Chris Benoit Interview
July 10, 1999
Page 4
by RichInKC

RichInKC: You have wrestled for, arguably, the three biggest countries for pro wrestling in the world: Canada, Japan and the United States.  How would you say the three differ in terms of the way the sport is received and in the way the fans react?

Chris Benoit: Well, there is a huge difference from America to North America to Japan.  Japanese fans, although I hear they are changing somewhat, are a lot more accustomed to technical wrestling.  They will react a lot more to technical wrestling, technical moves, and throws and stuff.  In the States, it is a lot more character based.  There are interviews and characters, where in Japan it is more straight wrestling.

RichInKC: Was that an adjustment for you to make when you came back to the States?

Chris Benoit: Oh yeah, yeah.  Actually in Calgary, we were a lot closer to the Japanese style than we were to the American style and coming to the States was a real eye opener.  I never really had to stand in front of a microphone before and vent my frustrations.  I am used to doing that in the ring.  It's very hard, very challenging.  It is something that I would to develop.  I don't think that I've been given the opportunity or had the opportunity to really try to develop it.  I think it will take time to do it.  I feel confident that I can do it.  Just like I did with wrestling.  When I started wrestling, so many people doubted me because of my size and stature, but I was very strong willed and I have stuck to it and accomplished every dream I have had.  It is a skill I want to develop and I know that I will in time.  The opportunity will come and I will be ready for it.

RichInKC: What were your first thoughts when you came to WCW and they told you they wanted to put you into the Horsemen?

Chris Benoit: You know what?  That was really funny to me, that was very weird.  A lot of people who had worked around told me, "God, you're going to be a Horseman.  That's awesome.  What a spot!"  I knew who Ric and Arn were from Japan and wrestling magazines.  In Canada, the only TV I ever watched was WWF and Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling, so I never got any of the wrestling from down south, so I really didn't understand what it meant.  I didn't know the history of the Horsemen or anything.  Some of my friends were more excited than I was.  I was like "I'm looking forward to it.  Sounds like a good spot, a good opportunity" but growing up all I had ever seen was Stampede Wrestling, so I didn't know what the title "The Four Horsemen" meant.

RichInKC: I take it you have learned more about it since then...

Chris Benoit: Oh yeah, no doubt.

RichInKC: How well did you click with Arn and Ric Flair?  There was a lot of talk on-screen about your relationship with Arn and how he had become something of a mentor to you.  Did that translate into real life?

Chris Benoit: Yeah.  I had known Arn and Ric from New Japan and had done a number of tours with them.  I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for their work.  If I had to chose one of the two to see in the mirror, it would have to be Arn.  His rugged style and the way he wrestles are similar to my work.  Flair is more of a showman and Arn is more of the "straight at you" kind of wrestler.  I'm not sure if I am using the right words to describe that.