Since as far back as I can remember, I loved wrestling. I would to get up on Saturday mornings and after enjoying the morning cartoon lineup, some sort of wrestling program would come on and that would just make the weekends even better. In the 20 years or so since then, I have followed professional wrestling either by engulfing myself fully into the matches and storylines in an almost soap opera fashion. I could go months without watching a Pay Per View or even a regular show and still know what is happening. It has always been one of the few things that truly made me happy.
That was until yesterday when I read about WWE wrestler Chris Benoit being found dead along with his wife and son in his suburban Atlanta, Georgia home. He was one of my favorite wrestlers of the last 15 years. A native of Canada, he wasn’t the greatest interview on a microphone but was such a skilled technician in the ring that it didn’t matter. His 22-year career is an outstanding achievement in its own right.
It’s unfortunate that all of that is lost now. Reports are coming in left and right from news sources saying that he killed his wife and son before taking his own life. While you can go to CNN or whatever news site you want and read all the horrific details, the point in writing this article is to vent my frustrations as a true wrestling fan. You can try to compare this to finding out about any well-known pro football or basketball player who despite their accomplishments on the field or court, will always be remembered for whatever tragedy of which they were a part (O.J. Simpson, I’m talking to you).
Benoit’s legacy is now forever tainted and will never be looked at the same. While I have come to the understanding that while wrestling is known as “sports entertainment”, these are still people who are, very human and go through hardships just like the rest of us. Benoit was no exception. Whether it is something in his family or something that was due to rampant steroid use, he went through something internal and instead of seeking help; he chose the path of no return. I am sincerely sad but also mad at the same time.
Article comments
1 - maggie
I agree with your statement, it is really hard to think of such a tragedy surrounding the name of Chris Benoit. I too and a wrestling fan from 25 years ago. I would have never ever believed in this lifetime that such a tragedy would occur in WWE history.
2 - Ausgirl
I am a mother and I was a Chris Benoit fan and I can easily say there is no way you would, should or could kill your own child.
How many warning signs are his friends and coworkers now seeing? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but there should be more education on depression, steroid use and domestic abuse.
3 - jerry
i am still in shock over this benoit was one of my favorites even being at auto rama just over a year ago here in mich , i think the wwe is gona lose alot of fans over this i know ive stopped watching ppv and to see that mchmanon faked his death and made people believe he was really dead , people are now questioning everything the wwe does , what does this leave us with being a fan of eddie him dieing then benoit killing his family and himself what are we left with . i think the wwe needs to look at its policys and storylines this stuff is affecting children and adult fans in real life , who is next and at what cost
4 - DOOM
WWE has turned itself upside dow, i mean its like a circus especially with mcmahon running it, i mean if someone punches you 3 times in the head how will you not bleed and people actually believe its real, and the benoit tragedy i mean all wrestlers take steroids but have they killed their family, no, so its not steroids and how they say there was weapons and other crap there thats probably just to add drama...
5 - Nate Dogg
It is a sad thing all the way around. How does anyone that spends weeks on end on the road with this guy not see that he might just be cracking up? I could be called fair-weather follower of wrestling at best, but I did always like to watch Benoits matches. Just reminds us to be mindful of those around us that we care about. Be in tune with your friends and let them know you are there for them, then when they need it, follow through. I'd venture to say that if Chris had had someone like this in his own life, this just might not have happened.
6 - wwe fanatic
It's so very sad that this has happened. Chris was one of my personal favourites.
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