FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Yes I know wrestling is staged and some would think this blog doesn't belong here.  Fine, don't read it and move on.  For all others...

Tonight I found out former WWE Champ, Christ Benoit was found dead in his home along with his wife and 7 year old son.  Details are still sketchy as evidence on this case is still being gathered.

In many ways Chris Benoit was everything and nothing that a wrestling superstar should be.  He was big (approx. 5'11" and 220) but not monstrous.  He did not have a larger than life persona or have a talent for talking in front of big crowds.  But he could wrestle with the best of them and had this insatiable spirit to be the best.  You could just see it whenever he got in the ring... that night Benoit was going to do everything in his power to make the match look as entertaining (and real) as possible.

Although Benoit had a small following of rabid fans his place was understood.  He was the guy who would win quite a bit, but would never earn the heavyweight title.  Sure people liked him, but he wasn't cool enough.  The champ in a staged sport needs to be charismatic enough to get the mainstream interested. You need to look good in a suit for Leno, able to joke around with Regis, have a smile that keeps women from turning the dial.

The WWE bills itself as sports entertainment, and no matter how much of the "sports" part Chris had down, there was no way he could carry the "entertainment."

So in 2003, Chris was fighting the champ Kurt Angle, an Olympic gold medalist who was in no real danger of losing his title.  Story-wise Chris was Angle's equal or better, but for all the reasons I listed above the WWE was not going to trust Benoit to bring in the money.

As expected the two put on an epic match, and although Benoit came close to several times, Angle was able to apply his  finishing move.  Angle celebrated and left, all with his crumpled and defeated opponent on the mat.  Benoit eventually dusted himself off to leave when the unthinkable happened.

15,000 people rose to their feet to give Benoit, and Benoit alone, a standing ovation.

Evidently Chris had learned something about "entertainment" after all.

Sure enough, over the next year the WWE created a storyline which culminated in Benoit beating not one, but two, living legends for the title in Wrestlemania XX. Benoit lost the belt six months later but his legacy was now secure.  The world's greatest pro wrestler had won its most coveted prize.

Currently the evidence surrounding the death of Chris Benoit and family is horrible.  The police are investigating it as a double-murder suicide.  I hope they are wrong.  Not just because I'm a fan of Benoit, but because it would be a huge tragedy no matter who was involved.

I can't imagine what it would take for anyone to be so depressed or crazy to kill his wife and young child, let alone a man who was supposedly devoted like Benoit. There are no excuses for these actions, yet I hope that some sort of explanation can be found.

Chris has two other children from a prior relationship and I am sure they could use our prayers now.