United States Champion (2005–2007) Chris Benoit

benoit in september 2005 holding wwe united states championship

on july 24 @ great american bash, benoit failed win wwe united states championship orlando jordan, won rematch @ summerslam in 25 seconds. benoit won 3 consecutive matches against jordan in less minute. benoit later wrestled booker t in friendly competitions, until booker , wife, sharmell, cheated benoit out of united states title in october.

on november 13, 2005, guerrero found dead in hotel room. following night, raw held guerrero tribute show hosted both raw , smackdown! superstars. benoit devastated @ loss of best friend , emotional during series of video testimonials, breaking down on camera. of colleagues state never same after eddie s death same week on smackdown! (taped on same night raw), benoit defeated triple h in tribute match fallen friend. following contest, benoit, helmsley, , dean malenko assembled in ring , pointed sky in salute of guerrero.

after controversy surrounding title defence against booker t, theodore long set best of 7 series between two. booker t won 3 times in row, due largely wife s interference, , benoit faced elimination in series. benoit won fourth match stay alive @ armageddon, after match, booker suffered legitimate groin injury, , randy orton chosen stand-in. benoit defeated orton twice disqualification. however, in 7th , final match, orton defeated benoit of booker t, sharmell, , orlando jordan, , booker captured title. benoit feuded orton short time, compete against booker title. benoit given 1 last chance @ title @ no way out , won making booker submit crippler crossface, ending feud. after, benoit defeated orton in no holds barred match on smackdown! via crippler crossface.

the next week on smackdown!, benoit kayfabe broke john bradshaw layfield s (jbl) hand (jbl needed surgery remove cyst). match set 2 @ wrestlemania 22 benoit s title, , next several weeks, attacked each other. @ wrestlemania, jbl won match illegal cradle win title. benoit used rematch clause 2 weeks later in steel cage match on smackdown!, jbl again won illegal tactics. benoit entered king of ring tournament, defeated finlay in opening round, after finlay struck benoit s neck chair , delivered celtic cross. @ judgment day, benoit gained revenge defeating finlay crippler crossface in grudge match. on following edition of smackdown!, mark henry brutalized benoit during match, giving him (kayfabe) , rib injuries , causing him bleed mouth. benoit took sabbatical heal nagging shoulder injuries.

on october 8, benoit made return @ no mercy, defeating william regal in surprise match. later week, won fifth united states championship mr. kennedy. benoit engaged in feud chavo , vickie guerrero. wanted answers guerreros rash behaviour towards rey mysterio, avoided 2 , assaulted. lead 2 embarking on feud title implications @ coming 2 pay per views. feud culminate 1 last title match no disqualification match, won benoit. later, montel vontavious porter (mvp), claimed best man hold title, challenged benoit title @ wrestlemania 23, benoit retained. rivalry continued similar results again @ backlash. @ judgment day, however, mvp gained upper hand , won title in 2 out of 3 falls match, ending feud.