TSN.ca goes 1-on-1 with Chris Benoit
TSN.ca Staff
4/7/2004
Whether he's billed as a superstar from Edmonton, Alberta or Atlanta, Georgia, World Champion Chris Benoit will never forget that he's a proud Canadian.
The Canadian Crippler - who was on a whirlwind tour of Toronto this week that includes a taping of TSN's Off the Record - stopped by the SportsCentre studio for a one-on-one interview with TSN.ca.
Benoit - who was born in Montreal and raised in Edmonton from a very early age - knows all too well about the controversy created when World Wrestling Entertainment began announcing him as "residing in Altanta." The Rabid Wolverine understood why Canadian wrestling fans would be upset, but was quick to acknowledge that it doesn't change the way he feels about his home country.
"A big misconception is that they (WWE) announce me as being Chris Benoit from Atlanta Georgia," he explained. "It's residing in Atlanta, Georgia and that's the truth. Back in 1996 when I had the chance to get some exposure in the U.S. with WCW, part of the deal was moving to Atlanta where their corporate headquarters was and getting my green card. Of my three kids, my first child David was born in Edmonton and my other two - Megan and Daniel - were born in Atlanta and I've been there since.
But that doesn't take away from the fact that I'm from Edmonton and I consider that my home. My parents are there - my whole family's there - and I'm pretty sure after my career is done I'll be moving back there. But nowadays, I don't know too many family members or at least a friend that has had to move away because of job opportunities. It's the way the world is now, it was an opportunity for me to better myself, my opportunities for myself and for my family. That doesn't mean I've renounced being from Edmonton or renounced being a Canadian - not at all. Yes I do 'reside in Atlanta,' but I am from Edmonton and I'm proud of it."
That being said, the new World Champion said he couldn't wait to step into Edmonton's Rexall Place on April 18 for Backlash.
"I've got goosebumps thinking about it right now," he said with an ear-to-ear grin. "I was hoping so much that I would win the title at WrestleMania because I knew we would be going to Edmonton. Just walking out there, standing in the middle of the ring and raising that title above my head and saying thank you. Because that's where it all began. The fans there are a part of who I am today, and I just want to go back there and thank them for all their support."
credit
http://tsn.ca/wrestling/news_story.asp?ID=79296&hubName=wrestling
