This past Saturday on Live Audio Wrestling, Chris Benoit was in the MoJo AM 640 studios. Benoit was in town for the house show at the ACC in Toronto, Canada. I have broken down the interview into 2 parts, due to the length of the actual report. I will post the second part of the interview later this week. But here is what the Canadian Crippler had to say in the interview:

» Benoit said that it was Austin's idea to take the 10 German Suplexes on WWF SmackDown! in Edmonton. The Crippler said that Austin showed a lot of trust by himself to do this.

» Chris Benoit mentioned that one of the reason why he came to the WWF was so that he could work on his promos. Benoit said that he hopes to have promos just as good as Arn Anderson's someday.

» He emphasized that he is very aware of his body's limits. Chris tells us that he is always, "in tune with his body." Benoit said that he was alright after the bump he took in his match against Angle on WWF RAW is WAR.

» Benoit discussed a little about New Japan and the Indies circuit. He said that in New Japan you wrestle on instinct, since the Japanese wrestlers cannot speak English. Also, he said that he wanted to learn lots of styles of wrestling, and he wanted to be like the Dynamite Kid.

» Chris said that he can't pick one individual who he could make the best match with since he wrestles so many different styles. Chris Benoit goes on to say he has been really happy with a lot of his matches. Also, he said that he loves the challenge of facing different wrestlers and styles in the ring.

» Chris Benoit tells us that his favourite suplex is definitely the German.

» Benoit emphasized that he loved feuding with Booker T. He said that Booker T is one of the biggest secrets in the industry since he works for WCW. Benoit said that he and Booker put a lot of work into their matches with each other.

WWF Sunday Night Heat Opener: The WWF's top television show, Sunday Night Heat started off with Michael Cole and Tazz inside the complex talking about the King of the Ring! Happy Father's Day everybody. Tazz said that he forgot to call his father, and he wished him a Happy Father's day on the air. Perry Saturn and Terri are late arriving, and we go to the arena for some matches!

The X-Factor vs. the APAX-Factor's music hit in the arena and they made their way to the ring along with Albert for a tag team match against the APA! The fans popped for the APA and they got right in the ring and X-Factor scattered. Justin Credible started it off in the ring against Bradshaw who had a stare down with Albert before the match started. Bradshaw gave Justin a knee in the corner and then a side head lock. Justin whipped Bradshaw off the ropes and Bradshaw came back with a shoulder block. Bradshaw whipped Justin off the ropes and knocked him down with a clothesline and then another. Bradshaw gave Justin Credible a body slam and then an elbow. Bradshaw went for another elbow and he missed it and Justin got up and gave Bradshaw a drop kick to knock him out of the ring. Bradshaw quickly got back in the ring with a shoulder block on Justin Credible and then he made the tag to Faarooq. Faarooq went to work on Justin Credible and he gave him a nasty slam and a pin for a two count.

Faarooq whipped Justin off the ropes and gave him a power slam and a pin for a two count. Faarooq whipped Justin and Justin came back and pulled Faarooq down to the mat, face first. Justin made the tag to X-Pac and Faarooq kicked him and then X-Pac came back with a heel kick and a pin for a two count. X-Pac gave Faarooq a hard chop and then Faarooq whipped him into the corner and gave him a back breaker as he came out of the corner. Faarooq pinned X-Pac for a two count and then he made the tag to Bradshaw. The APA gave X-Pac a double team shoulder block and then Bradshaw gave X-Pac an elbow drop and a pin for a two count. Bradshaw backed X-Pac into the corner and gave him some knees and chops and then he made the tag to Faarooq. Bradshaw slammed X-Pac's head into Faarooq's boot and then he slammed him in the other corner. X-Pac kicked Bradshaw down in the corner and kicked away on him and then he went and made the tag to Justin Credible.

