10 Great Chris Benoit Moments WWE Shouldn't Let You Forget

9. Chris Benoit Breaks Sabu's Neck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-25o0UXrls Now obviously breaking someone's neck is not a great moment. However, it is not the injury that is the great moment but the aftermath that changed Benoit's career direction forever. Benoit had entered ECW after touring Japan for many years and a brief stop in WCW. Benoit was instantly pushed by Paul Heyman as a dominant heel wrestler. He used his mat-based skills to stretch out opponents and dominated underneath workers with submissions. At ECW's November To Remember 1994, Chris Benoit was put up against Sabu. In the opening moments of the match, Benoit attempted to give Sabu a flapjack, necessitating a face-first bump from Sabu. For whatever reason, Sabu decided to try to take a backdrop bump and failed to make the full rotation. He landed directly on his head and broke his neck, immediately rolling to the outside of the ring and ending the match.

Benoit reportedly broke down crying after the match, realizing he may have paralyzed someone. While Sabu was still in the hospital, Paul Heyman called Benoit with "good news". Benoit thought it was about Sabu's condition but it was actually because Heyman was so excited about Benoit's new character. Heyman would dub Chris Benoit "The Crippler" and push him as a bone-breaking, submission machine. Benoit proceeded to cut awesome promos that focused on his hands locking together. He would explain that when he locked his hands together, people's bones broke and careers ended. The whole thing looked fantastic and gave Benoit a nickname that would stick with him until the end of his career.