Benoit
I haven’t watched RAW yet, as I just got home from work and I’m trying to keep up with everything happening thus far.If nothing else, Chris Benoit went from “debatable legend” to “immortality” tonight as far as wrestling fandom for the ages goes, although probably in the worst way possible. I’d like to pretend that his name won’t get dragged through the muck and that it was just a horrible accident, but I think by now we all know there’s a very seedy underside to wrestling that no one talks about, and this is more evidence of that.Ideally, I’d like to remember Chris for what he did on-screen: The humble guy from Canada who was deemed “too small” by promoters and who had to fight for every push he got, who won pretty much every title there was to win and had nothing left to prove in the ring, who could be counted on for at least one good match on every PPV, and sometimes two of them. I’ve followed his career for 20 years, from his start in Calgary to now, and although it saddens me that he died, it saddens me more than we had to learn what kind of a person he really was on his way out of his life. If he did what they say he did, then I’m glad he killed himself rather than having to watch him (and wrestling) get dragged through the media circus of a trial and conviction.It’s just all kinds of bad on every level. I’ll be appearing as a guest on Sideshow Radio at www.wrestlingrn.com on Wednesday night, and hopefully we’ll have more facts by then. Obviously Benoit discussion will dominate my interview.
Just terrible, can’t believe it.
Wow, the way Scott put it he kind of sounds like wrestling’s Frank Grimes. Not a terrible way to describe Chris Benoit.
I wish we could eulogize a guy we admired and loved watching without having this sad epilogue about the circumstances.
I’ve been waiting to read your thoughts. I’m pretty sure I understand how important Chris Benoit was to you.
Keep your head up, Scott.
I am ashamed of myself for equating Benoit’s death with Owen’s. I grew up like Owen, the little brother with brothers who had successes. He had it right and lived for his family. I’m sorry for ever thinking of Benoit in the same breath as Owen. This may be it for me, i’ve watched wrestling since I was 2 years old grew up loving Ricky Morton and now with this I can’t do it no more…….23 years and i’m done.
I have followed your “career” for 9 years Scott, and I know through your Rants Chris Benoit was like God. Sorry bro.
Yeah, I can watch old shows where half the roster is dead and chalk it up to “demons” or whatever, but this, if the stories are true, is going to be a little tough to reconcile. Who wants to watch the Rumble he wins or WM XX again now?
But I think it’s a little unfair to go after Scott, Benoit was this guy’s idol and it’s an awful lot to deal with. I was a casual Benoit fan, and I certainly enjoyed him as a wrestler, and I’m having a tought time reconciling everything.
But as far as separating the man from the entertainer? I don’t know. Meltzer had a good piece this week on the difference between actors and wrestlers regarding the Vince angle. His real name is Chris Benoit, it’s not like he was Benoit as played by Joe Blow. In a world where reality and fiction blend and clash so frequently, this is the worst-case scenario.
What’s rather terrifying is the progression and transformation of this story. First, it was a big deal that Benoit wasn’t appearing at the pay per view …and it just fucking snowballed.
“Benoit misses Vengeance because of family emergency” to “Benoit killed his wife and son, then himself”; a devastating leap.
Leave it to Benoit to murder his wife, kill his son, and be labelled as an “immortal” by his royal highness, Scott Keith.
Where is your “God” now Scott? If he did what it appears he did, he’s probably in hell. That is why I can’t stand you net fans, you are the biggest idiots on the planet. You idolize steroid-injecting drug-popping losers in what is more-and-more a freak-show, and then you act all upset when you are called out on it.
Your idols are shallow. And you are a shallow man for having invested so much time into a man that was a murderer, Scott Keith.
You feel better now.
Scott Keith runs this blog and is entitled to post whatever he wants. He is also allowed to grieve in whatever way he chooses. However, the discussion of putting to much respect in faith in celebrities is not unique to pro wrestling fans. How many Elvis fans were let down when their idol turned out to be a pill popping, obese, mess of an addict? How many young girls were let down when Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears became posterchildren for self destructing celebrities?? How many kids were let down by Kurt Cobain’s suicide??? As a society, we put far to much faith in celebrities… whether they are pro wrestlers, musicians, actors, politicians, etc. We admire them because they reflect an image of ourselves that we wish we could be ourselves. Yet, the celebrities are as flawed and as fucked up as the rest of the world and we just end up feeling let down in the end.
