Is it even possible the WWE could be that stupid? I have read on a couple of rag sites that Chris Benoit's contract is up in a couple of months and the WWE is offering him a re-up at a very low figure (a la Christian). Does the term TNA World Champion mean anything to them? Benoit would give TNA almost instant credibilty. And the match-ups are scary... Benoit v Styles, Benoit v Joe. Yikes.
You know, I like Benoit, same as I like Booker and a few of the other older guys (and older might mean "been around awhile, even though they're not that old"). But I think that the WWE needs to spend a lot more time focusing on people like MNM, Kennedy (Kennedy!), Cena, Batista, The Rednecks, and others.
I think WWE has done about all they are able to do with Chris as a main eventer. His size has always been an issue (Does the Vanilla Midgets ring a bell?) and he's been around a long time. His mike skills have never been that awesome. I personally think that since his bad neck injury his offense has become very predictable. So bringing him back at a lower cost as an elevator makes sense.
Could TNA pay him more and push him? Definitely the second. The first is more of a question.
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
Vince has done some really stupid things, but if this is all serious...it'll be proof enough that either HHH is the real brains behind the operation, or Vince has indeed lost focus on the product, and what makes it good.
You know, whatever his limitations are, asking Benoit to take a major pay cut is an insult. The guy's always been a team player, he never causes any trouble or bad press for the company, and he puts over whoever they tell him to and makes them look good in the process. And it's not like suddenly Benoit stopped doing these things so as to make the company reconsider. So, if true, it's a hell of a way to reward a loyal employee. Of course, without a reputable source for this, I have to call bullshit. Still, the fact that anyone finds this sort of thing believable says something about the current state of the company.
Originally posted by Tenken347Of course, without a reputable source for this, I have to call bullshit. Still, the fact that anyone finds this sort of thing believable says something about the current state of the company.
What?! You mean the "very reputable sources" that are noted as being the basis for 95% of the stuff written in the IWC aren't strong enough?
Not to be a jerk, it's just that I think LOP is a junk website that used to be good. It's incredibly shoddy journalism at it's best. That and the fact that all any wrestling "journalist" ever says comes from his "sources."
For a person (the wrestling journalist) to wantonly blow the cover off of every other aspect of wrestling, no matter how minute, yet keep his sources safe...that's just backwards to me, even with source confidentiality.
I'm not sure how many more years Benoit has left as an active wrestler, but I'd rather see him having great matches in TNA (now that they have national coverage) than idling over in the WWE. Do you guys really want to see him be the stepping stone for Ken Kennedy or the like?
Not a knock against other talent, but Benoit seems like the logical guy to put them over to the main stage.
This is not to be meant as anti-Benoit. However, I can see the rationale for a low-ball salary offer to him at this point. Initially he jumps over from WCW in 2000, so it makes sense to pay him well in order to strike a blow at WCW plus put a quality wrestler in the upper card, especially since Kurt Angle had just debuted and, though early returns were good, it still was to early to say he was a guaranteed quality main eventer. When Benoit re-ups, he's in the upper card and a possible world title contender. Still good value there. Now, Benoit has had his Mania World Title victory, his DVD has been sold, and his age is increasing while his spot on the card is decreasing. Why pay a guy like he's a main eventer if he's going to be jerking the curtain? I don't agree with the idea that Benoit's time at the top of the card should be over, but, if the guy signing the checks thinks that, then not much can be done about it. Still, if Benoit were to leave at the end of the year, he had a very good six year run with the WWF/E, and was pushed higher than most of us thought he'd ever be. And, if he ends up on TNA after the 90 days expires and TNA is still viable at the time, the debut of Benoit in a World Title match could be solid counter-programming to Mania.
