The Shimmy 6.23.08: The Chris Benoit Report Card (Part One)
Posted by Andy Clark on 06.23.2008
Does this darkness have a name? This cruelty this hatred. How did it find us, did it steal into our lives or did we seek it out and embrace it? What happened to us that we now send our children into the world like we send young men to war, hoping for their safe return but knowing some will be lost along the way. When did we lose our way? Consumed by the shadows swallowed whole by the darkess. Does this darkness have a name...is it your name?
On June 25, 2007 I ran a column comparing the "death" of Mr. McMahon to the attempted murder of One Tree Hill's Dan Scott (which can be read here) . It was one of the most fun columns I've written even if it probably wasn't the cup of tea of most of my readers. That was not the original plan for that week's column however. That weekend I had planned to start a multipart Report Card series on that Monday. I like to try and keep them topical and I had yet to do a Report Card series on Chris Benoit's WWE tenure so I figured I'd start that week. I thought it was a slam dunk that he would be the new ECW Champion coming out of Vengeance: Night of Champions and that a Report Card focusing on his would coincide nicely. In the end I decided to wait a week just in case I was wrong and CM Punk over at the PPV, so I ran the aforementioned "The Leaver's Dance" column instead with the intention of running the Benoit Report Card the following week. Unfortunately I had to indefinitely postpone the Benoit Report Card again, but not because of a change in booking. Benoit did not win the ECW Title at Vengeance, not because CM Punk defeated him in a match but because by the time the show hit the airways Chris Benoit was dead. He was dead and, as we would find out in the following days, he had taken his wife and son with him. Instead of running a tribute to the legacy of one of the greatest pure wrestlers of all time I wrote a column dedicated to my feelings about the situation ( here). Most of the reaction I received on that column was positive, and frankly I don't really blame the negative e-mails I received either. I did get some support from my readers that indicated that at some point the Benoit Report Card would be welcomed. I believe I have waited long enough.
For those of you that are of the opinion that it is too soon to remember the good of Chris Benoit I encourage you to leave the column. Some of you might thing it will always be too soon and I completely understand. But for the next six weeks this column will be dedicated to Chris Benoit the wrestler from February 27, 2000 to May 20, 2008 and not Chris Benoit the murderer of the weekend of June 22, 2007.
Six Man Tag Team Match: Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, & Perry Saturn vs. Rikishi & Too Cool (No Way Out 2000)
For the longest time this was my favorite match on this card, even more so then the underwhelming-at-the-time Foley-Triple H Hell in a Cell Match. Too Cool and Rikishi were just so damn over and the Radicalz brought the goods when it came to in ring ability. I think a lot of people see this match as a wasted opportunity for the Radicalz, but if it is any consolation the original main event before Eddie Guerrero broke his arm was supposed to be The Radicalz against a Foley lead team (according to Mick's second book). Still, this was a good showcase of what the new blood could do and these six men had surprisingly good chemistry together.
I have never been as enamored with this match as some, but I have some sort of hardwired programming not to like hardly anything about this show (I think the Triangle Ladder Match is the weakest of the TLC Matches). Maybe it had to do with the fact that I still wasn't sold on Kurt Angle as a legit contender, who knows. Still, when you have these three men in a match, at WrestleMania no less, it's hard to come up with a bad outing. Even taking Angle out of the mix and Benoit and Jericho proved why they would be paired up numerous times over the years. I was happy to see Benoit win the IC Title here because it marked right off the bat that WWE had some plans for him.
It's been a few year since I've seen this match but the only real fault I can remember having with it was the finish. Benoit and Jericho always have good matches (they even had a few on free TV a few weeks before this) and this was no exception. I normally hate when people regale me with tales of the good old days of the IC Title, but I kind of can't help being reminded on that when thinking about this match. Like I said, the only real issue here was the finish which saw the face in the match get blatantly disqualified, and even though the concept was dumb the actual spot came off beautifully.
You can pretty much take what I said above and apply it this match as well. Again the finish was the only problem as Jericho passing out while in the Crippler Crossface was a tad clichéd. This would not be the only great Submission Match between these two either as they would meet again five years later on an episode of Raw broadcast from Japan.