I wonder if “Chris Benoit the man” put far too much faith in “Chris Benoit the tv character”. If only he could have loved himself and his family as much as he loved his superhero image.
Thanks. I enjoyed your comments on this tragic situation. Its hard coping with the downfall of one’s heroes, whether its a wrestler or a rockstar.
yeah, i can’t think of a better time to personally attack Scott Keith for having a favorite wrestler who appears to have lost his mind. screw you Scott Keith for liking a guy who appeared to be a great guy and great pro wrestler. to hell with you.
Sarcasm.
I don’t think he is in hell, as I don’t think hell exists. If God is all loving(and exists), and loves people no matter what, then it isn’t possible for hell to exist. The man led a good life for almost all of 40 years, he had what appears to be a psychotic break and then did something beyond horrible. Yeah, I’m feeding the troll, but I’m pissed, so he can fuck right off…
That would be the moron who has no name then…
My points are damn simple.
You guys made him your “God” and talked about how great he was. And in the end, here he is, a murderer.
Can you separate your obsession with pro wrestling for a minute and realize how destructive this sport is? It is destructive on the good (Owen), the bad (Bulldog) and the ugly (Benoit). You notice how many of the wrestlers who have passed away shared your obsession with the sport?
There is something sick in the air, and I’m needling it. Scott Keith may or may not be a decent human being, but I’m hoping he has a deeper realization as a result of all of this.
If you guys don’t get it, well - it’s your loss.
Actually, your points are SIMPLISTIC. Yep, the industry chews people up and spits them out. Too many people die young.
The same applies for the film industry, the music industry, the IT industry, boxing, tennis, football, name the trade I’ll find you a nutjob, a suicide, a manic depressive. Get over yourself unless you actually have something constructive to add.
For the record, I don’t think that Benoit was a ‘God’, or Owen or Bret or whoever. I quite like their work, but then again, I reckon Hemingway was a genius and he ended up with a shotgun in his mouth. What are we to make of that?
I can’t help but wonder, is this MRobert?
Sorry I made that post about Benoit being like “God” I didn’t realize it was going to cause some asshole to condemn everybody for simply talking about thier fallen hero. To A Hidden Truth, I think you my friend , don’t “get it”. Love is the answer.
The highest suicide rates of any profession are doctors and lawyers. 33% of all lawyers have alcohol abuse problems. You don’t hear anyone criticising the legal industry. This is a societal problem, not just a pro wrestling one.
wow, really? i had no idea. Thanks for clearing that up. It’s not like my Dad is lawyer with a horrible coke problem. Gosh, your so smart. I wish could be more like you.
I’m sorry Scott, but I can’t just seperate Chris Benoit the “character” from what could be the most unspeakable and obscene thing that has ever happened in pro-wrestling. It does not get wrose then killing your wife and child…
I’m 25 and I love Benoit. I sing his praises to my non-wrestling fan friends. I posted in the last threat about how much of a fan I am, the guys picture literally hangs over my bed with some other special articles from my life thus far. part of his appeal, part of the story, part of who I am definitely died today even if this wasn’t the horrible scenario that was presented.
Here is my point. Shame on you, me and all of us if we do not seriously evaluate who the hell we are not just as wrestling fans but people after this shit (going on the horrific assumption that he did what they say). You, like me, like all of us have made this guy and this guy alone a hero representative of who we somehwat inspire to be. Many of our actions as wrestling fans and maybe even citizens have allowed Chris Benoit’s iinspirational story up to a certain point to influence us.
We are criminal if we simply chalk this up to “the seedy underside”. This is bigger then juicing yourself up and your heart exploding, or falling from the ceiling because of a stupid stunt. Those things are trivial compared to this and I’m not afraid to say that, alot of fans will take the easy way out. I hope that none of you will do that, because thats innevitably what pro-wrestling will do.
