R.I.P. Chris Benoit

In a rare display that he actually has a heart, Vince McMahon opened Raw last night by announcing that the story line of his death was just that -- a story line -- and for this Monday night the show would not go on. Instead, the WWF -- no, I won't do it -- honored Chris "The Crippler" Benoit who perished earlier in the day. Few thoughts:

1) If you are (or ever have been) a wrestling fan and watched last night's show and did not get misty-eyed you very possibly may not be human.

2) The final match of the night -- when Benoit won the belt at Wrestlemania XX by making Triple H tap out in the middle of the ring -- and the in ring celebration with (also recently passed) Eddie Guerrero was probably about as compelling as wrestling can get. Amazing that these two awesome performers who clearly gave their hearts and souls to the game have passed so close to one another. And, of course, sad.

3) Horrible, just horrible, to hear the reports surfacing -- that Benoit killed his wife -- former wrestling valet "Woman" who was previously married to Kevin Sullivan -- killed his 7-year old son and then killed himself around a day later.

Shame. Damn shame.

Comments

[Jack Klompus]

"In a rare display that he actually has a heart, Vince McMahon opened Raw last night by announcing that the story line of his death was just that -- a story line -- and for this Monday night the show would not go on. Instead, the WWF -- no, I won't do it -- honored Chris "The Crippler" Benoit who perished earlier in the day."

I disagree here. Maybe (definitely) I'm an insensitive ass, but something about airing a three-hour "tribute" doesn't seem befitting of a potential murderer. I think Vince could at least wait and see where the investigation goes before unfurling the memorial.

And another thing -- while these guys are better athletes than I could ever hope to be -- let's go easy with the "champion" talk. The achievement of holding a title in WWE is script-based. Make-believe. Would you call Stallone "champ"? He won the heavyweight boxing title a few times.

[jackie]

"I disagree here. Maybe (definitely) I'm an insensitive ass, but something about airing a three-hour "tribute" doesn't seem befitting of a potential murderer. I think Vince could at least wait and see where the investigation goes before unfurling the memorial."

That's an entirely fair point, Klompus. My feelings about Vince having a heart here formed before I found out that Benoit likely murdered his wife and son. I still give Vince credit for cancelling and coming clean on his fake death storyline -- which apparently a whole lot of functionally retarded people actually believed -- but if Benoit really did kill his 7-year-old son, I don't care what the reason, he should rot in hell.

"Would you call Stallone "champ"?

I would call him "washed-up." The Crippler could still bring it.

And, in all seriousness, make believe or not, I give a serious wrestler (and not some Shane McMahon or Courtney Cox's husband deal) a lot more credit for winning the belt in a clean contest than I do an actor winning something in a movie. There is a ton of behind the scenes stuff going on there and fake or not, a little dude like Benoit had to bring a ton of talent to the table for Vince to give him the strap.

[Art Vandelay]

I'll withhold any sympathy until this murder stuss gets cleared up but I really couldn't stand Benoit. Dude had all the charisma of my left nut. When you're claim to fame as a professional wrestelr is that you're one of the best "technical wrestlers", I'm really not interested. Who watches that for the wrestling/choreography? There's nothing we haven't seen before.

[Assman]

I was going to write about this today. Couple of unsubstantiated wrinkles I read that might soothe the "Benoit's an asshole" edge:

1.) Benoit got a call from his wife over the weekend saying he needed to come home b/c there was an emergency which is why he had to miss the PPV.

2.) According to unsubstantiated reports, Benoit found out that his wife had killed his son, went into a rage and killed her, then hung himself in the garage.

So... we'll see how it all shakes out once its out in the open.

But as far as Chris Benoit, the innocent until proven guilty wrestler, goes - he was a serious wrestler and the business will miss him.

[Assman]

Dude had all the charisma of my left nut.

He had zero charisma. He had less charm than a corpse. But at least when he wrestled, he never looked like he was faking it, which is kinda half the job.

[jackie]

"When you're claim to fame as a professional wrestelr is that you're one of the best "technical wrestlers", I'm really not interested."

At the risk of sounding like I'm contradicting myself here, on this point I pretty much totally agree. Was never a huge fan of any wrestler who did not possess any mic skills. Die hard "work rate" guys always kill the likes of Hogan, but when Hogan was Hogan was there really a better show in town?

I mean, when Hogan fought the incredibly popular Rock at that WM and won the crowd over I got chills all over my body while watching on the big screen at the (now gone) WWF Zone in Times Square.

"I was going to write about this today."

My bad for jumping the gun. I think we all can agree that the more posts we get from Assman the better. The man is immensely talented.

[Assman]

I mean, when Hogan fought the incredibly popular Rock at that WM and won the crowd over I got chills all over my body while watching on the big screen at the (now gone) WWF Zone in Times Square.

It's a really sad day when I read a statement like this and I can't openly make fun of you for being a nerd because I completely agree.

It was a big moment. Any human being that can "out-charisma" The Rock (who remains the most charismatic human being ever to wrestle) on the biggest stage deserves some recognition.

[Briff628]

I think that no matter what ..we should at least mourn for Daniel. The boy was 7 I mean come on ...regardless of what had happend or who did what it is always sad to see a child involved no matter if his dad was a wrestler or not.

[Art Vandelay]

I think that no matter what ..we should at least mourn for Daniel. The boy was 7 I mean come on ...regardless of what had happend or who did what it is always sad to see a child involved no matter if his dad was a wrestler or not.

In that case, don't we have to mourn for every other child that has died this month? What exactly is the age cut-off on mourning for dead strangers?

[Assman]

In that case, don't we have to mourn for every other child that has died this month?

