Wrestler Chris Benoit, wife and son found dead in home

moneyp · June-25th-2007, 09:08 PM

For those of you who follow the exploits of the squared circle:

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metr...625benoit.html

Crazy news. His son was only seven years old. He was supposed to appear in a match last night and had to leave due to a family emergency.

Apparently, the WWE is involved in a fake death storyline involving Vince McMahon. Since that storyline started, Sensational Sherri (former wrestler) was found dead, purportedly of unnatural causes, and current wrestler The Great Khali was diagnosed with a diseased liver. Now this. Then again, this mortality/illness rate among wrestlers may be completely normal.

Scott Dolan · June-25th-2007, 09:37 PM

Wow. I have no idea who he was, but that is a very sad story.

Mr. Pootz is 7.

Captain Hate · June-25th-2007, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

Apparently, the WWE is involved in a fake death storyline involving Vince McMahon. Since that storyline started, Sensational Sherri (former wrestler) was found dead, purportedly of unnatural causes, and current wrestler The Great Khali was diagnosed with a diseased liver. Now this. Then again, this mortality/illness rate among wrestlers may be completely normal.

They're so roided up that the death rate has been extremely high (memo to Bonds: Get a custom casket that can fit that huge melon pronto). The fake death of McMahon is incredibly tasteless even by his unbelievably scummy *standards*. The Rabid Wolverine has been wrapped pretty tight for quite a while; you never know how much of it is an act and how much is "real". Whatever, he seemed like a good guy but was definitely juiced. I knew Sherri Martel had died but didn't know any of the circumstances.

Enforcer · June-25th-2007, 10:02 PM

One of my favorite McMahon moments. Tough question from Keteyian, and McMahon just can't take it.

Captain Hate · June-25th-2007, 10:07 PM

Classic, Nags. McMahon is juiced too; here's to a painful death for that rat-fuck.

Sandi22 · June-25th-2007, 10:17 PM

How odd, but three days ago, I got so cold that I went to bed at 9:30 PM, and then woke up around 1:36, stayed up until 6:30 AM or so, and when I went to bed I dreamed a sheriff from Alabama and his buddy's were going to kill us because of us having said the sheriff's department and their buddies had killed people during the civil rights movement, and because of us knowing that they were into all sorts of illegal activities. The sheriff was a Rush Limbaugh type, pot belly, tiny little cowboy hat, like they wear down there, strutting around like a Banty rooser with a red face. The things going on in my dreams all happened within a mile of our house, we would just about work things out, then I'd wake up, and then go back to sleep once again, and the dream would start all over again, right where it had left off. We kept coming up with tricks to get away from them, and each time I would wake up, only to have the dream come back again. The last time, we were using fire to get the police and gawkers to come and stop them, starte a fire out the window with some branches and leaves which were in a wooden barrel in the back porch; along with grease in a cast iron skillet to use as a weapon, and as a club. Woke up for good finally, and that plan was never worked on to it's conclusion. Why I would dream about Alabama is pretty bizarre, as that state never enters my mind. No reason for it to that I can think of.

This all sounds so very odd, and this isn't at all likely, but I wonder if someone in on it was in law inforcement. Some dreams can be close to the truth at times. I wonder who, if anyone, do they suspect? And I wonder what the emergency was when he rushed home, someone wanting him to empty out his floor safe, or his bank account, did they want his pin number or what? What a curious situation this is.

Captain Hate · June-25th-2007, 10:29 PM

Thank you for that valuable piece of information.

jesus marion joseph · June-25th-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

Thank you for that valuable piece of information.

Hey, Joyce made a career out of stream of consciousness.

Enforcer · June-25th-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandi22

This all sounds so very odd, and this isn't at all likely

Agreed.

Captain Hate · June-25th-2007, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jesus marion joseph

Hey, Joyce made a career out of stream of consciousness.

Joyce knew how to spell "enforcement"

jesus marion joseph · June-25th-2007, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

Joyce knew how to spell "enforcement"

Only when he was sober, though.

moneyp · June-25th-2007, 11:01 PM

According to the local news, they're investigating it as a murder-suicide. Yeesh.

gonzo · June-26th-2007, 12:16 AM

three hour tribute to his career tonight instead of raw.

Scott Dolan · June-26th-2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

Joyce knew how to spell "enforcement"

So sayeth Captain.............who?

Sandi22 · June-26th-2007, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

Thank you for that valuable piece of information.

Any time.

Fits right in.

Actually, this is really a terrible thing to have happened, and why on earth did it happen? A robbery? Something more sinister? Or just what?