I personally don’t know what to do, and I can’t just write Chris Benoit off. How the hell do you reconcile this?
How the hell does Chris Benoit become no better then O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson or Robert Blake? What do I do and what does this say about me?
Robert Blake was found not guilty…with quite a bit of evidence proving his innocence. Not very fair to point fingers at a guy who was wrongly accused of murder; I’m sure things are hard enough for him with the legal bills he incurred.
Should have done my homework, also should have spell checked my posting!
Regardless this is one of those events that alter the way one percieves the world. Perhaps a previous post summed it up by saying you can’t eulogize the man properly without this tarnish.
This horrible paradox disturbs me in ways I’ve never felt because this deals with something that is supposed to be entertainment, a release, an escape. I love the Beatles and the only time I feel anything that resembles a negative emotion is when I think of how John and George are no longer with us. Yet the art overcomes the reality, the timelessness takes shape when the music is not viewed through a microscope.
In this case I cannot do anything but people back each horrible layer revealing what may be a most awful truth. I feel betrayed.
I can’t say if I’ll watch wrestling again, I probably will, but I don’t think that is even relevant. Maybe I am insecure, but I feel like this shatters something very innocent and optimistic about my particular personality.
I could always throw on my dvd of Wrestlemania XX and watch Eddie and Benoit and feel like something went right for one night in the world. Atleast I know that much is no longer true, anyone who denies that does not see the significance here.
I agree whole-heartedly.. it will certainly be an odd period of grasping to come to terms with these various contradictions… At worst, hopefully he will be able to be a case study for us all and, yes, still a fine example of how to conduct oneself, professionally.
Friends-
I grew up as a diehard pro wrestling fan and spent most of my 20’s working for indies as a commentator, booker, manager, and occasional worker. Over the years, I’ve watched the product only sporadically. Not because of the drug abuse, overdoses, deaths, and now murders… but because the product became incredibly stale for me. I am different from most of you in thse sense that I have no personal attachment to the career of Chris Benoit. I thought he was a great worker, an awful talker, and I just never was an uber-fan.
However, I think it’s important to remember that the “seedy underbelly” that Scott wrote about is not unique to professional wrestling. Depression, mental illness, drug abuse, and murder happen in all walks of life. I’m watching the story now about a 26 year old mom to be who was murdered in Ohio. We don’t cry and mourn for her the same way because she never headlined a Wrestlemania… but is still happens. OJ Simpson probably commited a double murder, and he’s a hall of fame running back. Jayson Williams probably killed a limo driver, and he’s a former NBA center. Lindsay Lohan is a famous cokehead who could have easily killed someone during her many traffic accidents. Robert Blake, Phil Spector, the list goes on and on. You can find tragic stories in all walks of life.
Nobody should be ashamed for loving pro wrestling because of the Chris Benoit story…. just as no football fan should have sworn off the NFL because of OJ.
Hang in there, gang!
That is an interesting analysis but it is flawed because of the unique characteristics here. This mans appeal was the realities of his situation “backstage”, or in “real life”.
I grew up loving Hulk Hogan, I despised him when I starting reading ” dirt sheets” and learned that he was a politician backstage. However as I got older, I remembered that it is all a show and The Hulkster was a hero on camera and that is all that mattered.
This is different: Benoit was a hero on camera BECAUSE he was supposedly a hero off-camera. Perhaps this is the begining of the end for “insider fans” caring about wrestling? I know I can never invest true emotion in a wrestler because of his behind the scenes actions. Don’t compare it to movies because in the movies you don’t root for Christopher Reeve because he really is a Superman….
Point taken, Lawrence. Like I said, I’ve never been a big Benoit fan and it didn’t occur to me that many of his fans cared more about the perso they percieved him to be than his character.
Still though, see my post above about America’s obsession with celebrity. I contend that we still identify ourselves to the public figures that represent something that we don’t see in ourselves
I had so much respect for Benoit, he was incredible… One of the few men who got OVER basically just due to his wrestling… It just sucks, because no doubt this black cloud, this tragedy will always tarnish his name. A name that should be synonymous w/greatness in the the ring and classiness outside it will no longer have the same meaning. Just another sad day to be a wrestling fan. The irony that the soap opera is sometimes more real than we realize.
