Chris Benoit Continued...

[thatsmystapler]

The last Benoit thread got closed and I don't think it should have. Things did indeed get heated between two certain individuals. One feels strongly that an alleged murderer was given a tribute. Another just found out a personal hero of his is dead and may be a murderer. Who wouldn't feel emotional there? The two individuals should have been privately messaged rather than closing a thread on an ongoing story. Because of this, I started this new thread. Hopefully it won't get closed, as I do think this is a hot topic and one worthy of discussion.

As for the points addressed in the other thread, WWE has to act on the facts and not theories for the time being. Since no autopsy is being done until today, there are no hard certain facts other than a wrestler is dead. While I agree that a murderer doesn't deserve a tribute, I also agree that the WWE has to proceed as they would with any other death in the company until they know otherwise.

Other points of the story came across in the most recent Yahoo news article that said that the WWE actually sent the authorities to check on Benoit based on weird text messages, he had sent friends on Monday morning. This seems to cast doubt on the idea of carbon monoxide poisoning or even his wife doing it.

Given the speculative theory that his wife died first, it could very well have been a crime of passion. That could drive a person, no matter how good they are, to do things that no one would ever see them doing. And once that line is crossed, no doubt your mental state is thrown for a loop. The guilt becomes overwhelming. And that it why most take their life as a follow-up. As for his son, that is the most tragic of all. Maybe he didn't want him to know what he had done. But from the sounds this went on all weekend long. So I doubt it was strictly(if at all) an alcohol/drug/steroid induced incident.

[Jade]

Does anyone else think that it's fake? Wouldn't be the first time the WWE tried to stage something like this....

-Jade

[WingedAvenger]

No it's not fake. Storyline deaths (like the all too recent "death" of Mr. McMahon) are not reported by the mainstream media, because everyone knows it just part of the show. Chris Benoit's death, and the death of his family, is sadly for real.

[thatsmystapler]

Mr. McMahon's death was actually reported by the mainstream media. But only as an entertainment story.

This is very real and by no means kayfabe.(a wrestling storyline)

[Bitter Babe]

Does anyone else think that it's fake? Wouldn't be the first time the WWE tried to stage something like this....

-Jade

Not fake, thats one thing they don't mess around with often (except this time with the Vince storyline). I heard once Sherry died they were debating whether to go on with it or not.

[MajorMarvel]

Autopsy results are in at 3PM Est....
Nothing worse then learning to hate sombody you love, if he did do it anyway.

[Bitter Babe]

Ugh how awful, just read on foxnews.com that the cops have said he strangled his wife, smothered his son and then hung himself :(

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286737,00.html

[Grae Knight]

Ugh how awful, just read on foxnews.com that the cops have said he strangled his wife, smothered his son and then hung himself :(

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286737,00.html

Wow. **** WWE. Stuff like this is why I stopped watching it. I was a big fan but WWE is an evil company that does not look out for their employees. They ask so much of these people but do so little for them in return. Someone should have seen this coming.

[Bitter Babe]

Yeah they said something about possible roid rage. When are they going to clean that company up? Too many wrestlers have died of drugs, etc. These people work their butts off and don't get the proper treatment or help they truly deserve.

[MajorMarvel]

*Sighs* Than I guess he did do it... Damnit... Why oh why couldnt it have been CO Poisoning instead

[Bitter Babe]

Unfortunately CO poisoning probably wasn't really plausible. Only 200 deaths a year occur from it so it's rather rare. It's too bad that there wasn't anyone he could talk to about whatever was going on with him :(

[MajorMarvel]

Yeah they said something about possible roid rage. When are they going to clean that company up? Too many wrestlers have died of drugs, etc. These people work their butts off and don't get the proper treatment or help they truly deserve.

Uhhh. it is a clean company. they have wellness programs. They fire you if you have drug issues. They havent had real drug problems since the mid 90s and the only wrestler deaths of active wrestlers in the WWE other than Benoit were Eddie Gurrerro and Owen Hart. Eddie had a history yes, but has been clean since 2002. Owen fell to his death. (I am not counting Brian Pillman cause that was before they cleaned up.) The only other wrestlers who have died within the past decade have either been from old age (Freddie Blassie) or Werent with the company anymore and died of Drugs (Ms Elizabeth, Mr Perfect, Sherri Martel). The company is clean.