My Grade: A-
King of the Ring Quarter-Final Match: Chris Benoit vs. Rikishi (King of the Ring 2000)
JD Dunn's recent recap of this show reminded me of just how strange they booked the later stages of this tournament. I loved that it was a 32 man tournament instead of one of those lame eight or 16 tournaments, but the way they executed the Quarter-Finals was odd. You would think the likes of Angle, Benoit, and Jericho would all have advanced to the semis but only Angle, the eventual winner, made it out of his Quarter-Final Match (beating Jericho no less). At the time I thought Benoit was the odds on favorite to win the crown so you can imagine my surprise when he lost by DQ to Rikishi in his first match of the night. The match, while short, was pretty decent but the puzzling booking decision taints it a bit. The post-match beatdown that Benoit puts on Rikishi's shoulder is good though and helped establish a running story for the rest of the night.
Here is where Benoit really started to shine in WWE. If I remember the rumors correctly Benoit was originally slated to face Undertaker with Kurt Angle wrestling for the title but Undertaker had some sort of arm injury that would prevent him from selling the Crossface so they switched. Turned out to be a pretty good idea. The Rock showed that he could hang with a talented wrestler and Benoit showed that he could entertain with the best of them. I wasn't really on the internet at the time so I can only imagine the outcry when Benoit was announced as the champion only for it to be reversed. It's a shame WWE is still keeping Benoit off of their compilation DVDs because this would have been a great addition to the new Rock DVD.
My Grade: A
2/3 Falls Match: Chris Benoit vs. Chris Jericho (SummerSlam 2000)
This was a bit of a step backward for both men in my estimation considering their great performances against The Rock and Triple H respectively a month ago. I think that is kind of evident here because even though the match is still great from a technical standpoint there doesn't seem to be the same urgency they had in other matches around this time. Jim Ross attempted to get the match over as an unofficial No. 1 Contender's Match on commentary but at the end of the day it was just a Benoit-Jericho exhibition, which is nowhere near as bad as I'm making it sound. I will say that I enjoyed the story leading up to this match with Jericho costing Benoit shots at the WWE and Hardcore Titles while Benoit cost Jericho shots at the Intercontinental and European Titles.
Benoit did manage to get back in the title picture but why I don't quite remember. I do remember that the build to this match was more focused on The Rock, Undertaker, and Kane but the actual match focused more on The Rock, Undertaker, and Benoit. The match itself was a fun Four-Way with lots of energy and some good storytelling, but when you look at it big picture it was just a way to get The Rock a title defense on PPV. This match also included yet another instance of Benoit being announced as the champion only for it to be reversed.
My Grade: A-
Chris Benoit vs. Triple H (No Mercy 2000)
The story for this feud was pretty dumb because it was just so random (Benoit decides one evening to just headbutt Stephanie McMahon why?) but the match was great. Triple H was probably wrestling better than anybody on the roster in 2000 and that's saying something considering who they had on the roster, including Benoit. Triple H reversing the Crossface was a cool moment that I had actually forgotten about until reading Dunn's column recently. WWE needed a heel opponent to throw at Triple H after his rather unexpected and unintended face turn and Benoit was the perfect guy for the job.
My Grade: A+
Classic Survivor Series Elimination Match: The Radicalz vs. Billy Gunn, Chyna, Road Dogg, & K-Kwik (Survivor Series 2000)
The Radicalz vs. The Fake DX. I'm still disappointed the New Age Outlaws never reunited in WWE. A lot of people complain that this was just taking The Radicalz back to square one but I liked the association with one another, even if it did kind of signal the end of Saturn and Malenko as anything more than lower midcarders. The real issue here, and the more intriguing match, was the Radicalz vs. The REAL DX (with Triple H replacing K-Kwik) and that match happened a few weeks earlier on Raw, albeit without elimination rules. These Survivor Series matches always have a certain element of fun to them but I really can't recall anything too terribly memorable about this match.
Well this is a down way to end the year, eh? And I even like Billy Gunn. Still, this was more or less an extended PPV squash with Benoit reclaiming the IC Title. I know a lot of people were angry at this point that he was still competing for the IC Title and not the WWE Title but I think the quality of what would come in the next few months was well worth it.
My Grade: C+
The Shimmy Likes It Raw!
What's on tap for tonight's show?
It's Draft time, baby! They haven't specified how they are going to do it this year, but I liked how they did it last year with there being Interpromotional Matches to determine draft picks. For those interested here are my thoughts, copy and pasted from the 411 forum's Draft Contest. This is assuming there is a Supplemental Draft as well, otherwise you can drop all the midcarders of this list.
ECW:
CM Punk to SmackDown
Elijah Burke to Raw
John Morrison to Raw
Kelly Kelly to Raw
Stevie Richards to Raw
SmackDown:
Batista to Raw
Deuce to Raw
Finlay to ECW
Hornswoggle to ECW
Kenny Dykstra to ECW
Shannon Moore to Raw
The Great Khali to Raw
Raw:
Brian Kendrick to ECW
Carlito to SmackDown
JBL to ECW
Melina to SmackDown
Mr. Kennedy to SmackDown
Paul London to ECW
Snitsky to ECW
Trevor Murdoch to SmackDown
Umaga to SmackDown
This could be your last chance to win some of Vinnie Mac's millions. Watch me get a call from him tonight and get the freaking $1 prize. Actually that wouldn't be too bad as I'd probably frame the damn thing.
Oh and LANCE CADE~!
Well that does it for me. Next week we'll look at Chris Benoit's WWE tenure from 2001 and 2002. Until then, don't die. Clark…out.
Posted By: Captain_Snackpipe (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:38 AM
NO NO NO NO NO
I think I am going to be sick
Posted By: Guest#3239 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:44 AM
For those of you that are of the opinion that it is too soon to remember the good of Chris Benoit I encourage you to leave the column. Some of you might thing it will always be too soon and I completely understand. But for the next six weeks this column will be dedicated to Chris Benoit the wrestler from February 27, 2000 to May 20, 2008 and not Chris Benoit the murderer of the weekend of June 22, 2007.
*Some* people commenting should learn how to read.
Posted By: JP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:48 AM
Thank you for doing this article.
Posted By: Mr. J (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:49 AM
Thank you.
Posted By: Matthew Knight (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:51 AM
I applaud you for making the stand here and choosing to post this column. Despite Benoits horrific actions one would be foolish and ignorant not to think he was a solid wrestler. Just like good people can do bad things, bad people can do good things. This situation is no different.
Good work...
Posted By: MKick (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:02 AM
Benoit doesn't deserve shit. Sure he was an amazing worker but what he did will always overshadow his career. It makes me sick people actually want to talk about him and Larry i have lost respect for you.
Posted By: dp (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:09 AM
thanks been waitin for this-
is it ok to wear benoit shirts again?
Posted By: L I A M (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Irrespective of the merits of running this column (which I'm sure will be debated at length), I think the excitable front-page pimp replete with exclamation points everywhere is several miles past "in dubious taste"
Posted By: Guest#3389 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Dude, I appreciate it, and I'm glad you can do this. But I can't. It's too soon.
Posted By: anthony (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:49 AM
dp,
Please read the top of the article.
And why the loss of respect for Larry? What does he have to do with this?
Posted By: Brent (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:04 AM
I'll enjoy my Benoit memorablia. I don't give a **** what people think.
Posted By: David (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:25 AM
it is never okay to wear a benoit shirt again in public.
Posted By: no (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:29 AM
Good stuff here...I prefer to remember Benoit as an amazing wrestler, not a deplorable murderer. I can seperate Polanski the filmmaker from Polanski the pedophile, so I can do the same with Benoit.
Posted By: KX (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:41 AM
Anyone who thinks it is possible to seperate Chris Benoit the wrestler from Chris Benoit the murderer is being naive. I think we all remember how viciously he wrestled. It is the same viciousness with which he murdered his family.
Anyone remember the look on the man's face on the cover to Hard Knocks DVD? I believe it was that same face his wife and child saw.
Posted By: Ronald Reagan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:47 AM
Man, who gives a shit about Chris Benoit? George Carlin just died. And Stan Winston died last week. Two geniuses whose contributions were much more significant than anything that little nutjob Canadian did.
This summer officially sucks.
Posted By: Chopper (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:50 AM
This is sick, this is wrong, and this is an embarrassment to pro wrestling fans everywhere. I can only imagine what an outsider would think who happened to stumble upon this column.
Posted By: Guest#9242 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:56 AM
"Benoit decides one evening to just headbutt Stephanie McMahon why?"
Why NOT? I know I would too, if given the opportunity. Wouldn't you?
Posted By: Rabid Squirrell (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:16 AM
Ah good ol ignorant bitching about how no one should appreciate what Benoit done in his career.
Posted By: DS (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:20 AM
Thank you. It is good to see his wrestling accomplishments acknowledged. OJ is still a good running back and Benoit is still a great wrestler despite what they did off the field/ring.