Just a few hours ago, I posted on Princess’ thread my tribute and condolences to Benoit and his family, also expressing my admiration and respect for Benoit’s career. This was written back when the official world was simply Benoit, Nancy and their son dead.
Now more information is coming in, and it really sounds like it’s even worse than we thought it was. I cannot judge Benoit and his actions until the report is official. Who knows what led up to this tragedy, or what possible reason behind it. One thing’s for sure, no matter what, Benoit’s great work in the ring will never be disputed, no matter what kind of human being he was.
Yet, seeing the tribute show tonight, there were moments that reveal there was something about Benoit that really puts into perspective a newer light. How every wrestler noted he was an intense, private person. How serious he was in wrestling. How he made that kid do 10,000 pushups for dissing Shawn. His obsession with “respect”. Maybe all of these things had nothing to do with what had just happen, but now that Benoit, as Scott has mentioned, entered “immortality” in the strangest of ways, I really can’t watch the Hard Knocks dvd the same way agin.
I just can’t picture Benoit as a Gig Young type. I can picture Scott Steiner, I can picture Kurt Angle, hell I would have pictured Stacy Kiebler before I’d pictured Chris Benoit. It’s maddening and absolutely sad that Benoit will finally be what everyone of his fans hoped he would be: a household word even to people not familiar to wrestling along with Hogan, Austin, and the Rock. Unfortunately, in a horrible irony, it will be as the O.J. Simpson of wrestling.
Again, my deepest condolences to Benoit, Nancy, and Daniel. And my respect for everyone at Blog of Doom for their writing and contribution during this tragedy.
i really hope the whole suicide/murder thing isn’t true, although that was my first thought. everyone who spoke about him on RAW tonight said how much of a family man he was. i wonder how the WWE isn’t going to handle it now that this ended in murder, and not an accident.
Whatever happened to “Innocent Till Proven Guilty”? Did Benoit have a history of spouse or child abuse? If he did , I never heard anything about it. So what would be his motive for killing his family? I think there is more to this story. If Benoit did it, his legacy will be destroyed, as it should be, but he deserves more than all this speculation at this point in time.
Thank you. I’m glad to see I’m not the only one rushing to judgment/in denial.
Just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and memories of Chris Benoit.
Like you the news of Benoit’s death was a shock and the speculation surrounding events leading to it disappointing.
Benoit was a wrestler who’s actions spoke louder than a single word he uttered. His physicality and talent made him a hero of mine growing up. As an adult I took comfort in knowing that in spite of whatever storyline or character was being pushed I could expect the same greatness from Benoit I watched as a kid.
Benoit the person I do not know. But it would seem based on what’s speculated his life was complicated. As fans, as spectators we are fortunate to not have to ask the same questions his friends and family have. We will all ask “Why?” but our answers will come sooner than theirs so we can be thankful for that - I, for one, am.
In death, Benoit’s final actions spoke louder than any words he could (or should) have said. His death reminds me to take care of my loved ones, to watch out for and listen to them. It also reminds me to seek help when I feel helpless, to talk.
Sorry for being so serious. Just wanted to share how I’m trying to reconcile with this tragedy.
This should signify that the WWE’s Wellness Plan should be redone to also include “Mental Health” as well.
I know that WWE isn’t babysitters but they should be checking on how stable their performers are.
I realize that its human nature to try and find somebody to blame for stuff like this, but sometimes the person to blame is the person that killed two people.
I don’t know what to think anymore. When I mentioned Benoit dying to my brother, the first thing that he said was, “He went home and killed them then himself”. I didn’t know what to think when he said that and hours later I still don’t. At the end of RAW I was crying, now the tears are all dried up.