[razoras]

About as plausible as a double-murder suicide. :p

To lighten the mood I was originally coming here to make more jokes about Benoit doing flying heatbutts and stuff but it looks like that kind of black humor is a little too black for some parts of the Guru crowd.

Sad to see how this happened. WWE is already making heavy changes to the website and sales sections with regards to the murder suicide revelation. Rewording DVD descriptions to remove mentions of Benoit, as well as cutting out a huge section of gallery images that they added to Benoit's page at WWE.com

[Bitter Babe]

I honestly don't believe its as clean as they claim it to be but since neither of us work there we have no idea. Owen was a tragic accident we all know that. I just think there has to be more that they can do to help them with their addictions, etc, even after they leave the company.

Yeah you are right Raz, murder suicide is also rare and you want to wish it was something else.

[MajorMarvel]

I'm done Mourning. benoit was a great performer but he failed to prove he was a great man.

[TheImperial]

benoit was a great performer but he failed to prove he was a great man.

Well said. This whole affair is still so tragic, though.

(On a wholly unrelated note, what's up the the WWII background on the WWE homepage?)

(PS: Maybe this will be the time for Goldberg to make a comeback.)

[Bitter Babe]

The background is for a game on the Xbox, says it up top :)

[TheImperial]

oooooohh

[razoras]

Link to Article (http://www.tmz.com/2007/06/26/benoits-history-of-domestic-violence-exposed)

Before her grisly death, Chris Benoit's wife once told a judge that she was, "intimidated by threats of violence" from her 220 lb. husband.

In divorce papers filed in 2003, Nancy Benoit included a petition for protection from domestic abuse against Chris. In the papers, Nancy claimed that Benoit, "lost his temper and threatened to strike the petitioner and cause extensive damage to the home and personal belongings of the parties, including furniture." Nancy added that she was, "in reasonable fear for petitioner's own safety and that of the minor child."

Three months later, Nancy filed to have the divorce papers and the restraining order dismissed. A short time later, a judge granted her wish.

As TMZ first reported, law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe Benoit strangled his wife on Saturday, smothered his son on Sunday and then hanged himself on Monday.

[Bitter Babe]

http://www.tmz.com/2007/06/26/cops-confirm-benoit-killing-spree/

Officials have confirmed the horrifying details in the deaths of wrestling superstar Chris Benoit and his family.

In a statement by a member of the Fayetteville Sheriff's Department, "Mr, Benoit had sometime, possibly Friday, murdered his wife by asphyxiation. Sometime shortly after that, the same for his son Daniel and sometime later ... committed suicide by hanging himself in the basement area."

According to officials, Nancy was bound at the wrists and feet, with a towel wrapped around her body, and blood was found underneath her head. A Bible was also reportedly found near each one of the bodies.

Police have also confirmed that prescription drugs and steroids were found in the house.

Benoit was found hanging in a weight room in his house. Cops say that he used a cord from one of his workout machines as a makeshift noose. Authorities also believe that Benoit died on Saturday.

Story developing ...

[MajorMarvel]

only problem with that report. if Benoit died saturday, how did he text friends on sunday

[Bitter Babe]

Yeah that makes no sense, they obviously have a lot to work on. I read something earlier that said he killed his wife Saturday and him and his son watched the PPV Sunday night.

Tried to listen to the news conference but I have two attorneys both on the same conference call and on speaker right near each other so that went out the window.

[WingedAvenger]

never mind....

[Jade_Dragon]

With all this talk about steroid abuse, and the WWE being reckless about their treatment of it (at the least) I feel really bad about Loopy Loup Garou's backstory.

Just a really sad situation...

[thatsmystapler]

The WWE can't really be blamed for this, be it steroid-related or not. The wrestlers make their own decisions. And WWE has been taking great steps lately to look after the health of their wrestlers. They even removed Kurt Angle from the roster because they were afraid he was going to permanently hurt himself and he left the company to go to TNA because he didn't want to stop wrestling. You can read on their site all the time about them suspending wrestlers for steroid use. They are taking the steps, but ultimately it comes down to the wrestlers themselves.

