The Fink’s Payload 12.01.05: Benoit Vs. Booker T
Posted by Clarke-Rossi on 12.01.2005
This week, the armchair bookers address the Benoit/Booker Best of 7!
Greetings Pundits, and welcome to the Fink’s Payload. This is the column where we assign homework, criticize our readers (in good fun) and attempt to pass ideas onto DA AMURICAN DWEEM via The Fink’s surfing habits. This week, we are look at Benoit vs. Booker T, best of seven, PART DEUX.
So, how would you book it?
Derek MacDonald writes: Obviously, it has to go to a 7th match. The questions are how to get there, and what happens when we are there?
The way I see it, Booker wins the first two matches (via interference/foreign object/etc.) despite the fact it looks as though Benoit will walk away with them. So the common perception is that Benoit should’ve won, but didn’t. So now the better wrestler is down 0-2.
The next two matches play out in similar fashion, except it’s Benoit who cheats this time. He starts fighting fire with fire so to speak. He wins matches 3 and 4 to even the score at 2-2. We essentially have a best-of-3 for the US title.
Teddy Long dictates that since we have a best of 3, each match should be a main event. So each match is assigned a special stipulation. Match 5 could be submission match – Match 6 no DQ match – and Match 7 (and whatever PPV is upcoming) is a last man standing match.
To no one’s surprise, Benoit wins the submission match. With Benoit playing possum in the middle to the ring, Booker goes for the spinaroonie – only to have Benoit slap on the crossface immediately. Benoit wins. After the match, Booker beats down Benoit to soften him up the next no DQ match. Booker really does a number on him – specifically on his shoulder (to eliminate his ability to use the cross face).
Booker squashed Benoit in the 6th match (no dq). Benoit is clearly injured. Teddy Long offers to reschedule to last man standing match, but neither Benoit not Booker will hear of it. The match is set for the PPV – and everyone figures Benoit has a snowball’s chance in hell to win.
Fast forward to the PPV. The match beings with Booker going right after Benoit’s injured shoulder. He takes the early advantage, and is in clear control of the match. The match is essentially one sided. The announcers play up the fact that this is a massacre. They plead to anyone who will listen for the ref to stop the match. The ref repeated checks with Benoit to see if he wants to continue. Benoit refuses to quit. Booker starts to toy with him believing he clearly has the match won. He pins Benoit but pulls up at two, make arrogant covers (and other typical heel tactics). Booker hits the axe kick, does a spinaroonie, and signals for the end. He picks benoit up for a bookend – BENOIT REVERSES INTO A CROSSFACE!! The pain is obvious on Benoit’s face, but he won’t let go. After what seems like hours, Booker finally taps…Benoit refuses to let go (almost by instinct)…the ref and other officials have to pry Benoit’s hands apart – Booker passes out from the pain and we have a new US champ.
Chris: This seems plausible, but isn’t the best of 7 going 2-0, 2-2, then to match 7 really predictable? Much like the 2 of 3 falls match, you KNOW you’re going to get that third fall, so you don’t have to get into it until that point. So, while this makes traditional sense, it just seems a little predictable, even with the exciting finish.
Mark: This is less an idea, more of a prediction of the way they will probably book this feud. It’s pretty much stock except for the idea of using gimmick matches as the final three, which is a nice spin on the concept, although I think the concept of gimmick matches in general is way overused, but that’s another topic for another day.
James Jarvie writes:
First Match Survivor Series, Benoit=0 Booker T=0
Booker and Benoit have good solid match and trade a good few blows and it seems as thoug Book is gonna get steal the win after Sharmell its Benoit with the belt and Booker does the Spinarooni, goes for the cover, 1.....2.....NO!!!!!!! Benoit just kicks out. Booker can't beleive it he starts arguing with the ref and then goes for Chris, but Benoit gets the crossface in and locks it in good in the center of the ring, hes got it locked in for a good couple of miutes and finally Booker taps out giving Benoit the first fall.
