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Chris Benoit

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Chris Benoit
Born(1967-05-21)May 21, 1967
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedJune 24, 2007(2007-06-24) (aged 40)
Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Chris Benoit
Pegasus Kid
Wild Pegasus
Billed height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Billed weight[undue weight? – discuss]
Billed fromEdmonton, Alberta, Canada
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Trained byStu Hart, New Japan Dojo
DebutNovember 22 1985

Christopher Michael Benoit (IPA: [bə'nwɑ]) (May 21 1967 – June 24 2007), better known by his ring name Chris Benoit, was a Canadian professional wrestler who wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Benoit ascended to the top of his profession, winning the World Heavyweight Championship in both WCW and WWE, becoming one of the most popular athletes in professional wrestling in the process. He was also the winner of the 2004 Royal Rumble. Benoit's technical wrestling skills were lauded by fans and critics alike.[2][3]

Chris, his wife Nancy, and their son Daniel were found dead in their Atlanta home on June 25 2007. It is generally accepted that Benoit killed his wife and son, [4] and subsequently hanged himself.[5]

Career

Stampede Wrestling (1985-1989)

Benoit idolized the Dynamite Kid growing up, and styled himself after him.[6] This prompted him to be a wrestler, so when he began wrestling, he was initially billed as "Dynamite" Chris Benoit. He also began using the Diving Headbutt and the Snap Suplex, some of the Kid's trademark moves.

After years of strenuous training in the legendary Hart family "Dungeon", Chris Benoit began his career in 1985 in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion. His debut match was a tag team match on November 22 1985 in Calgary, Alberta, where he teamed with "The Remarkable" Rick Patterson against Butch Moffat and Mike Hammer. During his tenure in Stampede, he won several International Tag Team and British Commonwealth titles,[7] and had a lengthy feud with Johnny Smith that lasted for over a year. In 1989, Stampede closed its doors later that year, and with a recommendation from Bad News Allen, Benoit departed for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

New Japan Pro Wrestling/Independent circuit (1989-1994)

Upon arriving in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Benoit spent about a year training in their "New Japan Dojo" with the younger wrestlers to improve his abilities. While in the dojo, he spent months doing strenuous activities like push ups and floor sweeping before stepping into the ring. He made his Japanese debut wearing a mask and assuming the name The Pegasus Kid. Benoit said numerous times that he originally hated the mask, but it eventually became a part of him. While with NJPW, he came into his own as a performer in critically-acclaimed matches with luminaries like Jushin Liger, Shinjiro Ohtani, The Black Tiger, and El Samurai in their junior heavyweight division.

In 1990, he won his first major championship, the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, from Jushin Liger. He eventually lost the title (and his mask) back to Liger,[7] forcing him to reinvent himself as Wild Pegasus. Benoit would spend the next couple years in Japan having more classic matches, winning the Super Juniors tournament twice (1993 and 1995). He went on to win the Super J Cup Tournament in 1994, defeating Black Tiger, Gedo, and Great Sasuke in the finals, solidifying his status as one of the foremost junior heavyweights in the world.

Benoit would wrestle outside of New Japan occasionally to compete in Mexico and Germany, where he won a few regional championships, including the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship. He would hold that title for over a year, having many forty-plus minute matches with Villano III.

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 did 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 (1994-1995)

In 1994, Benoit began working with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in between tours of Japan. He was a dominant wrestler there gaining notoriety as the "Crippler" after he put Rocco Rock out of action. At "November 2 Remember '94" Benoit accidentally broke Sabu's neck within the opening seconds of the match. 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. After this match, Paul Heyman, the head booker of ECW at the time, came up with the idea of continuing the "crippler" moniker for Benoit, which Chris confirms on his DVD Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story. From that point until his departure from ECW, Chris was known as the "Crippler" Chris Benoit. However, when he returned to WCW in the fall of '95, WCW modified his ring name to the "Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit.