[thatsmystapler]

Here are some of the most recent articles by WWE regarding the issue.

This one is the timeline of events:

"On Saturday, June 23, Chris Benoit was slated to appear at a WWE live event in Beaumont, Texas. That afternoon, Benoit contacted WWE to inform them that his wife and child were ill, and that he would not be able to attend the show.

WWE executives rebooked Benoit’s flight for the following morning, allowing Benoit to miss the Beaumont event making alternate arrangements for him to attend the pay-per-view event in Houston on Sunday.

WWE employees attempted to confirm with Benoit his travel plans but were unable to contact him.

Early Sunday morning, between 3:51 and 3:58 a.m., Benoit sent five text messages to co-workers:



Text Message 1 to two co-workers (sent 6/24 at 3:53 a.m.) - Chris Benoit’s cell phone
“My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane, Fayetteville Georgia. 30215”

Text Message 2 to two co-workers (sent 6/24 at 3:53 a.m.) - Chris Benoit’s cell phone
“The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open”

Text Message 3 to two co-workers (sent 6/24 at 3:54 a.m.) - Nancy Benoit’s cell phone
“My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane.
Fayetteville Georgia. 30215”

Text Message 4 to two co-workers (sent 6/24 at 3:55 a.m.) - Nancy Benoit’s cell phone
“My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane.
Fayetteville Georgia. 30215"

Text Message 5 to one co-worker (sent 6/24 at 3:58 a.m.) - Nancy Benoit’s cell phone
“My address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215”



Throughout the day on Sunday, WWE made numerous attempts to contact Benoit both at home and at local hospitals in the Atlanta area. As of 11 p.m., WWE officials were unable to establish contact with Chris Benoit.

At 12:30 p.m. on Monday, June 25, WWE officials were notified of the text messages sent to the co-workers the previous day. By 12:45 p.m., WWE had contacted Fayette County Sheriff’s office requesting they check on the Benoit family.

Fayette County Sheriff's office made contact with WWE at approximately 4 p.m. advising that they had entered the house of Chris Benoit and found three deceased bodies – an adult male, adult female and a male child. WWE was told that Benoit’s home was now considered a major crime scene.

The decision to cancel the live event scheduled in Corpus Christi that night was made between 4 and 5 p.m. In keeping with company policy, and with limited knowledge regarding facts of the case, WWE choose to air a memorial dedicated to the career of Chris Benoit. As facts emerged surrounding the case, all tributes to Chris Benoit were removed both on-air and on WWE.com."


And this one is in regard to the talk of steroids:

"STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2007 – World Wrestling Entertainment is stunned and saddened by the details released by local authorities concerning the double homicide-suicide involving Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel.

However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that "roid rage" was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:

1. The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.

2. Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.

3. Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE's independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.

4. The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife's feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.

5. WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.

WWE is continuing to monitor the ongoing investigation being conducted by local authorities"

All the points they bring up are valid and were some of the points I mentioned earlier given the timeframes of the deaths and all.

[suburbanhell]

The WWE can't really be blamed for this, be it steroid-related or not. The wrestlers make their own decisions. And WWE has been taking great steps lately to look after the health of their wrestlers. They even removed Kurt Angle from the roster because they were afraid he was going to permanently hurt himself and he left the company to go to TNA because he didn't want to stop wrestling. You can read on their site all the time about them suspending wrestlers for steroid use. They are taking the steps, but ultimately it comes down to the wrestlers themselves.

I think they did well to remove themselves from the image of honoring Benoit at the opening for ECW's show last night:

Last night on 'Monday Night Raw,' the WWE presented a special tribute show, recognizing the career of Chris Benoit. However, now some 26 hours later, the facts of this horrific tragedy are now apparent. Therefore, other than my comments, there will be no mention of Mr. Benoit tonight. On the contrary, tonight's show will be dedicated to everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident. This evening marks the first step of the healing process. Tonight, the WWE performers will do what they do better than anyone else in the world -- entertain you."

