FIT FINLAY (C) VS. CHRIS BENOIT

 

Chris Benoit enters first, followed by Finlay. Commentary calls this a match with two tough guys and it’s hard to disagree, it’s gonna be a snug one. Speaking of commentary, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Tony Schiovane and Mike Tenay are behind the desk tonight.

FIT FINLAY © VS. CHRIS BENOIT (WCW Television Championship

WCW Slamboree 1998 (17^th May 1998)

They lock up, Chris Benoit backs Finlay into the ropes, he gets shoved away and connects with a chop before shoving Finlay back. Fit Finlay puts on a headlock, Benoit tries to push Finlay’s grip away and they battle over a top wristlock, Finlay transitions into an arm wringer and forces Benoit to bridge down in a test of strength, Chris Benoit starts making his way back up but his shoulders are forced to the mat leading to a sequence of roll ups. A drop toehold Benoit goes nowhere as Finlay counters into a hammerlock, he wrenches on Benoit’s shoulder and wrist on the mat, trying to hyper extend the elbow as the fans tell Finlay that he sucks. Benoit is knocked down with a European uppercut, a snapmare from Finlay leads to Benoit going prone and leapfrogging as Finlay takes a jog before getting caught in a hip toss, giving Benoit a nearfall. Chris Benoit kicks Finlay in the midsection and backs him into the corner with a chop, he connects with another chop and sends Finlay off the ropes into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Finlay crawls to the ropes but is slammed back into the middle of the ring by Benoit, Fit Finlay catches a kick, trips Benoit and tries to put him in a cloverleaf, but Chris Benoit kicks out of it.

  Fit Finlay gets back to his feet as Benoit charges, levelling him with a clothesine and sending Benoit out of the ring. Finlay follows and stomps on Benoit on the floor, setting up for a rough looking scoop slam. Finlay breaks the count but doesn’t allow Benoit to get counted out, going back to the apron and dropping an ax handle, he hits a short-arm clothesline, focusing on the neck. Finlay sends Benoit back in the ring and stomps on his midsection before going to a rear chinlock, with his weight on Benoit’s back. Chris Benoit is able to get to his feet and drops Finlay with an electric chair, but he can’t capitalise, as Finlay is the first to his feet. He gets a nearfall with Benoit on a backslide. Chris Benoit backs into the corner, he kicks Finlay in the midsection and starts chopping Finlay’s chest until getting a thumb to the eye. Finlay goes back to a chinlock on the mat. He drops an elbow to Benoit’s neck and kicks him in the back, Finlay panders to the crowd before hitting the knee drop. Back to the chinlock before he drags Benoit to the edge of the ring. Chris Benoit’s throat and chest are slammed against the apron before Finlay drags him to the floor and sends him into the side of the ring.

  Fit Finlay grabs a chair but gets cut off by Benoit. Nick Patrick ignores a chair shot to Finlay’s back, just telling Benoit to get back in the ring. Chris Benoit dives through the ropes into the chair as Finlay holds it in his path, which is ignored too, in the interest of fairness. Fit Finlay brings it back into the ring and hits an elbow drop before stomping on Benoit. He slams Chris Benoit and gets a nearfall. More stomps and an elbow drop to Benoit’s kidneys before Finlay sends him across the ring, Benoit runs into another lariat and Finlay goes back to the chinlock. Chris Benoit is sent into the turnbuckles, but he moves out of the way and Finlay’s shoulder hits the post. Chris Benoit hits a german suplex, he holds on and hits the second but Finlay runs to the ropes and sends Benoit’s sternum into the top rope, releasing the hold. Chris Benoit catches a clothesline into the Crossface, but Finlay’s too close to the ropes and he immediately breaks it. Benoit hits a snap suplex and climbs to the top rope, but Booker T makes his way down to ringside. Fit Finlay dropkicks Benoit through the ropes, into the back of Benoit’s head. Finlay struggles to get Benoit back in the ring but is caught with the inside cradle! 1,2, no! Finlay gets to his feet first and stomps on Benoit, he picks him up for the Tombstone piledriver and hits it. Fit Finlay covers for the win.

WINNER: FIT FINLAY (STILL WCW Television Champion)

This was a good match, although it started slow it was purposeful for the first few minutes, once they left the ring and Finlay started working on Benoit’s neck it picked up. I can gripe about the disqualifications not being called, and something felt missing from the match, but it was a strong opener for the show. The Booker T appearance made sense with the story, but it didn’t add too much either. [**] 3.5/10