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Post by Sanji Himura on Jun 25, 2007 20:51:20 GMT -5
Today Alanta police found the bodies of WWE superstar Chris Benoit his wife, Nancy(known in WCW as "Woman"), and his youngest son Daniel in their home this morning.
Benoit, 40, was scedualed to be in a match last night in the WWE PPV Vengence against CM Punk for the vacent ECW title when he called management to notify them of his absence for "personal reasons".
According to one report, his wife and son had been coughing up blood. It also has been confirmed that the family wasn't shot to death.
It is believed that Benoit's other two children were in Canada at the time of the death.
WWE had plans tonight to continue the "tasteless" storyline of Mr. Mcmahon's murder, but the show proper had been cancelled and wrestlers were allowed to go home and grieve.
WWE issued this statement about the passing of Benoit:
WWE is sad to report that Chris Benoit and his family have been found dead in their home. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Tonight's Raw will be a tribute to Chris and his family.
Rival company TNA also issued a statement, saying:
TNA MOURNS THE LOSS OF CHRIS BENOIT
Everyone in the TNA family joins the entire wrestling world in mourning the untimely passing of Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and their son Daniel.
Many TNA staff and stars worked closely with Chris throughout his career and we are all shocked and saddened to lose a friend and legendary competitor. Benoit was considered a consummate professional both in and out of the ring.
As details develop, those who knew and admired Chris are shocked and saddened to hear of he and his family's untimely passing.
Please keep Chris and the Benoit family in your thoughts and prayers during this time of tragedy.
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Post by Arrianna on Jun 25, 2007 23:21:35 GMT -5
Barronmore is a big fan and is watching the tribute show right now.
This is a real shock.
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Post by Sanji Himura on Jun 26, 2007 0:58:22 GMT -5
This is now up on wwe.com:
Benoit's death part of a double murder-suicide Written: June 25, 2007
According to lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, in Fayetteville, Ga., the deaths of WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, wife Nancy and son Daniel were the result of a double murder-suicide, WWE.com has learned.
Benoit failed to appear both at Saturday’s live event in Beaumont, Tx., and WWE’s Vengeance: Night of Champions in Houston Sunday night, after informing WWE of a family emergency. Several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning prompted concerned friends to alert Richard Hering, VP of Government Relations for WWE, Inc. Hering, in turn, spoke with Fayette County sheriffs Monday, and requested that they respond to the Benoit residence to check on him and his family.
Authorities representing the Sheriff’s Department initially had a difficult time entering Benoit’s new Fayetteville home Monday afternoon, which had been guarded by two large German Shepherds roaming freely around the property. Once authorities entered the residence, they quickly located the bodies of Benoit, Nancy and Daniel. WWE was notified of the discovery at approximately 4 p.m.
At 10 p.m. Monday night, Lt. Pope held a press conference in conjunction with Scott Ballard, the district attorney for Fayette County. The press conference officially ruled authorities’ findings as a double murder-suicide from within the home.
WAGA, a FOX-owned and operated television station in Atlanta, reported that investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son over the weekend, then himself on Monday.
The three bodies have been received by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab, in Decatur, Ga., where autopsies will be performed Tuesday morning. Toxicology reports will not become available for at least two weeks.
WWE.com has further information relating to both the investigation and the cause of death, but the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department has requested that WWE.com not release any additional details at this time.
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Post by barronmore on Jun 26, 2007 10:05:51 GMT -5
I just don't know what to think. I'm sad. I'm upset. I'm confused. I'm in shock. It was bad enough finding out yesterday that Benoit and his family are dead...but to find out that Benoit is accused of doing it? I just can't fathom that yet.
I've been watching Beniot from the time he arrived in WCW. I, like millions others, knew we were looking at something special. It always angered me that the 'braintrust' in WCW never put the world title on such a great talent as Beniot. When they finally did it was only to try to keep him in WCW. He defeated Sid Vicious for the belt and 24 hours later had left the company to go to the WW(F)E. You have to respect a man who would give up the cumulation of his life's dream to start again.
