David Benoit wants to wrestle as Chris Benoit Jr

[@brit_figs]

Interesting watch, it really will split the fans & no doubt cause some controversy that’s for sure.

[JP]

I really don't think he should do that. I get he loves his Dad, but it seems disrespectful to Nancy and Daniel to honour Chris' name.

[vampiroporvida]

Jan 14, 2020 17:37:05 GMT -5 JP said:

I really don't think he should do that. I get he loves his Dad, but it seems disrespectful to Nancy and Daniel to honour Chris' name.

If what I read is right, his contention is that CTE made his father not his actual self. I get it on all sides, but too, he may want to redeem the name so sullied in the world of wrestling. Benoit was an amazing technician before all of this.

[Retrospect]

[hitmancmedge]

I talked to some people that worked with him a bit at the CZW dojo and they said he is a strange strange kid, honestly probably not gonna work anywhere.

[punksnotdead]

Maybe Pegasus Jr. is a better way to approach carrying on your father's legacy? Look, I'm not going to pretend I have a clue what this kid has experienced. I'm guessing people have walked around him on eggshells pretty much his entire life since the murders. All he has left of his father is this incredible wrestling body of work. We see Pillman Jr. latch onto his father in similar fashion and likewise with Cody, too. I think BPJ has said he doesn't remember his father much at all and has really relied on the wrestling community to tell him about his dad. So I just think that's what is happening here is that a kid who lost his father is trying to throw himself into connecting with his father after he's gone.

I'm not sure if the world is ready to forgive Chris Benoit. CTE or otherwise, although I think that's an entirely fair conversation to have now that we have the research. I respect that David wants to honor his father the wrestler, but I think he'll mostly just end up alienating himself from promotors by being Chris Jr.. Regardless, I hope he ends up getting opportunities if it turns out he can actually wrestle. He talks like he wants it. I think he would have been best served in the New Japan dojo. Maybe that can still happen for him.

"Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities."

[Charabro]

I get he wants to honour his dads legacy n that but surely he can just do that through his wrestling?

[hbkbigdaddycool]

I watched the shoot video with David Benoit, and he seems like a giant kid who just loves the business. He's 27 now I believe, and if he was going to be a pro wrestler, he should have started training for it at age 19 or 20.

As for wrestling as his dad's name, he legally can. He said his full name is David Christopher Benoit. However, he is screwed for many reasons already.

One is that he looks identical to his dad. Even if he went by the name "Jim Franklin" people would see his face and say, "That's Chris Benoit's kid."

Second is, the WWE won't touch him. He could be the greatest wrestler ever seen, but WWE wouldn't touch him cause of what his dad did.

I feel bad for the kid, I really do. And I say, "kid" because it's what he still is. His life ended when his dad did what he did. David may have the love and support of the workers, and even the Benoit fans, but the haters are gonna hate, and they will come extra hard on this poor kid.

I do wish the best for him though!

[stc13]

I wish him all the best - I can only imagine how the murder and following years could traumatize a kid.

I'd be shocked if he ever works a match. He's talking about training for years, and has never really gone through with it. He definitely seems a little odd, and seems to have rationalized and compartmentalized the person he knew and the last 48 hours, so I can definitely see why he seems a little out of touch. I mean, at one point he says he sees his dad getting into the HOF in the next few years.

Just the way he casually talks trying to get into the NJPW Dojo but "it's hard to get in there" or seems to feel like if he turned to wrestling NXT or AEW would be there waiting for him seems so off. It just seems like he expects opportunities to be there, but doesn't necessarily want to put in the work. It just seems like a very, very different attitude from guys like Harry Smith or Brian Pillman Jr.

[Valbroski]

I think it's a bad idea for him to use his dads name and tights.

[Bandalero]

I really feel for this guy, that event was traumatic for me because Chris was one of my favourite wrestlers, but I can't even imagine how it was for him. He's so connected with folks he knows in the business but in this interview, I don't know how he'll be as a performer. The interviewer is really strong and carried this conversation, but David sounds like he's been watching Matt Riddle promos too much.

[@brit_figs]

CVV is a true pro and carried him through this interview that’s for sure

[rowdy1971]

He really should be The Pegasus Kid Jr. and wear a mask instead to cover his meth looking face.
Good luck kid. Can't even imagine how you have to deal with people asking you the same questions everyday. But yeah, cover that mug up.

[Hulkster2001]

[Markw]

It's not surprising that he'd be in denial or just a little bit screwed up by the whole thing, but if he does have friends in the wrestling industry they really need to sit him down and explain just how f***ing stupid this idea is.

[whydontyoutellme]

That would be career suici.... not a smart career move.

[JP]

Jan 15, 2020 12:54:18 GMT -5 punksnotdead said:

Maybe Pegasus Jr. is a better way to approach carrying on your father's legacy? Look, I'm not going to pretend I have a clue what this kid has experienced. I'm guessing people have walked around him on eggshells pretty much his entire life since the murders. All he has left of his father is this incredible wrestling body of work. We see Pillman Jr. latch onto his father in similar fashion and likewise with Cody, too. I think BPJ has said he doesn't remember his father much at all and has really relied on the wrestling community to tell him about his dad. So I just think that's what is happening here is that a kid who lost his father is trying to throw himself into connecting with his father after he's gone.

I'm not sure if the world is ready to forgive Chris Benoit. CTE or otherwise, although I think that's an entirely fair conversation to have now that we have the research. I respect that David wants to honor his father the wrestler, but I think he'll mostly just end up alienating himself from promotors by being Chris Jr.. Regardless, I hope he ends up getting opportunities if it turns out he can actually wrestle. He talks like he wants it. I think he would have been best served in the New Japan dojo. Maybe that can still happen for him.

"Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bear their iniquities."

What a brilliant post - you've hit the nail on the head. It's very easy to forget that David is as much a victim of what Chris did - I can only imagine the hell he has gone through over the years, and it's obvious that he loves and admires his Dad.

[tg11]

Yeah I think he should go with a different name altogether...he should use his mother's last name if anything. Stay as far away from the Benoit name as possible. Then again he looks so much like his father that people would put 2 and 2 together and realize that he is Benoit's son but really it wouldn't matter especially if his son is not using the Benoit name.

[RuthlessFigs]

It's nice that he wants to honour his dad, but then again, it's his dad's name (and technically his). So while the intention is good, the result won't be.

If anything, he should just go under "Benoit Jr."
This way he still gets to use the Benoit name, and gets to honour his dad with the "Jr.", but doesn't run the risk of people souring on him for being directly called "Chris Benoit".

Obviously he's gonna have a rough time with some fans because he's a Benoit, but there's nothing he can really do to avoid it. He's a taller, slimmer version of Chris.
If there's a story for passion, determination and perseverance, it's with him. After everything he's been through, if he can successfully use the Benoit name and become a big star, he'd be a great story of inspiration for any future wrestlers or just people in general.

[Bandalero]

There's just some second generation wrestlers that have "it"; where you know they will make something of themselves and the family name, Orton, Rock, Windham (Barry), Rotunda (Bray); then there's those second generation stars that had their heart in the right place but just not the talent to see it through, e.g. Ted Jr., Curtis Axel (Hennig), Manu, Tamina Snuka to name a few. Based on this interview I think David falls in the latter; heart's in the right place, but I really don't see any potential talent - maybe I'm wrong and he's a wizard in the ring, who knows.