Wrestling fans: Chris Benoit and Family found dead

[enigmatic]

This isn't a work, folks:

http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead

Chris didn't show up at the Vengance PPV last night due to personal problems; I can't believe this...

[ghostsofgiants]

1. Holy shit!

[enigmatic]

2. I just emailed Wetzelbill about this

I'm trying to find more on what's happening; I'm literally stunned...

[enigmatic]

4. Here's what Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Torch has on his webby:

http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20000

[ghostsofgiants]

5. That's really messed up.

[lost-in-nj]

3. wow

something like this you suspect homicide
or carbon monoxide.......


thoughts and prayers to the remaining family and the friends left behind....

sometimes one headline puts everything in perspective......


lost

[johnfunk]

60. MSNBC: Being investigated as homicide

Horrifying. Benoit was one helluva hard working wrestler, known for his generosity toward and love for the fans.

This is way bigger than the once-missing pregnant woman. That was -- and should have remained -- a local story were it not for a handful of Dominionist creeps using the story to turn fetuses into full-fledged citizens.

The Benoit story crosses national boundaries: a Canadian athlete turned sports entertainer who worked extra hard for his fans. If it is indeed a homicide, they will want justice.

[Ekirh]

6. I don't want to sound over dramatic.. .

But he was a personal fav of mine . .

I'm completey numb right now . .

I'm.. well. fuck. . . I think this has hit me the hardest of any wrestling death this year. . .

FUCK

[enigmatic]

8. I'm stunned by this

Here's from here in Edmonton and they love him; I don't know what to think right now..

[Lost4words]

64. Damn, and I was waiting for his lecture tour.

Aint gonna happen now!
:cry: :sarcasm:

[DS1]

7. Wrestling sure seems to have a way of killing off its own

[Wetzelbill]

36. it's a hard life

I think that plays a part of it.

[Ekirh]

37. Wrestling giveth and wrestling taketh away . .

This is on a different plane though then most wrestling deaths I've been sadly accustomed to the past few years. .

This is.. I don't know . . I just don't.

[Wetzelbill]

50. yeah this is much different

a whole family, possible foul play. Pretty rough stuff. Like Pillman, Curt Hennig, Eddie, Louie Spicoli, those guys all had been abusing substances or had a history of it that played a part in their passing. This is, yeah I don't know what to say either.

[Kat45]

85. Curt Hennig died? I guess I missed that one.

What was the cause?

[Wetzelbill]

86. Cocaine overdose

In 2003.

[SeattleGirl]

9. Whoa! That's awful.

Seems like there has been a lot of loss lately, from various cases.

[Blue-Jay]

10. Whoa!

[Fox Mulder]

11. He was one of my favorites.

:cry:

RIP Chris Benoit and family.

[BulletproofLandshark]

12. R.I.P. Canadian Crippler

You were a true titan of the squared circle.

[flvegan]

13. Aw, shit. Damnit!

I can't believe this.

Off topic: this is one of the reasons that I HATE the latest storyline of Vince being dead. It's disrespectful of those that have actually passed.

[ghostsofgiants]

15. And makes people skeptical as to whether he really has passed.

(I'm reading the Fark thread about it now.)

[flvegan]

16. Exactly.

It's total bullshit, especially because now Vince can't come out of HIS bunker and blow the storyline and give a proper tribute to the Rabid Wolverine.

Benoit was in my top 3 current favorite active wrestlers. What a shame.

[Ekirh]

18. Benoit was awesome . . .

And sadly some people at this moment do think it's a work . . "sighs". . I kind of wish it was.. it be a disgusting, sickening, heart wrenching work . . . . and would probably be the thing that finally drove me from wrestling (And that says a lot) .. but nope.. damn it.. he and his wife and his child are fucking gone. .

"sighs".

[Strawman]

21. Yeah. That storyline is horrible

I just called my dad to tell him and he told me about that. What a stupid, insensitive storyline for them to run considering all the wrestlers who have actually died recently.

[Fox Mulder]

27. I know.

It's tasteless and I hope they drop that damn angle ASAP.

Otherwise, I'm going to be a TNA fan from now on.

[enigmatic]

28. they have to drop it

If Vince doesn't walk out at the beginning of RAW tonight to help pay tribute to Chris, it's all over for their credibility.

[Hawkeye-X]

29. Agreed.

It's time for Vince to break kayfabe now and deal with it the way he should deal with it.

Gonna check out the tribute show tonight. I caught Eddie's 2 years ago, and was bawling.

[Ekirh]

30. Actual hearing rumblings ..

Fans are being told the show is canceled tonight. . .

Doesn't mean there won't be a tribute.. just means won't be an attendance

note just rumblings

I don't know what the fuck is going on.. to be fair I'm pretty sure the lockeroom is in dissary right now also.

[Fox Mulder]

32. I heard those rumblings too...

[sabbat hunter]

74. that storyline cancelled

at least vince had the wisdom to cancel that storyline in his opening statement.

[enigmatic]

14. More Info

http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29026

"Details remain very sketchy regarding the tragic news today that Chris Benoit and his family were found dead at their Atlanta area home.

Benoit had been scheduled to appear on a WWE house show on Saturday. Sources tell us Benoit called to first say he would be taking a later flight, and then to say he would not be attending the house show due to a family illness. According to one source, Benoit said both his wife and son were throwing up blood and he needed to stay to take care of them.

At last night's Vengeance pay-per-view, Benoit was replaced in his match by Johnny Nitro.

No other details are available at this time and police are on the scene at the Benoit residence investigating."

[Bucky]

88. More news from Wiki. This looks very very bad

Fayette County, Georgia police are investigating Benoit's house following the discovery of the bodies. Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department reported to ABC News that sheriffs entered his home on a "welfare check" after missing several appointments, leading to concerns.<85> Pope also stated the police are not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located on scene.<86>

The same day Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told television station WAGA that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide, and the station reported that investigators believe that Benoit killed his wife and son over the weekend, then killed himself on Monday. <87> At present officials continue to investigate and autopsy results are expected on June 26.

[Ekirh]

17. Quickie Tribute:

Benoit may of not been a marvel behind the microphone.. but with emulating his hero the Dynamite Kid.. he was a whirlwind in the ring.

Successful in several countries . . . wether it be Stampede in Canada, NJPW in Japan . . and of course ECW/WCW/WWF in America.. Chris Benoit's wrestling exploits are definitely of high praise. .


Wether it be some fast pace wrestling with the Great Sasuke. . . and all out slugfest with Kevin Sullivan. . or a masterpiece in pro wrestling with Kurt Angle . . Chris Benoit without exageration has entertained me and given me many a reason to continue watching wrestling even during it's darkest (And most stupidiest hours)

Eddie's death hit me hard.. . . this one has hit me harder. . .

And not to mention his wife (Nancy Sullivan who was also quite a talent as a manager) and one of his kids... dear christ

I know I already posted once.. but I felt like saying a bit more.

[enigmatic]

19. Dean Malenko has to be devastated, too

First Eddie, now Chris.

It's making me sick to my stomach to speculate, but this sounds like murder-suicide.

[Ekirh]

22. I don't know what to think . .

I wish I knew something.. anything... this is horrible all the same

[Hawkeye-X]

65. just saw Dean's tribute

A consummate professional and he said that he'll be comforted knowing that two of his friends are up there arguing.

[slj0101]

20. Oh my god.

:cry:

The Rabid Wolverine. He was one of my favorites back in the day. :cry:

[enigmatic]

23. Atlanta TV now reporting the news

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html

[Inchworm]

24. wow..!!

That's terrible. I really hope this isnt some sick twist in the storyline. grr...

:cry:

[Ekirh]

25. No it isn't. .

It's being reported everywhere..

this is unfortunately legit

[Hawkeye-X]

26. I caught Vengeance last night..

I was puzzled about Chris Benoit, and am stunned to hear of this.

First Eddie, then Chris.

Why do they die so young?

Hawkeye-X

[Connonym]

31. Are any news organizations covering this or is it all wrestling stuff?

Is there any independent confirmation that this isn't bullshit like the guy's limo blowing up?

[ghostsofgiants]

33. ...

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html

[Ekirh]

34. Non wrestling source..

http://www.wsbtv.com/index.html

A Local News Station

[Connonym]

38. my daughter's going to be bummed

he was one of her favorites. I was kind of hoping it was a hoax :(

[Wetzelbill]

35. I know, I just got your email

Damn, that is so sad. First his good friend Eddie, now him. Wow.. shocking. I am so sad right now.

[enigmatic]

39. I don't know what to say

This has got some really bad mojo surrounding it, Bill; what a tragedy.

[enigmatic]

43. I'm watching my local Canadian TV in Edmonton and it's the leading story

They aren't saying much more than we know, though.

[Wetzelbill]

49. yeah from the circumstances it sounds bad

Like you said, really bad mojo.

[Blue-Jay]

40. Tribute on USA Network starting now.

[Initech]

41. Holy crap!

:wow:

I'm not a WWE fan by any means, but damn that sucks!

[flamingyouth]

42. That's terrible.

:(

[Fox Mulder]

44. Well Vince is alive...

:eyes:

[Hawkeye-X]

45. And I believe it was the right thing to do.

To break kayfabe to honor Chris.

[Fox Mulder]

46. Same here.

[Wetzelbill]

47. oh he had to

no possible way would people stand for him not breaking kayfabe. If he didn't I'd probably hate the guy forever.

[Inchworm]

48. Glad he mentioned whats "real"

I commend him for that.

[Joe Fields]

51. I'm stunned. I've watched him since he broke into wrestling.

I've seen too many wrestlers die unnaturally in the last thirty years. I always had the utmost amount of respect for him.

[Blue-Jay]

52. Now that I've gotten over my initial shock, something doesn't make sense...

From what I've read, he canceled a show yesterday (was it yesterday?) citing "family reasons".

The next thing you hear is that he & his whole family are dead. That's kind of....weird...

To be honest, entire families rarely die by "accident" unless there has been an auto wreck or a fire or CO poisoning or something of the sort. I'm not pointing any fingers, I'm just saying that the whole thing sounds fishy to me. "Fishy" meaning "not accidental".

I hope I'm wrong, but there's an itch in the back of my brain that says I'm not.

AGAIN! Not necessarily blaming Benoit, but I suspect foul play of some sort.

[flvegan]

53. I read that the reason was

the wife and son were "throwing up blood" and he chose to stay with them.

It's very odd, yes. I have the same itch and I hope that I'm just being suspicious.

[Blue-Jay]

58. I seriously hope I'm wrong.

I come from a family of cops, so I guess I'm wired to be suspicious about things like this.

[flvegan]

59. No, I'm with you

My first thoughts as well were not positive ones. Considering the losses that this industry has undergone, I think that suspicion will always be at the forefront.

I hope we're both wrong, and then we can be happy in being wrong about this.

[Blue-Jay]

61. Not to hijack a thread...

But it's an odd occasion where you & I are both hoping to be wrong about the same thing!

hi-five!

[flvegan]

63. Right back atcha.

I don't think it's quite such an oddity when we agree on something, though.

[Omphaloskepsis]

62. If the wife and son were throwing up blood..

Wouldn't he have stayed with them at the hospital and not at his house? That is one of those things that make you get to the hospital ASAP.

[Ekirh]

54. I know what you mean . .

And understand

I so wnat answers also... but just going to have to wait. . .

it's all so weird..

I remember yesterday being dissappointed he and Punk didn't get to have their match

and now I'm never going to get to see him wrestle agian. .

and his wife and son are dead also . .

just all so fuck . .

All fucking tragic.

[enigmatic]

55. CNN is reporting that it's being treated as a Homicide

per 1wrestling.com:

http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29031

[Blue-Jay]

67. You'd think so, eh?

I suppose we'll know soon.

