I have finally decided to make good use of my ever expanding Wrestling DVD Library and take a closer look at the matches some of us may have forgotten. In the Retro Reel, I will review matches that for some reason or another… we have decided not to keep in mind.
Could this man really be in a forgotten classic?WCW Souled Out
World Heavyweight Championship
Chris Benoit vs. Sid Vicious
Back-story
Bret Hart is stripped of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship due to a concussion. In WCW’s last ditch effort to keep The Crippler, they reward him a much deserved spot in the main event.
Why it was forgotten?
My guess is everything from 2000 in WCW is a blur even to the guys who worked there. Also, Benoit quitting right after the main event and The Radicalz jumping ship just weeks later overshadowed the actually contest.
A more obvious reason is the Benoit tragedy which unfortunately shits all over everything he did inside the ring.
Why it should be remembered?
It is quite possibly the greatest match of Sid’s career. I would say without a doubt it is but unfortunately I have never seen Sid’s match against HBK in 1996 at the Survivor Series. So worst case scenario…it’s at least in his top two.
Why was it good? Well of course Chris Benoit was in control of the entire match, using some very creative ways to work on Sid’s leg. And to his credit, Sid did a convincing job of selling the injury. One minor problem I had during the match was you could actually hear Sid say ‘what’ to Benoit’s orders for spots and such during the contest. But if you can get over that Sid is an awful wrestler, and realize Chris Benoit is performing a minor miracle in the ring, you will without a doubt enjoy it.
Other than the technical aspects of the match it does serve some historic value. It is the last match Chris Benoit ever had in WCW, and it is his first of only two World Title reigns in professional wrestling. For a career spanning over 20 years, with so many accomplishments, the first World Title win should be memorable.
Chris Benoit vs. Sid Vicious
Back-story
Bret Hart is stripped of the WCW World Heavyweight Championship due to a concussion. In WCW’s last ditch effort to keep The Crippler, they reward him a much deserved spot in the main event.
Why it was forgotten?
My guess is everything from 2000 in WCW is a blur even to the guys who worked there. Also, Benoit quitting right after the main event and The Radicalz jumping ship just weeks later overshadowed the actually contest.
A more obvious reason is the Benoit tragedy which unfortunately shits all over everything he did inside the ring.
Why it should be remembered?
It is quite possibly the greatest match of Sid’s career. I would say without a doubt it is but unfortunately I have never seen Sid’s match against HBK in 1996 at the Survivor Series. So worst case scenario…it’s at least in his top two.
Why was it good? Well of course Chris Benoit was in control of the entire match, using some very creative ways to work on Sid’s leg. And to his credit, Sid did a convincing job of selling the injury. One minor problem I had during the match was you could actually hear Sid say ‘what’ to Benoit’s orders for spots and such during the contest. But if you can get over that Sid is an awful wrestler, and realize Chris Benoit is performing a minor miracle in the ring, you will without a doubt enjoy it.
Other than the technical aspects of the match it does serve some historic value. It is the last match Chris Benoit ever had in WCW, and it is his first of only two World Title reigns in professional wrestling. For a career spanning over 20 years, with so many accomplishments, the first World Title win should be memorable.
1 comment:
I'm glad to hear that you're making good use of your wrestling dvd library. We have Chris Benoit vs. SID Vicious for the for the world heavyweight title at the WCW PPV Souled Out for discussion; this is definitely a match not discussed in many circles of professional wrestling whether it's among fans, promoters, performers, etc.
Chris Benoit making Sid Vicious look good just as Shawn Michaels did in their 1996 contest at Survivor Series is something to be applauded to be honest. We're all aware of how great Benoit was in the ring but we also must take into account that Sid wasn't a wrestler that had much technical prowess in the ring. Sure he stands 6'9" and weighed 317 pounds but since he was considered to be so stiff and hard to work with in the ring those two reasons there doesn't do anything to help him being viewed as a good wrestler. But damn it, he had the look. Lol. Also if Sid would've made his promos where people could comprehend what he saying and not come off as if he didn't have a clue as to what was going on and work on his craft; things would be different. Anyway.....
Communication is part of pro wrestling but when it's blatantly obvious to the audience; then it's a problem of course. However the two men put on a good match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Sadly WCW was on it's mighty tailspin downward and Beniot along with his fellow Radicalz jump ship to WWE soon after.
Yet the match should be viewed by fans of pro wrestling so that it can appreciated at least. Don't let the fact that the match took place during the dying days of WCW stop you from watching it objectively. As impossible it may be just set aside the Benoit tragedy briefly; I said set it aside not to forget it people.
Benoit probably should've had more than two World Heavyweight Title reigns in his careers; too bad his first wasn't memorable to many people.
Charles H. aka Bad News C
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