They believe it's a homicide, not a murder suicide. [edit: now they're saying the opposite?] I hope they solve what happened and soon.

Such a sad thing to have happened.

Sandi22 · June-26th-2007, 01:26 AM

Ok, eeee! Nit pickers.

You know, it's oftentimes spelled both ways, but in my case, it's a mistake.

Inforcement, Enforcement; why in the heck does it matter?

Jon Abbey · June-26th-2007, 05:04 PM

from Bill Simmons' chat today:

rob, nc: Any comment on the Benoit situation, is this the end of pro wrestling, it seems like it would be hard to watch again after this.

SportsNation Bill Simmons: (3:41 PM ET ) I am still gathering my thoughts, waiting for all the facts to come out. It just doesn't seem like any non-wrestling fan realizes how huge this story is to everyone who actually follows wrestling - in my opinion, it's the biggest sports story of the year even though wrestling technically isn't a sport. Benoit was one of the 12-15 greatest wrestlers of the past 30 years. For the wrestling world, it's like the OJ thing all over again - only its worse because his little son was involved. It might be the single worst sports story since the Rae Carruth thing.

SportsNation Bill Simmons: (3:43 PM ET ) The weird part was the WWE inexplicably running the 3-hour Benoit tribute on Raw last night - by the time it re-aired on the West Coast, reports were starting to come out that it was possibly a double murder-suicide... I don't know how they let that show continue to run. One of the weirdest TV moments ever. I was really creeped out.

tippy · June-26th-2007, 05:12 PM

I am very sorry for your loss.

Ron Thorne · June-26th-2007, 05:26 PM

Cops eye 'roid rage in wrestler's murder-suicide

Ex-star Benoit killed wife, son, self in grisly crime spread out over weekend

AP
Chris Benoit, born in Montreal, was a former world
heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion
and held several tag-team titles. His names in the
ring included “The Canadian Crippler.”

Updated: 1 hour, 21 minutes ago

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife, suffocated his 7-year-old son and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself with the pulley of a weight machine, authorities said Tuesday.

Investigators found prescription anabolic steroids in the house and want to know whether the muscle man nicknamed “The Canadian Crippler” was unhinged by the bodybuilding drugs, which can cause paranoia, depression and explosive outbursts known as “roid rage.”

Authorities offered no motive for the killings, which were spread out over a weekend, and would not discuss Benoit’s state of mind. No suicide note was found.

“I’m baffled about why anybody would kill a 7-year-old,” District Attorney Scott Ballard said. “I don’t think we’ll ever be able wrap our head around that.”

The Montreal-born Benoit was one of the stars of the WWE wrestling circuit and was known for his wholesome family man image. His wife, Nancy, was a wrestling stage manager who worked under the name “Woman.” They met and fell in love when their wrestling story lines intertwined.
When he won the world heavyweight championship, Benoit (pronounced ben-WAH) hoisted the belt over his head and invited his wife and child into the ring to celebrate.

Nevertheless, Nancy Benoit filed for a divorce in 2003, saying the couple’s three-year marriage was irrevocably broken and alleging “cruel treatment.”

She later dropped the complaint, as well as a request for a restraining order in which she charged that the 5-foot-10, 220-pound Benoit had threatened her and had broken furniture in their home.

In the divorce filing, she said Benoit made more than $500,000 a year as a professional wrestler and asked for permanent custody of Daniel and child support. In his response, Benoit sought joint custody.

The bodies were found Monday afternoon in three rooms of the house, off a gravel road.

Benoit’s wife, 43, was killed Friday in an upstairs family room, her feet and wrists were bound and there was blood under her head, indicating a possible struggle, Ballard said.

The son, Daniel, was probably killed late Saturday or early Sunday, the body found in his bed, Ballard said.

Benoit, 40, apparently killed himself several hours and as long as a day later, Ballard said. His body was found in a downstairs weight room, his body found hanging from the pulley of a piece of exercise equipment.

The prosecutor said he found it “bizarre” that the WWE wrestling star spread out the killings over a weekend and appeared to remain in the house for up to a day with the bodies.

Toxicology test results may not be available for weeks or even months, he said. As for whether steroids played a role in the crime, he said: “We don’t know yet. That’s one of the things we’ll be looking at.”

Neighbors said the Benoits led a low-key lifestyle.

“We would see Chris walking in his yard from time to time. He wasn’t rude, but he wasn’t really outwardly warm,” said Alaina Jones, who lives across the street.

