This Day in Wrestling History

Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, Eddie Guererro and Dean Malenko show up on RAW. The group would be known as "The Radicalz."
January 31, 2000

This Day in Wrestling History

The WCW World Heavyweight Title is vacated by Chris Benoit. Benoit, Saturn, Malenko and Eddie Guerrero are released by WCW.
January 17, 2000

Chris Jericho: Master of the Viral Video

WWE's website has a new article up looking at how Chris Jericho has used viral videos over the years. They're also teasing more to Jericho's WWE return than we saw on RAW last night:

"Still, there are plenty of questions left unanswered between the videos and Jericho’s shocking appearance on Raw SuperShow. For example, the fourth video refers to a mysterious “she.” According to the clip, “she” holds the answers to the return of Chris Jericho, and that when he calls her, he will begin to reclaim what is rightfully his.

What does all this mean for the WWE? No one but Chris Jericho knows, and until he decides to let the rest of the world in on his ultimate goals, all the WWE Universe can do is conjecture. Certainly, Jericho has left us plenty of material to do precisely that."...More?

Chris Benoit Film Biopic CROSSFACE Includes Triple H & Eddie Guerrero As Characters

The controversial ‘biographical thriller’ of former WWE World Champion Chris Benoit that covers the shocking 2007 double murder of his wife and son before he then committed suicide, will feature Kurt Angle, Triple H and the late Eddie Guerrero as characters, according to the film’s writer.

Former Weinstein Company staffer Sarah Coulter who has now completed the first draft of her script told Worst Previews;

“There are a lot of unknowns about that weekend [when the murders/suicide took place], which is probably why so many people have tried to fill in the blanks with conspiracy theories,” she explained. “Chris Benoit was behind the murders, but we still wanted to touch on several of those theories.”

“Eddie [Guerrero] is obviously very important to the story,” she said. “Triple H, Kurt Angle, they’re all there, but it’s early and things can still change.

Coulter has confirmed several actors are in talks for the lead role and an official casting announcement is due soon before filming begins late 2012. No director has been set yet.

A close and long time friend of Benoit, Eddie Guerrero’s sudden death in 2005 just 18 months before Benoit’s murder incident is of course often seen as a huge catalyst in the wrestler’s depression at the time of the murders. The use of Kurt Angle and Triple H is less clear, especially as Angle had left the WWE a year before the incident (though Benoit did have some of his very best matches in the company with him) and Triple H was nothing more than a work colleague but presumably because he worked for the WWE at the time he is included and more recognisable faces that Coulter hasn’t directly mentioned.

However things can change in scripts all the time and what she has written now may not end up on screen necessarily and there could be some legal issues if wrestlers like HHH and Angle are portrayed in a way they, or the WWE don’t enjoy...More?

source: whatculture.com

Update on the Chris Benoit Movie

SRG Films issued the following announcement on their planned film adaptation of the book "Ring of Hell":

"Crossface", a biographical thriller, delves into the pressures WWE superstar Chris Benoit faced throughout his wrestling career as the combination of drug-use, depression, and head trauma became increasingly impossible for him to handle. The true story made headline news in 2007 when Chris murdered his wife and young son before taking his own life.

SRG Films head Dale Alexander Carnegie is producing the film, while William Morris Endeavor (WME) is on board to package the project. Former Weinstein Company staffer, Sarah Coulter, turned in the first draft of the script in mid-October.

"All of us grow up believing that wrestling is fake, but looking at the shocking number of deaths in the industry, it quickly becomes evident that there is nothing fake about the dangers of this sport," Carnegie said. "Chris Benoit has become a poster child for everything that's wrong with professional wrestling and Sarah's terrific script captures his struggles and the many factors that led to the deaths of three people."

Coulter added: "People immediately point to steroids, never thinking about the brain trauma these wrestlers can, and do, incur in their profession, nor do they consider the rigorous schedule that keeps them working even when they shouldn t be. The Benoit story is one that needs to be brought into the light.

SRG Films, currently in talks with directors and actors, plans to begin filming in the fall of 2012.

