PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF EDDIE GUERRERO'S PASSING

MAT CLASSIC: EDDIE GUERRERO VS. CHRIS BENOIT
by Buck Woodward  

In memory of Eddie Guerrero, this week we will look at some of his greatest moments and classic matches.

Wild Pegasus vs. Black Tiger (Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero)
Super J Cup 1st Stage - April 16, 1994
Sumo Hall, Tokyo Japan

One of the most memorable moments of 2004 was when Chris Benoit, having just won the World Heavyweight Title in the main event of Wrestlemania, stood in the center of the ring at Madison Square Garden celebrating his victory with close friend and WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero. Two "small" wrestlers who many would have argued could never make it to the top of WWE were standing on top of the wrestling world.

Now, let's go back ten years before that moment.....

The History

Eddie Guerrero was starting to make a name for himself in AAA as part of Los Gringos Locos with Art Barr, and had also become a top junior in New Japan under a mask as Black Tiger.  Chris Benoit was Wild Pegasus, a respected junior heavyweight in Japan, who had a great run in the dying Calgary Stampede area, but had never managed to get past opening match status in WCW. 

The Super J Cup was a concept designed by Jushin Liger, a tournament to feature the best junior heavyweight wrestlers in Japan in a one-night tournament at Sumo Hall. Several promotions were invited to participate, although New Japan (Liger's home promotion), by far, had the most competitors in the tournament. In the first round, Black Tiger defeated a rising star from Michinoku Pro Wrestling, TAKA Michonku, while Chris Benoit (along with Great Sasuke), received a bye into the second round.

Wild Pegasus and Black Tiger, Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero, would meet in the second round.

The Match

The two circled each other, then locked up, with Benoit grabbing a waistlock. Tiger turned it into an armwringer, but Benoit cartwheeled out of it and grabbed a single leg takedown, twisting it into a reverse spinning toehold. Tiger tripped out into a leglace, then turned it into a stepover toehold, then went back into the leglace. Tiger stomped Benoit as he released the hold, then raked the sole of his boot across Benoit's face. Tiger slammed Benoit, then hit a slingshot senton, followed by a double stomp to the gut.

Tiger hit a backdrop driver for a two count, then applied a headscissors. Benoit made the ropes, and Tiger broke the hold, then kicked Benoit in the midsection. Guerrero whipped Benoit into the ropes, tripped him on the rebound, then stomped him. Tiger went for a vertical suplex, but Benoit floated over and hit Guerrero with a reverse vertical suplex. Benoit kicked Tiger, but had his Irish whip reversed. Benoit flipped out of Tiger's tilt-a-whirl backbreaker attempt and hit a clothesline. Benoit went to suplex Tiger off the apron, Tiger reversed, and Benoit floated over him and back into the ring. Benoit hit a flapjack, then a running knee to the midsection. Benoit chopped Tiger, then threw him gut first across the top rope. Benoit hit a German suplex with a bridge for a two count.

Benoit powerbombed Tiger, but again only got a two count. A Dynamite Kid-style snap suplex followed, and Tiger put a foot on the bottom rope to avoid the pin. Benoit snapmared Tiger and placed him in the same headscissors that Tiger had used earlier. Tiger rolled to the ropes for a break. Benoit hit him with a forearm, and went for a knee to the midsection, but Tiger cradled him for two. Benoit went for a flapjack again, but Tiger turned it into a rana in mid-air then hit a German suplex with a bridge for two.

Tiger applied a camel clutch, then hit a fallaway slam. Tiger went to the top rope, but Benoit sidestepped the attempted missile dropkick and Tiger crashed to the mat. Benoit hit a back suplex for a two count, then tried to force Tiger's shoulders down with a knuckle lock. Tiger bridged up into a test of strength, rolled backwards to twist Benoit's arms, then went into a arm wringer after a series of knees to the arm. Tiger sprung to the top rope, still holding the wrist of Benoit, got his balance and delivered a rana for two.

Tiger sat Benoit on the top rope, and hit a rana off the top for another two. Tiger then hit a brainbuster, and called for the Tornado DDT, which was his finisher at the time. Benoit tossed off the move in mid-swing, and signaled for the end. Benoit went for a top rope superplex, but Tiger shoved him off the ropes with a headbutt to the gut. Tiger then leaped off the top rope at Benoit, but Benoit caught him in an armdrag in mid air, sending him crashing to the mat for the pin at the 10:41 mark.

Benoit immediately walked back to the locker room, knowing his night was not over, while Tiger slowly got up off the mat with the help of his seconds.

Aftermath

Benoit went on to defeat Gedo in the semifinals, and overcame Great Sasuke in an all-time classic match to win the Super J Cup. For many Benoit fans, this was the crowning moment of his career until the Wrestlemania XX victory.  Guerrero would continue as Black Tiger, but would also wrestle in New Japan without the mask under his real name.  

The stories of Benoit and Guerrero from that point are well known. Stars in Japan, they finally gained some recognition in the U.S. during stints with ECW, then went to WCW where they gained reputations as hard workers and show stealers. From there it was the much talked about jump to WWF, and the slow climb to the top of WWE.

Match Availability: The match was released in Japan commercially by New Japan Pro Wrestling on a two-tape set covering the entire Super J Cup tournament. The match, with new commentary, is part of the "Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story" DVD set.

You can write me at BuckWrestling@aol.com.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet