Tuesday, June 26, 2007
News / Sports Chris Benoit
Posted by Scott Freeman on Tue, Jun 26, 2007 at 3:35 PM
I grew up a fan of professional wrestling. As a kid, I lived and died with the Saturday night exploits of Mr. Wrestling II, Terry Funk, Dusty Rhodes, the Assassins and the other stars who were on TBS.
That was before pro rasslin' changed and morphed into a comic book parody. But I always appreciated the modern-day throwbacks. And Chris Benoit was a throwback, someone who was actually schooled in the art of wrestling and knew the psychology of a pro wrestling match, how to ebb and flow and build suspense and drama. Not surprising, considering he trained in Stu Hart's infamous "Dungeon," the same place where Bret Hart and Owen Hart and dozens of others learned their craft.
Benoit, 40, who lived in Fayetteville, apparently killed his wife, Nancy, and their son, Daniel, over the weekend, then killed himself Monday. The district attorney told the AJC: "The details, when they come out, are going to prove a little bizarre."
UPDATE: The AP just reported that Benoit strangled his wife, smothered his son and hung himself in his weight room. They also are investigating whether steroids may have been a factor.
A few years ago, I used to work out at a Gold's Gym near the airport where a lot of professional wrestlers also worked out. I was on the treadmill when Benoit walked in with fellow wrestler Eddie Guerrero. Even though they were involved in an ongoing "feud" with one another, they spent two hours working out together. I felt like walking up to them and saying, "Hey, you're fighting each other; you're not supposed to be working out together in public!" The two wrestlers, who were good friends, had carried their wrestling feud from Japan to Ted Turner's WCW to Vince McMahon's WWE, and it resulted in some of the greatest pro wrestling matches ever.
Both Benoit and Guerrero would go on to hold the WWE's heavyweight championship belt.
And both are now dead long before their time.
Comments (4)
Showing 1-4 of 4
Hey, Scott: Wrestling is fake! Maybe those deaths are fake, too! Just guessing. Say, did you see the column about Lita in Atlanta Magazine last month?
like
dislike
you are a ignoramus of the highest order...yes,the outcome of pro wrestling matches are predetermined but that doesn\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t change the fact that it takes tremendous athletic ability and a extremely high threshhold for pain to do what these guys do night after night.Only a fat, ignorant swine such as yourself would minimize not only the dedication that this takes but also minimize the tradgedy that just took place....why don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t you brush the potato chip crumbs off your huge belly,wash the cheeto stains from your greasy fingers come on to my place and i\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'ll show you a sharpshooter or crossface crippler?but i guess you would rather sit on your lard ass and minimize the pain in other peoples life on your couch like the little pussy-slacker you are...
I have been a Wrestling fan since my dad worked for WWF back in the 80s at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston Texas and i have to say that through the years of going to live invents and meeting a lot of the old Wrestlers as a child and young adult it is really hard for me to look back and remember some of the wrestlers that i got to share a hand shake or a hug or just sit with them and get to know them. With that being said its really hard to know that some one that you once met and got to know is no longer with us its really sad that drugs can do that to a person i have not nor is the past did drugs i don't see how a person can put something that they know will hurt them in to there bodies but then again i have never did them so i don't know what it feels like. I do have a question for WWE ok so back when Eddie and Chris died there was a big thing about testing the wrestlers for drugs are they still being tested or did they just forget about there deaths I sure hope not I would hate to see all the little kids on TV crying again because WWE don't keep up on what they said they were going to do It Broke my heart to watch the kids that looked up to Eddie and Chris knowing that they well never see them come out to the ring again they don't understand they are so young.I know that WWE can not stop there wreslters from doing drugs and i dont hold WWE in anyway responsible for the deaths of Eddie or Chris but i do pray that WWE keeps testing there people. We as fans need that. Thanks and GOD BLESS Aways a Fan Lena
Latest in Fresh Loaf
-
APD officially closes Stacey Nicole English investigation 1
Medical examiner says the 36 year old's death was accidental
-
MARTA: Federal transportation bill is bad, bad news 4
Witness the train wreck that is H.R. 7
-
W-w-wait ... does Herman Cain think he's above 'Dancing With the Stars?' 7
'Cause I'm pretty sure he isn't
- More »