Originally posted by redsoxnationThis is not to be meant as anti-Benoit. However, I can see the rationale for a low-ball salary offer to him at this point. Initially he jumps over from WCW in 2000, so it makes sense to pay him well in order to strike a blow at WCW plus put a quality wrestler in the upper card, especially since Kurt Angle had just debuted and, though early returns were good, it still was to early to say he was a guaranteed quality main eventer. When Benoit re-ups, he's in the upper card and a possible world title contender. Still good value there. Now, Benoit has had his Mania World Title victory, his DVD has been sold, and his age is increasing while his spot on the card is decreasing. Why pay a guy like he's a main eventer if he's going to be jerking the curtain? I don't agree with the idea that Benoit's time at the top of the card should be over, but, if the guy signing the checks thinks that, then not much can be done about it. Still, if Benoit were to leave at the end of the year, he had a very good six year run with the WWF/E, and was pushed higher than most of us thought he'd ever be. And, if he ends up on TNA after the 90 days expires and TNA is still viable at the time, the debut of Benoit in a World Title match could be solid counter-programming to Mania.
I'm probably the biggest Benoit whore there is, and I'm excited about a potential jump to TNA. He's one of the few guys WWE has managed to protect with their booking from Day One (who else in the company has wins over Stone Cold, The Rock, Triple H, Kurt Angle...and got to headbutt Stephanie?) and him hanging around anywhere brings cred to that promotion. Heck, the premise of Benoit vs. AJ Styles and Benoit vs. Samoa Joe has me giddy.
And IIRC, Meltzer said that there is no 90-day no compete clause if your contract expires, only if somebody gets (or asks for) a release.
And IIRC, Benoit debuted in January 2000, so he would've had a 5 year run in WWE.
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Let's face it, it would be silly for WWE to let Benoit go, BUT, he's accomplished pretty much everything he can in WWE. Numerous IC & tag title reigns, not to mention winning the World Championship in the main event at the 20th anniversary of Wrestlemania. Maybe it is time for him to look at the grass on the other side.
I, for one, wouldn't mind seeing him do battles with Samoa Joe & Christopher Daniels.
Logically, WWE would be smart to sign Benoit to an unofficial lifetime contract, with a few more years stipulated as an in-ring deal, and then more thereafter as a road agent/trainer (so he could teach a new generation of Benoits, hopefully). Illogically, which unfortunately seems to be much of WWE's current mindset, Benoit is expendable due to his age, but given how he's better than everyone on the roster except for maybe, MAYBE HBK and Angle, I think they can make an exception.
On the flip side, congrats to ABC for hiring Tim McGraw to tailor the lyrics to "I like it, I love it" for every halftime highlight show throughout the "Monday Night Football" season. Just last week, my buddy House and I were discussing Cosell's classic highlight narratives in the '70s, and how nobody had approached them since, and I told House, "Only one thing could ever come close, and I know it's a long shot, but what if ABC hired Tim McGraw to tailor the lyrics to 'I Like it, I Love It' for each week of NFL highlights throughout the season?" And wouldn't you know, it happened! See, dreams can come true. --- Bill Simmons, www.sportsguy.net
Y'know... with Christian, Benoit, and Jericho, TNA could run a **VERY** interesting nWo-ish angle -- that, if booked right, could take 'em to the next level...
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Originally posted by WhattaburgerNot to be a jerk, it's just that I think LOP is a junk website that used to be good. It's incredibly shoddy journalism at it's best. That and the fact that all any wrestling "journalist" ever says comes from his "sources."
For a person (the wrestling journalist) to wantonly blow the cover off of every other aspect of wrestling, no matter how minute, yet keep his sources safe...that's just backwards to me, even with source confidentiality.
Journalists--wrestling and otherwise--don't reveal sources because they don't want the sources to get in trouble for having leaked the information. For one thing, it's simply nice to protect someone who helped you break a story from losing their job. But on a more self-motivated level, you don't want your sources fired for giving you information because then they can't give you more information in the future.
I don't buy into the Benoit rumor. I haven't seen it on any news sites I trust (yet) and it sounds a little too perfectly designed to reel in smarks. But, for the sake of argument, if the story has some truth to it, WWE is now furious that it's out there and wants to find out who the source was and cut him off from learning sensitive information in the future. That doesn't do the source or the journalist any good, so the source remains anonymous.
