10 Epic Wrestling Staredowns (That Never Went Anywhere)
1. Chris Benoit & CM Punk (2007)
When Bobby Lashley was drafted to Monday Night Raw on June 11th, 2007, ECW suddenly found itself without a champion. The company solved this problem by setting up a tournament for the vacant belt, with Chris Benoit and CM Punk both victorious in their respective semi-final matches the following week.
Punk had no time to celebrate his main event triumph over Marcus Cor Von. Benoit’s music hit, and the former World Heavyweight Champion emerged from the back, joining his future opponent in the middle of the ring. As one of the most intense performers in WWE history, Chris gave Punk the eyes, and Punk responded in kind.
The two engaged in a stern handshake as the show went off the air, but the match never happened. They were set to meet on June 24th’s Vengeance: Night Of Champions pay-per-view, but Benoit no-showed the event due to a “family emergency,” and Johnny Nitro took his spot in the bout.
The company later discovered the real circumstances surrounding Benoit’s non-appearance. Chris, his wife Nancy, and son Daniel were found dead in their family home the following afternoon, and so unfolded wrestling’s most notorious tragedy.