Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit
Born	(1967-05-21)May 21, 1967 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died	June 24, 2007(2007-06-24) (aged 40) Fayetteville, Georgia, USA
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Chris Benoit Pegasus Kid Wild Pegasus
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Billed weight
Billed from	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Trained by	Stu Hart
Debut	November 22, 1985

Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: [bə'nwɑ]) (May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who performed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment. He was regarded as one of the best technical professional wrestlers of his time.

Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia home on June 25, 2007. Subsequent investigations confirmed that Benoit murdered his wife, then killed his son before hanging himself in the house's weight room.

World Championship Wrestling (1992–1993)

Chris Benoit first came to WCW in June 1992, teaming up with fellow Canadian wrestler Biff Wellington for the NWA World Tag Team title tournament; they were defeated by Brian Pillman and Jushin Liger in the first round. He would not return to WCW, until January 1993 at the Clash of the Champions, defeating Brad Armstrong. A month later at SuperBrawl III, he lost to 2 Cold Scorpio, getting pinned with only 3 seconds left in the 20-minute time limit. At the same time, he formed a tag team with Bobby Eaton. After he and Eaton lost to Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell at Slamboree, Benoit headed back to Japan.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994)

In 1994, Benoit signed with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). While there, he dropped the "Pegasus" gimmick, becoming "The Canadian Crippler", because of his rougher style, and an incident where he took out Rocco Rock with a powerbomb through a table. Coincidentally, after taking up this gimmick, Benoit was involved in a match with Sabu during which Sabu's neck was broken. The injury came when Benoit threw Sabu with the intention that he take a face-first "pancake" bump, but Sabu attempted to turn mid-air and take a backdrop bump instead. He did not achieve full rotation and landed almost directly on his neck.

Benoit and Dean Malenko won the ECW Tag Team Championship from Sabu and The Tazmaniac in February 1995. After winning, they were initiated into the Triple Threat stable, led by ECW World Heavyweight Champion, Shane Douglas. The team lost the titles to The Public Enemy that April at ECW's Three Way Dance.

World Championship Wrestling (1995–2000)

New Japan Pro Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling (WCW) had a working relationship, and because of their "talent exchange" program Benoit signed with WCW in late 1995/early 1996. He started out in WCW as a member of the cruiserweight division, having lengthy matches against many of his former rivals in Japan.

After impressing higher-ups, he became a member of the reformed Four Horsemen in 1995, alongside Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman. When Pillman abruptly left the company for the WWF, Benoit was placed into his ongoing feud with (booker) Kevin Sullivan. Sullivan booked a feud in which Benoit was having an affair with Sullivan's (real life) wife Nancy (also known as Woman). Benoit and Nancy were forced to spend time together to make the affair look real, (hold hands in public, share hotel rooms, etc.) As fate would have it, this on-screen relationship developed into a real-life affair off-screen. Because of this, Sullivan and Benoit had a contentious backstage relationship at best and Benoit defeated Sullivan in a Retirement match. Benoit did, however, admit having a certain amount of respect for Sullivan, saying on the DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story that Sullivan never took undue liberties in the ring during their feud, even though he blamed Benoit for breaking up his marriage.

In 1998, Benoit had a long feud with Booker T. They fought over the WCW World Television Championship until Booker lost the title to Fit Finlay. Booker won a "Best-of-Seven" series which was held between the two to determine a Number One Contender. Benoit went up 3 to 1 before Booker caught up, forcing the 7th and final match on Monday Nitro. During the match, Bret Hart interjected himself, interfering on behalf of Benoit in an attempt to get him to join the New World Order. Benoit refused to win that way and told the referee what happened, getting himself disqualified. Booker refused that victory, instead opting for an eighth match at the 1998 Great American Bash to see who would go on to fight Finlay later that night. Booker won the final match and went on to beat Finlay for the title. This feud significantly elevated both men's careers as singles competitors, and both remained at the top of the midcard afterwards.

