WWE issued the following earlier today:
Chris Benoit(TM) makes triumphant return to Edmonton as the new World Heavyweight Champion!
Come out to welcome Chris back to Alberta, when he arrives in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 13!
His Worship Mayor Bill Smith to bestow honour on Thursday April 15 at Edmonton City Hall.
EDMONTON, AB, April 7 /CNW/ - On Tuesday April 13, World Wrestling Entertainment(TM)'s Monday Night RAW(TM) World Heavyweight Champion, Chris Benoit, will be returning to his native Edmonton. Benoit earned his title winning the main event Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania(R) XX on March 14, which was the highest grossing Pay-Per-View event in WWE(TM) history and took place in front of a sold out crowd at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Chris will be returning to Edmonton on Tuesday April 13 - arriving at the Edmonton International Airport (Arrivals level, South Terminal) at 1:00 pm. We're expecting that many of Chris' fans will turn out to welcome him home! In addition, Chris will be honoured by the Mayor of Edmonton, His Worship Bill Smith when he declares April 18 as "Chris Benoit Day" at Edmonton City Hall on Thursday April 15, 12:00 p.m. We invite all media, proud Edmontonians and WWE fans to participate in this event! Mayor Bill Smith says: "Excitement is building for Chris Benoit Day, as local wrestling fans prepare to welcome their home town hero for Backlash(R) on April 18. It will be a great time in Edmonton."
Chris Benoit will be participating in WWE's Pay-Per-View Event, Backlash, which is taking place at Rexall Place on Sunday, April 18, at 5:45 pm. At Backlash, he will be defending his Championship in a Final Encounter Triple Threat match against former champ Triple H(TM) and the indomitable Shawn Michaels(TM). Other key matches include: Mick Foley(TM) vs. Randy Orton(TM) for the Intercontinental Championship, Chris Jericho(TM) vs. Christian(TM), and Edge(TM) vs. Kane(TM).
Backlash is the first WWE Pay-Per-Event to ever take place in Edmonton. This is the first WWE Pay-Per-View event since last month's exceptionally successful WrestleMania XX and subsequent roster lottery draft. New alliances and rivalries are now being formed, which promises to make Backlash a worthy follow-up the WrestleMania XX!
You can catch all the excitement as Benoit defends his title, live at Backlash at Edmonton's Rexall Place, Sunday April 18, beginning at 5:45 pm. Tickets are still available at the Box Office, from www.ticketmaster.ca and area TicketMaster outlets, or Charge By Phone at 780-451-8000. Escape The Rules(TM) with Monday Night RAW Live on Monday from Calgary, Alberta, at 9:00 pm on TSN. Tickets for RAW are still available at all TicketMaster outlets and at the Saddledome Box Office. Charge By Phone at 403-777-0000. Order on-line at www.ticketmaster.ca.