Posted By: Matt (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:51 AM
About damn time. The ignorant gormless PC brigade asking for you to be censored ought to be ashamed of themselves.
Posted By: T.G. Corke (Registered) on June 23, 2008 at 04:08 AM
I agree it's too soon. The man murdered his wife and son for pete's sake. The fact he did that does overshadow his wrestling career as well it should. I think this should not have been written out of respect for the family and friends of Nancy and Daniel.
But then again it's a free country and you can write what you want.
Posted By: Olympic Hero (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:15 AM
You gotta love the IWC. If someone they drool over does soemthing heinous, it's easy to look over. I guarantee if Mark Henry did something similar to what Benoit did, there'd be no career retrospective articles being written. I'm not offended by this article in any means and can still watch Benoit matches and the like. The IWC double standard when it comes to workhorses though is comical though.
Posted By: Ryan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:18 AM
yeah he was a solid wrestler but i still cant watch his matches. altho wwe have a lot to answer for by not noticing benoit was going off the rails or what pills he was taking.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:26 AM
Thank You!
I had started wearing my Benoit T shirt since last month. I can't ever forget the feeling when "Whatever" music starts, followed by the Rabid wolverine coming out, all worked up, all the hard work, all the passion, RIP Benoit.
Posted By: Arnab (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:27 AM
The opening is very deep and touching it's heavy words word deep dark feelings. Hats off to who ever wrote it. Reading about past matches Chris had done saddens me, because he was very talented. He's life and especially his ending is a great lesson to learn from. Lesson of life where we can seek help if we feel like that cause that could have happen to many people. Take care god bless and may Chris actions wake people up and have them get help before they do a horrific act. His actions will be missed but his final actions will always over shadow his life work, that said when you go how do you want to be remembered?
Posted By: Sam (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:59 AM
I will remember chris for what he did in the ring. He made a mistake and will always be rembered for that. He was and still is one of my favorite westlers of all time. Some people do not like this article being wrote and that is fine. That is the right they have. It is also the right for the one's who read it
to give opinions. It is also right for people to like Chris for what he did in the ring.
Posted By: Everett (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 05:10 AM
Go ahead and make your pathetic little delusional columns. Its not gonna change the fact that Chris Benoit will forever be remembered as murderer. Rot in hell midget rot in hell.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 05:46 AM
If the so called midget was alive,i bet he whip your ass badly guest.
Posted By: Ed (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 06:59 AM
benoit=epic fail
this column=epic fail
Posted By: bond (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:52 AM
Ryan's comment was most amusing.
If Mark Henry did this, you won't see a career retrospective on him a year later.
Mark Henry? Think anyone will miss him when he's gone? Seriously?
That's like doing a career retrospective on the Mulkeys.
Posted By: David (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:59 AM
Successful trolls are successful
Posted By: natedoggcata (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:18 AM
There is a little thing called judgment day. Look it up before you start condemning people.
Posted By: JP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:25 AM
I enjoyed this. I look forward to the next installments.
Posted By: Hawkeye (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:26 AM
"As I look back at all the media attention, I can submit to you it's a shame that missing in these stories is the tragic loss of three lives.
The professional wrestler, admired and respected by his peers, known in his chosen profession as one of the best in-ring performers the industry has ever known, who will now, much like OJ Simpson, never be remembered for his accomplishments, but only for the deaths his name will forever be attached to.
There's the young girl who got caught up in the wrestling business as a teenager, ended up leaving the business to become a full time mother, whose professional legacy and even worse, whose brutal murder has been eclipsed by the remembrances of what a "good guy" and a "great wrestler" and a "wonderful family man" and a "respected co-worker" her killer was.
And there's a seven-year-old boy, whose room was filled with posters and action figures of his revered father, who has been wrongfully labelled across the world as being a dwarf, or retarded, or a sufferer of Fragile-X, whose wrongly-reported disabilities have been speculated as the cause of the marital strife that many say drove the little boy's beloved father, the murderer, over the edge."
"On that fateful weekend in June last year, in that house in Fayetville, Georgia, three people lost their lives. Two didn't have a choice."
-Paul Heyman.
Posted By: I miss Chris... (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:32 AM
How nice for you Mr. Clark... to tell us to look the other way and stop reading. The only problem being you've managed to take over the front page of OUR site with a headline picture that only sends chills down my spine without even reading your self justified column.