My grandfather used to say about the twists and turns in life, “It’s all part of the soap opera”. I don’t know what else to say.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the actions of someone that I admired, at this point, I mourn for his friends and family who lost someone that they cared for deeply, I mourn for his co workers in the WWE who are trying to wrap their heads around all of this as well. I mourn for Nancy, as she was someones friend, sister, daughter. I mourn for Daniel as he was an innocent child who was caught in the crossfire of this terrible situation. I mourn for Chris Benoit, because he had obviously fallen so far, so fast, so hard that he didn’t get help when he obviously needed it. If anything good can come from this horrible tragedy its that people will think of something like this if they are in what they deem as a desperate situation, and get the help that they so desperately need.
This might be all over the place here, but these are new emotions to me.
Benoit Hall of Famer 08?
Or ever?
Judging from what he did in the ring, sure he is.
What ultimately defines a man? The life he lived or the death he died. If hardened criminals can commit countless heinous crimes and then in one shining moment be saved by the grace of God, then what happens when a man whom many consider to be a paragon of passion, pillar of strength and the absolute embodiment of respect who as his final act upon this earth commits an unthinkable crime …then is he worthy of atonement? Hell is he even fitting of a tribute? It’s hard to say.
I’ve gone from feeling deeply sadden, to inquisitive, to confused to angry and now just confused. I’ll never forget watchin’ Wrestlemania XX in a bar and hearing the bar explode when Triple H tapped out. I’ll never forget those best of Seven matches with Booker T. Or the swan dive head butt. The suddeness of the Crippler crossface. The ability of the one of the last great wrestlers to suspend my disbelief on countless occasions.
I guess it’s a fitting tragic end to the story. A man who gave his all to reach to top and to take it all with him on his way. I’ll remember you Chris Benoit as the guy who’d suicide dive into a chair. Who’d swan dive an upright. Who’d German suplex a Rattlesnake ten times in succession. But most of all I’ll remember you as the guy who busted his ass to make it to the top. Regardless of whatever the investigation into this reveals you’re a legend in my book. It’s just so tragic. And confusing. RIP Chris Benoit.
I think everyone needs to give this some time to sink in and for the facts to be released before we all jump to conclusions. I for one will bite my tongue about Benoit until autopsy reports come in on all three. Whatever the case god
I said this on another blog. I’ll say it here too.
Its sad hearing that Finger Eleven song during his trubute video, “If I traded it all for one thing…”
Benoit did. He traded the admiration from the fans and respect from his peers for one thing. I realize his life was probably crashing down around him, but everything he worked for is now gone.
When we try to watch a Chris Benoit, this is what we’ll think of. I’ll bet WWE tries to write him out as much as possible. How can he even be inducted into their Hall of Fame now?=
Your words about Chris’ (alleged, but who’s kidding now?) suicide are very true, Scott. It reminds me of what Christopher Hitchens says in his book “god is not great”:
“if I was suspected of raping a child, or torturing a child, or infecting a child with venereal disease, or selling a child into sexual or any other kind of slavery, I might consider committing suicide whether I was guilty or not. If I had actually committed the offense, I would welcome death in any form that it might take.” (page 52)
He thinks that this is the best course of action for a person who is genuinely moved by what he did and does not wish to live the life of a person who is guilty of his crime. Hitchens is an atheist (as am I and I share his view) and this opinion is obviously affected by our shared belief that there is no afterlife, no eternal punishment or reward. I don’t think Benoit was a bad guy, and ultimately I think some detail will reveal something that will silence those who would callously issue blanket condemnations of Benoit’s character. And why, Scott, would anyone want to accuse Nancy Benoit of being married to a cold-blooded murderer for so long and apparently not knowing it? Why would anyone want to accuse all of Benoit’s friends of spending so much intimate time with him on the road and even at home, and not knowing he was a psychopath? It just doesn’t add up. Murder isn’t excusable even under the cloud of insanity, but it is forgivable. In Benoit’s case I think insanity makes more sense, given the years of good reputation he developed. He lost his marbles at some point and there was nothing anyone could do about it, not even Nancy and Daniel. And being the good guy he actually is under the cloud, he killed himself honorably. If that’s all Benoit’s fans have as the grisly details come out, at least it’s better than a murder trial, or nothing at all.
