I am in absolute shock. According to several news reports, Chris Benoit was found dead in his Fayetteville home yesterday. To make matters worse, both his wife (known to wrestling fans as “Woman” or “Fallen Angel”) and seven-year-old son were also found dead with all three people in separate rooms. And then there’s more. The real shocker is that police investigators — specifically Detective Bo Turner — believe that this may have been a double murder-suicide with the former pro wrestler being the aggressor. I have a really hard time believing that, especially since I’ve been watching this guy wrestle for fifteen years. That’s more than half of my life!
For those of you who don’t know, Chris Benoit is a Canadian professional wrestler who trained under Stu Hart in the legendary “Dungeon.” It was in this same environment that other great wrestlers like Bret “Hitman” Hart, Owen Hart, and Chris Jericho learned the tools of the trade. Chris idolized the Dynamite Kid — one half of the British Bulldogs, along with Davey Boy Smith — growing up and largely emulated his style. Benoit was known for a particularly technical yet vicious approach to professional wrestling: his trademark moves included severe chops to the chest, a diving suicidal headbutt from the top rope, multiple German suplexes strung together, and a submission move that was deemed “the Crippler Crossface.” He always had a huge passion for the sport/industry, whether he was at ECW, WCW, or WWF/WWE.
I particularly enjoyed his days in the WCW when he was a member of the Four Horsemen, wrestling alongside legends like Ric Flair. Sometimes called “the rabid wolverine”, Chris Benoit was also a blast to watch because he clearly demonstrated plenty of energy, determination, and an incredible level of skill. Don’t scoff at the “sport” of professional wrestling, folks. The eventual winner is pre-determined, but many of the shots these athletes take are absolutely real. The blood is always real. The bruises, broken bones, and dislocated joints are not fiction. And sadly, Chris Benoit’s possible murder-suicide is not made up.
Granted, I don’t watch professional wrestling nearly as much as I did growing up, so I haven’t exactly been following Benoit’s career as of late. It’s hard to say what could have driven him to do this, if he indeed did do this. Maybe it was professional frustration. Maybe it was personal issues. I can’t say and I don’t want to say. Because I don’t want to believe that we will never see the Canadian Crippler again. Rest in peace, Chris. You don’t have to be the rabid wolverine anymore.
R.I.P. Chris Benoit (1967-2007), Nancy Benoit (1964-2007), and Daniel Benoit (2000-2007).
UPDATE (6/26/07) from the Associated Press
Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son before hanging himself in his weight room, a law enforcement official close to the investigation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Authorities also said they are investigating whether steroids may have been a factor in the deaths of Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son. Steroid abuse has been linked to depression, paranoia, and aggressive behavior or angry outbursts known as “roid rage.”
UPDATE 7/4/07)
Here’s a weird update for you. I logged into my Google Analytics account and discovered that a good number of people who found this page didn’t search for Chris Benoit, but were rather putting Chris Benwa into the search field. I guess it’s understandable that people outside of the industry would have a hard time spelling his name, so they just write it the way it sounds: Chris Benwa. Just goes to show you what some good SEO can do, even if the keyword — Chris Benwa, in this case — isn’t in your post at all.
Yea that’s sad even though I don’t like wrestling. They think that possible steroids made him go into a rage. I’m not sure if that’s true.
hi resaling is ok but i dont think he did die of rage
This is really sad news. Back in elementary school Chris Benoit and Bret Hart were my favorite wrestlers (one of the few Canadian wrestlers).
I did admire him a lot when I was watching WWE a few years ago.. This is quite a shocker.. As was that of Eddie Guerrero sometime ago.
Chris Benoit was one of my favorite wrestlers….
He probably got so mad and burst out into anger…
I dont think Benoit would kill his family and then kill himself… Someone else probably killed them!!!
oh mi fuckin god how da hell did he die am only 10 and i loved hom
HEY’ IT FEELS SO BAD WE LUZ THE CHAMP…PRAYIN’ FOR FAMILY N FRIENDS.
Benoit was a real star…a superb game,,i always loved him no matter what…his fan forever..rest in peace ‘benwa'(swahili)
Also, in a recent update, it seems somebody updated his wikipedia page around 14 hours before his body was found saying that his wife was dead..
