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WWE Canadian wrestler Benoit, wife and son found dead
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:14 pmby Mr.RobotoAutoMan
Jun 25, 2007 08:59 PM
Canadian Press
STAMFORD, Conn. — Canadian pro wrestler Chris Benoit has been found dead at his suburban Atlanta home along with his wife Nancy and son, World Wrestling Entertainment said Monday.
“There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities,” the WWE said in a statement on its website.
WWE said information about the deaths came from “authorities” in Fayetteville County, Ga. A spokesman for the Peachtree City Police Department said he had no information on the report, telling a reporter to contact his superior on Tuesday.
The WWE planned to air a tribute show to Benoit instead of its regular Raw TV show on Monday night. Benoit, 40, was born in Montreal and also lived in Edmonton.
“WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy,” the website statement said.
Benoit was scheduled to wrestle at the Vengeance pay-per-view Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called “personal reasons.”
Benoit, a five-foot-11 220-pounder, was often described as a rabid wolverine in the ring. “The Canadian Crippler” had a chiselled physique and was known for his superior technical skills. The “Crippler Crossface” was one of his signature moves, along with a flying headbutt from the top rope and triple German suplex.
“Chris was beloved among his fellow superstars, and was a favourite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability,” the WWE said on its website. “He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss.”
Benoit began his career in 1985 after training with Stu Hart and family in Calgary. He competed for Hart’s Stampede Wrestling promotion in the late 1980’s and later wrestled in Japan and for the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling. He joined WWE in 2000.
Benoit held several titles over his career but realized his dream at Wrestlemania 20 in 2004, defeating Shawn Michaels and champion Triple H in a triple threat match at Madison Square Garden to win the WWE world heavyweight championship for the first time.
“He was a man of few words, but his passion for the sports-entertainment business was almost unrivaled,” the WWE said. ``Whether loved or hated, Benoit was always well-respected by our fans and his peers for his in-ring ability, his trademark toothless grin and his no-nonsense attitude.
“The sports-entertainment world has truly suffered a loss with his passing, as one of the all-time greats was taken well before his time.”
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:27 pmby Cyber Bishop
Even though it is being discussed in the wrestling thread, it is news enough to have it's own thread.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:29 pmby Mr.RobotoAutoMan
Cyber Bishop wrote:Even though it is being discussed in the wrestling thread, it is news enough to have it's own thread.
oops my bad. iam not into wrestling i just found it while on yahoo. just wanted to let you guys know.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:50 pmby DISCHARGE
This is very sad.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:55 pmby Goribus
I'm very sad to hear this news. I'm watching Raw right now and trying not to shed tears.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 8:58 pmby Traks
A very sad day indeed. Our hearts and prayers go out to his remaining family.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:00 pmby KillerMel
i still can't believe this.... i just found out when i got home not 1 hour ago. i'm broken in tears, since i had the oportunity of sharing time with chris back when i trained in the dungeon in 1999....
i just hope we remember him with a smile, since he was one of the few human beings that really loved this business with a true fashion...
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:01 pmby Nemescream
Really sad. He was one of my favorite wrestlers to watch. I haven't watched wrestling in years, but I'm watching Raw tonight. Very fitting tribute, and hearing Malenko talking about him was really rough. I feel for him.
I really hope foul play wasn't involved, though the police are investigating it as a murder-suicide.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:06 pmby Whisper
...
This sucks, big time...
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:12 pmby Burn
Whisper wrote:...
This sucks, big time...
And that's putting it mildly.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:12 pmby Wheeljack35
I haven't been into Wrestling in about 6 years but this surprised me big time I found out about this on Fox News
I hate seeing children die what the hell happened?
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:13 pmby Robinson
I put this in the Pro Wrestling Thread as well.