[USA_Steel]

Wow. **** WWE. Stuff like this is why I stopped watching it. I was a big fan but WWE is an evil company that does not look out for their employees. They ask so much of these people but do so little for them in return. Someone should have seen this coming.

I agree with you 100%! I too was a big fan way back in the day (Hulk Hogan will always be one of my childhood heroes). It was only a matter of time before a big tragedy, like this, happened.

[thatsmystapler]

But where is there any sign that the WWE is responsible for this tragedy? Maybe he was just one really distubed individual. What could a company possibly do to drive you to do what he did? I don't think WWE is to blame here. At least there is no sign of their culpability yet, just speculation and misdirected ire.

[USA_Steel]

4. The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife's feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.



I don't want to get into a major debate, but I will say that deliberation and rage can easily go hand and hand. I will also say that a "Bible" being present in no way can be used to indicate that it was not an act of rage. A bible being present can simply mean feelings of extreme guilt. Even the most insane of hateful killers in history have had bibles in their possession. Just my 2 cents.

[USA_Steel]

But where is there any sign that the WWE is responsible for this tragedy? Maybe he was just one really distubed individual. What could a company possibly do to drive you to do what he did? I don't think WWE is to blame here. At least there is no sign of their culpability yet, just speculation and misdirected ire.

I agree with this as well. The WWE cannot be held accountable for Benoit's actions. Ultimately, Benoit made the decision, and he is the only one that can truly be held accountable.

[thatsmystapler]

I don't want to get into a major debate, but I will say that deliberation and rage can easily go hand and hand. I will also say that a "Bible" being present in no way can be used to indicate that it was not an act of rage. A bible being present can simply mean feelings of extreme guilt. Even the most insane of hateful killers in history have had bibles in their possession. Just my 2 cents.

Yes, but you have to look at the whole scene. The fact that it took place over a couple of days and involved methodical ways of execution point away from rage. Rage is an impulsive reaction and does not last for the duration that these crimes did. Also add in the fact of the text messages and that he took the time to lock the dogs up and let people know his address and all seems to indicate that he wasn't "raging" at the time.

[Grae Knight]

Yes, but you have to look at the whole scene. The fact that it took place over a couple of days and involved methodical ways of execution point away from rage. Rage is an impulsive reaction and does not last for the duration that these crimes did. Also add in the fact of the text messages and that he took the time to lock the dogs up and let people know his address and all seems to indicate that he wasn't "raging" at the time.

Have to agree with Stapler. This may have been impulse in that he did not plan it for days but he knew what he was doing. He may have been "blinded by Rage" when he killed his wife and then after doing so saw no way to reverse it and killed his son to save him the grief and then off himself.

Not to get into past cases but it has been seen before.

[Kilotonnage]

Not everyone agrees that the WWE and other wrestling organizations are not to blame for the tragic deaths that result from steroid use/abuse of their performers.

Here is an article from Fox Sports news about the fact that Benoit's tragedy is not the only one:

"Vince McMahon wants you to think about the stars of today and tomorrow, not the cemetery of steroid-fueled bodies his "sport" has helped put in the ground. But on the grim occasion of the deaths of Nancy and Daniel and Chris Benoit, let's remember some of the other pro wrestlers who died before their time.
• Ravishing Rick Rude — Died at 40 of an apparent heart attack in 1999, a bottle of prescription pills for his bad back at his side. The autopsy report said he died of "mixed medications." Rude was an admitted user of anabolic steroids.
• Louis Mucciolo, a.k.a, Louie Spicolli — Died in 1998 at age 27 when he suffocated on his own vomit after ingesting massive amounts of Soma and alcohol. Investigators also found an empty vial of testosterone, pain pills and an anti-anxiety drug at the scene.
• Brian Pillman — An admitted user of steroids, he died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1997 on the morning of WWF's In Your House: Badd Blood pay-per-view event.
• Rick "the Renegade" Williams — Died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 33 after being released from his World Championship Wrestling contract in 1999.
• "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig — Found dead of a cocaine overdose at age 44 in his motel room on April 10, 2003, the morning of a match. Hennig's father maintained that steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.
• Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoa'i — Died of a heart attack in 2002 at 34.
• Davey Boy Smith, "The British Bulldog" — Died of a heart attack at age 39 on May 17, 2002. An autopsy report indicated that past steroid use had likely played a part in his death.
• Michael "Road Warrior Hawk" Hegstrand — An admitted steroid user, he died of a heart attack at age 46 in 2003.
• Michael Lockwood, "Crash Holly" — In 2003, at the age of 32, he choked to death on his own vomit after ingesting 90 painkiller pills.
• Jerry Tuite, "The Wall" a.k.a. "Malice" — Died at age 36 in 2003 of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room.
• Raymond "Hercules" Hernandez — Dead of heart failure in 2004 at age 47.
• Ray "The Big Boss Man" Traylor — Found dead of a heart attack in 2004 at age 42.
• Eddie Guerrero — After a long battle with painkillers, he was found dead of a heart attack by his nephew in his hotel room at age 38. The first person his nephew reportedly called was Guerrero's best friend, Chris Benoit.
• Chris Candido — Died in 2005 at age 33 from a blood clot after breaking his tibia and fibula and dislocating his ankle in a pay-per-view event.
• Owen Hart — Fell to his death at age 34 in 1999 when the rigging that was lowering him into the ring malfunctioned.
And then there's the story of the Von Erich wrestling family.
Wrestling patriarch Fritz Von Erich, nee Jack Adkisson, had five wrestling sons: Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris.
David died in a hotel room in Tokyo at the age of 25 in 1984 just as he was embarking on a three-week pro wrestling tour of Japan. The official cause of death was acute enteritis, severe inflammation of the intestines.
Three years later, Mike committed suicide by overdosing on the tranquilizer Placidyl at the age of 23. After David's death, Mike had suffered a series of setbacks including a serious shoulder injury that had left him severely depressed.
Devastated by the deaths of his older brothers and frustrated by his own limitations as a wrestler, the youngest and smallest brother, Chris, shot himself to death at the age of 21 in 1991.
Two years later, Kerry, who had battled a long addiction to painkillers, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 33, leaving eldest brother Kevin as the only survivor of the sport that had defined his family.
And now Chris Benoit, his wife and son have been added to the long, unbearably sad list of victims claimed, in part, by the brutal chemical calculus that is professional wrestling.
There is no arguing that the physical capabilities of these massive men can provide awesome theater. When Hulk Hogan lifted the 500-pound Andre the Giant and dropped him to the canvas, it was legitimately hugely thrilling.
But keep in mind there is a price these impossibly engorged specimens are paying for your entertainment.
And the price for many of them is their very lives."

Well written and a reminder that something needs to be done before something like this happens again.

[Dynamo-Man]

I agree with this as well. The WWE cannot be held accountable for Benoit's actions. Ultimately, Benoit made the decision, and he is the only one that can truly be held accountable.
And yet you maintain that WWE is evil... O_o

Ironic that you idolize Hulk Hogan. Try reading Jesse Ventura's book. It's pretty enlightening as to where the true "evil" lay back in those days.

But regardless, WWE is not an evil corpration. They are a business. Do people stop watching football when an NFL star commits a crime? This act, while tragic and deplorable is not a reflection of WWE, and in all honesty, is not a reflection of Benoit as a person. Chris Benoit was a great entertainer, and had a long career and a huge fan base. You don't get that kind of longevity while being a complete psycho. So, what happened? I figure something in him snapped. Wrestling is like any other sport, with the added stresses of constant travel, and having to be a persona in front of the camera and crowd, often times very different then your own. This was probably a crime of passion. And yes, the bible, and his own suicide were the results of his own guilt over what he had done. He wasn't an evil man. He was a good man who did an evil thing.

Anyways, I'm sure we will all have our own opinions on this. And some of you will maintain your higher stance. And that's fine. Just accept the fact that others will disagree.

[Grae Knight]

And yet you maintain that WWE is evil... O_o

Ironic that you idolize Hulk Hogan. Try reading Jesse Ventura's book. It's pretty enlightening as to where the true "evil" lay back in those days.