Justin got in the ring and went to work on Bradshaw and Bradshaw hit him with a hard clothesline. Bradshaw tagged in Faarooq and Faarooq got in the ring with a shot to the mid section and then he whipped him into the corner and Justin gave Faarooq a super kick after ducking a clothesline. Justin pinned Faarooq for a two count and then Faarooq gave Justin a spinebuster and both men made the tag. Bradshaw gave X-Pac a big boot and then he went for a clothesline and X-Pac ducked it and went for a high cross body. Bradshaw caught him and gave him a fall away slam and then Justin got in the ring and Bradshaw went for a power bomb on him and X-Pac broke it up. Bradshaw got a big boot on Justin Credible as Faarooq knocked X-Pac to the outside of the ring. Bradshaw gave Justin Credible a power bomb and behind the referee's back, Albert got in the ring with the Baldo Bomb on Bradshaw and then X-Pac pinned Bradshaw for a three count to get the win! Winners - the X-Factor

Backstage at WWF NY: Terri and Perry were shown backstage at WWF NY and Terri was talking to Saturn and he looked back and went somewhere else as Terri was walking down some stairs.

WWF New York:
Perry Saturn has wondered off out of WWF New York and we are getting ready for this Thursday night. It's the one hour casting special of WWF Tough Enough right after WWF Smackdown!. It's going to be an unbelievable program. Tazz was a part of it, and he said that it was awesome. You have to check it out after WWF Smackdown!. They take a look at a preview of the casting special for this Thursday night. The auditions for Tough Enough took place at WWF New York, and a lot of people were complaining, wanting to get out there for the auditions and Tazz took things into his own hands. Tazz said that a lot of people were crying and moaning, but not on his time.

Outside of WWF New York:
Perry Saturn has wondered somewhere out of the restaurant and he's out on the streets. Some kids walked by and asked Saturn where Time Square is, and Saturn said that Octagons won't fit in circles, because rectangles are made out of cheese. You're welcome!

Somewhere in New York:
Perry Saturn was shown at a cash register and someone went to ring something up and he said it was 3675 tomatoes as the cost for the purchase. The cashier showed up and Saturn mumbled something to her, confusing her and the guy making the purchase.

The Right to Censor vs. the Dudley BoyzThe music of the Right to Censor started playing in the arena and the Goodfather and Bull Buchanan made their way to the ring for a tag team match against the Dudley Boyz. Bull Buchanan started it off against D-Von Dudley and the two locked it up in the center of the ring with Bull twisting D-Von's arm and then he got him against the ropes as the fans chanted for the tables. D-Von gave Bull some right hands and then Bull whipped D-Von off the ropes and Bull went for a clothesline but D-Von ducked it and came back with a shoulder block. D-Von made the tag to Buh Buh and he got in the ring with a hard shot to the arm of Bull Buchanan. Some more shots to the left arm of Bull Buchanan and he slammed it into the corner and wrenched away on it over the top rope. Buh Buh whipped Bull into the corner and went for a splash but Bull moved out of the way. Bull tagged in the Goodfather and he got in the ring with some right hands on Buh Buh. The Goodfather went for a kick on Buh Buh but Buh Buh blocked it and gave the Goodfather a suplex. Buh Buh made the tag to D-Von Dudley and then the two double teamed the Goodfather.

Buh Buh gave the Goodfather a sidewalk slam and he pinned the Goodfather for a one count as D-Von was the legal man. D-Von went off the ropes and Bull pulled the rope down and D-Von fell to the outside of the ring. Bull beat on D-Von on the outside of the ring and then he rolled him back into the ring. The Goodfather gave D-Von a jumping clothesline and then he pinned him for a two count. The Goodfather tagged in Bull Buchanan and the Goodfather whipped him off the ropes and kicked him in the gut and then Bull kicked D-Von in the side of the head. Bull gave D-Von a back breaker and then he went off the ropes and gave him an elbow drop and then another one. Bull then gave D-Von a leg drop and then he pinned D-Von for a two count as Buh Buh broke up the pin. Bull made the tag to the Goodfather and the two whipped D-Von off the ropes and took him down with a double team shoulder block. The Goodfather gave D-Von a back suplex and then he pinned him for a two count.

