UPDATED AT THE BOTTOM IN BOLD at 2:08PM

There’s a lot of people who don’t watch professional wrestling. But there’s also a lot of people who do, which is apparent by the sold out crowds at arenas all over the world. I guess not so much now as maybe 90s through early 2000s but somehow they managed to keep me aboard through high school, college, and still now as an adult in the working world. If you watched it in any of those eras you might have heard of a guy named Chris Benoit. He was never really the top guy in any federation. He was small in height but made up for it in a very technical style that would keep you interested in his matches. I was always a fan. He could wrestle the big guys and the cruiserweights and actually help them to put on terrific matches.
Of course I didn’t know the guy personally but I’ve watched enough wrestling specials and heard enough shoot interviews to honestly say he was a good guy. He was a teacher to younger and even veteran wrestlers. When I went to Royal Rumble in Philadelphia a few years ago, I actually rooted for him to win against the Big Show to go to the Main Event of Wrestlemania XX. I was there when he won that shot. Then a couple months later, he won his first and only World Heavyweight Championship as the underdog in a match against 2 future Hall of Famers in Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Listen, I know wrestling is a male soap opera. It mixes planned storylines with athleticism. Yes, they know who is going to win each match. But unless you’re over with the crowd then they’ll never give you that opportunity. You cant just walk into the ring acting like an asshole and win matches. Management and fans have to see something in you in order to give you a “push”. Benoit has been in the business for over 20 years and won all kinds of different titles and big macthes. You don’t last that long on a television show and win titles unless you’re pretty damn good. Like I said, I’ve always been a fan.

He was known as The Crippler for his devastating set of moves inherited from his hero, The Dynamite Kid. He didn’t just punch and kick then bust out some power move for the win. He could actually “wrestle”. He was known as the Rabid Wolverine for his constant intensity. Whether he was wrestling some jobber or going for a title, he was 120% and you could tell. You don’t have to be a wrestler or know anything about wrestling to notice the guy putting his all into what he does. He’s been through broken necks and torn ligaments and kept coming back to do what he loved. He wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line to give the fans some enjoyment. And at 40 years old, he was still in terrific shape and still carrying younger wrestlers to awesome matches.

On June 25th, 2007 Chris Benoit was found dead in his home near Atlanta, Georgia. His wife Nancy (former WCW valet Woman), and son Daniel were also found dead. This was days after he couldn’t make a Saturday house show for “personal reasons” and then also “called out” of the Sunday Pay-Per-View Vengeance where he was rumored to be winning the ECW Title on a push to be the top guy in the brand. What happened the weekend of June 23rd? That’s the big question right now. They’re saying its being investigated as a double murder suicide with Chris Benoit being the one who did it. What made this supposed nice, humble guy snap? If you grew up watching the guy, saw his documentary DVD, or saw the RAW special from last night where his friends talked about him, then you must be saying in your head right now…. How did this happen? How could he do it? His son? Really?

That’s what I am thinking right now. I don’t know what to think actually.
He was definitely in my Top 10 wrestlers of all time, possibly even Top 5, and that’s from about 20 years of watching wrestling and seeing hundreds and hundreds of different guys. I don’t want it to be true but seriously how could they get it that wrong? The rumor right now is that he killed his wife and son over the weekend, then by Monday apparently couldn’t live with what he did and took his own life. I cant imagine what snapped in his mind to cause him to do this. I may never know. But I feel bad for the family. He had 2 other kids from a different relationship and now they have to know what their father did. I’m sad over this and I don’t even know the guy. It’s a tragedy. Wrestling lost a great man. Whether he committed these heinous acts or not, I still think he was just that… a great man. Apparently he had some demons he kept to himself, but regardless, the wrestling world will miss Chris Benoit.

R.I.P. Chris, Nancy, and Daniel Benoit.

It’s now being confirmed by The Associated Press, which is as legitimate as you can get, that Benoit strangled his wife to death and then smothered their son before hanging himself. Insanity. They are investigating whether any steroids or medication were involved. This is just crazy. This will forever tarnish the image and legacy that was Chris Benoit.