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DVD Title - "Hard Knocks - The Chris Benoit Story"
Available anyplace that sells DVD's
Review by Brett Schwan
Normally I wouldn't mention or even review a WWE DVD on this site. However, having been a Chris Benoit fan since his days in New Japan Pro Wrestling (and the fact that the DVD was on sale at FYI) I had to buy it.
"Hard Knocks - The Chris Benoit Story" follows Chris' career from Calgary to Japan to the United States. This DVD does a great job of educating those fans who did not know there was a Chris Benoit prior to WCW and the WWE.
The DVD features commentary by Benoit on the different phases of his career, including his idolization of the Dynamite Kid, training in Calgary, his breaking into New Japan, Extreme Championship Wrestling (where he broke Sabu's neck which lef to the creation of "The Crippler"), entering WCW, leaving for the WWE, his neck injury and return, and all the way through his WWE career to his championship victory at Wrestlemania XX.
The DVD features comments from long-time Benoit friends Dean Malenko, Eddie Guerrero, and Chris Jericho as well as Benoit's family (including his mom, dad, and wife, Nancy) and friends in Edmonton.
Benoit shows his emotions when discussing the passing of Owen Hart and his memories of training in Stu Hart's dungeon. There is footage of Benoit visiting the Hart house, clips of his 1995 WWF tryout matches, clips from New Japan Pro Wrestling, and tons of still photos of his time training as a teenager and working in Calgary.
Benoit is brutally honest in his thoughts about ECW. Telling how when he broke Sabu's neck, Paul Heyman was more excited about the creation of the Benoit Crippler gimmick than in telling Benoit how Sabu was. Remastered audio from the Sabu incident allows you to actually hear Sabu talking about his broken neck as he lay on the floor of the ECW Arena.
Benoit also mentioned that he kept asking for a work visa but Paul Heyman kept telling him it was being worked on. Once he was warned at the border about his possibly being barred from entering the US, he insisted he get a work visa. When Paul Heyman told him not to worry, Chris decided not to return to ECW.
Benoit briefly talks about his issues with Kevin Sullivan (Nancy Sullivan left Kevin and married Benoit). Instead of slinging dirt, he notes that he wants to be able to explain things to his children (from a first marriage) when they are old enough, before talking about it to the rest of the world.
Benoit goes on to discuss his first Wrestlemania, working with The Rock, wrestling Kurt Angle an so much more. Exclusive footage of Benoit celebrating in the ring after Wrestlemania XX and embracing Dean Malenko backstage afterwards.
The DVD ends with ta Benoit music video.
The match listing for the DVD is simply awesome. You can choose from the original Japanese commentary, Tazz and Michael Cole, or Todd Grisham with Benoit, Malenko and Tom Pritchard. Avoid the Grisham commentary as he couldn't even pronounce Jushin correctly.
The ECW bouts were a thrill for me, as I was at many of them live. To relive them sent chills down my spine. Benoit vs Al Snow from Double Tables was a great match. The now infamous Sabu neck break. The list goes on and on. It was also great to see the Superbrawl 3 bout against 2 Cold Scorpio
If you are a fan of Benoit, this DVD is a no brainer. If you are a fan of actual WRESTLING, this fan is a no brainer. Simply put... this DVD is a must see for anyone who claims to be a wrestling fan.
Matches listed for the DVD set are:
-Pegasus Kid (Benoit under a mask) vs. Jushin Liger for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title Match (Tokyo, Japan August 19, 1990) featuring original Japanese commentary as well as alternative commentary tracks by Tazz and Michael Cole and Benoit, Dean Malenko & Todd Grisham.
-Chris Benoit vs. 2 Cold Scorpio from WCW Superbrawl III (4/21/93) - Great 20 minute bout
-Wild Pegasus Chris Benoit vs. Black Tiger (a masked Eddie Guerrero) from New Japan Pro Wrestling's Super J Cup Tournament Round 2 (Tokyo, Japan - 4/16/94) featuring original Japanese commentary as well as alternative commentary tracks by Tazz and Michael Cole and Benoit, Dean Malenko & Todd Grisham.
-Wild Pegasus Chris Benoit vs. Great Sasuke in New Japan's Super J Cup Tournament Final (Tokyo, Japan - 4/16/94) featuring commentary by Tazz and Michael Cole and an alternative commentary track featuring Benoit, Dean Malenko & Todd Grisham
-Chris Benoit vs. Sabu at the ECW November to Remember '94 - Benoit breaks Sabu's neck, creating the Crippler nickname.
-Chris Benoit vs. Al Snow ECW Double Tables (February 1995 - Great Match)
-Chris Benoit vs. Eddie Guerrero from WCW Monday Nitro (10/16/05)
-Chris Benoit vs. Kevin Sullivan WCW Great American Bash 96 PPV (6/16/96)
-Chris Benoit vs. Booker T in the Best-of-Seven Finals, WCW Great American Bash 98 PPV (6/14/98)
-Chris Benoit vs. Bret Hart - The Owen Hart Tribute Match in Kansas City, WCW Monday Nitro (10/4/99)
-Chris Benoit vs. Sid Vicious - WCW World title victory and Benoit's last WCW match, WCW Souled Out (1/16/00)
-Chris Benoit vs. Steven Regal from the Brian Pillman Memorial Show, (5/26/00) featuring commentary by Michael Cole and Tom Pritchard
-Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle - Steel Cage Match, WWE Raw (6/11/01)
-Chris Benoit vs. Kurt Angle at Royal Rumble 2003 (1/19/03)
-Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels - Wrestlemania XX
Extras:
-Benoit's Neck Injury July 2001 Raw
-WWE Confidential looks at the Crippler Crossface
-Benoit's Raw Magazine Cover Shoot
