8 Wrestling Exceptions That Prove The 'Top Guy' Rule
8. Chris Benoit
The Canadian wrestler had credentials. He wrestled all over the world, affiliated with two wrestling dynasties in the Hart family and the Guerreros and when that bell rang he would work a frenetic strong style that would make the cheap seats wince for his opponents. Dont let Hugh Jackman fool you though, Wolverines are notoriously small.
Billed at around 5 ft. 11in, with perma-scowl and missing teeth, it would be fair to assume that the 'Rabid Wolverine' would need more than a cursory glance to ascertain his main event value. Another downside to prospective promoters was his mic skills. Benoit could cut your basic fired up promo and thats about it.
His unsurpassed work ethic combined with a deep respect for the traditional values of the wrestling business eventually led him to gold, crying in the ring with best friend and also champion at the time, Eddie Guerrero.
From reports about Benoits demeanor backstage, an argument could be made that his old school mentality and unwillingness to politic may have delayed him as much as his size. One thing is for certain though, Chris Benoit was a believable champion and if anybody challenged the conventions on the aesthetic of physicality, it was him.