Chris Benoit : The disgraced Champion

 

Chris Benoit was once admired and now despised.

    If there's one thing that makes wrestling so important and prominent, it is a champion and the stories that lead to their victory. How their legacy withstands in history or time. Some fans may look back at them with admiration or inspiration.  With a winning streak, the number of great memorable matches, and title wins, it makes or breaks. Chris Benoit is that champion who started out as the greatest wrestler in the modern era.

His Legacy is up there with some iconic wrestlers from the likes of Hulk Hogan to Stone Cold Steve Austin, he was world-renowned for his athletic prowess, dedication to the arts, and professionalism with the people he worked with in the ring.  He gained respect from other wrestlers who have worked with him in the past, while some wrestlers have never doubted his best work in the ring, but his personal life was in question at some point in his career. 

A list of accomplishments and accolades That every wrestling fan would say he deserves to be in HOF (Hall of Fame). His 22 years in the business is nothing new.

    His Run in WWE along with other Wrestling organizations is something worthy of applause and other young wrestlers look up to this man. From the Tag Team belts to the World Championship win in Wrestlemania XX in 2004. The famous shot of him and his friend the late Eddie Guerrero. The ending of that PPV was iconic as well and something that would go down in history for wrestling fans. 

The Happy Ending at Wrestlemania XX in 2004 is now nothing more than a haunting Moment. WWE erased this moment from all Streaming services, DVDs, and Video games. 

    Two men who have been friends since the very beginning of their careers, to working at WCW (World Championship Wrestling), to become champions in WWF ( Now WWE). His legacy would have been cemented and sealed as the greatest Wrestler. But, Fate Had a wicked twist that left more questions than anwser. 

They tied the knot on November 23, 2000, They gave birth to their child Daniel on February 25, 2000. This was supposed to be a happy moment in Chris and Nancy's life, who could have thought it turned into something horrible. 

Nancy Benoit also had her run in wrestling as well. From being a Valet to her then-husband as a "Fallen angel" To the Tantalizing "Woman" In the WWE and WCW. That's where she met her 3rd husband Chris. 


    On June 24 2007 in Fayetteville, Georgia in Chris Benoit's new home, he shared with his second wife Nancy and their Son Daniel, who were found dead in their home by the police as a welfare check that was made by the management at WWE. To the shock of many, they found Chris dead by hanging.  Rumors began to swell saying that it could have been a Mob hit out on Him and his family, toxic poisoning in their new home, or Nancy ex Husband Kevin Sullivan, Who was also a wrestler, who had fought with Chris inside and outside of the ring,  did it out of revenge.

It was the first time people saw Christ breaking down this badly. It was during the 2005 tribute episode of Raw. Some people have said he took it harder than anyone. 

 

    There were so many reasons for this and who did it that people couldn't comprehend the tragic ending of a family and the world's best wrestling. WWE made a tribute show towards Chris and his career, but a terrible secret was about to reveal itself to the wrestling world, that almost caused wrestling in general to collapse. After the police investigation was done and the background check on who was the last person to see them, it became painfully clear, that the murder was Chris.  CNN, NBC, ABC, and other media outlets ran like a track star with the story, wrestlers who once worked with Chris told stories about how he acted after Eddie passed away on November 13, 2005. 

    In some cases, his actions during the show were an eerily foreshadowing of something wicked was about to happen. His actions left a black eye on wrestling whole, anytime they think of wrestling at the time, This case was on their mind. Wrestling took a long time to recover to what it is today. Not just Killing your wife, but taking the life of your young son, Who looked up to you, is something even wrestlers who once respected him, were shocked by this action.

The comparison of his brain deteriorating over the 22 years in wrestling. 

Some wrestlers, historian, fans, and even podcasters, have given their opinions on him and his actions. It varies from Sorrow about Daniel and Nancy to pure disgust towards Chris pertaining to his crime. But Some wrestlers have mixed feelings on how this entire crime was. Some people have a hard time trying to figure out why did he it and if was there something else he was telling everyone. The main problem was his CTE ( Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy)

scan because of all of the steel chair shots to the head over the years of wrestling.  Some wrestlings still have respect for his work in the ring and his wins. he was a 12th triple crown champion, but to some fans, he's lower than hell.  

On the June 26th episode of Raw in 2007 did a tribute episode for Chris, even before the Police investigation wasn't finished. This was a bad move on WWE. This special was never shown again.

    People will say that the WWE has changed their Wellness policy for wrestlers and Has eliminated chair shots, ( Even AEW ignores that). They refused to have another Chris Moment. The actions of Chris Benoit cast a shadow over his whole legacy. Even the second season of Vice's Darkside of the Ring mentioned the entire situation with realness and honesty. Something that some wrestling fans and bloggers refuse to address. 

    The series mentions dark stories about wrestlers and incidents. The show's two-part episode pretty much sums up everything that some fans have known and some haven't. The heartbreak Christ Suffered when Eddie died, the pain medication abuse, to the shocking death. The domino effect was too much for Him and his wife. Leading to separation in their marriage to death. 

    

Any episode that has him in a Raw or Smackdown episode, this would pop up on streaming services. 

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Even his son David ( From his last marriage before Nancy) wants to keep his father's father legacy alive and showcase the wrestling talent his father left behind. Chris fans said he should be in the HOF at WWE, but the damage is done. Any mention of Chris on WWE websites, viral videos, merchandise, and others,  is wiped clean. Even if they can't they put up a warning about the person. It's that bad. 

    In closing, do I think he should be in the WWE Hall of Fame, maybe, because while some people would be happy, we are living in the Times Up and the #Metoo movement is still here, and there would be pushbacks and protests.  People would tell sponsors to pull out of the event if she's inducted, because of his shocking actions. To others, he was a top-notch perfect wrestler, whose legacy is never questioned or doubted, 

Do  I think people should separate him from his work, I don't think so because even if you look at his work, it's hard to shake the dreadful feeling about seeing this wrestler fighting against the other wrestlers, using the wrestling on his wife, killing her. Some of these things are impossible to separate.

Do I think people could forgive him,  No for some, because he took the life of a child who looked up to him, who turned around to be his son, To harm your wife who was trying to get him to help mentally and emotionally, to n prevail? That is something that some people can't look past that no matter how good he was. Hell would have to freeze over before Chris's name is mentioned in the WWE again, and sadly I think it's for the very best.