Michael Landsberg:Hello Everyone,I'm Michael Landsberg and this is Off The Record on TSN.Today,I have a great guest on the show.He is the current XWF Interocntinental Champion and he is one of the best wrestler ever in Canada and in the United States,Ladies and Gentlemen,please give it up for Canada's own,Chris Benoit.
(Chris Benoit comes out and the audience cheers for him and then he shakes Michael Landsberg hand and then Chris Benoit,wearing jeans and his "Victim Of The Crossface" T-Shirt" takes a seat and then Michael Landsberg starts to talk again)
Michael Landsberg:Hello Chris,how are you?
Chris Benoit:I'm doing just fine.What about you?
Michael Landsberg:I'm doing great.When did you first want to get into wrestling?
Chris Benoit:Since I was a little kid.I've always enjoyed watching wrestling and that's what I wanted to be when I grew up.So basically,I always knew I wanted to be a wrestler.I then went to Stu Hart's Dungeon and that's how I became a wrestler.
Michael Landsberg:How long have you been in the wrestling business for and how long was it before you got your big break?
Chris Benoit:I've been wrestling since I've been 16 and I basically got my big break from joining ECW.A lot of the organizations didn't want small wrestlers and then Paul brought me in and then that's how I got my break.
Michael Landsberg:O.K.,well now you are currently in the XWF.How do you like the XWF so far since you've been there and do you plan on leaving the XWF?
Chris Benoit:I've enjoyed being in the XWF so far.Management has been real nice to me and the money is real good.Most of the guys in the back are real nice,but there are some guys who act like immature assholes,but for the most part,I've gotten along with most of the roster.As far as me leaving,I don't think I would leave when I'm at the beginning of my run here.So I'm going to give XWF a chance before I think about leaving.I want to stay in the XWF and I think that is what will happen.
Michael Landsberg:A lot of people don't think that you deserve the Intercontinental Championship.What do you think about the people who have said that?
Chris Benoit:Well I know a lot of people think I don't deserve the Intercontinental Title and I will admit,I didn't deserve a shot when I got my shot,but I still won the match to win it,so I must deserve to be the champ and if I don't deserve it,somebody should of took the title off of me and nobody has so far,so if you think that I haven't paid my dues,then your wrong because I bust my ass every single night and I work my best every night.
Michael Landsberg:You have talked about Bret Hart and Kurt Angle lately in the XWF.What's it like to work in the ring with those two guys and what do you think about them in real life?
Chris Benoit:Well in the ring,Bret Hart isn't what he used to be and he's good days are long behind him,but out of the ring,he's a guy who lives off his past and doesn't care about his future.As for Kurt Angle,in the ring,he's a great wrestler,but out of the ring,he's an asshole that just puts down some of the other superstars in the XWF but doesn't say anything about the big dogs,like me.You know why he doesn't talk anything about the big boys,it's because he knows he'll get his ass kicked by the big boys.You notice he hasn't said anything about me,it's because he knows I'll kick his ass in a second.You know what's funny,he tells Shannon Moore that he should be on the bottom of the ladder with 9LP,when 9LP is pretty much in the same spot as Angle so Angle basically put himself down.Angle has a chance to win the Intercontinental Title and yet,he doesn't say a word.He talks about all of the new guys being below him,well Angle,you are below me and if I really wanted to be an asshole,I could just say I won't fight you,but I'm not an asshole and I'll fight anybody who wants a shot at the title.So Angle,you need to shut your mouth about everyone else and just go out to the ring and fight who you have to fight,before I shut you up because I'm sick of you putting down all of the new talent here and some of the guys even have wins over you.So Angle,if you want to step in the ring with me,just show everyone what you can do in the ring,instead of on the mic.
Michael Landsberg:Wow.It seems like you don't like Kurt Angle very much.
Chris Benoit:It's not that I don't like him much,I just don't like how he runs his mouth too much.I would like to see him run his mouth about me.
Michael Landsberg:A lot of people have been running their mouths in the XWF.Two guys who have been doing it a lot are Jesse Jones and 9 Layers Of Poision.What are your thoughts on both guys.
Chris Benoit:Well there problem,in my opinion is that they are too much alike.They both have to have the last word and they always talk crap about each other.They stopped for a while but now Jones just made a comment about 9LP and I'm sure he'll reply and say something.They are both great wrestlers and they hate each other so much,that when they fight,they bring out the best in each other.The Xtreme Title hasn't been a title many people want,but 9LP and Jones have brought it into a new level and now a lot of people want it.I look forward to fighting both guys in the future.They have both improved a lot and they are the fourth and fifth contenders for my title,so I will have to give one of them a shot soon,how soon,it is up to them.
Michael Landsberg:A lot of people are into backyard wrestling now.What is your take on backyard wrestling?
Chris Benoit:Well I think if you want to get into wrestling,you should go to a wrestling school.Backyard wrestling isn't the place to go and kids could get seriously injured.Parents should also make sure their kids don't do anything that could harm them.
Michael Landsberg:What is your next goal in the XWF?
Chris Benoit:It's to be the World Champion,of course.I know I'm going to have go down a long road before I win the World Title though.So my main goal right now is just to kick everyone's ass that gets in my way and to show everyone why my name is the Crippler.Other than that,I just want to keep the Intercontinental Championship and try to make it the belt that everybody wants.
Michael Landsberg:O.K.,well that's all of the time we have on the show for today.I would like to thank Chris Benoit for coming on the show and tune in Monday as we will have No Holds Barred Fighter,Sean Pierson;Artist,Mo Kelso,and more.So tune in Monday at 6 P.M. on TSN.I'm Michael Landsberg and so long everybody.
(Michael Landsberg and Chris Benoit shake hands and then the credits run on the show and then the scene cuts to a commerical as the show comes to an end)