I wonder if we’ll ever hear/read comments from others like his parents, The Dynamite Kid, Bret Hart, or anything further from Chavo or Dean?
I had invited Scott to be on my show a few weeks ago. We were hoping to have just a fun conversation about the current state of wrestling. Now, we have to talk about the death of Chris Benoit. I am not really looking forward to it as much anymore…
The actual site is http://www.WrestlingRN.com
I’ve written a long article about the times I was lucky enough to meet Chris Benoit. The article, as well as some fun pictures, is also posted at http://www.wrestlingrn.com. Just scroll past the show links.
I hope everyone will join us Wednesday night as we welcome Scott to our show and discuss the tragedy and the legacy of Chris Benoit
Hi,
I´m from Austria and a Wrestling Fan for over 19 Years. I´m devastated by the Circumstances and the Death of Chris. But before you judge him, let´s face it. We all never know one second from Chris Benoit, the Private guy. We all just knew Chris Benoit, the Wrestler. So lets seperate the private from the Working man.
And youre right you can absolutly praise Chris for being one of the greatest Sportsman and Entertainer in this industry. Whenever it was on PPV or on a House Show (in April i watched him in Vienna) he always gave his best. Never put on the big Mouthshow, just putting on the best in Wrestling every day. Fans and People feel, when a guy steps into the ropes and gave
100% every night. He worked his way up to the top, and people
knew it.
So Chris, thank you for the great Wrestling Moments we could share with you. You entertaint me each and every moment and i hope there´s great tag team matches with owen,Eddie, Curt & Co up there. For the rest let god judge.RIP
N0 one is trying to suggest that Vince killed Benoit or that the angle of Mr. McMahon’s murder was karma or a curse, but there is someting that has to be done to an industry where people are dying on a consistent basis before they turn 50.
I had this discussion with a friend last night. There isn’t anything that can be done about the fact that the industry chews people up and spits them out. It is the same as the music industry, or any other entertainment industry where the performers spend half the year on the road. It isn’t a healthy lifestyle, lots of time out late, drinking, partying, or even just hanging out will take its toll on a body and if one isn’t careful on ones mind as well. If anyone came to “regulate” the wrestling industry, then they would have to have the same rules for the music industry, which has destroyed as many, if not more lives before people turn 30.
Like someone said earlier, name me the industry, and you can probably find a list of people who have had the same thing happen. The only difference is the fact that Benoit lived a life in the public eye, while Dr. Joe Blow down the street who has a vicodin habit, and drinks a bottle of Jack Daniels a day doesn’t get media attention because the world is so obsessed with celebrities and more so the downfall of a celebrity, which is why OJ and Robert Blake, and Phil Spector get so much press…
Once again, Im all over the place, but I just don’t think that you can blame this one on wrestling. Chris Benoit was a murderer (allegedly) and he just happened to be a wrestler.
I see your point, but the music industry doesn’t have the death total like pro wrestling has had over the past few years. Crash Holly, Eddie Guerrero, Rude, Hennig, Hawk, Rick Rude, etc.
I wish I’d known the details before I left work last night. Now I have to wait until after six to throw my Benoit stuff away.
well, it’s not like all the details are confirmed *now*, so you should probalby hold off on that.
Why throw them away? Regardless of what he did(n’t) do, he was still unparalelled in the ring, and his matches against Jushin Liger, Kurt Angle, and Eddie Guerrero are still *****, ****3/4, and ****, respectively.
Generally, its not that hard to tell if committed murder suicide. Unless someone is putting forth the theory that somebody killed his wife and kid and then he came home and saw it and killed himself, these things are usually pretty cut and dry. And I just don’t think I’d get a lot of enjoyment out of watching a guy that killed his 7yo son. Clearly I’m the one with the problem.
Congratulations, Detective John Sorrow. I’m glad you were able to crack the case using only a couple of vague internet reports.
Sigh. Yeah you’re right. I’m sure it will turn out that some escaped mental patient broke into his house, killed his wife, waited a day, killed his son, held him hostage the whole time forcing him to call and cancel his booking on Sunday and then forced him to kill himself on Monday. Or perhaps the police are intentionally releasing false information to lull the real killers into a false sense of security! Those two scenarios are much more likely. I stand corrected.