But regardless, WWE is not an evil corpration. They are a business. Do people stop watching football when an NFL star commits a crime? This act, while tragic and deplorable is not a reflection of WWE, and in all honesty, is not a reflection of Benoit as a person. Chris Benoit was a great entertainer, and had a long career and a huge fan base. You don't get that kind of longevity while being a complete psycho. So, what happened? I figure something in him snapped. Wrestling is like any other sport, with the added stresses of constant travel, and having to be a persona in front of the camera and crowd, often times very different then your own. This was probably a crime of passion. And yes, the bible, and his own suicide were the results of his own guilt over what he had done. He wasn't an evil man. He was a good man who did an evil thing.

Anyways, I'm sure we will all have our own opinions on this. And some of you will maintain your higher stance. And that's fine. Just accept the fact that others will disagree.

I say they are an evil corporation. That long laundry list of deaths Kilo listed is a good indicator that more needs to be done. Hell the US Congress has taken over the investigation of steroid use in Professional Baseball. Maybe it is time for Congress to intervene here as well. Other sports have their problems as well but the difference is they have governing agencies that oversee them. WWE polices themselves since it is Sport Entertainment as opposed to competitive sports.

[thatsmystapler]

I can point out AT LEAST one fallacy in that list of dead wrestlers with Yokozuna. He was extremely over-weight. The WWE(then WWF) even told him to lose weight and eventually cut him as a result of it. They did the same thing with Rikishi. So a giant sumo wrestler dying of a heart attack is not something you can blame on the WWE.

[Krypto]

Ravishing Rick Rude — Died at 40 of an apparent heart attack in 1999
Brian Pillman — An admitted user of steroids, he died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1997
Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoa'i — Died of a heart attack in 2002 at 34
Davey Boy Smith, "The British Bulldog" — Died of a heart attack at age 39 on May 17, 2002
Michael "Road Warrior Hawk" Hegstrand — An admitted steroid user, he died of a heart attack at age 46 in 2003
Jerry Tuite, "The Wall" a.k.a. "Malice" — Died at age 36 in 2003 of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room
Raymond "Hercules" Hernandez — Dead of heart failure in 2004 at age 47
Ray "The Big Boss Man" Traylor — Found dead of a heart attack in 2004 at age 42
Eddie Guerrero — After a long battle with painkillers, he was found dead of a heart attack


Heh, reminds me of Death Note.

[Bitter Babe]

But regardless, WWE is not an evil corpration. They are a business. Do people stop watching football when an NFL star commits a crime? This act, while tragic and deplorable is not a reflection of WWE, and in all honesty, is not a reflection of Benoit as a person. Chris Benoit was a great entertainer, and had a long career and a huge fan base. You don't get that kind of longevity while being a complete psycho. So, what happened? I figure something in him snapped. Wrestling is like any other sport, with the added stresses of constant travel, and having to be a persona in front of the camera and crowd, often times very different then your own. This was probably a crime of passion. And yes, the bible, and his own suicide were the results of his own guilt over what he had done. He wasn't an evil man. He was a good man who did an evil thing.

Anyways, I'm sure we will all have our own opinions on this. And some of you will maintain your higher stance. And that's fine. Just accept the fact that others will disagree.

I respectfully disagree :)

Reports now have come out about his temper and how his wife was very afraid of him when she filed for divorce back in 2003. Having a long career and being a great entertainer does not make him a good man, just a good actor.

[Kilotonnage]

I can point out AT LEAST one fallacy in that list of dead wrestlers with Yokozuna. He was extremely over-weight. The WWE(then WWF) even told him to lose weight and eventually cut him as a result of it. They did the same thing with Rikishi. So a giant sumo wrestler dying of a heart attack is not something you can blame on the WWE.

Add Sherri "Sensational/Scary" Martel to the list dead at age 49, cause to be determined.

Other wrestlers, like "Superstar" Billy Graham, have come out about the rampant steroid abuse in pro-wrestling. It cost him his hip. Graham required a hip replacement, the result of steroids deteriorating his body.