[johnnie]

56. I was thinking the same thing

I called my nephew who watches this stuff and told him about it and he mentioned that Benoit just canceled that gig. Something is really not right.

I'm a little shocked too, I know who Benoit was and used to watch this stuff to have things to talk about with the kids. It's really sad.

[Inchworm]

57. I hope I am wrong, too

If it was an accident, it seems like the details would have been released. I suspect foul play. I hope I'm wrong.

:(

[ghostsofgiants]

68. It's being investigated as a homicide according to reports.

[Omphaloskepsis]

71. Ten bucks that he killed his family..

Then called in sick to work.. While figuring out what to do he decided to to kill himself.

If something like this happened to "Joe Smith and family" the first thought would be that dad killed the family and then killed himself.

If another party had been involved they would know by now. Assuming a gun or candlestick was the weapon.

[johnnie]

72. They say he wasn't shot to death

From what I understand, he was in Texas for the show and said he needed to get home for a family emergency and he flew home.

[Bucky]

89. Wiki says murder-suicide. Killed them both over the weekend, then called in sick

The guy, if this is true, was clearly deranged. Calling in saying his family were throwing up blood after he'd killed them... This is so sad. Extreme mental illness--quite probably substance abuse involved--high pressure public career. Just so sad all around.

[ghostsofgiants]

90. Yeah, that's what the news agencies are reporting now.

Murder-suicide was my initial gut reaction when I first found out. It's really sad that I was right.

[Hawkeye-X]

66. It was mentioned that the Benoits just moved in a new house

Could it be CO poisoning, would it explain the throwing up blood?

[Wetzelbill]

69. I think that is a symptom

someone said it was on another thread.

[RevolutionaryActs]

70. omg! That is so awful!

I haven't watched WWE in so long, but I loved him when I used to watch it. :(

[sabbat hunter]

73. he called in on sat

to say he would not be at the PPV because he said his wife and son were sick.

chavo guerrero said in an interview that he spoke to chris on sunday.

[Pushed To The Left]

75. Definitely one of wrestling's all-time greats.

I'm on the West Coast so I haven't seen it yet, but I've read here and other places that Vince McMahon came out to make the introduction, which was the right thing to do. One of my co-workers told me the news this afternoon, and I was having a hard time believing it. Both of us were wondering if it was part of a storyline, but it turned out not to be the case. Too many wrestlers are dying way too young. Benoit's wife Nancy was also a well-known wrestling personality as "Woman" in WCW and the "Fallen Angel" back in the mid-80's.

It appears that the respect and admiration for Chris Benoit is bipartisan: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1856150/posts

RIP Chris Benoit and family

[ghostsofgiants]

77. Audio of the introduction, if you want to hear it...

http://www.zshare.net/audio/243298124070ee/

[johnnie]

76. Now reading it was murder/suicide

I can't get to the page, but here is what it says

The Fayette Citizen - 4 minutes ago
Authorities believe wrestler Benoit killed wife, son then himself Authorities believe a professional wrestler, his wife and son ‑ found dead in their central Fayette County home Monday afternoon ‑ died in a murder-suicide.

Here is a link to another one:

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13

[Ekirh]

78. Terribly Tragic if that's what it is ..

I mean it's terribly tragic no matter what the conclusion ends up being . .

Hopefully in the next few days full answers (Well I doubt we'll ever get full answers) will come out :(.

[lost-in-nj]

79. oh god no

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

lost

[slj0101]

80. I hope that's a false report.

Damnit!

Of all the career choices I could have made, I thank the maker that pro wrestler wasn't one of them. What a high-stress, insane career that is. Look at all the deaths in the last few years, either by drugs, suicide, or guys in their 30's dying of "natural causes."

[DainBramaged]

81. ABC News too

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3315501&page=1

[Wetzelbill]

82. that article says they found "death instruments" near the bodies

:cry:

[DainBramaged]

83. I am so sorry

Death, discontent, disgust. A sign of the times. Sickening.

[Pushed To The Left]

84. Now WWE.com is calling it a murder-suicide

www.wwe.com It's hard to imagine Benoit doing such a thing.