What if his wife killed the kid, and then he killed her and killed himself? The District Attorney said the details would be bizarre, which suggests it might be a little more cut and dry than you think.
Or maybe you’re right. But don’t you think it might be a good idea to save the moral outrage until you for sure know the truth?
I’m not sure how its my moral outrage to throw out my stuff. I don’t want it. If you want to keep yours, feel free. I made a decision to get rid of mine. I guess I probably should have put it up for a bunch of strangers to debate what I should do with my property.
Man, tone down the harshness seriously. Nobody’s going out of their way to get on your case, quit going out of yours to be so sarcastic. Leave it be.
I said I was getting rid of my stuff. People start arguing with me that I shouldn’t. As though their opinion is supposed to matter.
Come on buddy. I don’t care if you get rid of your stuff. But I am somewhat bothered by people like yourself who are already convinced things happened a certain way and are eager to make judgments.
I personally don’t keep stuff around that makes me sad. I know that having it around would make me sad. I don’t need an argument on why I should keep it. That’s what I got.
Found this over at The Wrestling Blog (originally from Ars Technica), and it both makes sense and sounds a little bizarre:
“A Cousin of a GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigations) has heard in his circle is that Chris Benoit’s wife killed their son Daniel, called Chris and told him to rush home because of an emergency which is why he missed last Sunday’s Vengeance PPV. Upon arriving home Benoit killed his wife in a rage for the death of his son and then killed himself Monday morning. His wife’s body was found in the master bedroom, strangled with the cord from an alarm clock. The son’s body was found in his room apparently suffocated with a garbage bag. Chris then wrote a suicide note explaining what had happened, apologized to his family, his other children (from a separate relationship), and his fans. He then fashioned a slip-knot noose from from rope taken from the garage and hung himself from the banister in the foyer of his suburban Atlanta home.”
Benoit’s body was found in the weight room, I heard.
Y’know, it’s ironic. Benoit, more than anyone else, was responsible for my desire to one day be a wrestler. Now, he may be the reason why I’d rather not be in this industry.
I don’t mean to be rude, but at this point I’d rather go with what is being reported on legitimate news sites instead of what is being reported to “The Wrestling Blog” by someone’s alleged cousin. Everything is speculation right now.
Oh, I understand, and agree. But it’s a lot more pleasant than saying Chris Benoit is a heartless monster, and it’s plausible, to some extent. And I don’t like everyone passing judgment without knowing the details. If it was a cut and dried case, we’d have all the details.
I have to agree with you on that one, how does the “wrestling blog” have details that no one else has? Sorry but something tells me that someones cousin would go to legit media
Not if the Georgia Bureau of Investigations tells him not to.
By the way, I didn’t post it here as fact, and as a news junkie, I’m certainly not believing anything until I see attribution from more than one person involved in the investigation. I just thought it was interesting and figured perhaps someone would have heard something similar.
after re-reading my comment, that came off a lot snarkier than I would have liked. Sorry about that.
All of this story has to connect with each other. All the questions now are: What Benoit wrote if he left a note explaining what happened? What he wrote to Chavo in text messages? There are so many questions right now. We have to wait and see.
Obviously, it’s too early to pass judgment on anyone. All I know is the DA is calling the case “bizarre,” so I’m anxiously awaiting to hear what happened.
I think a lot of the hostility on the blog today is the result of the anger stage of grief. I think I’m in the bargaining stage myself, hoping there will be some details that clears Benoit of suspicion of killing his son.
I think the WWE *really* has to look into making some changes. I know TNA has made their share of bad decisions, but one thing they have done right is give their wrestlers some stability by filming all the shows in one place at one time and allowing the wrestlers plenty of time for rest and family. In my opinion, the WWE should consider a rotating off season, where part of the roster has 4 or 5 months off at a time. They certainly have enough wrestlers under contract to allow portions of their roster to go on extended leave without running out of bodies to book shows around.