Second Fall: SmackDown! two weeks after SS: Benoit=1 Booker T=0
So here we go and its anover good match between these two, Chris is in total control of the match and is set to get the second fall as he goes up for the diving headbut, but as Book starts to move and distracts the ref Sharmell its Benoit with a lowblow of the tope rope that send him to the mat, as he gets up...WHAM!!!!!!!!!! Scicssor Kick for the 3 and gives the second fall to Booker.
Third Fall: Armagedon: Benoit=1 Booker T=1
Early on in the match Sharmell its Benoit with a low blow witch puts Booker in control again and Booker goes for the Rock Bottom (or the Book enf if you wanna be right) but Benoit counters it locks in the Crossface, Sharmell distracts the ref as Booker is his tapping out, Chris gets up and knocks Sharmell of the ropes tu rns around and gets hit with a superkick, Booker gets the three and the third fall.
Fourth Fall: SD! before the Royal Rumble (they'll both be in the Rumble Match althoug they won't win) Benoit=1 Booker T=2
Chris is really going fot it now. He know he has to win if he has any chance to win the series. Benoit is suplexing the hell out of Booker and signals for the Diving Headbutt but Book gets out of the way and get the motivation he needs in the match and he signals for the Head Scisors... but Benoit reverses it into a Crossface and he's got him in the center of the ring and Booker taps out, and gives Benoit the fourth fall.
Fith Fall : SD! two weeks before No Way Out Benoit= 2 Booker T=2
Chris and Booker give us the most ecuall match of the series so far and it seems to go on ofr ever with near falls here and there. In the end Sharmell will get involved again and goes to hits Benoit with the belt.....but hits Booker insted and Chris goes for the rollup and the win and th fith fall.
Sixth Fall: No Way Out Benoit=3 Booker T=2
Chris dominates this match and doesnt let Booker time to breave, he really wants to get the series over with. The added spice in this match is that Booker is angry with Sharmell and doesn't want her in her matches and she is not in his corner for the match. Has the match goes on Booker is in trouble and as Benoit hits his third suplex he calls for the Headbutt, but out of now where Sharmell comes out,knock Benoit of the ropes and Booker rolls him up using the ropes for levlage and ties the series 3 all.
Final Fall: WrestleMania 22 Benoit=3 Booker T=3
So here we are, the last match, and they both give us a really good show. For her involvement in the last match, Sharmell is banned from ringside by Teddy Long so Booker is all on his own. The match go es back and forth with both guys giving there all. It looks like Booker has got it won when he goes for the Head Scissors...but Benoit gets out of the way and locks in the Crossface and Booker is triying to get to rope but he can't and...TAPS OUT!!! The crowd goes nuts Benoit get the mic and says: "Eddie, I wish you where here with me right now"
Chris: Do we want the best of 7 to stretch out this much? I mean, what are Benoit and Booker going to do week to week, with their being very little stupid storyline issues to flush out? Is Benoit going to start to want to nail Sharmell? Is Nancy Sullivan going to make an appearance? I guess the potential is there to stretch it out!
Mark: To go along with Chris, I’m totally cool with them bringing back Woman. I don’t know why, but I suppose it would be amusing in some way. I also agree that this timeline is too long to have these guys in dispose. Booker and Benoit will hopefully figure into the Mania fold in a big way (cross your fingers), I don’t see this being the way.
John H writes:
Survivor Series:
"The Crippler" Chris Benoit vs. B ooker T.
Chris Benoit's got to win the first one of these due to interference.
(Booker T. 1-0)
11/29 Special:
For this match I'd have Chris Benoit lock on the Crossface, have the ref tap his shoulder, Benoit thinks he's won but Booker T's foot were under the bottom ropes. You have Sharmell flip off Benoit and he starts yelling at her only to get low blow'ed from behind and hit with a sciccors kick for the victory.
(Booker T. 2-0)
House Show: 12/3 Baton Rouge, LA
Chris Benoit gets his first victory over Booker T.