[mitchum]

87. They're not really dead, but just faking it

yes, that was in bad taste

[Wetzelbill]

91. It looks like he killed his family over a three day period, then himself

http://www.pwheadlines.com/WWE_News/More_On_Benoit_Text_Messages_Before_Death_More.shtml

http://www.pwheadlines.com/WWE_News/Police_Benoit_Kills_Family_Over_3_Day_Period.shtml

[SeattleGirl]

92. Aw, man, are you kidding? That's really awful! n\/t

[Wetzelbill]

95. it is awful

no words can even do justice to how shocking this is.

[enigmatic]

93. I can't believe this

They interviewed a friend who runs a local Fed here in town for the late news and he looked as stunned and numb as I am right now. This story is getting worse and worse, and honestly, my heart is breaking for everyone involved in this tragedy.

[Wetzelbill]

94. I feel shell shocked

I have for hours. Same here, my heart is breaking.

You know, I read Eddie's book and he talks about how he went through his addictions and how Chris Benoit was always there for him. Benoit was the most loyal friend I have ever heard of, Eddie put that guy through some serious rough times, but he still hung in there and took care of Eddie when he was down. I just can't believe that same loving compassionate Chris Benoit would be capable of something like this. The absolute last guy I would have ever guessed would do something like this.

[enigmatic]

96. Eddie's death did a huge number on him

More than anybody will ever know, I think.

[Wetzelbill]

97. evidently something went seriously wrong

all around. But yeah, I think losing Eddie seriously hurt the guy. Who knows, he just may not have ever been the same after that. Nobody knows what set him off. He could have been harboring this for a long time for all we know.

[enigmatic]

98. Nobody really knows, I guess

I don't know how the WWE is going to recover from this, especially in light of the "McMahon Death" angle that Vince pushed to the max. This is worse than Owen and Eddie's death combined, and I just don't know how they can wipe it away in the WWE Storyline universe. It's going to haunt everybody, least of all Vince.

[Wetzelbill]

99. this is a devastating blow

I didn't like Vince's death angle anyway, but it's unfortunate that these two events will be forever linked. Vince had done quite a few distasteful things, like making fun of JR's colon surgery etc, but that is nothing in comparison with his death angle coupled with the Benoit tragedy. This is something that will haunt the business for a long, long time. I don't even know how Smackdown will react. It's tragic, but even the tribute stuff is a double edged sword. Like with Eddie and Owen you had two beloved guys who had unfortunate deaths, but it was just them. In Benoit's case, sure he was a well loved guy, but he also murdered his family, so how do you hold a tribute to somebody who did that? Either way it's a hard decision. I wouldn't want to be in any of their shoes now. It's an ineffable tragedy, to say the least.

[Tektonik]

100. holy jesus

Back when I followed wrestling, he was always in my top 5 of favorite wrestlers, which were Triple H (my favorite), Hulk Hogan (especially the time he turned 'evil' in the WCW), the Undertaker, Kevin Nash, and Chris Benoit.

:cry:

So fucking sad, I wonder how this is going to affect the WWE's business and how it oversees its wrestlers' physical and mental health.

[Jamastiene]

101. sigh.

My condolences to the rest of the family, his fans, and others who mourn the passing of an obviously great entertainer. This is so sad. :grouphug:

[Ekirh]

102. I don't know what to think...

It was a Murder/Suicide? FUCK!

I don't know, just a horrible horrible tragedy, what went wrong, why did he do it, could some body have seen it buil...

God he was one of my favs... and he takes his family and his own life out of this world . . . god damn it.

[In_The_Wind]

103. OMG! That's horrible.

[Wetzelbill]

104. TMZ possible causes of deaths

There has been no official comment but, law enforcement sources told these guys, some pretty disturbing details. :(
http://nodq.com/wwe/184882765.shtml

[LSK]

105. Holy Shit!!!

[Ekirh]

106. ON Cnn . . .

Strangled his wife...
Smothered his son...
hung himself

Just.. good grief. That's all I can manage to say.