It pains me to say I haven't enjoyed his matches for about a year to 18 months. He's lost a lot of steps in the ring as age starts to set in.

Same for me. While still performing at a higher level than most, he has just become very average and predictable in the ring.

I've felt the same way for the last year or so. This is a guy that I marked out so hard for WM 17 at the Fan Axxxess thing when I got to see him wrestle. And now, he is just another guy. Jericho was getting the same way to me before he took his leave, but at least he was always a star on the mic, regardless.

Benoit needs a heel turn badly, as we've mentioned before.

Well, I have no idea what you guys are talking about. He's differed from the Benoit we saw in Japan, but he's really not THAT far behind where he was. He works better with guys that aren't good in the ring better than anyone in the entire company outside of maybe Rey. Now, I'll admit that his programs don't let him branch out and have the type of matches that he can, but that's far from his fault.

Now, I haven't seen his match with Finlay from May or June so that might be 1 match of his that I would enjoy.

But I think he's got the right idea by considering retirement. Go to OVW and train or become an agent. His skills are heading south. I'd say it's been a slow decline since he lost the title to Orton at Summerslam.

I would still say that's an unfair judgement. He's consistantly had good matches since then. His match this year alone against Orton was criminally underrated (The Street Fight were he subbed for Booker) and then on. Benoit like I said has declined since the mid 90's, but his WWE stuff is all on par with itself.

I think it's the infamous "lack of motivation." I think he's near where Jericho is. Feeling like he's done everything he ever wanted to. I wouldn't be surprised if he did retire, nor would I blame him.

Benoit's been awesome this year. Against Orton, Bradshaw in the cage, Regal and Finlay at the PPV. His selling is even better than ever. All terrific stuff this year and he's even incorporating a new style somewhat into the WWE. I would say all things considered that the street fight he had against Orton this year was one of his best career preformances.

Trust me, someone who trains as hard as Benoit does outside the ring will always go ful out inside the ring. The ring is like "a night off" for him!

I'm with WP and DK... Benoit has been the man all year. Free TV classics with RANDY ORTON in most of January, a couple of good (but short) matches with William Regal, the cage match with JBL as mentioned, the Finlay match from Judgment Day were all awesome. I'm sure he could even get a great match out of Mark Henry.

The last match Benoit had on Smackdown was against Mark Henry, and that was even a pretty good one. The only time where I can remember Benoit matches lacking in the quality department was for a stretch after he lost the World title in 2004 (see Taboo Tuesday, Unforgiven). That could be partly attributed to his opponents (La Resistance, etc).

Even those were pretty decent. Better than 25 second squashes of Orlando Jordan on fucking Pay-Per-View no less.

Those were pointless as hell. Hmm...

"Let's have Benoit squash Jordan on PPV! People will think he's invisible!"

Uh-huh. All the match did was make Jordan look worse, not Benoit look better.

Once was fine, twice was okay-good but after that it was just stupid from a booking sense.

The best was when Benoit was drinking coffee and watching the match at the same time and the match was over before he got done drinking. Chris Benoit comedy segments are GOLD.

The true question on everyones mind...

Was Benoit hussling with the sips, or was he milking it?

Benoit is the fucking man, always has been, always will be. I just wish injuries and the crippling effect of time would have slowed down so I could enjoy watching him decimate people longer.