(Chris Benoit 1-2, Booker T. 2-1)
House Show Match: 12/10
Chris Benoit gets his second victory in Lewiston, ME on Dec. 10th
Series Tied Up
House Show Match: 12/11
Booker gets a gets a victory in Bangor, ME on Dec. 11th in a fair fashion.
(Bo oker T. takes the lead 3-2)
Due to none of these being TV matches; Sharmell is not involved.
Tue, Dec 13 WWE presents SmackDown - Springfield, MA 7:30 p.m.
Chris Benoit cuts a promo prior to the match and say that man to man, pound for pound Booker T. is one of the hardest working wrestlers in the business today but just like hollywood scum Booker T. has allowed his manager to brainwash him into thinking that his ability's are inferior to Benoit's and Booker T. should do himself a favor and start believing in himself, his abilities, because they've been up and down the roads together and Booker T. won the last best of 7 back in WCW but Benoit guarantees he's walking away with a victory tonight.
Booker T. w/ Sharmell vs. Chris Benoit - Chris Benoit is in the ring with the cross face locked onto Chris Benoit but Sharmell has the sceptor and nails Benoit with it; he's busted open! Booker T. gets up and he's looking at Sharmell and holding his head but Sharmell/Booker T. start stomping away at Benoit and Sharmell grabs the mic and Booker T. holds Chris Benoit's head while Sharmell leaves her foot there telling Benoit to kiss it.
(Series Tied Up)
Dec. 19th WWE Smackdown present Armageddon - Providence, RI 7:45 p.m.
I'd have Sharmell jump on the apron but Woman comes down and drags Sharmell off the apron! Booker T. has the sceptor but throws it down ala Piper/Hitman w/ the ring bell. Booker T. instead goes to pick up Benoit and Benoit rolls him up for the 1... 2... 3...~!~!~!
Winner: Chris Benoit
End Result:
From here Chris Benoit would fued with Ken Kennedy for the US Belt.
Booker T. would go onto fued with Lashley due to turning down Sharmell's contract offer to him to become the next big thing.
Chris: I think I like this one the best – because at least it gives both guys something to do afterwards, finishes the best of 7 on a strong note, and the right guy goes over. And it might restart Booker back on the babyface trail, where he’s MUCH BETTER.
Mark: This seems like a solid and acceptable road to take with this series. It accomplishes set goals and gives the participants something to do afterwards. I dig it.
And finally, our ideas:
Chris: The series going 7 is inevitable, even if I don’t like it. But, I think we should mess with the crowd. I think Booker should go up 3-0, first win via cheating (already happened), second win via cheating /w injury to Benoit, third win via squash due to Benoit’s injury. Benoit then claws back a fluke win in match 4, but then gets on a roll, pinning Booker via northern lights for win #2, and makes him tap like a bitch for #3.
If no one remembers, the original best of 7 actually went EIGHT matches due to some sort of double COR or something in match 7. I think that should be the route they go this time, again to break the predictability. This will place match #7 on SD! /w much hype, and when they screw people over, at least the pay-off match (/w a gimmick, maybe 30 minute iron man?) will be on PPV. In that, Benoit should go over convincingly, maybe even 2-0, leading to Benoit’s re-establishment as a major player.
Mark: I really think WWE should have a hard-on for the Red Sox miracle comeback against the Yankees last year, and give Booker and 3-0 lead, before giving Benoit the miracle comeback. This also helps give Benoit the whole “Miracle Kid” gimmick because of his winning the Rumble from #1, overcoming the odds, all that shit. Benoit is the perfect guy to play that role, it worked before, and it’ll work again. Perhaps have some shadiness in the 7th match to lead to another match. But ya, Booker up 3-0, Benoit wins 4-3, that’s what I think.
And for next week, your homework!:
It appears that the elimination chamber is on its way to the Raw Brand once again – who would you put in the cage, and what is your finish?