Triple H and the Superstars He Helped to Establish

Five Delusions of the IWC

1. Daniel Bryan Should Be World Champion By Now
2. Triple H "Slept His Way To The Top"
3. They (IWC) Are Superior To Other Wrestling Fans And Should Act Like It
4. Chris Benoit Should Be In The WWE Hall Of Fame
5. They Know More About The Business Than Vince McMahon Himself

Your can read the full article here.

source: bleacherreport.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw.
June 25, 1976

WWE inducts legends Fabulous Moolah, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca, The Grand Wizard, George Steele and Ernie Ladd into the WWE Hall of Fame.
June 25, 1995

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 25, 2000

Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son are found dead in their home in Atlanta. The tragedy was later determined to be a double-murder/suicide after WWE ran a two-hour tribute show to Benoit. Vince McMahon would later apologize the following night on ECW.
June 25, 2007

This Day in Wrestling History

Evan "Strangler" Lewis defeats Joe Acton in Chicago, Illinois to win the World Catch-as-Catch-Can Heavyweight Title.
March 14, 1887

Ric Flair becomes a 14-time World Heavyweight Champion defeating Hollywood Hogan
March 14, 1999

The infamous Bob Costas interview of Vince McMahon airs on HBO's "On the Record with Bob Costas". McMahon looked very intense and visably upset when Costas asked him questions about the fledgling XFL and the sex and violence in the WWF.
March 14, 2001

WWE sets a record for the highest grossing wrestling event ever held in Madison Square Garden in New York City, pulling in over $2.4 million in ticket sales for WrestleMania XX, which was headlined by Chris Benoit defeating Triple H and Shawn Michaels in a three way match for the World Heavyweight Title. The event also sees the final WWE appearances (to date) for Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg.
1987 - The WWF aired the 10th edition of Saturday Night's Main Event on NBC, which got an 11.6 rating. The show was taped on February 21 in Detroit, Michigan at Joe Louis Arena.
March 14, 2004

Vince McMahon receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
March 14, 2008

This Day in Wrestling History

Chris Benoit, Perry Saturn, Eddie Guererro and Dean Malenko show up on RAW. The group would be known as "The Radicalz."
January 31, 2000

Kurt Angle on WWE – "It’s Not The Same Without Shawn, Triple H, Rock, Austin and Me"

Kurt Angle posted the following on his twitter account:

“I truly look a wwe and it’s not the same without Shawn, HHH, Rock, Austin and me. They have incredible talent like ‘Taker, Kane and others. I thank GOD Vince gave me a chance, but any talent won’t be is HUGE as we were. I’m not trying to benefit TNA. I love TNA. But WWE needs upper talent. I hope they do it, but when I was in WWE, the talent was incredible. Rey Mysterio, Cena and Orton picked up the slack. But is WWE like it was? TNA has Awesome talent. I Pray we can compete up against the Monster WWE someday. I will do my very best. I loved WWE when I was there-but TNA is better for me. I Pray we both succeed incredibly. A big shout out to some of my boys that I forgot to mention in my comment last night, Edge, Y2J, Christian, Eddie and Benoit. Good times!!!”

Triple H Remembers Eddie Guerrero

Chris Benoit's Father Campaigning Against Linda McMahon

In an emotional press conference, the father of the late World Wrestling Entertainment performer Chris Benoit Monday urged Connecticut voters to reject the company's former CEO, Republican Linda McMahon, when they head to the polls in a week to select a U.S. senator.

"The people of the state want someone who cares not for the people who work for her to go and represent them in Washington?" Mike Benoit asked. "The only reason that woman wants to go to Washington is to protect the dollars WWE makes ¦ and be damned with the rest."...More?

source: ctpost.com

Linda McMahon Calls Michael Benoit's Feelings "Sad & Bitter"

Benoit Murder/Suicide Saga Optioned for Movie

Lost Colony Entertainment, a TV/movie production company, announced that it has picked up the rights to wrestling author Irv Muchnick's book on Chris Benoit's death.