Another mystery I guess~!
i cant belevel that cris benoit is deid i think he was the beast wwe super star we will all mis you at speeny rip cris we will miss you
RIP chris we all loved you in our own ways
i THINK THAT CHIRS KILL HIM SELF AND HIS WIFE AND KID BECASUSE HE WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS AND ASLO THE PRECRIPATION STO MADE HIM LOSE HIS MIND BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE CHRIS WAS A GOOD WRESTLER IN THE RING AND A GOOD GUY OUT OF IT.
Are you serious ? Good men don’t kill woman and children, I don’t care ow stressful hes career was that’s in no way an excuse. If your going to kill yourself why take a innocent child with you ?? Good riddance to bad rubbish IMO
Chris Benoit BIH
Truly sad – a lot of people don’t realize how stressful professional wrestling really is ..
for me benoit is a victim “, SAME HIS FAMILY some one is begin this is my opinion
i have to say that i dont belive that he done this i got to meet him a few years back and he was just as nice as could be .he loved his family more then life itself and thing may not have all that great but who in this wourld is i know that i am not i have been married 11 year july 19th and i am only 30rd . chris was a great man and i feel deep in my heart that he did not do this that there is more to this then what is really be said and think that is sad i hope that his family get to the true one day and god bless them
man.. tha’ts a bummer that Chirs did that, i quit wtaching wrestling for a few years now, didn’t have the time…but i remember him diving off the top rope for his famous headbutt, and when he would do multiple German Suplex’s…. He was a good guy in his heart.. i don’t know why he would do this.
R.I.P. Chirs Benoit… You we’re a good man back in the day when i watched it, and you’re a good man to this very moment…
we think chris benoit was a good wrestler
and hard working man we are so sad that this
happend and we are so sad to see him gone we will
miss him so much we loved him in are own way
god bless him and rest in pice love ya
chris benoit was a good hard working man i am sorry to see him go we all loved him in are own ways and rest in pice and god bless
love ya chris
Chris Benoit was a good wwe superstar and he will be missed by everyone will miss him the wwe wont be the same with out him i hope he and this family will rest in pice.
Most people here keep saying that he was a good man. NO HE IS NOT A GOOD MAN, HE KILLED HIS WIFE AND CHILD!!!
wtf man have u ever seen him he was the best and to allmost everyone who new him he still is so go suck your dad D>>K
He was a good man you stupid SOB
i cant forget chris. coz he was really WRESTLER. specially for booker teee.. and i wil never cant forget him do u wan me more join me (naughtybila@yahoo.com)
Thats crazy about Benoit. I have watched Chris Benoit sence i was 4 or 5 with my Dad, and my mom got to see the Hart’s Home along time ago. He was One of the Greatest wreslters. We will all miss you!!!!!
I really like him as a wrestler.But any who does what he did to his family is a complete fucking loser and should be remember as a litle piss weak man.Why don’t people feel sad for his wife and kid.
The world would of being a lot better off without Chris Benoit.
Chris Benoit was a the best of the Best!!…R.I.P
that guy was one who never gave up in any match!!
Most of the other wrestlers knew he was the guy who could do some serious damage…..He could bring down people 3 times his size!..
The best thing was he never cheated or laid a cheap shot..
I absolutely don’t agree on “Associated Press” says,I don’t think Ben was a cold hearted killer!!..
We need to know the ‘TRUTH’!!!!!…..
chris benoit was a very favorites wrestler of mine for all of my life,when i have learned this murder slash suicide. my heart was very troubled to go through the news of this incident, i am a great fan of chirs benoit and eddie guerrero. I always enjoyed they way this person meade my life of interest in watching wrestling very fun to watch. I pray for his wife and son that they are in heaven and resting well. I was mad at chris benoit for a while. but in the bible I forgive this person. i also wish that he is resting well. I will always remember him. its a shame that wwe are not honoring him just as a wrestler, he in my term is one of the best in sports entertainment and same as eddie guerro. there has to be a reason that made mr. benoit go crazy, in my heart there is more to this than meats the eye. and in closing i wish everyone will gorgive him not forget, because only god can judge him. thank you!!!!!!
r.i.p chris benoit wuz a great wrestler and a great superstar!!!!!!!!!!!
One day they will find the truth out that it was someone who new the family.. What gets me is that why would he kill his family over the weekend and than stay in the house with them??? can any one answer that question.. so i dont think chris would kill his family just because of stress at in the wwe inds.
idk why chris benoit strangled his wife smutherd his son and hung his self in his own gym it possibly could of been steroids makit could e problems he had but couldnt handle
my dad is a big fan of resaling ttyl im in class
Hi Alex I hate wrestling too and I love his body…:)