Benoit and Dean Malenko won the ECW Tag Team Championship from Sabu and The Tazmaniac in February 1995.[7] 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. Benoit would spend some time in ECW feuding with The Steiner Brothers and rekindling the feud with 2 Cold Scorpio having more classic matches. He was forced to leave ECW after his work visa expired, and Heyman was supposed to renew it, but he failed to make it on time, so Benoit left as a matter of job security. He toured Japan until WCW called.[7]

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.) 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.[7] 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 fight Finlay later that night. Booker won the final match and went on to beat Finlay for the title.[7] 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.[7] 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[7] 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.[7] 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 (2000-2007)

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 quickly won 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 met 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 won 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 (This was the night that Triple H suffered a legit injury by tearing his quadricep muscle while attempting to clothesline Jericho). Benoit got 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 required 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 missed 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,[8] 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 feuded with Steve Austin briefly.[9] He and Eddie Guerrero were then moved to SmackDown during a storyline "open season" on wrestler contracts,[10] with Benoit taking his newly won Intercontinental championship with him.[11] Rob Van Dam defeated Benoit at SummerSlam 2002 and returned the title to RAW.[12][13]

After returning to SmackDown! in October, he was crowned the first winner of the WWE Tag Team Championship, alongside foe and partner Kurt Angle.[12][14] They both turned face again by betraying Los Guerreros. The two made an impressive combination, but could not stand each other.[15]

Angle won his third WWE Championship from Big Show at Armageddon 2002,[16] 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.[17] Benoit returned to the tag team ranks, teaming with the returning Rhyno.[18] 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.[19]

Benoit feuded with John Cena and the Full Blooded Italians,[20][21] teaming with Rhyno occasionally.[22] 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 [23] and then Matt Hardy in the second,[24] before losing the final match to Eddie Guerrero at Vengeance 2003.[22] The two feuded over the title for the next month,[25] and Benoit's popularity ascended to an all-time high. He defeated the likes of A-Train,[26] The Big Show, and Brock Lesnar by submission.[26] General Manager Paul Heyman began a vendetta against Benoit along with Lesnar, preventing him from gaining a shot at Lesnar's WWE Title.[27] 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.[28]

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.[26] 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 challenged for the WWE Championship. Benoit, however, exploited a "loophole" in the rules and challenged World Heavyweight Champion Triple H.[29] 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,[26] 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,[26] which eventually resulted in a Triple Threat Match between Michaels, Benoit, and the champion, Triple H.[30]

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.[31] It marked the first time the main event of a WrestleMania ended in submission. (It happened again at WrestleMania 22 and WrestleMania 23).[32][33] 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 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,[31] 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.[34]

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.[35] 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.[36] 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.[35] 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.[37] The Benoit-Edge feud ended at New Year's Revolution.[38] The feud stopped abruptly, as Edge feuded with Shawn Michaels, and Benoit entered the Royal Rumble.[39] 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.[39] 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.[40]

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.[41] 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.[42]

On July 24 at The Great American Bash 2005, Benoit failed to win the WWE United States Championship from Orlando Jordan,[43] but he faced him in a rematch at SummerSlam 2005. Benoit defeated Jordan in 25 seconds with the Crippler Crossface to win the title.[43] On the next two editions of SmackDown!, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 23.4 seconds[44] and 22.5 seconds.[45] Two weeks later, Benoit defeated Jordan by submission in 49.8 seconds.[46] Benoit then started wrestling Booker T in some friendly competitions,[43] but it was all a ploy, as Booker and his wife, Sharmell, cheated Benoit out of the US title on an episode of SmackDown!.[47]

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.[48] 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.[49]

2006–2007

Chris Benoit, performing a German Suplex on MVP at WrestleMania 23.