There are more anonymous sources in wrestling journalism than mainstream media because wrestling is a such a cutthroat and secretive environment, but the same basic principle applies in all of journalism. It's not as if wrestling journalists in particular conceal their sources for no particular reason besides giving a big FU to their readers.
Obviously the problem with anonymous sources is that there's no way for the reader to know if the source exists at all, or if the journalist simply made the story up. But that's where we have to decide which journalists to listen to, not where we demand the source's identity. I feel reasonably sure Meltzer and Keller have contacts within WWE (even if I don't know who they are) that they can get to confirm or deny the Benoit rumor, so I wait for them to report on this story. I have no earthly idea who even writes for Lords of Pain, except that they'll say anything to get me to click on links to their sponors, so I disregard their reports entirely.
If Benoit were to walk, that could have very serious repercussions in the lockerroom. Benoit is 1 of the very few universally respected guys in all of wrestling, let alone the WWE lockerroom. Lowballing him sends the message to everyone else that the company doesn't appreciate hard work & dedication, and if they're willing to do that to Benoit, what's to stop them from doing it to everyone else? Why risk pushing guys away when TNA is right there to jump on anyone that could give them legitimacy?
Benoit is as over as he's ever been in the company, and sure he's getting up there in age, but he'e willing to job to guys, and he can make anyone look good. With the WWE calling up guys who clearly aren't ready, having a guy like Benoit on the roster is almost essential.
I can see it as a negotiating ploy, but hopefully the WWE can see that they need Benoit more than Benoit needs them, and hopefully the 2 sides can make it work.
Not sure what to make of this. I think people are jumping the gun on the speculation at the prospect of Benoit going to TNA. If there's any truth to these unconfirmed rumors, I can easily see Benoit just retiring and stop wrestling entirely.
EDIT:
Personally I find it offensive that WWE is doing this to Benoit. In 2002, 2003, and 2004, it was Chris Benoit who was ALWAYS delivering the best matches on TV and PPV. ON RAW and Smackdown.
In 2003, While HHH was competing in atrocious world title matches with Scott Steiner, it was because of Benoit that shows were salvaged. In 2004 after HHH destroyed the credibility of every other opponent, it was Benoit that had to step up to RAW because there wasn't anyone left for HHH to fight. Now they do this and we probably will never see the Benoit/Mysterio classic. I'm a little po'ed about it. But I'm sure the Undertaker will still be winning all his Wrestlemania matches 10 years from now.
Originally posted by rv581Y'know... with Christian, Benoit, and Jericho, TNA could run a **VERY** interesting nWo-ish angle -- that, if booked right, could take 'em to the next level...
What would they be called? The Chris' World Order? The REAL Team Canada?
I know TNA still has to prove itself, but I wonder if the lowballing plus gaining exposure of TNA is giving some of the WWE guys more confidence. But doing it to Benoit is crazy.
Odd how TNA will probably end up with most of the WWE's high profile tag teams from the 90s/00s: NAOs (not the same now I know), Dudleys, a Hardy; almost both, and Christian.
Originally posted by Guru ZimThere has to be another Chris out there somewhere that they could join up with and go with the name C4... explosive potential.
Maybe a mouthpiece...
Well, supposing that group was in TNA, you'd have to have Christopher Daniels in there (I think Jericho or Christian would be able to carry the mantle of mouthpiece).
WWE is stupider than I thought if they let Benoit go. He has value anywhere on the card from being a curtain jerker who has a good match to fire up the crowd all the way up to a credible main event title challenger. Plus he will make an awesome road agent one day, as someone already mentioned. I think Benoit (and to a lesser extent Christian) is a guy who can give TNA an instant boost in credibility.
You know what would be really awesome, if he feuds with Vince McMahon. Vince can make fun of him for being retarted and even pretend to be retarded to mock him. This would all lead to a PPV match in which Vince wins.