D-Von gave the Goodfather a shoulder block and then he got up and made the tag to Buh Buh. Buh Buh got in the ring with a clothesline on the Goodfather and then he gave Bull a right hand and then a back suplex on the Goodfather. Buh Buh pinned the Goodfather for a two count as Bull broke up the pin. The Goodfather and D-Von exchanged right hands as Buh Buh and Bull went at it in the corner. The Goodfather got knocked out of the ring and then Buh Buh gave Bull Buchanan a body slam and he held onto his legs as D-Von came off the top rope with a head butt to the groin! Buh Buh then told D-Von to get the tables as Bull Buchanan rolled out of the ring. The Goodfather stopped the Dudleys as they went for the tables and then he rolled D-Von into the ring as Bull went at it with Buh Buh. Buh Buh whipped Bull into the steps and The Goodfather whipped D-Von into the corner and went for the "Ho Train" but he missed it. The Dudley Boyz then got the 3D on the Goodfather and D-Von pinned him for a three count to get the win!
Winners - the Dudley Boyz

Outside of WWF NY:
Saturn came across some guy sitting in the street and he gave him some food. Terri showed up and said something about the Statue of Liberty and then walked off as Terri went looking for him.

WWF New York:
Michael Cole and Tazz were talking about the King of the Ring main event and Perry Saturn showed up and referred to Michael Cole as Jim Ross. Tazz read a sponsor and it said something about JR's BBQ sauce because elephants don't eat spear ribs. Perry Saturn opened up an umbrella and Terri couldn't believe what she was seeing with Perry Saturn.

World Wrestling Federation Light Heavyweight
Championship Match
Taka Michinoku vs. Jeff Hardy (c)In the arena, Jeff Hardy's music hit and he made his way to the ring for a one on one match against Taka Michinoku for a Light Heavyweight Title defense. Taka Michinoku came out with Sho Funaki and Taka is a former Light Heavyweight Champion. Taka got on the mic and said that Jeff's days as Light Heavyweight Champion are numbered. Jeff may now be a Champion, but Taka shall always be eeeeeevil! "Indeed!" Taka came to the ring and the match started off with a side head lock from Taka and a whip off the ropes by Jeff. Taka came back with a shoulder block and then a shot to the mid section. Jeff Hardy gave Taka Michinoku a back body drop to the outside of the ring and then he took out Funaki and ran the barricade and gave Taka a clothesline. Jeff stomped Taka and then he picked him up and rolled him back into the ring. Jeff whipped Taka, but Taka reversed it and then Jeff gave Taka a drop kick to the back of the head. Taka ran out and around the ring and Jeff went after him.

Funaki cut Jeff off and then he slammed him into the security wall and rolled him back into the ring. Taka gave Jeff a drop kick to the face and Taka and Jeff exchanged chops and then Taka raked the eyes of Jeff and then gave him a thrust to the throat. Taka pinned Jeff Hardy for a two count and then he held him in a reverse chin lock. Taka raked the face of Jeff Hardy and then he kicked Jeff while he was down on the mat. Taka gave Jeff a leg drop over the second rope and then he whipped him off the ropes but Jeff countered it and Taka came back with a heel kick. Jeff got a chin breaker on Taka Michinoku and then Jeff kicked Taka in the gut and he whipped him off the ropes and gave him a back body drop and then a leg drop to the groin. Jeff went for a splash in the corner but Taka moved out of the way and Funaki got on the ropes, only to get knocked down. Jeff knocked Taka down and then he hit the swanton bomb and a pin for a three count to retain the title!
Winner and still WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, Jeff Hardy

WWF New York:
Michael Cole and Tazz were talking about the King of the Ring and Saturn told JR to be quiet and he came across a fan and said that giraffes have long necks and they can't shave. You're welcome. Saturn mumbled to some fans. Terri said that they can finish the show together, come on. Saturn mumbled something to Terri and it got a lot of laughs from the fans. KOTR Brackets:
Michael Cole and Tazz were in WWF NY, and they gave the brackets for the King of the Ring, and the first round will start tomorrow night on RAW is WAR. Here is what it looks like:

Angle
vs.
Hardy

Big Show
vs.
Christian

Rhyno
vs.
Tajiri

Saturn
vs.
Edge

Heavy preparation is already underway for King of the Ring, as WWF officials finalize the personnel appearing at the much awaited pay per view. With the current TV ratings proving hazardous to revenue generated from WWF merchandise/pay per view sales, expect to see a major counter attack launched by the WWF in an attempt to win back lost fans. The WWF are concentrating on the storyline featuring the Undertaker and his wife's stalker in particular, which is likely to reach its boiling point on the coming week's TV episodes. It has also been reported that talks with The Rock have already begun, so an imminent return date is on the card, in an attempt to turn around the WWF's recent decline. - 6/17/01