When Benoit left WCW I started watching WWF again. How could I not? Unfortunately, It only lasted a few years as my hatred of Vince McMahon finally drove me away from his product again. But I always hated not watching Beniot and always felt that McMahon was wasting the greatest talent on his roster (a feeling I still hold today).
So imagine my surprise when I casually surf to Fox News yesterday and see Chris's picture and a headline about his and his families bodies being found. Sadness was mixed with anger at who ever had done this! And now I find out that one of the few remaining men I loved to watch in all of wrestling is the one who may have done this. How can you respect a man who has done this? How can you honor his memory and enjoy watching what was once the most enjoyable matches you had ever seen? Now I just sit here saddened and sick waiting to find out the reason Chris would do such a horrible thing? I sit here hoping in vain that there might be extenuating circumstances that would put this in better light? But how can you put murder, for whatever reason, in better light? You can't. And I think that is what makes me the most upset and sick about this. A man that I had watched a tribute to last night, who I admired as, in my opinion, the greatest wrestler alive today, and who I hold in the utmost respect may be a murderer? And that thought sickens me. If he really did kill his wife and innocent son how can I honor the memory of a murderer by continuing to watches his matches, praise his work ethic, and enjoy his fantastic career?
I have nothing more to say. I could sit here and type for hours about this. But what more is there to say then my heart felt prayers go to his family and the family of Nancy. I can't even say that Chris will be missed or we will honor his memory. I can't say that he was a great man or a wonderful father and husband (as so many others have said). I can't say a single thing about Chris. Perhaps the official results of the Autopsy will change my mind...but murder is murder and how can you honor the memory of a murderer?
Just my confused rambling thoughts right now....
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Post by Man Alive! on Jun 26, 2007 13:43:43 GMT -5
I'm not by any means a wrestling fan, but this news comes as a shock to me as well. I'll wait for further information to pass judgment either way, but no matter what happened, a great tragedy has just occurred.
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Post by barronmore on Jun 26, 2007 16:03:45 GMT -5
We'll according to the police he strangled his wife on Saturday and then killed his Son and himself sometime on Sunday. They are very confidant in this and i see no reason to not beleve them. The only question now is how premeditated this was or if it was a 'roid rage' incedent and Benoit just snapped.
I am completly sickened by this. The 'debenoitisation' of wrestling has already begin. The WWE took down all there tribute posts on wwe.com, they have removed his name form the discription of the main event of WM 20 product discription on the website and intertnet columnists from all around the world are begining their backlast at Benoit. While i was really shocked when i read some of this...i can't blame them. It's the same way I feel. I don't think i can ever really see another Benoit match again. Every time i see him from now on I'll know it is the face of a murderer.
I think this situation is going to focus a lot of light on areas of the business many wish would remian hidden. The Benoit tragety is just the apex of some serious probelms that are considered 'acceptable' in the industry.
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Post by herringchoker on Jun 26, 2007 16:29:28 GMT -5
Barronmore, though I wasn't a big fan of wrestling, I can understand the mix of emotions you're going through....I feel the same way. It's always that combo of anger, sadness, etc. when the police discover a murder/suicide. I can't even begin to imagine a set of circumstances that could drive a person to such drastic action, but I hope that the reasons will become known so there can be closure.
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Post by ironchefcanadian on Jun 26, 2007 19:10:22 GMT -5
" Every time i see him from now on I'll know it is the face of a murderer. "
Actually . . . it isn't. Because those images were taken of Benoit <i>before</i> he killed his family and himself.
I used to watch WWE on a regular basis, and I know how you feel. But the fact of the tragedy makes it all the more important that we hang on to the memories of Benoit at his best.
It's tempting to think that a killer has always been evil, always had the bad stuff in him. But that's not the way human nature works. Chris Benoit did have virtues -- a hard worker, skilled technician in the ring, cared for his fellow wrestlers as per the testimonies aired last night. They're probably even more perplexed and upset than we are, because they knew him better than we do. But they argued that he was a positive force in their lives, and I believe them.
