Some people may look at the fact that Chris Benoit has beaten Montel Vontavious Porter in their two previous United States Championship matches and say that Benoit has MVP’s number. But, when looking at the situation a little more closely, it’s Benoit who may be at a disadvantage when the two clash in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match this Sunday at Judgment Day.

For one, Benoit’s knee was injured at the hands of MVP and Finlay on SmackDown. That could be a factor. And the other drawback Benoit could be facing is the fact that in any competition, to defeat an opponent three straight times is highly unlikely. Especially when that opponent has scouted every move you are going to make.

Sources close to Montel Vontavious Porter have said that the young Superstar is so determined to defeat Benoit that he has spent all his preparation time watching old matches of the Wolverine hoping to find a weakness. And although MVP may have created a weakness in Benoit with his attack on SmackDown, the U.S. Champion still held some praise for MVP.

“He is a strong up-and-comer; every time I have gotten in the ring with him he has brought his game up and gotten one step closer to me,” Benoit said. “So I have to work that much harder to stay one step ahead. You can never underestimate someone like him, because he keeps you on your game.”

But Benoit won’t make any excuses if he is to lose the title tomorrow at Judgment Day. In fact, he has been preparing for a rematch with Porter with great anticipation.

“This match is definitely something I am not taking lightly,” he said. “I have been more consistent at the gym lately than I can ever recall being. The last time I was this focused was WrestleMania XX.”

That night, Benoit became the World Heavyweight Champion, and if the focus he carried into that match is any indication of what our fans will see tomorrow night, then Benoit is certainly at the top of his game.

The usually reserved Benoit then spoke openly about the similarities between him and his Judgment Day opponent.

“MVP seems to get better each time out. I cannot explain how closely we parallel each other in the ring – on the mat or brawling. MVP has really surprised me,” Benoit said.

It should come as no surprise that the experience of Benoit has shined brighter than the bling around Porter’s neck during this bitter rivalry. At WrestleMania 23, Benoit successfully defended his championship when he pinned Porter after a Flying Headbutt off the top rope. Three weeks later at Backlash, Benoit was able to once again grab a victory when he defeated MVP in front of his home crowd in Atlanta. After that match, the Rabid Wolverine credited his experience as one of his major keys to victory.

Benoit was also quick to point out: “I’m never over-confident, never slacking and never letting up. WWE is top of the food chain and if you want to stay on top, you have to be at the top of your game.  In 20 years of wrestling I have never made an excuse, and I won’t start now... I have confidence, but I understand I am going to be in the ring with a world class athlete.”

While MVP may be a world class athlete, and while he believes that he is destined to win championship gold, that has yet to translate to victory in the big match, and until Porter can solve the technical prism that is the United States Champion Chris Benoit, he will have to be ballin’ in another court.