Welcome back, students, for the third week in our course on professional wrestling. Now last week we had some problems with the principal getting involved in the lesson-and yes, I will admit that he does have a superior knowledge of the subject matter we are studying. None of that this week, however! This week, we have a special treat to look at-from the Pillman 2000 Memorial Show last year, Chris Benoit Vs. Steven (William) Regal.

The Setup

On October 5th, 1997, one of the greatest grapplers in the game, Brian Pillman, was found dead in a hotel room in Bloomington, Minnesota, apparently from heart failure. Although Pillman at one time was one of the hottest US wrestlers in the game-and here I'm thinking specifically of his series with Jushin Liger in the early 90s-his skills cooled off after a nasty motorcycle accident in the early part of 1996, which left him with his ankle fused in a walking position. This hampered his progress in the WWF, which is where he was active up until his death in October '97.

Because Pillman wasn't a huge star at the time of death, and because it didn't happen in as tragic circumstances as Owen Hart, Pillman was eulogised, laid to rest, and, in many people's eyes, simply forgotten by the casual wrestling fan. Obviously not a fitting tribute to such a great man, and so, in May of 1998, the first annual Brian Pillman Memorial card was held, to raise funds for Pillman's widow Melanie and his their two children. Since then a card has been promoted every year with the same intention, bringing together stars from the WWF, WCW, and ECW, as well as giving some rising indy stars a chance to shine. Last year's event was held at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the headliner was announced as Chris Benoit taking on the returning-to-the-bigtime Steve Regal. To the match!

The Match

Although the match was billed as the headliner, it actually took place third from the top of the card, and if I recall correctly this was due to Benoit having travel issues. The card ended up being main-evented by Eddie Guerrero and D'Lo Brown taking on Dean Malenko and Perry Saturn. But that's another lesson entirely.

WCW goomba David Penzer is your special guest ring announcer here, and I believe he covered all of the big-league matches that night. Regal enters first to some generic music (at the time he was starting out on a WWF developmental deal), followed closely by Benoit, who enters to his WWF music and a BIG pop. This is probably the only time you'll hear David Penzer announcing someone as the WWF Intercontinental Champion.

The bell rings and they enter into a long feeling out process. Circle, and a lockup, and Regal breaks. Another lockup, and another break. A third, and they fight for the advantage, and Benoit manages to force Regal back into the corner. The ref breaks it up, and the go back to circling. Lockup, and Benoit wrings the arm into a wristlock. Regal rolls through, but Benoit holds onto the wristlock and forces Regal back down to the mat, then segues into an armbar. Back to wristlock, and Regal nips up, but Benoit won't break the wristlock. Regal with an armdrag, and Benoit still holds on and drags Regal down with him. Into a hammerlock, with Regal laying face-down on the mat. Regal fights up and reverses the hold, then trips Benoit into a wristlock. Benoit up, but Regal drags him over into a one-count. Regal turns it into a knuckle lock and places his knee on Benoit's chest, keeping him on the mat. That gets another one-count. Benoit bridges off the mat and Regal keeps the double knuckle lock on, then knees Benoit in the gut to force him back onto his back. Another one-count. Nip up by Benoit, into a test of strength. Benoit forces Regal down, but Regal nips up and kicks him in the gut, and they struggle for control of the knuckle lock. Regal with a monkey-flip on Benoit, but Benoit holds on and rolls back over Regal int a standing position. Keep in mind-the double knuckle lock is still applied. Benoit with a couple of headbutts and a kick to the gut, and they FINALLY break the hold.

Benoit goes for a kick, but Regal catches the leg and tastes an enzuiguri. Regal staggered, and a dropkick sends him to the floor. Regal sidesteps Benoit's followup baseball slide, and kicks him in the gut, and both men climb onto the apron. They slug it out, and Benoit DDTs Regal onto the apron-very innovative. He throws Regal into the steps, then tosses him back in the ring and gets a two count. Belly-to-back gets two. Regal up, and he catches Benoit with a drop toe hold, then applies an STF. Benoit makes the ropes, and Regal dropkicks him as he gets to his feet. Regal trips Benoit and stretches him with a surfboard into a Dragon sleeper-and by now, Regal's bleeding hardway from the forehead. Benoit elbows out and both get to their feet, and Benoit ducks a punch and hits a release German suplex. He pulls Regal to his feet and chops him (WHOOO!), but Regal headbutts him and kicks him down, as a Regal chant fires up. Real wrestling orientated crowd here. Forearm by Regal, but Benoit fights back and gets two of three German suplexes, before Regal elbows out of the third. Regal tries for a butterfly suplex, but Benoit blocks and hits his third German suplex, and calls for Air Canada, and this time they're chanting Benoit's name.

He goes upstairs, but Regal crotches him on the top turnbuckle and hits a butterfly superplex, and both men take a lie down. Regal rolls over and gets two, then presses the issue for another three nearfalls. Both men up, and Benoit reverses an Irish whip, but Regal stops himself in the corner and their heads collide, knocking both down. The ref gets to nine, and Benoit covers for a nearfall. Benoit goes for a judo trip but Regal reverses into a rollup for two, then gets a backslide for another two. Blue Thunder Bomb gets two, and Regal goes for a tombstone, but Benoit reverses into one of his own. Second swandive attempt, but Regal rolls out of the way and they're both down again. The ref gets to eight before they struggle to their feet. European uppercut by Regal, and an Irish whip attempt, but Benoit reverses into a full nelson. Regal reverses that, but Benoit reverses again into a Dragon suplex. Crippler crossface, and that's all she wrote at 12:45.

Benoit gets his hand raised, and helps a dazed Regal to his feet, and he and the ref raise Regal's hands as the crowd chant for Regal. Benoit and Regal hug, and Benoit grabs the mic as Regal leaves the ring.

"Thanks folks. Regal, you been away for a while. I want you to know that all the boys back in the dressing room, including myself, and all these people here realise what Hell you've had. It's great to have you back, bro."

Benoit leads a Regal chant as Regal leaves.

Analysis

While this match is in the same vein as last week's study-a one-off with no real buildup and face/heel boundaries-this match was presented in a way that made that clear from the get-go. Whereas last week's match was on a major WWF pay-per-view in front of a huge sell-out audience, this match was held in front of 2,000 fans, and it's purpose was simply to pay homage to a great wrestler by putting on some excellent grappling.

The match itself was excellent, although I would hardly call it match of the year material. Both guys put on a great performance-and Regal looked better than he ever has done, including since his comeback in the WWF. Speaking of that, Regal has this match to thank for his new lease of life-if this match had never taken place, Regal may never have received the chance to showcase his talents in a decent-sized match again. Chris Benoit singing his praises probably didn't hurt, either.

It's also a matter of personal preference for me here-although I do enjoy the odd bit of puroresu, I'm a sucker for a good old-fashioned matfest. That's why Owen/Bret garnered such a high rating from me. It was just that damn good. As was this match-and it also fit it's purpose exactly. It was quite clear that the fans in attendance enjoyed the match, and I enjoyed watching it. Having said that, attaching a bit of motivation to it would have improved the intensity no end, and the ending was somewhat out of nowhere.

Grade: B+

And that concludes our class for this week. Next week, in celebration of the Philly juggernaut that seems to have bitten the dust, I'll be looking at arguably one of the most influential matches of the nineties-from the Night The Line Was Crossed, it's Terry Funk Vs. Sabu Vs. Shane Douglas. Class dismissed!