RIP: Chris Benoit

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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:36 pm

I really need a new hobby. This feels like I've been sucker punched in the gut.

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead

Chris Benoit, family found dead
Written: June 25, 2007

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.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:07 pm

I'm seriously stunned by this one. RIP Crippler.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:08 pm

Homer, this smacks of another death hoax like Vince McMahon's exploding limo. Chris Benoit's death (with family) is nowhere on the web as of this moment.

(Just so you know - the only time I ever see WWE is brief segments at a friend's place when we watch whatever SF I recorded recently.)

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:10 pm

^^I've also had a look and can't find anything else online. If it is a fake however it really is in bad taste.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:17 pm

I've never heard of the guy, but there does seem to be a large number of Google hits to blogs in which he and his family's demise is reported:
LOOKIE HERE

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:22 pm

But nothing on any of the US news stations. CNN, FOX etc aren't reporting it.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:36 pm

Reports are around, but only from wrestling sources - looks like what seems to be called kayfabe (look it up on Wiki) - about as real as Vince McMahon's 'death'.. but in pretty poor taste.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:39 pm

Confirmed by an Atlanta TV station:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news

Also mentioned on the blog at Shane Helms' myspace:

Helms' blog

I think I'm going to be sick.

Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 11:45 pm

It is starting to sound true and if it is that is truly sad. Benoit was one of the few wrestlers really worth watching. We will have to wait to find out the truth though.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:36 am

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html

This looks real to me...

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:04 am

It's on Sports Illustrated/CNN:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/more/06/25/wrestler.dead.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:09 am

this is a true tragedy - he put on some of the best matches i've ever seen. i'm watching the main event at wrestlemania 20 (which i had tickets to and was supposed to go to, but damn car accident left me in crutches and unable to travel). his wife was really great as a manager back in WCW as well and of course his son had his whole life ahead of him.

this title of the thread says it best, RIP Benoit family

Master Baiter Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 188

Sorry Homer (and what a way for me to make my first post in several months), but this story looks like it has taken an even worse turn

Quote:

Professional Wrestler Chris Benoit, Family Found Dead in Georgia Home(link)

Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and 7-year-old son were found slain Monday at their Fayetteville home, authorities said.

Detective Bo Turner told television station WAGA that the case was being investigated as a murder-suicide, but said that could not be confirmed until the evidence was examined by a crime lab.

WAGA reported that investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and son over the weekend, and then himself sometime Monday

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 3:55 am

Sorry Homer - it seems I was too hasty in doubting the report - please accept my apologies. It's a terrible thing to have happened.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 6:34 am

@yastreb
We are cynics by nature on this site - or at least question everything, waiting for better proof. The original stories were only on wrestling sites rather than the mainstream news media and given the stunt involving McMahon only two weeks ago it is unsurprising that disbelief was the first emotion.
Another tragedy involving innocents. Sad

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:15 am

I haven't watched Raw yet, but I'm shocked, stunned and at a loss for words. Truly a legend.
To anyone who is thinking about posting a "wrestlng is fake, you know" comment, true, it may be staged, but this man is without a doubt one of the greatest pure, technical wrestlers that ever lived - don't take that away.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:34 am

Again, sorry for debunking it early on, very sad news.

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 8:11 am

Such a shame- in such tragic circumstances as well Sad

Baiting Guru Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 5905

Oh no! Benoit was my favourite wrestler Sad

I loved his no silly gimmick needed approach. I certainly hope that the reports of murder are not true, it is a tragic enough event as it stands.

As far as I'm aware his wife was Kevin Sullivan's ex-wife Nancy, better known to wrestling fans as Woman in the now defunct WCW Sad

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:32 am

I'm working my way through a hundred-and-something-page long thread (imagine the post-whore thread, but created less than 2 days ago!), and found a picture I love, and had to share. Kinda sad though.

Edit: Picture removed - Benoit doesn't deserve to share a picture with the Late Great Eddie Guerrero.

Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:52 am

Congrats go out to Jose Gonzalez (Invader #1). It appears 99% likely he is no longer the biggest piece of garbage ever to wtep in a wrestling ring. If there is a heaven and hell, he isn't hanging out with Eddy.

Mods would probably be better off locking this thread.

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20002

According to a report on WAGA-TV, investigators believe Chris Benoit killed his wife and son at some point over the weekend, and then killed himself earlier today.

They reported first hearing from a concerned neighbor and that the three bodies were found in separate rooms.

Detective Bo Turner told the staion the case was being investigated as a murder-suicide, but it could not be confirmed until the evidence was examined by a crime lab.

Baiting Guru Joined: 17 Sep 2006 Posts: 5905

I'm really hoping Benoit did not do what they are beginning to suspect he did. Accidents happen but this....

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:22 am

There are other rumours beside the murder-suicide one, and personally, I choose not to believe Benoit did it until the facts are in. Sad

Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 12:28 pm

Its understandable, I'd hope, why people wouldn't believe this at first. Especially considering the recent car bomb thing with Mr McMan (hey, I don't watch Wrestling, I only see the commercials on Sci-Fi... as odd as that is). I definitly didn't believe this story at first and I'll admit I'm still taking it with a grain of salt.

If it is true I really hope they are wrong in that its a murder-suicide. Seems he was quite a popular chap and a loved fellow, would be awful if his final act is such a dreadful one.

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

No ex-WWE wrestlers speak fondly of their time under McMahon's thumb. The constant grind, need to ignore chronic injuries, the steroids, the lack of healthcare -- I mean, really, the list can go on and on. Many find solace in illegal drugs or alcohol during and especially post-wrestling.

Now admittedly, there are many ex-wrestlers that you never hear about, and for all I know, they're well adjusted insurance salesmen, but you hear of a disproportionate number of them killing themselves (either quickly or slowly) and/or ending upon the street homeless. I think McMahon is the devil and the sooner he's really dead (or at least out of wrestling) the better.