Originally published at https://www.postwrestling.com/2021/07/11/da-pope-elijah-burke-reflects-on-having-chris-benoits-last-match/
Elijah Burke has tallied up nearly two decades worth of experience in pro wrestling and has competed for WWE, TNA/IMPACT Wrestling and is currently working with the National Wrestling Alliance.
Burke, also known as ‘Da Pope’ is the reigning NWA World Television Champion.
During his appearance on Straight Talk Wrestling, he looked back on his time in WWE which included having Chris Benoit’s final match. Burke and Benoit went one-on-one on WWE’s ECW program on June 19th, 2007. On the weekend of the 22nd, Benoit took the lives of his wife and son, Nancy and Daniel, before taking his own.
Well, first thing is you cannot deny the ability, the skillset and everything that Chris Benoit was. Certainly a hall of fame talent and that can’t be taken away from him. Unfortunately, we know the story, but I’ve been asked that question a couple of times, I’ve talked about it on my Pope’s Point Of View podcast with Elijah Burke. Chris, in the last days as far as me wrestling him last, I did the loop with him so I wrestled him in Georgia as well, Columbus I believe it was. If not Columbus then whatever, but it was in Georgia and I could never do that Ric Flair stuff. Ric Flair’s what? 72-years-old and he could just name the dates, the places, the arenas, my God. How do you remember all that? I can’t even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning. But nonetheless, Chris Benoit was himself. He was the same Chris that I’ve always known since I’ve been in the WWE and to have that distinct… honor or not? Depending on how you look at it. As far as wrestling him last, I certainly didn’t wanna be known as the last guy to wrestle Chris Benoit, you know? But I was and it was, for me, at that time specifically and even now, it was just a great honor. You’re talking about somebody I grew up watching, somebody that I was watching kill it WCW, no pun intended Lord. But he was tearing it up in WCW, he was tearing it up in WWE, big Horsemen guy, you guys know NWA so to have Chris Benoit select me, handpick me to be the guy that he wanted to elevate, it meant a lot and while I got knocked — felt like my back swollen during that matchup when he came down with that flying headbutt in the opposite direction. It was everything to me and I was looking forward to having more matches with him.
Back in March of 2020, John Pollock recorded an interview with lead hockey analyst Jeff Marek. Marek was candid about his friendship with Benoit and how the tragedy impacted him, along with covering the Dark Side of the Ring episode about the Benoit family.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Straight Talk Wrestling with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.