WWE Benoit Tribute Video
For all of WWE's faults they sure as hell know how to get emotion out of people with a simple 2 minute video.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:14 pmby Marcus Rush
I've grown out of my wrestling phase some time ago. However no matter how foolish it got with its repeat arcs and pathetic storylines, there was always one man who made me actually tune in and watch with eager intent. That was The Crippler himself. Man he was great, way back in the WCW I watched him get pounded by four men, Hogan, Paul White, Flair and Nash all in the same match. I don't remember if he won or not, but to see him stagger up after each blow, each supplex, each leglock... well it impressed me enough to consider him one of my favorites. Now to hear his family is nearly eradicated? Its sickeningly sad. My prayers go out to the surviving members of his clan, where ever they may be.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:30 pmby Emperor Primacron the 1st
Whoa, first Sherri Martel dead, and this as well.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:30 pmby Cyber Bishop
Alpha Strike wrote:I've grown out of my wrestling phase some time ago. However no matter how foolish it got with its repeat arcs and pathetic storylines, there was always one man who made me actually tune in and watch with eager intent. That was The Crippler himself. Man he was great, way back in the WCW I watched him get pounded by four men, Hogan, Paul White, Flair and Nash all in the same match. I don't remember if he won or not, but to see him stagger up after each blow, each supplex, each leglock... well it impressed me enough to consider him one of my favorites. Now to hear his family is nearly eradicated? Its sickeningly sad. My prayers go out to the surviving members of his clan, where ever they may be.
I feel the same way. I had not followed wrestling or really watched it in a few years but when I heard about this..
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:41 pmby .op.
Man this is a shame. He was one of the best around. For him and his family to have this fate is sad. My prayers are with everyone who ever knew him.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:46 pmby Cyber Bishop
Here is something "new"?
myfoxatlanta.comWrestler Chris Benoit, Wife and Child Found Dead
Last Edited: Monday, 25 Jun 2007, 8:36 PM EDT
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities said professional wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and child were found slain Monday at their Fayette County home.
Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details.
Pope said the deaths are being investigated as homicide, but the cause of death awaits autopsy results tomorrow.
He would not say how the bodies were discovered, or who found them.
The World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Website that the 40-year-old Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son Daniel were found dead but also had no other details.
The WWE said that instead of its programming Monday night on USA Network, it would air a three-hour tribute to Benoit.
That reports them as "slain"..
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:47 pmby Wheeljack35
These things seem to happen in threes Today Beniot yesterday former Giant Pitcher Rod Beck .......
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:49 pmby Cyber Bishop
Wheeljack35 wrote:These things seem to happen in threes Today Beniot yesterday former Giant Pitcher Rod Beck .......
Not to mention Hank Medress, lead singer of the Tokens who passed yesterday as well.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:53 pmby Robinson
Cyber Bishop wrote:Here is something "new"?
myfoxatlanta.comWrestler Chris Benoit, Wife and Child Found Dead
Last Edited: Monday, 25 Jun 2007, 8:36 PM EDT
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities said professional wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and child were found slain Monday at their Fayette County home.
Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details.
Pope said the deaths are being investigated as homicide, but the cause of death awaits autopsy results tomorrow.
He would not say how the bodies were discovered, or who found them.
The World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Website that the 40-year-old Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son Daniel were found dead but also had no other details.
The WWE said that instead of its programming Monday night on USA Network, it would air a three-hour tribute to Benoit.
That reports them as "slain"..
Its now being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 9:58 pmby Marcus Rush
Robinson wrote:Cyber Bishop wrote:Here is something "new"?
myfoxatlanta.comWrestler Chris Benoit, Wife and Child Found Dead
Last Edited: Monday, 25 Jun 2007, 8:36 PM EDT
FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP) -- Authorities said professional wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and child were found slain Monday at their Fayette County home.
Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details.
Pope said the deaths are being investigated as homicide, but the cause of death awaits autopsy results tomorrow.
He would not say how the bodies were discovered, or who found them.
The World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Website that the 40-year-old Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son Daniel were found dead but also had no other details.
The WWE said that instead of its programming Monday night on USA Network, it would air a three-hour tribute to Benoit.
That reports them as "slain"..
Its now being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
apparently so. Its tragic to say the least. An Icon from three branches of Wrestling, the original ECW, WCW and finally WWE both Smackdown and Raw, this man was the most intense fighter and entertainer for years. Man I seriously feel sorry for those who worked with him and for his friends he left behind, especially Dave... He's lost his two best friends in this business, Eddy and now Chris.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:03 pmby Ericus Prime
It's a great loss for the wrestling community, he was one of the greatest. Without him, wrestling will never be the same. My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:21 pmby DeathBlast
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:25 pmby Hotrod
This is truely upsetting. I hope it is not a murder-suicide.
Posted:
Mon Jun 25, 2007 10:29 pmby Wheeljack35
Cyber Bishop wrote:Wheeljack35 wrote:These things seem to happen in threes Today Beniot yesterday former Giant Pitcher Rod Beck .......
Not to mention Hank Medress, lead singer of the Tokens who passed yesterday as well.
Sorry I never heard of him