be awesome
one day. He said anytime they were in the ring together, it was like two
Canadians fighting for the last beer. Edge said he had some personal issues in
his own life, and Benoit was the first person he went to because he could trust
him and because he cared. He said that was more important than anything. Edge
said everyone in the locker room respected Benoit because of the pride he took
in his work. He said he got to face Benoit in Orlando a few weeks ago, and
getting kicked in the head that hard was such fun. Edge said when they went
through the Gorilla position, Benoit was smiling after their match. He said
Benoit was the guy he called for advice after his neck surgery. "He was always
there," Edge said. Benoit said they had a show in Dothan, Ala. and Benoit came
to the show with his son, Daniel, who was dressed up and doing warm-up exercises
with his dad. Edge paused to choke back tears, then he said how lucky he was. He
said Benoit would be hot at him for crying, but he just loved the guy. Edge said
he doesn't understand situations like this. He threw his hands in the air as if
to say he doesn't know how to react. They faded to commercial with Edge's head
down.
[Commercial Break]
Back ringside, Cole and JBL talked about Benoit's emotions in the ring and in
the locker room. He said a few wrestlers were thrown out of the locker room by
Benoit because he didn't feel they were giving respect to the business. Cole
said Benoit always gave 100 percent and always made sure the fans went home
happy.
They aired a video package on Benoit talking about putting his heart and soul
into everything he does for the fans.
[Commercial Break]
Triple H spoke at the Tribute set. He said if given a few minutes to sum up a
friend's life, it's tough to do. Hunter said that he kept asking himself what
one thing sums up what Chris Benoit stood for. Respect. He said Benoit demanded
it, received it, and it meant everything to him. He said it was respect for the
business, the fans, the wrestlers, his family, and his friends. Hunter said
there was an incident a few years ago when a young wrestler showed a lack of
respect to Shawn Michaels, so Benoit made him do 1,000 squats with him. He then
made him do 500 squats the next day. Hunter talked about WM 20 when he looked
back to see Benoit holding the World Title in the middle of Madison Square
Garden. He said he can't speak for everyone, but he's pretty sure that every
person Benoit ever met respected him. Hunter said there's no one he respected
more than Benoit. He said he's not saying that because Benoit isn't here, but
because Benoit earned it. Hunter choked back tears as he finished.
Ross and Lawler talked about respect having to be earned in the business. Lawler
said everyone on the roster respected Benoit. Ross said arguably Benoit's
greatest moment was WM 20 when Benoit held the World Title high after defeating
incumbent champion Hunter and Shawn Michaels.
They went to the very beginning of Hunter vs. Michaels vs. Benoit for the World
Title in the main event of WM 20 to show the match in its entirety. They cut to
a break after Michaels's moonsault onto Benoit and Hunter on the floor.
[Commercial Break]
They re-joined the match in progress. They cut to a break after Hunter rammed
Benoit into the ring steps.
[Commercial Break]
They came back with Ross and Lawler discussing how they will remember Benoit.
Lawler said they've talked a lot about Chris, but they also need to talk about
Nancy and Daniel. He said it makes him want to get home and tell his family that
he loves them. Lawler told the audience to tell whatever family member they're
watching this show with that they love them. Ross said Benoit was a great
friend, man, and one great wrestler. He introduced the finish of the Mania title
match.
The Benoit Tribute show closed with the final few minutes of the Mania main
event, and the famous post-match hug between Benoit and Eddie with both
wrestlers holding WWE championship gold at the conclusion of the PPV.