[Bitter Babe]

I'm sure they feel they have to be big to compete. The lightweight division in the WWE is not something that is really pushed but if you look at a company like TNA many of the smaller guys are able to showcase their talent.

[USA_Steel]

Have to agree with Stapler. This may have been impulse in that he did not plan it for days but he knew what he was doing. He may have been "blinded by Rage" when he killed his wife and then after doing so saw no way to reverse it and killed his son to save him the grief and then off himself.

Not to get into past cases but it has been seen before.

I guess that is kinda what I meant to say. Really, we don't even know all of the facts about this yet, IMO. He may not have even intended to kill her and then something she said or his son said might have set him off. Who really knows what happened. Either way, he did it, and it is just a terrible thing. It saddens me when this type of stuff happens...:(

[MajorMarvel]

I'm going to burn an old action figure of him. Should I use Bonfire or Blowtorch.

[Charon]

I'm going to burn an old action figure of him. Should I use Bonfire or Blowtorch.
Microwave. Although you might need to buy a new one afterwards.

Before I get jumped on for joining in with terrible black humor... I'm saddened by this, if only because when I watched Chris Benoit a couple of years ago he was at the height of his career and was a favorite of my brother and I. My brother still tries to put me in the crippler crossface to this day, much to my annoyance and dismay, as he's 23 and should have stopped that crap by now. :lol:

What can you say, though? Whatever Benoit's motives, and whether it was a pre-meditated attack or whether he originally killed his wife in rage, he was a brilliant wrestler and a great entertainer. Clearly, he had his downfalls as a man, and apparently downfalls in his sanity, and undeniably he was a murderer... But you can't deny that when it was good, and he was performing flying headbutts from the top rope and putting people in one of the most devestating submission moves in the world... It was fun to watch. :(

[suburbanhell]

I'm going to burn an old action figure of him. Should I use Bonfire or Blowtorch.

Thermite.

[MikeKAY]

I'm going to burn an old action figure of him. Should I use Bonfire or Blowtorch.

I would suggest first hanging him, then lighting a fire under his feet so that he burns slowly... What?

[Grae Knight]

I'm going to burn an old action figure of him. Should I use Bonfire or Blowtorch.

Dude, if he is or was such a big idol/hero of yours you should try to just remember him as the entertainer and great technical wrestler he was and not the killer and psychopath he became.

[Malibu Sally]

Dude, if he is or was such a big idol/hero of yours you should try to just remember him as the entertainer and great technical wrestler he was and not the killer and psychopath he became.
So.... does that mean I can enjoy watching "Capricorn One", "The Cassandra Crossing", and "The Naked Gun" again? :P

[TheImperial]

I would suggest first hanging him, then lighting a fire under his feet so that he burns slowly... What?

Ooooooooooh nooooooooooooo.

Yeeeeeessss.

[WingedAvenger]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2919341

[Bitter Babe]

Yeah something doesn't seem right with that, especially since it was does in Stamford.

[Nerfed]

So.... does that mean I can enjoy watching "Capricorn One", "The Cassandra Crossing", and "The Naked Gun" again? :P
Definitely not, they're all tainted.


As was WWE's 3 hour tribute glorifying a murderer.

[RedSwitchblade]

Definitely not, they're all tainted.


As was WWE's 3 hour tribute glorifying a murderer.

Oh, cut them a break, seriously. If you found out your friend was dead and that's all you knew, would you do something nice for him? Nobody would judge you if the facts came out later. I think this is an innocent mistake. WWE may not be morally or ethically in check sometimes, but I think this is a reach to take a stab at them over it.

[WingedAvenger]

Definitely not, they're all tainted.


As was WWE's 3 hour tribute glorifying a murderer.

Seriously Nerfed, this was already addressed in the other (locked) thread:
The information about this has been released very very slowly. No one knew abouthing definitive about the incident until after the show had already begun to air live. They had to fill a three hour timeslot, and nobody knew anything other than their friend and coworker had just died.

Every other major death of someone on the active roster had received similar treatment, they went with what they knew with very little time to do it.

[The Icy One]

I completely missed all this while in North Carolina and am now just hearing about it.. it's alot to take in at once, considering he was one of my favorite wrestlers.