Jimmy Baswell, who was Benoit’s driver for more than five years, placed a white wreath at the Benoits’ gate. “They always seemed like they were the happiest people,” he said.

World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received “several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning.”

The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., said authorities asked that it not release further information on the deaths.

“WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy,” the company said in a statement on its Web site.

“He was like a family member to me, and everyone in my family is taking it real hard,” said fellow Canadian Bret Hart, a five-time champion with the World Wrestling Federation. The federation has since changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment.

Benoit had maintained a home in Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling. The Fayette County Tax Assessors Office lists the value of the house, on more than 8.5 acres, at nearly $900,000.

The WWE canceled its live “Monday Night RAW” card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

Benoit had two other children from a prior relationship.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Paul B · June-26th-2007, 06:51 PM

This tragic occurence should come as no surprise, given the sordid, pathetic people that participate in this kind of wrestling. I pity those who waste their time watching this stuff.

shrugs · June-26th-2007, 07:08 PM

3 hour tribute to this fuckwad?

moneyp · June-26th-2007, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrugs

3 hour tribute to this fuckwad?

At the time they started the tribute, all they knew was that the family was dead, not what had happened.

And who knows if he was a genuine fuckwad or a guy who went crazy with whatever drugs/steroids/horse pills he was taking? Considering everybody in the business does it, it would be like fuckwads throwing stones at glass houses... or something.

Interesting quote I found online, from former wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper:

"I experienced what we in the profession call the silent scream" of pain, drugs and loneliness, says wrestling legend "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, 49, who has been in the business more than 30 years. "You're in your hotel room. You're banged up, numb and alone. You don't want to go downstairs to the bar or restaurant. The walls are breathing. You don't want to talk. Panic sets in and you start weeping. It's something all of us go through."

You'd think at some point with the trail of premature corpses that pro wrestling leaves behind, that the government should get involved at some point.

Paul B · June-26th-2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneyp

And who knows if he was a genuine fuckwad or a guy who went crazy with whatever drugs/steroids/horse pills he was taking? Considering everybody in the business does it, it would be like fuckwads throwing stones at glass houses... or something.

Well, taking steroids is a pretty reprehensible thing in the first place, and going bananas on them and killing your family only makes a slimebag like him slimier. In other words, a guy taking drugs as he did is a de facto fuckwad.

Scott Dolan · June-26th-2007, 08:41 PM

I think that may be a bit harsh, Mr. B. Everyone has their weaknesses, and this guy was doing something that he was told he would need to in order to advance his career.

It just caught up with him. Aren't most of us lucky our own vices haven't done the same?

GoodSpeak · June-26th-2007, 09:32 PM

Perscription steroids is believed to be the culprit relative to the so-called 'roid rage.

I thought the stuff was illegal....if we are to believe all the Bonds hugga mugga.

Sandi22 · June-26th-2007, 09:41 PM

I remember when Notre Dame used to run out on the field to play their game and they'd get into fights before the contest even started.

They claim it was due to the fired up pep talks they'd been having all week during training, in their strategy sessions, and the steroid abuse they were so heavily into. Monsters acting monsterous. They were something else.

Paul B · June-26th-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I think that may be a bit harsh, Mr. B. Everyone has their weaknesses, and this guy was doing something that he was told he would need to in order to advance his career.

It just caught up with him. Aren't most of us lucky our own vices haven't done the same?

True, a bit harsh perhaps. But sometimes what's best for the career isn't necessarily the right thing to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoodSpeak

Perscription steroids is believed to be the culprit relative to the so-called 'roid rage. I thought the stuff was illegal....if we are to believe all the Bonds hugga mugga.

Bonds is as big a doper--and as big a scumbag--as any of these wrestlers.

Ron Thorne · June-26th-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I think that may be a bit harsh, Mr. B. Everyone has their weaknesses, and this guy was doing something that he was told he would need to in order to advance his career.

Say what? We already know that these guys aren't brain trusts, but . . . pullease. Steroids are obviously not the only way to get HUGE, strong, and/or get yourself on a Wheaties box.

His first weakness was becoming a "professional" wrestler.

My emphasis, obviously.

GoodSpeak · June-26th-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul B

Bonds is as big a doper--and as big a scumbag--as any of these wrestlers.

He killed his wife and seven year-old, too?

Wow.

And all this time I thought he was just hitting home runs.

Paul B · June-26th-2007, 10:56 PM

One wrestler killed his family; clearly he's the worst of the lot. But Bonds ain't any different from the rest of them. In other words, he's a juiced up clown who deserves all the ignominy heaped upon him. Hard to see how anyone can admire him.