[2000-02-10-WWF-Smackdown] Chris Benoit vs. Rikishi

[soup23]

This was neat to see as a matchup that I am not that familiar with. Match doesn’t have a lot of time or meat to it but it does continue to show that Rikishi is over like crazy and the Germans that Benoit gave him were appreciated and impressed the crowd. Schmozz finish and Too Cool dances to end the segment. **1/4

[Loss]

Wow. This only went about five minutes but they cut a super fast pace and went balls out for all of it. Benoit's strength spots on Rikishi got over big time, and Rikishi is a great guy for Benoit to work with at this stage because it establishes that Benoit is a player. DQ finish with the Radicalz running in until Too Cool make the save, which sets up their No Way Out six-man. I enjoyed the hell out of the match and I'd love to see a longer single match.

[Robert S]

This might not be a typical big man vs. little man match but Benoit was actually really good working against bigger men, even though I don't remember him doing it quite often. Apart from Rikishi I can only remember him working Kane after WM XX (and having the best match of Kane's career) and the Sid match in January. Though I am sure that in his WWF/WWE run he had numerous TV and PPV matches against guys like Albert or the Big Show.

[ohtani's jacket]

This was cool. Give them 10-12 minutes and I think they would have had a really good match. Rikishi was a pretty good worker, but I'm telling you the dance with 2 Cool makes it difficult to believe there is a formula for getting things over in wrestling. The damnedest things become popular. And then as quickly as they become popular they're finished. I can't even remember how Rikishi and 2 Cool left the company. It's kind of weird watching a footnote like 2 Cool and the worm 17 years later.

[Robert S]

I can't even remember how Rikishi and 2 Cool left the company.

Brian Christopher was fired in 2001 for being caught smuggling drugs across the US-Canadian border, Rikishi was fired in 2004 for being too fat (not losing weight; according to Wikipedia) and Taylor stayed until 2007.

[GSR]

Benoit takes it to Rikishi right away with his trademark knife edge chops. Irish whip is reversed, Samoan drop and Benoit rolls to the floor. There’s no safety for him out there as Rikishi whips him into the ring steps. Back inside and Benoit with a drop toe hold and a nice dropkick to the head of his floored opponent. Rikishi squashes Benoit in the corner, signals for the ‘Rikishi Driver’ however Benoit is able to escape. ‘Crippler crossface’ but Rikishi manages to scramble to the ropes to break the hold. Awesome Northern Lights suplex on Rikishi! He counters a sleeper with one of his own, only for Benoit to hit a belly to back suplex on him. Diving headbutt is missed and Rikishi with a thrust kick. Belly to belly suplex, and as he drags Benoit over to the corner for the Bonzai splash the Radicalz are out for the DQ. Too Cool make the save, and after clearing the ring the three of them all dance.

 

We didn’t get much, but we got enough to know that these two could have a hell of a match if given longer. Similar to Benoit’s match with Triple H, very physical again and there was no holding back on those chops Benoit was delivering. The Northern Lights and belly to back spots were the standout moments, just seeing a guy Benoit’s size getting Rikishi up for them (the Northern Lights especially).

[Tim Evans]

Nice tv match. Benoit getting Rikishi up for that Northern lights suplex was insane. Rikishi was really over in Feb. 2000. Probably the most over he ever was in the company. The finish was weak but I guess it made sense given the storyline.