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.[50][51][52] Benoit won the fourth match to stay alive,[50] 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.[53][54] 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.[55] Benoit feuded with Orton for a short time,[56] 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.[50] 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 John Bradshaw Layfield's (JBL) hand (JBL actually needed surgery to remove a cyst).[57] A match was set up for the two at WrestleMania 22 for Benoit's title, and for the next several weeks, they attacked each other. When it came time for their match, JBL won the match with an illegal cradle to win the title.[32] Benoit used his rematch clause two weeks later in a steel cage match on SmackDown!, but JBL again won with illegal tactics.[58]

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.[59] At Judgment Day 2006 Benoit gained some revenge by defeating Finlay with the Crippler Crossface in a grudge match.[60] On the following edition of SmackDown!, Mark Henry attacked Benoit during a match, giving him back and rib injuries.[61] 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.[62] Later that week, he won his fifth United States Championship from Mr. Kennedy also by submission.[63]

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.[64] Benoit retained his United States Championship at Survivor Series 2006[62] and Armageddon 2006,[62] 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.[65]

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.[33] Their rivalry continued with similar results again at Backlash.[66] At Judgment Day, however, MVP gained the upper hand and the title in a two-out-of-three falls match.[67]

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.[68] Benoit won his ECW debut match teaming up with CM Punk and defeating Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von by disqualification.[69]

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.[70] 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 he was replaced in the title match by Johnny Nitro. Nitro went on to win the match and became ECW Champion.[71]

In wrestling

Benoit with the Crippler Crossface (Arm trap crossface) on MVP.
Chris Benoit performing a Diving headbutt to MVP at WrestleMania 23.

Championships and accomplishments

1. ^ Benoit's reign with the championship isn't officially recognized by World Wrestling Entertainment. No reign prior to December of 1997 is recognized by the promotion.[72]
2. ^ Benoit's PWI Wrestler of the Year award was won with a record 72% of the voters.[citation needed]

Personal life

Along with Daniel (born February 23, 2000), Benoit had two children from a previous marriage, David (born 1993) and Megan (born May 26, 1997) [citation needed] with his ex-wife Martina.[73] [74]

In 2003, Nancy filed for divorce from Benoit, citing the marriage as "irrevocably broken" and alleging "cruel treatment."[75][76] She later dropped the suit, as well as the restraining order filed against her husband.[75]

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 while playing with the dog, the animal's skull struck Benoit's chin and his tooth "popped out."[77]

Benoit became good friends with wrestler Eddie Guerrero following a match in Japan, when Benoit utilised an Enzuigiri kick and knocked him out cold. This started a friendship that lasted until Guerrero's death in late 2005. He was also close friends with Dean Malenko as the trio traveled from promotion to promotion together putting on matches, eventullaly being dubbed the "Three Amigos" by commentators, a reference to the rolling verticle suplexes done in threes that the trio all innovated.[78]

According to Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was borrowed from friend Dean Malenko and eventually caught on as Benoit's signature hold.[78][79]

Double murder-suicide

Main article: Chris Benoit murder-suicide

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.[80] Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County, Georgia Sheriff's Department reported to ABC News that police entered Benoit's home on a "welfare check" after several missed appointments, leading to concerns.[81] Pope also stated the police were not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at the scene of the crime.[82]

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 had discovered that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and hanged himself sometime on Monday.[83]

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.[84] However, once the details of the events became apparent, WWE quickly and quietly began distancing itself from the wrestler by removing merchandise and no longer mentioning him in any way, shape or form.

Toxicology reports released on July 17 2007 revealed that at their time of death, Nancy Benoit had three different drugs in her system: Xanax, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, all of which were found at the therapeutic, rather than toxic, levels.

Daniel Benoit was found to have Xanax in his system, which led the chief medical examiner, Kris Sperry to believe that he was sedated before he was murdered.

Chris Benoit was found to have Xanax as well as hydrocodone in his system. It was also revealed that in his body was an elevated level of testosterone, which is caused by synthetic testosterone and was the only steroid in his system. The chief medical examiner has considered this a mystery, but attributed it to Benoit possibly being treated for a testosterone deficiency caused by previous steroid abuse.

The examiner also ruled that the drug GHB was not present in any of the three bodies, and that there was no indication that anything in Chris' body contributed to his violent behavior that led to his death as well as his wife and son's, concluding that there was no "roid rage" involved. [85]

Many of Benoit's close friends, including former WWE wrestler Chris Jericho defended the accusations of "roid rage", saying Benoit was a quiet person, and said that he believed his friend was fighting a private battle with mental illness.