Yes, we do. But we only hear about the ones whose fathers could apply the Crippler Crossface after reversing a full nelson.

I think it was a tragdy that one of the best in the buissness gone chris beniot was great and we all should mourn the death of the hole family.

[briff628]

my point was just being that so much has been made of Chris' death ..I was just saying that it is tragic that young life was lost...I mean I guess any loss of life is precious...don't ya think??

[jackie]

"I mean I guess any loss of life is precious...don't ya think??"

No. (See e.g., Pedophiles, Any and All)

[becca]

I CONNOT BELIVE SOME OF THESE ASSHOLES TALKING DOWN ON A MAN WHO IS NO LONGER IN THIS WORLD!!!!!!!! HE HAD MORE BALLS THANK ALL OF YOU COMBINED AND STILL HAD STILL HAD A SOME LEFTOVER.WHETHER HE IS GUILTY OR NOT SHOULD NOT TAKE AWAY THE GREAT WRESTLER HE WAS AND THAT AS SOME OF US KNOW A GOOD MAN.WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE HIM TO QUICKLY FROM SOME REPORTS OF THIS SUICIDE/MURDER...WE ALWAYS JUMP TO QUICK CONCLUSIONS EVEN IF HE DID I AM SURE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIM SOMEHOW SOME WHERE i AM JUST GLAD I GOT TO MEET HIM BEFORE HE LEFT US....HOPEFULLY HIM AND EDDIE ARE HAVING A GOOD ONE RIGHT NOW...YOU MAYNOT GET RESPECT FROM SOME OF THESE JOKER ASSHOLES BUT CHRIS FROM ME AND MINE YOU WILL ALWAYS GET THE UTMOST RESPECT..... R.I.P CHRIS BENOIT YOU WILL BE MISSED.

[Lucifer's Muse]

I cannot believe you guys who remember what a "great" wrestler you think this man was. You all seem to forget HE KILLED HIS WIFE AND CHILD!!!! Being a celebrity, it seems that anything they did is dismissed, or just a footnote in the annals of history. It truly is a damn shame.

[Jean A Dowd]

I fell that if you want to kill yourself than, God forgive me leave the kid at someones house and than do what you want to yourself I didn;t know the man but they both have to answer to a higher person... You are right we have to mourn the child he was a gift from God and he was just starting to grow.

[jackie]

I'm looking at the quality of the comments, thinking of the topic and chuckling.

[Art Vandelay]

Seriously, I had no idea there were people who felt so passionately about Chris Benoit.

Jean, according to the initial reports, the kid was already dead when he killed himself.

[edwina]

omg he was a great wrestler and im sad that he is gone ppl all these didferent stories out there not going to know the whole story so will u please stop jumping to conculsions so with that said R.I.P CHRIS,NANCY,AND DANIEL U WILL BE MISSED

[JK]

I agree with Jackie Chris Benoit was an arrogant prick in the story line he may be a totally dif. man in real life but i honestly did not know anyone liked him so much its sad yes that him and his family perished but if he did kill them then he should and is rotting in hell

[Storm]

RE: I CONNOT BELIVE SOME OF THESE ASSHOLES TALKING DOWN ON A MAN WHO IS NO LONGER IN THIS WORLD!!!!!!!! HE HAD MORE BALLS THANK ALL OF YOU COMBINED AND STILL HAD STILL HAD A SOME LEFTOVER.WHETHER HE IS GUILTY OR NOT SHOULD NOT TAKE AWAY THE GREAT WRESTLER HE WAS AND THAT AS SOME OF US KNOW A GOOD MAN.WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE HIM TO QUICKLY FROM SOME REPORTS OF THIS SUICIDE/MURDER...WE ALWAYS JUMP TO QUICK CONCLUSIONS EVEN IF HE DID I AM SURE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HIM SOMEHOW SOME WHERE i AM JUST GLAD I GOT TO MEET HIM BEFORE HE LEFT US....HOPEFULLY HIM AND EDDIE ARE HAVING A GOOD ONE RIGHT NOW...YOU MAYNOT GET RESPECT FROM SOME OF THESE JOKER ASSHOLES BUT CHRIS FROM ME AND MINE YOU WILL ALWAYS GET THE UTMOST RESPECT..... R.I.P CHRIS BENOIT YOU WILL BE MISSED.

I agree with Jackie. When it comes to celebrities -- movies, sports or whatever -- people tend to want to find a wrong conclusion about what happened. They look for the bad side so they have someone else to talk down on. I refuse to believe the murder/suicide story until proven to me. As for Benoit, all these a**** can think what they want, I watched him since I was young and he was an awesome wrestler. Good or bad I respected him which he deserved.

[Josh]

I still cant believe what happened, I'm still in shock becuz Chris Benoit was one of my favorite wrestlers among others but i didn't think that a good person will do something like this. To his own family. He must of been on something to kill a 7 year old boy. But i dont know what really happened. I still am a being fan of WWE but losing him it hurts to all of WWE fans around the world. His legency will live on forever!!!!!!!!

[Robert Houser]

to Chris Benoit and the Benoit family,

hi im srry to hear about the events that have happened. when i first saw the WWE death segment this morning on the news i thought they were talking about vince mcmahons fake death. then they said ur name and ur wife and ur child i dont know what happened but whatever the problem was it should have been dealt with in another fashion. i grew up watching hulk hogan, andre the giant and wrestlers up to this day and i can honestly say that chris was the most energetic...im gonna give it my all type of wrestler he was the greatest in my opinion i will miss u much chris just like the rest of rabid wolverines may you be the greatest champ in heaven next to god and im sure he will protect you as well. to mrs. benoit and ur child may god be with them as well...we love u chris and we will be waiting ur return to the ring..........

Rob