I mean, who would have thought, at the time of his release, Kurt Angle would be alive and Chris Benoit would be dead? Wow….
They schedule this wrestlers have is insane. 300 days a year putting their bodies on the line??? They should at least make a more easy schedule. Now that they have the brand, why the WWE made two house shows a day with each brand? They should make more each brand a TV taping and one house show a week. That would be a better schedule for the wrestlers so they can have a better health and spend more time with their family. Have special schedules when they visit other countries.
Here’s the thing about that. That punishes the fans. You cut down the shows, the ticket costs will be raised to make up the difference. Plus, fewer dates means that wrestling comes to your town once a year instead of three times a year. What I’ve always found to make a lot more sense is having individuals take more time off. Been on the road a year? Take a month. Take two. Everybody knows that with wrestling, being gone just makes people that more excited when you come back.
Ironically, none of that appears to have anything to do with this particular case. Benoit was gone for a year. He was gone for months in 2006. Time off doesn’t appear to be the problem.
I have a hard time equating murder and working 300 nights a year. There is no precedent in wrestling history of this occurring thus, even though these guys put their bodies through the grinder (i’m not condoning the schedule) there is no correlation.
I’m sorry if my words came out wrong. I’m not blaming a lack of time off as the culprit behind Benoit’s fate. I was thinking more in terms of the number of wrestlers who die at an early age. I’m sure some of them could have prolonged their lives with some more home time. I guess it was really more of a non-sequitur….
I understand. I read today that since 1985, 50 wrestlers under 45 have died. That is insane and more than all the major sports combined…by a landslide. These guys live with constant pain killers and steroids and the facade from the E to stop it is embarrassing.
Kurt Cobain, Shannon Hoon, Brad Nowell, Andrew Wood, Layne Stanley, these are a few of the musicians who have died under 35 since 1994, there are dozens of others, are we going to start regulating the music industry????
Given the abnormally high number of young wrestlers who died under 45, including the number of wrestlers who committed suicide, I think that it’s important to note that it is possible that there is a correlation. Wrestlers aren’t allowed to deal with physical injuries much less mental illnesses. Hawk’s drug/alcohol troubles got turned into a storyline, so did Scott Hall’s. Given a lack of sociopathic behavior from Benoit it seems likely that there was something that set off the events.
While this is unprecendented in wrestling, murder suicide events are rare among suicides. So it’s not all that implausible to assume that the parts of the wrestling industry that have led to the high number of young deaths would have played a role here as well.
I’m not saying that Benoit wasn’t responsible, but that there are complicating factors that make understanding this awful event difficult. Wrestling has historically been a very difficult profession in terms of the emotional and physical health of the wrestlers. Might some of the people who died young have still done so? Sure, but if some of those deaths could have been prevented, it’s something that requires some thought.
No other sport carries the year round schedule of the WWE and most of the mainstream sports don’t carry the physical risks of wrestling. Football teams, the most physical U.S. sport, has fewer games per year than the number of shows WWE puts in a month or two.
Is this case unique? Sure if you only look at the fact that Benoit appears to have murdered his wife and one of his children. But a wrestler committing suicide or otherwise dying young isn’t unique.
While I understand your point, I don’t think your analogy holds. Musicians are free to take as many breaks as they like or not tour altogether. Further, more home time may not curb the party lifestyle of those who party, but it would give someone in a similar situation as Kurt Angle was a chance to heal.
It doesn’t punish the fans at all cause there’s still 4 shows a week: 2 from RAW and 2 from SmackDown/ECW. I think 4 shows a week is fine with mee, 5 when there’s a PPV.
I don’t think you understand at all.
I remember once upon a time, OJ Simpson was a beloved American Icon…I feel the same towards Benoit as I feel for Simpson now if it is revealed that he killed his son. I’m hoping that somehow, someway, it’s not what it seems to be.
http://www.thestar.com/News/article/229549
The newest AP article, confirming that he was in the weight room…this is not looking good
Reading that article is starting to make me feel a bit dirty for greaving at all for Benoit…I feel sorry for his young son.
I don