Steve Carrier on April 21, 2026
David Benoit showing up at AEW Dynamite in Edmonton got fans talking again about whether he might still follow in his father’s footsteps, but the latest word suggests that probably isn’t happening.
During the Fightful Select Answers Q&A, where questions submitted by subscribers are addressed, Sean Ross Sapp responded to curiosity about Benoit’s future after fans spotted him backstage at the show. Benoit has spoken in the past about wanting to wrestle, but those plans never fully came together. While addressing the subscriber question, Sapp explained that Benoit did try training at one point, but it didn’t last long and didn’t lead to anything serious.
“I guess there's always still a chance, but I wouldn't count on it… I'd heard he went to Lance Storm's school briefly and was not quite the natural that his father was. The people that I spoke to said he wasn't there long and that it didn't seem like pro wrestling was for him.”
There was also a moment years ago where Benoit nearly ended up in the ring before he was ready, but veteran wrestlers stepped in to shut that down before things got out of hand. Sapp explained that Smith Hart had tried to book Benoit on a wrestling show despite him not having formal training, which raised immediate red flags.
“Even before that, Smith Hart tried to book him for a show without any formal wrestling training. However, Chris Jericho caught wind of it and urged David to not do the match. Chavo Guerrero pulled from the show as well after being scheduled to team with David. Had Jericho not intervened, things could have been really bad.”
Even though a wrestling career doesn’t appear likely at this stage, Benoit still keeps close ties to the business and enjoys being around it whenever he can. Sapp noted that Benoit continues to attend shows and has remained welcome backstage in both major promotions.
“He did do an interview with Chris Van Vliet where he spoke very candidly about his life, and does seem to really enjoy watching wrestling and being around at shows. He's always been welcomed at WWE and AEW from what I've heard.”
At 33 or 34 years old, starting from scratch in pro wrestling would be a steep climb, especially in an industry that usually requires years of training before stepping into the spotlight. For now, it looks like Benoit’s connection to wrestling will remain as a fan and supporter rather than a performer.
Fans were quick to take notice after seeing him at AEW Dynamite, but based on what’s being said behind the scenes, the idea of him launching a full wrestling career seems far less likely than it once did.
Do you think David Benoit should still give wrestling a shot, or is it better that he stays involved as a fan instead of stepping into the ring? Let us know what you think.
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