[2001-03-08-WWF-Smackdown] Chris Benoit vs Perry Saturn / Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko / Chris Benoit vs Eddy Guerrero

[GSR]

Chris Benoit vs Perry Saturn (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01)

Chris Benoit enters the dressing room to see the Radicalz deep in discussion.  Thinking that they’re talking about him he tells them to carry on, don’t let him stop them.  He continues to niggle away at Eddy, turns his back on him and says if he wants to take a shot at him “go ahead”.  Eddy tries to but is held back by Saturn and Malenko.  ‘The Crippler’ lets them know he’s going to the ring right now and they can settle their issues one at a time.  He knows he can do it, so why don’t they try to prove him wrong.   

Michael Cole explains that during the break they learned that Benoit had challenged the Radicalz to individual one on one matches, meaning that tonight he’s going to run the gauntlet.  Tazz isn’t sure if he agrees with Benoit’s decision but does admire his guts.  Saturn is first for the Radicalz and looks jacked.  Vicious chops by ‘the Crippler’.  Saturn snatches an arm and throws Benoit overhead.   Awesome looking belly to back.  Someone has been watching their WCW tapes, Saturn hitting a shoddy Play of the Day.  He sits Benoit upstairs, gestures to his team mates at the top of the stage and lands a big suicideplex.  Benoit avoids the flying elbow and starts his comeback.  Dragon screw followed by a snap suplex.  A belly to back suplex of his own.  The diving headbutt connects but it’s only a two count to the shock of everyone, myself included.  Terri grabs ‘the Crippler’s’ ankle from the floor, he pulls her up to the apron, however as Saturn charges them he steps out the way and Saturn runs into her.  Crossface and Saturn taps in a shade under four minutes.

Chris Benoit vs Dean Malenko (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01)

Tazz has taken to calling Michael Cole “Coleslaw”.  Dean Malenko is second up for the Radicalz, the commentary duo trying to sell this and make it seem a bigger challenge than it is by saying how a worn down Benoit now has to face the Light Heavyweight champion.  The Light Heavyweight champion who jobbed to Lita only a few weeks ago.  Malenko ducks an enzuigiri and drops an elbow to ‘the Wolverine’s’ back.  Saturn is up on the apron enabling Malenko to low blow his opponent.  The German suplex is botched, it looks like Malenko may have jumped before Benoit was ready.  Inverted suplex by ‘the Crippler’.  Malenko goes for a sunset flip, Benoit sits down on him, hooks the legs and he’s gone in less than ninety seconds.  Your WWF Light Heavyweight champion there!

Chris Benoit vs Eddy Guerrero (WWF Smackdown 3/8/01)

Eddy and Benoit haven’t taken their eyes off each other, Michael Cole of the opinion that Eddy thought it would never get this far.  Saturn blindsides ‘the Crippler’ with a lariat, he and Malenko then put the boots in before hitting a combination backbreaker/top rope kneedrop. Benoit is laid out and Eddy is rubbing his hands with glee as the bell rings to start the final match in the gauntlet.  Brainbuster, frog splash, Eddy wins, simples.  Tazz closes by saying how it looks like Eddy proved Benoit wrong after all.

I’ve not been watching all the WWF stuff but is Benoit supposed to be the face in this feud or is it a case of hoping the crowd turn him as he battles the odds?  I’m really enjoying Eddy as an all round performer at the moment.