"Writer/Producer/Director Richard O'Sullivan has optioned the exclusive film and television rights to author Irvin Muchnick's acclaimed book 'Chris & Nancy: The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling's Cocktail of Death,'" Lost Colony said in a press release.

O'Sullivan acknowledged in the release that the movie announcement comes at a time when former WWE
CEO Linda McMahon is running for U.S. Senate in Connecticut, but said the movie is not "politically motivated."

O'Sullivan said the McMahons will be depicted as characters in the movie, which will capture Benoit's WWE career and events leading up to the tragic murder-suicide in June 2007...More?

source: pwtorch.com

Recap of "Nightline's" Feature on Chris Benoit's Brain Condition at Death; WWE Issues Statement in Response

ABC Featuring Story on Chris Benoit & Head Trauma Tonight

ABC News's "Nightline" program will be featuring a report on deceased former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit tonight as part of their summer series examining the human brain.

Tonight's episode from the series "Secrets of Your Mind: Why We Do What We Do" will include interviews with Michael Benoit, the father of Chris Benoit, and Dr. Julian Bailes of West Virginia University's neurosciences.

Bailes will be sharing his research from studying the brains of former pro athletes that show "repeat concussions could have lasting impacts on the brain."

The episode, airing at 10:00 p.m. EST on ABC, is specifically focused on "psychopathic behavior" and how it originates in the brain. Dr. Bailes will provide research that repeated head trauma to the brain can increase that behavior...More?

source: pwtorch.com

This Day in Wrestling History

Antonio Inoki and Mohammad Ali fought to a 15 round draw.
June 25, 1976

WWE inducts legends Fabulous Moolah, Pedro Morales, Ivan Putski, Antonino Rocca, The Grand Wizard, George Steele and Ernie Ladd into the WWE Hall of Fame.
June 25, 1995

The Rock defeated Triple H by pinning Vince McMahon in a 6-man match for the WWF(E) Heavyweight title.
June 25, 2000

Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and son are found dead in their home in Atlanta. The tragedy was later determined to be a double-murder/suicide after WWE ran a two-hour tribute show to Benoit. Vince McMahon would later apologize the following night on ECW.
June 25, 2007

Chris Benoit: The Aftermath

RF Video presents Chris Benoit: The Aftermath. Hear first hand the reaction from the wrestling superstars that knew both Chris Benoit and Nancy. Legendary names in pro wrestling weigh in on the issues that arouse following the tragedies and all of the events that took place.

This Day in Wrestling History - Triple H Tears His Quad

Triple H-WrestleMania Note

Triple H mentioned in his promo on RAW that everyone who faces him at WrestleMania goes on to win a major world title. Here are more details from www.twnpnews.com:

In actuality, just facing Triple H at WrestleMania guarantees you a major world championship, with 1 exception. Since, WrestleMania XVI every person but one Triple H has faced at WrestleMania has gone on to win a major world championship. At WrestleMania XVI, Triple H defeated Mick Foley, The Rock and Big Show. Mick Foley had to go to TNA to get his World Championship, but they all would get another run with the world championship. At WrestleMania XVII, Triple H lost to Undertaker, who has had numerous runs with the title since then. At WrestleMania XVIII, Triple H defeated Jericho, a current World Champion. At WrestleMania XIX, Triple H defeated Booker T, who would go on to win a world championship. At WrestleMania XX, Triple H lost to Benoit in what would be Benoit's only world title reign in a match with Shawn Michaels.

Michaels is the lone "failure" among the list of opponents Triple H has faced in the last 11 years. Michaels has not won a major world championship since WrestleMania XX. At WrestleMania XXI, Triple H lost to Batista, a reigning world champion. At WrestleMania XXII, Triple H lost to John Cena who has held the world championship many times. At WrestleMania XXIV, Triple H lost to Randy Orton in a match with John Cena. Cena is less then 1 month removed from his last title reign. Orton has also held a world title multiple times since that match. At WrestleMania XXV, Triple H defeated Orton, who in the past year has held a world title multiple times since that match.