In 2003, Chris Benoit was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (WON) Hall of Fame. As a result of Benoit's double murder-suicide, his induction will undergo a recall election in 2008. Benoit will be removed from the Hall of Fame if 60 percent or more of the WON Hall of Fame voters elect to remove him. This is similar to the policies of the Baseball and Pro Football Halls of Fame. [86]

On August 30 2007, Benoit was discovered to have been given illegal steroids not in compliance with WWE's Talent Wellness program in February 2006. Benoit received nandrolone and anastrozole. Eddie Guerrero and Brian Adams, were discovered to have been given steroids prior to their deaths during this investigation, as well as former WWE superstar Sylvain Grenier‎ and eleven current WWE superstars, which have been suspended in accordance with the WWE Talent Wellness program.[87][88]

After the double-murder suicide, Chris Benoit's father, Michael Benoit, was contacted by former wrestler Chris Nowinski. Chris Nowinski suggested that years of trauma to Chris Benoit's brain may have led to his actions. Tests were conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, and results showed that "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient." Benoit's brain was shown to have an advanced form of dementia and was similar to the brains of four retired NFL players who have suffered multiple concussions, sank into depression and harmed themselves or others. Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to dementia, which can contribute to severe behavioral problems.[89] Benoit's father suggests that brain damage may have been the leading cause of his crime.[90]

Benoit's father also confirmed that his son was quietly cremated, but what the family did with the ashes are not known at this time.[91]

Notes

  1. ^ "WWE wrestler Chris Benoit and family found dead". June 25 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ "Chris Benoit profile". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  3. ^ "WWE Canadian wrestler Benoit, wife and son found dead". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  4. ^ http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2003560001-2007300340,00.html
  5. ^ "Authorities Confirm Chris Benoit Murdered Wife and Son". June 25 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Doug Lunney (January 15 2000). "Benoit inspired by the Dynamite Kid, Crippler adopts idol's high-risk style". Retrieved 2007-05-10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 102.
  9. ^ Michael McAvennie (2003). "WWE The Yearbook: 2003 Edition". Pocket Books. p. 148.
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  28. ^ "SmackDown — 1st January 2004 Results". Retrieved 2007-05-14.
  29. ^ "RAW — 26 January 2004 Results". Retrieved 2007-05-14.
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  38. ^ Evans, Anthony (2005-01-21). "Power Slam Magazine, issue 127". "Tripper strikes back” (New Years Revolution 2005). SW Publishing. pp. 30–31.
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  46. ^ "SmackDown — 23rd September 2005 Results". Retrieved 2007-05-14.
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  53. ^ "SmackDown — 30 December 2005 Results". Retrieved 2007-05-14.
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  72. ^ http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/lightheavyweight/
  73. ^ Associated Press (June 26, 2007). "Details of Benoit family deaths revealed". TSN. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
  74. ^ Martina Benoit says she still loved Chris
  75. ^ a b Associated Press (June 26, 2007). "WWE star killed family, self". SportsIllustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2007-06-26.
  76. ^ "Released divorce papers and restraining order" (PDF). TMZ.com. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
  77. ^ Interview with his father, "Hard Knocks" DVD
  78. ^ a b Benoit interview, "Chris Benoit: Hard Knocks" DVD, WWE Home Video.
  79. ^ Malenko comments on Benoit, WWE Raw, June 25, 2007.
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  81. ^ Saeed Ahmed and Kathy Jefcoats (June 25, 2007). "Pro wrestler, family found dead in Fayetteville home". The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
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  83. ^ foxatlanta (June 25 2007). "WWE Wrestler Chris Benoit, Wife and Child Found Dead". FOX News. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  84. ^ "WWE postpones show at American Bank Center". Caller-Times. June 25 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  85. ^ http://rajah.com/base/node/8566 Breaking News: Benoit Family Toxicology Results Revealed
  86. ^ "WON HOF Recall Election on Benoit Next Year". Wrestling Classics. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
  87. ^ "Fourteen wrestlers tied to pipeline". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2007-09-01.
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  89. ^ "Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say". ABCNEWS. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
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  91. ^ "Chris Benoit's Body Cremated - Details". PWIresoruce. Retrieved 2007-10-03.

References

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