In 1999, Benoit teamed with Dean Malenko once again and defeated Curt Hennig and Barry Windham to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship. This led to another reformation of the Four Horsemen with the tag team champions, Anderson, and Steve "Mongo" McMichael. After a falling out with the latter two, Benoit and Malenko left the Horsemen. Later in 1999, he also won the WCW United States Championship before bringing together Malenko, Perry Saturn, and Shane Douglas to form "The Revolution". The Revolution were a group of younger wrestlers who felt slighted (both kayfabe and legit) by WCW management, believing they never gave them the chance to be stars, pushing older, more established wrestlers instead. Benoit's most notable match of 1999 was with Bret Hart on WCW Nitro on October 1999, in Kansas City, Missouri, as a tribute to Owen Hart, who had recently died due to an equipment malfunction.

By January 2000, they made their last try at keeping him, putting the WCW World Heavyweight Championship on him at Souled Out. However, due to disagreements with management and to protest the promotion of Kevin Sullivan to head booker, Benoit left the company the next day alongside his friends Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn, forfeiting his title in the process.

World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment

2000–2001

Along with Guerrero, Saturn, and Malenko, Benoit debuted in the WWF as a stable that became known as The Radicalz. After losing their "tryout matches" upon entry, The Radicalz aligned themselves with WWF Champion Triple H and became a heel faction. Benoit would quickly win his first title in the WWF just over a month later at WrestleMania 2000, pinning Chris Jericho in a triple threat match to win Kurt Angle's Intercontinental Championship. Benoit then entered into a long-running feud with Jericho, who made fun of Benoit's demeanor by referring to him constantly as "Mr. Roboto" due to his cold personality. Benoit and Jericho would meet on PPV four times in nine months, exchanging the title back and forth and culminating in Jericho defeating Benoit in a ladder match at the 2001 Royal Rumble. Benoit would win the Intercontinental Title three times between April 2000 and January 2001.

It was also in this time period that Benoit wrestled in his first WWF pay per view main events, challenging The Rock for the title in July 2000 and as part of a fatal four way title match in September. Both times, Benoit appeared to have won the WWF Championship, only to have the decision reversed by then-WWF commissioner Mick Foley due to cheating on Benoit's part.

In early 2001, Benoit broke away from The Radicalz (who had recently reformed three months earlier) and turned babyface, feuding first with his former stable-mates and then with Kurt Angle, whom he wrestled at WrestleMania X-Seven. The feud continued after Benoit stole Angle's cherished Olympic Gold Medal. This culminated in a match at Judgment Day 2001 where Angle won a Two out of three falls match with the help of Edge and Christian. In response, Benoit teamed up with his former rival Jericho to defeat Edge and Christian in that night's Tag Team Turmoil match.

The next night on WWF Raw in San Jose, California, Jericho and Benoit challenged WWF Tag Team Champions Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H for their titles. Jericho and Benoit ended their reign and used the win as a springboard to challenge Austin for his world title. Benoit would get two title matches the following week, first losing via Montreal Screwjob in Calgary and then just barely losing to Austin in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton. Unfortunately, also in that time period came a four-way TLC match where Benoit suffered a neck injury that would require surgery with Dr. Lloyd Youngblood. Despite this, he worked through until the King of the Ring, where he was pinned in a triple threat match versus Austin and Jericho. Benoit would miss the next year due to his neck injury.

2002–2003

During the first WWE Draft, he was picked by Vince McMahon third to be part of the new SmackDown! roster, although still on the injured list. However, when he returned, he did so as a member of the RAW roster. On his first night back, he turned heel again and aligned himself with Eddie Guerrero, and he would feud with Steve Austin briefly. He and Eddie Guerrero were then moved to SmackDown during a storyline "open season" on wrestler contracts, with Benoit taking his newly won Intercontinental championship with him. Rob Van Dam defeated Benoit at SummerSlam 2002 and returned the title to RAW.

After returning to SmackDown! in October, he was crowned the first winner of the WWE Tag Team Championship, alongside foe and partner Kurt Angle. They both turned face again by betraying Los Guerreros. The two made an impressive combination, but could not stand each other.

Angle won his third WWE Championship from The Big Show at Armageddon 2002, and Benoit faced him for the title at the 2003 Royal Rumble. Although Benoit lost the match, he received a standing ovation for his efforts after a very outstanding match. Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, teaming with the returning Rhyno. At WrestleMania XIX, the WWE Tag Team Champions, Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, put their belts on the line against Benoit and his partner Rhyno and Los Guerreros in a triple threat tag team match. Team Angle retained when Shelton Benjamin pinned Chavo.

Benoit feuded with John Cena and the Full Blooded Italians, teaming with Rhyno occasionally. In June 2003, the WWE United States Championship was reactivated, and Benoit participated in the tournament for the belt. He beat Rhyno in the first round and then Matt Hardy in the second, before losing the final match to Eddie Guerrero at Vengeance 2003. The two feuded over the title for the next month, and Benoit's popularity ascended to an all-time high. He defeated the likes of A-Train, The Big Show, and Brock Lesnar by submission. General Manager Paul Heyman began a vendetta against Benoit along with Lesnar, preventing him from gaining a shot at Lesnar's WWE Title. When Benoit won a qualifying match for the 2004 Royal Rumble against the Full Blooded Italians in a Gauntlet Match, Heyman named him as the number one entry, but Benoit swore victory.

2004–2005

Chris Benoit, performing for the Coalition troops at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq.

On January 25, 2004 Benoit won the 2004 Royal Rumble by last eliminating Big Show, and thus earned a WWE Championship title shot at WrestleMania XX. As a result of the long-standing Royal Rumble tradition that the winner receives a shot at the world champion at WrestleMania, being on the SmackDown! brand at the time, Benoit would challenge for the WWE Championship. Benoit, however, exploited a "loophole" in the rules and challenged World Heavyweight Champion Triple H. This "loophole" clause has become standard storyline practice, with the Royal Rumble winner being free to choose which title he will challenge for. With this win, Benoit became one of only two men to enter at #1 and win the Royal Rumble (the other being Shawn Michaels at the 1995 Royal Rumble). Though the match was originally intended to be a one-on-one match, Shawn Michaels, whose Last Man Standing match against Triple H at the Royal Rumble for the World Heavyweight Championship ended in a draw, thought that he deserved to be in the main event. When it was time for Benoit to sign the contract putting himself in the main event, Michaels superkicked him and signed his name on the contract, which eventually resulted in a Triple Threat Match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H.

On March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX, Chris Benoit won the World Heavyweight Championship by forcing Triple H to tap out to his signature submission move, the Crippler Crossface. It marked the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended in submission. (It happened again at WrestleMania 22 and WrestleMania 23). After the match, an emotional Benoit celebrated his win with the then-reigning WWE Champion and best friend Eddie Guerrero. Four years after they came to WWE together, they stood in the ring at Madison Square Garden, both of them world champions. It is considered as the biggest win of Benoit's 19 year career, as he won his second official World Championship in the main event of the biggest show of the year. The match was voted the 2004 PWI Match of the Year). This was Benoit's first World Heavyweight Title reign. The rematch was held at Backlash 2004 in Benoit's hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. This match was a Triple Threat match, which also involved Triple H and Shawn Michaels. It was Michaels who ended up submitting to Benoit's Sharpshooter, allowing Benoit to retain his title, once again proving he was worthy of the main event. The next night in Calgary, he and Edge won the World Tag Team titles from Batista and Ric Flair, making Benoit a double champion.

On RAW, Benoit defeated Triple H in a one-hour Iron Man match. Benoit scored the first fall with a pinning predicament out of a Crossface attempt. Triple H then rallied to take a 3-1 fall advantage by a Pedigree pinfall, spinebuster pinfall, and a count out decision. After Benoit evened the falls up 3-3 via Sharpshooter and Crippler Crossface submissions, he got the final pin in the match's closing seconds (due to the outside interference of Eugene) to retain the title.

On August 15, 2004, Chris Benoit was defeated by Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam. This title change is notable because it is rare for a top face World Champion to ever drop the title cleanly to a heel. His reign lasted 5 months, and he gained 7 straight pay-per-view victories. Benoit then feuded with Edge, leading to Taboo Tuesday where Chris Benoit, Edge, and Shawn Michaels were all put into a poll to see who would face Triple H for the World Heavyweight title that night. Michaels received the most votes and as a result, Edge and Benoit were forced to team up to face the then tag team champions, La Résistance, in the same night. However, Edge deserted Benoit during the match and Benoit was forced to take on both members of La Résistance by himself. He still managed to win the World Tag Team titles. At Survivor Series 2004, Benoit sided with Randy Orton's team while Edge teamed with Triple H's team, and while Edge was able to pin Benoit after a Pedigree, Orton's team won. The Benoit-Edge feud ended at New Year's Revolution. The feud stopped abruptly, as Edge feuded with Shawn Michaels, and Benoit entered the Royal Rumble. The two then continued to have matches in the following weeks until the two of them, Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Kane, and Christian were placed in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21. Edge won the match by knocking Benoit off of and smashing his arm with the ladder. The feud finally culminated in a Last Man Standing Match at Backlash 2005. Edge won with a brick shot to the back of Benoit's head.

On June 9, 2005, Benoit returned to SmackDown! after being the first man selected by the SmackDown! side in the 2005 Draft Lottery, and participated in an ECW-style revolution against the SmackDown! heels. Benoit appeared at One Night Stand 2005, defeating Eddie Guerrero. At the end of the night he delivered a flying headbutt to his former WCW boss and former RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff.

On July 24 at The Great American Bash 2005, Benoit failed to win the WWE United States Championship from Orlando Jordan, but he faced him in a rematch at SummerSlam 2005. Benoit defeated Jordan in 25 seconds with the Crippler Crossface to win the title. On the next two editions of SmackDown!, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 23.4 seconds and 22.5 seconds. Two weeks later, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 49.8 seconds. Benoit then started wrestling Booker T in some friendly competitions, but it was all a ploy, as Booker and his wife, Sharmell, cheated Benoit out of the US title on an episode of SmackDown!.

Chris Benoit appeared on RAW on November 14, 2005 for Guerrero's tribute show hosted by both RAW and SmackDown! superstars. Benoit was devastated at the loss of his best friend and was very emotional during a series of video testimonials, where he said that he loved Eddie and will never forget him, eventually breaking down on camera. The same week on SmackDown! (taped on the same night as RAW), Benoit defeated Triple H in a tribute match to his fallen friend. Following the contest, Benoit, Helmsley, and Dean Malenko all assembled in the ring and pointed to the sky in salute of Guerrero.

2006–2007

After controversy surrounding a US title defense against Booker T, Theodore Long set up a "Best of Seven" series between the two. Booker T won three times in a row, due largely to his wife's interference, and Chris Benoit faced elimination in the series. Benoit won the fourth match to stay alive, but after the match, Booker suffered a legitimate groin injury, and Randy Orton was chosen as a stand-in. Benoit defeated Orton twice by disqualification. However, in the 7th and final match, Orton defeated Benoit with the help of Booker T, Sharmell, and Orlando Jordan, and Booker captured the US title. Benoit feuded with Orton for a short time, only to compete against Booker for the US title. Benoit was given one last chance at the US title at No Way Out 2006 and won it by making Booker submit to the Crippler Crossface, ending the feud. Soon after, Benoit defeated Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred match on Smackdown via Crippler Crossface.

The next week on SmackDown!, Benoit (kayfabe) broke JBL's hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst). A match was set up for the two at WrestleMania 22 for Benoit's title, and for the next several weeks, they would attack each other. When it came time for their match, JBL won the match with an illegal cradle to win the title. Benoit used his rematch clause two weeks later in a steel cage match on SmackDown!, but JBL again won with illegal tactics.

Benoit entered the 2006 King Of The Ring tournament, only to be defeated by Finlay in the opening round, after Finlay struck Benoit's neck with a chair and delivered a Celtic Cross. At Judgment Day 2006 Benoit gained some revenge by defeating Finlay with the Crippler Crossface in a grudge match. On the following edition of SmackDown!, Mark Henry attacked Benoit during a match, giving him back and rib injuries. Benoit then announced a sabbatical to heal nagging shoulder injuries. On October 8, Benoit made his return at No Mercy, defeating William Regal by submission in a surprise match. Later that week, he won his fifth United States Championship from Mr. Kennedy also by submission.

Benoit then engaged in a feud with Chavo and Vickie Guerrero. He wanted answers from the Guerreros for their rash behavior towards Rey Mysterio, but was avoided by the two and was eventually assaulted. Benoit retained his United States Championship at Survivor Series 2006 and Armageddon 2006, both times defeating Chavo Guerrero. The feud finally ended after a match with no-disqualification rules in play, which Benoit won to retain his United States title.

After defeating Guerrero, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) claimed that he was the best man to hold the US title, so he challenged Benoit for the title at WrestleMania 23, where Benoit retained. Their rivalry continued with similar results again at Backlash. At Judgment Day, however, MVP gained the upperhand and the title in a two-out-of-three falls match.

On the June 11 edition of RAW, Benoit was drafted from SmackDown! to ECW as part of the 2007 WWE Draft, after losing a match to Bobby Lashley. Benoit won his ECW debut match teaming up with CM Punk and defeating Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von by disqualfication.

On June 19, 2007, Benoit wrestled his last match, defeating Elijah Burke in a match to determine who would face CM Punk for the vacated ECW World Championship at Vengeance. Benoit missed the weekend house shows, telling WWE officials that his wife and son were vomiting blood due to food poisoning (see below). When he failed to show up for the pay-per-view, viewers were informed that he was unable to compete due to a "family emergency," and that he would be replaced in the title match by Johnny Nitro. Nitro went on to win the match and became ECW Champion.

In wrestling

Benoit performing a German suplex on MVP at WrestleMania 23.

• Finishing and signature moves
• As Chris Benoit
  • Crippler Crossface (Arm trap crossface)
  • Sharpshooter
  • Diving headbutt
  • Dragon suplex — WCW / ECW
  • Hat Trick (Rolling German suplexes)
  • Three Amigos (Combination three vertical suplexes) (as a tribute to Eddie Guerrero)
  • Bridged / Release German suplex
  • German suplex (sometimes with the opponent outside the ring)
  • Snap suplex
  • Northern lights suplex
  • Gutwrench suplex
  • High lift belly to back suplex
  • Front suplex with opponent's torso landing on the top rope
  • Superplex
  • Backhand chop
  • High speed powerbomb
  • Backbreaker
  • Superbomb — WCW / ECW
  • Enzuigiri
  • Back elbow
  • Lariat
  • Headbutt
  • Suicide dive
  • Baseball slide dropkick
• As Pegasus Kid and Wild Pegasus
  • Superbomb
  • Second rope tombstone piledriver
  • Tombstone piledriver
  • Top rope belly to back suplex
  • Top rope gutwrench suplex
  • Inverted vertical suplex
  • Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker
  • Diving leg drop
  • Elevated boston crab with knee to the back
  • Muta lock
• Nicknames
  • The Rabid Wolverine
  • The Crippler
  • The Canadian Crippler
  • The Shooter
• Managers and valets
  • Arn Anderson
  • Shane Douglas
  • Shane McMahon
  • Nancy Benoit
• Theme music
  • "Back in the Saddle" by Aerosmith (ECW)
  • "Shooter" from WWF The Music, Vol. 5 (WWE)
  • "Whatever" by Our Lady Peace, from WWF Forceable Entry (WWE)

Championships and accomplishments

• Catch Wrestling Association
  • CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Dave Taylor
• Extreme Championship Wrestling
  • ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Dean Malenko
• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Super J Cup Winner (1994)
  • 1993 Top of the Super Juniors
  • 1995 Best of the Super Juniors
• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 69 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
  • PWI Feud of the Year award in 2004 vs. Triple H
  • PWI Match of the Year award in 2004 vs. Shawn Michaels and Triple H
  • PWI Wrestler of the Year award in 2004 (won with a PWI record of 72% by voters)
  • PWI ranked him # 1 of the PWI 500 in 2004.
• Stampede Wrestling
  • Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
  • Stampede International Tag Team Championship (4 times) — with Ben Bassarab (1), Keith Hart (1), Lance Idol (1), and Biff Wellington (1)
• Universal Wrestling Association
  • WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) — with Dean Malenko (1) and Perry Saturn (1)
  • WCW World Television Championship (3 times)
• World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) — with Kurt Angle
  • WWE United States Championship (3 times)
  • WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (4 times)
  • WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (3 times) — with Chris Jericho (1) and Edge (2)
  • World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Royal Rumble (2004)
  • Twelfth Triple Crown Champion
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 1994
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 1995
  • Most Underrated Wrestler award in 1998
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2000
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 2000
  • Match of the Year award in 2002 — with Kurt Angle vs Edge and Rey Mysterio
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 2003
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)
  • Best Brawler award in 2004
  • Best Technical Wrestler award in 2004
  • Feud of the Year award in 2004 — vs Triple H and Shawn Michaels
  • Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2004

Personal life

Along with Daniel (born 2000), Benoit had two children from a previous marriage, Drake (born 1987) and Josh (born 1987), upon whom the popular Nickelodeon series is based.

In 2003, Nancy filed for divorce from Benoit, citing the marriage as "irrevocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment." She later dropped the suit, as well as the restraining order filed on her husband.

Benoit's lost tooth was usually credited to training or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It actually resulted from an accident involving his pet Rottweiler. One day, Benoit was struck with the top of the Rottweiler's head beneath his chin while play-wrestling with the dog, and his tooth "popped out."

Benoit became good friends with Eddie Guerrero following a match in Japan, when Benoit utilised a K.Y. Jelly kick and knocked him out cold. This started a friendship that lasted until Eddie's death in late 2005.

According to Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was borrowed from friend Dean Malenko and eventually caught on as Benoit's signature hold.

Double murder-suicide

Main article: Benoit family murder-suicide tragedy

Template:Wikinewspar3 On June 25 2007, Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia, home at around 2:30 p.m. EDT. The Fayette County, Georgia Sheriff's Department is currently investigating this case. Lieutenant Tommy Pope reported to ABC News that police entered Benoit's home on a "welfare check" after several missed appointments, leading to concerns. Pope also stated the police are not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at the scene of the crime.

Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told television station WAGA-TV that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide. The station reported that investigators believe that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and committed suicide sometime on Monday.

It was first reported to fans of WWE on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to their official website soon after. On their website, World Wrestling Entertainment released the following statement:

"World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities. Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy."

WWE cancelled the scheduled three hour long live RAW show on June 25, and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers. The next night, after the details of the deaths became apparent during the following day, WWE aired a recorded statement by Vince McMahon before their ECW broadcast hinting towards regret for the previous night's special and stating that Benoit's name would not be mentioned other than during McMahon's comments. WWE has also removed all tributes and comments concerning Chris Benoit from their official website and later removed news articles about the deaths and their preceding events. Benoit's profile has also been removed from the roster of superstars on the WWE website. WWE.com has all but deleted his name from all of his title reigns on their Title Reigns page. His DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story is no longer sold on the WWE Shopzone website. Silvervision, a WWE video/DVD distributor based in the United Kingdom has been ordered by WWE to stop selling it as well. On the July 3 edition of ECW, they played the ECW World Title match from Vengeance but edited out any of the commentator's comments about Chris Benoit. It's also been suggested that all Benoit content has been removed from WWE 24/7. Whether or not the ban on Benoit will extend to future WWE DVD releases is not yet known. The WWE has also removed the Backlash 2004 DVD from their Shopzone site since Benoit is on the cover. On the Wrestlemaina Anthology match listings for Wrestlemainia XX, the site lists the main event as being Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels with no mention of Benoit despite the fact that he won the match and became World Heavyweight Champion.

During a press conference Tuesday, June 26, Fayette County district attorney Scott Ballard confirmed that Chris Benoit had murdered his wife and son. His wife was bound at the wrists and feet, while there were no signs of restraint on his son; both died of asphyxiation. It is reported that his wife died on Friday, his son died on Saturday, and Benoit died on either later Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. Benoit died of asphyxiation and was found hanging by the cord of a weight machine in his basement. Bibles were found by both Nancy and Daniel's bodies.

On Wednesday, June 27, County's district attorney Scott Ballard explained that Benoit may have killed his son with a choke hold. He said the boy had internal injuries to the throat area, but showed no bruises, indicating he may have been locked in the crook of his father's arm. Nancy Benoit had bruises on her back and stomach consistent with someone pressing a knee into the small of the back while pulling on a cord around the neck. Benoit killed himself by wrapping a cord around his neck that was attached to a weight machine, and when Benoit released the weights - about 240 pounds (110 kg) - it caused his strangulation. Ballard said the pull-down bar had been removed and Benoit was found seated against the machine.

On Saturday, June 23, at 3:30 p.m., a co-worker received a voice message from Benoit stating he missed his flight and overslept and would be late for that night's Beaumont, Texas, house show. According to the WWE website, the co-worker called Benoit back and Benoit sounded tired and groggy as he confirmed everything he had said in his voice message. At 3:42 p.m., the same co-worker, "concerned about Benoit's tone and demeanor," called him back again. Benoit did not answer the call and the co-worker left a message stating, "just call me back". Two minutes later, Benoit called the co-worker back, stating he did not answer the call because he was on the phone with Delta Air Lines changing his flight. "Benoit stated he had a real stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel being sick with food poisoning," the WWE Web site said. At 4:30 p.m., according to the Web site, a co-worker who often travels with Benoit called him from outside the Houston airport and Benoit answered. "Benoit told the co-worker that Nancy was throwing up blood and that Daniel was also throwing up." At 5:35 p.m., Benoit called WWE's "Talent Relations" office, stating that his son was throwing up and that he and Nancy were in the hospital with their son, and that he would be taking a later flight into Houston, but would make the live event in Beaumont.

On Sunday, June 24, between 3:51 and 3:58 a.m., Benoit sent five text messages to co-workers from both his and his wife's phone. The first, third, fourth and fifth text messages stated: "My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane, Fayetteville Georgia. 30215" (except the fifth message omitted the word "physical". The second text message stated: "The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open". At 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, WWE officials were notified of the text messages sent to the co-workers the previous day.

Steroids were found in the home, leading some media organizations to hypothesize that a steroid-induced rage may be the cause of Benoit's actions, as some doctors have linked steroid use to uncontrollable anger, among other psychological issues which include paranoia. Prosecutors in New York have been investigating the deliveries Benoit received from Signature Pharmacy and MedXLife.com, which sold steroids and human growth hormone over the Internet. Terence Kindlon, lawyer for MedXLife co-owner Dr. Gary Brandwein, denied allegations that his client's company sold steroids to Benoit. Brandwein has pleaded not guilty to six counts in New York state court related to the criminal sale of a controlled substance. World Wrestling Entertainment attorney Jerry McDevitt has stated that "they believe the facts of this crime do not support the hypothesis that "roid rage" played a role in the murders." They cite evidence of premeditation in addition to the lack of a toxicology report, and the fact that the steroids found within Benoit's home were legally prescribed. Dr.Gary Wadler who currently serves on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List and Methods Committee and has served on its Health, Medicine, and Research Committee agreed stating that "that was a premeditated act and that's not rage".

Despite this widely-publicized death, an obviously confused Benoit has announced on the official NASCAR website that he will be wrestling the Undertaker in an upcoming match, which will be titled [Fast Times At Ridgemont High|The Living and the Dead]. He also declared war on Jeff Gordon, and expressed support for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 presidential election.

Wikipedia controversy

Speculation regarding Nancy Benoit's death was added to the Chris Benoit English Wikipedia article 14 hours before police discovered the bodies of Benoit and his family. This seemingly prescient addition was initially reported on Wikinews and later on FOXNews.com. The article originally read: “Chris Benoit was replaced by Johnny Nitro for the ECW World Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues.” The phrase "stemming from the death of his wife Nancy" was added at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 25, whereas the Fayette County police reportedly discovered the bodies of the Benoit family at 2:30 p.m. EDT (14 hours, 29 minutes later). The IP address of the editor was traced to Stamford, Connecticut, which is also the location of WWE headquarters. After news of the early death notice reached mainstream media, the anonymous poster accessed Wikinews to explain his edit as a "huge coincidence and nothing more." Police have "seized computer equipment from the person responsible for the postings," and have called the confession an "unbelievable hindrance." It has also been reported that "if the person had knowledge of the death before police discovered the body, he or she could face criminal charges."

Media

• Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th edition ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)
• Kevin Dunn (Director) (2004). Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story (DVD). WWE Home Video.

External links

• ProWrestlingPress.com Benoit Family Tragedy Timeline
• SLAM! Wrestling — Chris Benoit
• The Sun — Over the Top Rope: Why TNA appals Chris Benoit
• Metro — 60 Seconds: Chris Benoit by Andrew Williams
• Wrestling Digest: Technically Speaking, wrestler and sports entertainer Chris Benoit
• WrestleView.com — Chris Benoit FAQ
• NPR: Wikipedia Entry Presaged Wrestler's Wife's Death
• Wrestling Deaths Under Age 50