The shocking news was reported this afternoon that pro wrestler Chris Benoit has died at the age of 40. Benoit was found in his Atlanta-area home, along with his wife (one-time WCW valet Nancy "Woman" Sullivan) and their young son. Police are still investigating the cause of death for all three; they have not ruled out homicide, but have said the deaths were not caused by gunshot wounds.
Benoit, a native of Canada, started in the Calgary-based Stampede territory, and later competed in ECW, WCW, and finally WWE. He was always popular among fans who favored the more technical, "workrate"-oriented, non-Hulk Hogan-like style of wrestling, a group that became much larger with the advent of the Internet. By 2005, he and fellow fan favorite Eddie Guerrero (also now deceased) won the two world titles at Wrestlemania.
When I first heard about Benoit's death, I wasn't sure it was legit, since the WWE recently did that ill-advised bit in which Vince McMahon "died" in a car explosion. But several newspapers and Georgia police have confirmed it. And indeed, tonight's episode of "Raw," which was supposed to be a "memorial service" for McMahon, is instead airing several old Benoit matches.
As you may have noticed, there have been a whole lot of wrestling deaths in recent years. But Benoit may be the saddest and most shocking of all. He will be greatly missed.
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 25, 2007 09:51 PMYeah...this was the first news I woke up to today. There's a 3 hour Raw Tribute to him going on now.
Benoit was my favorite wrestler, I got to meet him in person and he was so classy. Really appreciated what I had to say to him and he was so respectful of his fans.
This is just surreal. For this to happen to him, his wife, and one of his kids. This is a tragedy. RIP Chris Benoit.
Posted by: NYJordan at June 25, 2007 09:57 PMThis one was a blow.
If I had to name a favorite wrestler going today, I'd probably have said Benoit.
I was like you. A little dubious, especially given the Dead Vince angle.
This really sucks.
STill, on the upside, it was the best three hours of wrestling Raw's ever shown.
Posted by: Tommy at June 25, 2007 11:32 PMSteve, if I was a newly married, smart, 28 year old professional journalist with an understanding of the wrestling world, I would be circulating a proposal to publishers right now for the "All the President's Men" of the McMahon family criminal empire (a/k/a the WWE).
It was one thing for wrestlers to go around killing themselves. But Benoit taking his family with him might provide a whole new level of scrutiny of the fact that ex-WWE "stars" have a fatality rate second only to suicide bombers.
SOMEBODY is going to tell the story one day, get a Pulitzer, and provide the basis for Vince going to jail for a long time.
Why not you?
Posted by: Benedict at June 26, 2007 07:44 AMGood idea Benedict. BLOGGER, this would make a great book idea...also you may want to edit your comments of he will be missed...no one should miss a murderer.
Posted by: A at June 26, 2007 03:34 PM