I was in Connecticut this past Monday at a bar when I noticed RAW was doing a tribute to Chris Benoit. My heart sank as I immediately knew that the wrestler was dead. When I got back to my hotel, I checked the news sites to see if his death was getting any press (I assumed it was another drug related heart attack like the one that took Benoit’s friend Eddie Gurerro). I was shocked and saddened to see that it was a suicide and that Chris had apparently also killed his wife and seven year old son.
There isn’t much I can say about the tragedy that hasn’t already been said, but I wanted to add my personal experience. I haven’t watched wrestling in several years, but when I did, Chris Benoit was my absolute favorite. He didn’t talk well and he wasn’t flashy, but the guy took a very un-serious business seriously and I respected that. He busted his ass to be the very best at his craft, and I honestly though he was the best that ever stepped foot into the ring.
I also admired Benoit’s seemingly private – private life. He didn’t get on the internet and blab about his personal dealings that only destroyed the fantasy. I was aware that Benoit had stolen the wife of another wrestler and I was also aware that they had a somewhat stormy relationship but he kept it all quiet, not opening up to IWC reporters. I seemed to recall the now often mentioned divorce petition in 2003 and was glad that the relationship was ending – it didn’t look right on television and I guess it wasn’t a good fit in real life.
I don’t want to humanize what Benoit did… He killed his son and that makes him a monster hands down. It just really makes me sad that one of the good guys that didn’t make a mess of his life (before all this), the one you wanted to root for, turned out to be a cold blooded killer. One more hero from my youth disgraced.
Rest in peace Nancy and Daniel Benoit.