Perhaps, in a few years' time, the pain of this tragedy will fade and Benoit's career will receive a more objective overview by wrestling fans. For now, though, it's only a time to grieve.
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Post by herringchoker on Jun 26, 2007 21:25:38 GMT -5
Well said, ICC......
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Post by missteetheironchef on Jun 27, 2007 8:07:15 GMT -5
I'm very very very shocked by this story!!!!! My condolences to Benoit's friends and extended family.
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Post by barronmore on Jun 27, 2007 11:47:33 GMT -5
@icc;
I fully understand what you saying. It's the one reason that i havn't gone out and sold my "Hard Knocks" DVD set I just got a few weeks ago. I'm trying to be reasonable about this and wait for the autopsy results but my gut feeling tells me it's somthing deeper then just a sudden snap.
I've watched benoit for years. He has not changed. If this was just a case of "roid rage' as the press wants us to beleive (and the press would love to crusify McMahon for steriod abuse again) then I would be agble to watch him again...but my gut says it's not. My gut says that Benoit has been fooling people for a long time. How long? How many of those matches are of a man who would commit and did commit murder in the future?
That's why i'm waiting for the toxicology report. If it shows that Benoit snapped and that this was not a cold calculated premedidated murder then I will be sad but honor the memory of a man that I love. but if this is somthing he did of his own free will then I can't.
The road to hell is paved one brick at a time. You do not wake up some morning and just kill someone. Instead, each action leads to a greater action which finally leads to the action were discussing. How many times did he kill her in his mind before he did it in reality? Was it days, months, years? I don't know. But I feel it wasn't last friday when he called in. It wasn't saturday morning when he woke up.
I have no doubt that Chris Benoit was out of his mind. The question for me is how long has he been out of it.
if my thoughts sound jumbled and don't make much sense that's becuase i'm in chat right now with Arriann and were discussing it ourselves.
Thanks love, it's helped.
I guess i'll wait until the toxicology report and make any decissions then.
Thanks everyone.
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Post by herringchoker on Jun 27, 2007 12:12:52 GMT -5
No need to thank us, barronmore; it's our job to be here for you....we're a sort of family and we look out for each other.
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Post by barronmore on Jun 27, 2007 16:51:18 GMT -5
Really, I appricate it.
This has been a real hard thing for me to think about and deal with. I've been a benoit fan for close to 15 years now. I've never found a single match of his boring (excpet the WM 20 main event with Tripple H and Shawn Micheles). In all that time i've always heard what a great guy Beniot is and what a wonderful family man. And the last few days have really shattered that image of him.
It's not just the murder either. There are other things that just make you scratch your head now that they are comming out in the light. some of this strange behavior has been happeing for awhile now. I just find it hard to accept that this is just a 'rage' incedent. It also makes me wonder about all the other wrestlers i've been watching. How many of these 'paragons' have such dark personalities?
I think the other thing that has really bothered me is the 'debenoitization' that is happening right now. Everyone in the industry is so scared of being associated with Benoit that even TNA's condolences announcement to his family has been removed. He's been removed from match discriptions and given enough money and power I wouldn't be suprised to learn McMahon is making a effort to digitally remove his matches from his match archives.
I can't even imagine what What their families are going through now. Or the Harts. Or the wrestlers that he worked so closlely with. I'll i know is that if this is how i feel it must be much worse for them.
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Post by Arrianna on Jun 29, 2007 11:02:17 GMT -5
Ok, I am getting seriously creeped out now. Someone posted Benoit's wife death on Wikipedia 13 hours before her body was found. Someone in another state AND it was edited by someone in Australia. On top of that another Valet associated with her ex-husband was found dead on the 15th and not of "natural causes". www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287194,00.html I think I am just going to hold my opinion for now. I think I feel even worse for the surviving families. This just has to be a nightmare.
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Post by Man Alive! on Jun 29, 2007 21:12:08 GMT -5
That's really creepy. Somebody must have known early- and was stupid enough to post their knowledge on Wikipeida. This really makes you think...
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