Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 18: Randy Savage vs. Chris Benoit (Nitro 2/5/96)

Oh wow. This is one of those hidden geek out moments for me because I had no idea this match existed. Early Nitro, and maybe the entire run, was so great for having newsletter/Internet dream matches for free on your TV. Especially once WCW had three hours to fill.

My policy on Chris Benoit is as follows. Wrestling is art. I can love a painting and have distain for what the artist did in his/her personal life. It is quite easy for me to separate the two. After all, and this is on a whole other side of the argument, they still sell books Hitler wrote. I don’t want to compare tragedies, but it does illustrate that there is more than just artistic value. There’s a historic aspect that can not be denied. These matches happened. This man existed. You don’t change history just because something you don’t like happened. Rant and policy over.

Crowd is so hot a the start of this, and I’m surprised to find Benoit milking it just as much as Macho. Wasn’t he a “vanilla midget” according to Kevin Nash? Anyway, stare down and words exchanged here are heated. The opening lock up is 15 seconds of intensity, and Macho starts selling right away. Right to the heat in an intense way. Crowd actively boos. Benoit big. Even when it’s not fluid it has that “this is a shoot” feel to it, like these guys really have a beef.

I’m creeped out watching Liz and Nancy Benoit yelling at ringside as the Crippler hits a picture perfect diving head butt. “Oh yeah”, I remember.

All the offense and selling is solid here, but there is a lack of story being told with there bodies. The moves dictate the babyface champ is selling the whole match, which is generous of him, but not much else connects us to the story. There isn’t much sympathy from the crowd, though they pop for a hope spot before a ring post bump. Macho ignores it a moment later, they make up for it. First Savage goes over the top for a huge flip bump. Then he steps out of the way as Benoit dives through the ropes and meets the padded concrete. Sick!

Savage hits an awesome top rope elbow on Benoit, but then we get a Horseman beat down of Macho for the DQ. Well done stuff though. Nifty little match. 2 ¾ and 6/10.