The same move he probably murdered his seven year old son with? Lovely. You can have it all back. You can have your fucking working rate hero. You can have your Crippler Crossface back... you can have it all just the way you want it because this is the internet and there is no law of any kind including the high morality or common everyday taste.
Enjoy the ratings, Punky Brewster... you truly are of the business now.
Posted By: Horrible (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:35 AM
Like the man said....You don't like it?. Don't f*****g read it!.
Let those of us who DO want to read it do so in peace!.
Andy...you keep going till the bitter end on this one! and well done for having the cohones to do so.
Posted By: RockerDropper (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Too soon. Like it's too soon to make comments on how the Starbucks in the World Trade Center will never be rebuilt! :)
Posted By: Frankie (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I love comments like "I will remember him for his wrestling." That's great, choose to ignore the murder of his wife and defenseless kid. I read the column because Benoit as a wrestler I still remember but it doesn't mean I, or anyone else, should just forget.
Posted By: O'Dog (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Further to my previous post, its comments like this that are exactly what I'm raging about:
"I will remember chris for what he did in the ring. He made a mistake
and will always be rembered for that."
What the fuck is wrong with you? He made a "mistake"? Are you fucking retarded? A "mistake" is when I make an error at work, or say something hurtful to someone when I shouldn't. Benoit MURDERED HIS WIFE & CHILD - That is not a "mistake". that is COLD-BLOODED KILLING. And then, to top it off, he killed himself to escape justice like the pathetic, worthless piece of shit he is. To label this a "mistake" is a horrific slight on the memories of Nancy & Daniel Benoit, you insufferable little shit. People like you shouldn't be allowed to have opinions, you fucking dolt.
Posted By: The Truth (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 09:58 AM
A year has gone by now. The medical evidence has been vetted and Benoit's brain injury proven "within a reasonable degree of medical certainty" to have been the cause of his actions. Yet there are idiots here who STILL don't, or WON'T, get it. Makes me wonder about all that anger being transferred onto someone they never even knew.
Posted By: nomark (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:32 AM
Kennedy's not being drafted off of raw RIGHT after his face push has started and actually succeeded this time.
Posted By: yeah no (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Why are we still discussing Chris Benoit's matches. I'm partially upset that you wrote this because Benoit doesn't deserve this kind of press. Most of my displeasure is due to the fact that Benoit's matches have been discussed and analyzed ad nauseum for years, prior to him slaughtering his wife and son. A double murderer does not deserve this kind of "show of respect." It's a nice attempt trying to have the guy remembered for the good times, but it's not like he OD'd on coke and died in a hotel room. He isn't Len Bias. He is a murderer and deserves to be remembered for the awful pain he caused his wife, his child, their family and the millions of wrestling fans that adored him.
Posted By: Guest#8656 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Benoit, OJ, Michael Jackson, Walt Disney(the nazi).
all the same category
Posted By: Harry (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Good article. I prefer to remember the man for his wrestling contributions, not his final deeds. Don't think I'd wear his T shirt quite yet, but I have no problems talking about him. Hell, he used to be one of my favorite wrestlers.
Posted By: whiteburbia (Registered) on June 23, 2008 at 10:52 AM
I love how people are defending this because the guy wrote a disclaimer at the beginning. So if you write a paragraph that says "don't read this," you can write a column about whatever you wish at 411.
Stay tuned for next week's episode, where Andy Clark looks at the career of Jeffrey Dahmer and decides to separate the cannibal from whatever the hell his career was!
Posted By: Guest#5588 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:58 AM
I didn't like what benoit did to his fam. but you can't deny his wrestling skills, he could go with the best of em
Posted By: cj (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 11:07 AM
I respect your rights to write this column, but understand that some of us will never be able to separate Benoit the wrestler and Benoit the murderer.
You don't have to be a husband or a father to despise what he did to his wife and son, but the fact that I am just makes it that much harder to ever see him any differently.
It's a well written column and is a good recap of career, but what he did last in his life will never be forgotten by many.
Posted By: graham (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 11:13 AM
dude thank you so much for doing this article, it means a lot to me and many others.
Posted By: stronelis (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Great Article, I am glad someone is doing this, as Benoit was phenominal in the ring.
As for the rest of it, I didnt know him or his family so I dont have many feelings for that as I wasnt involved.
Either way, great article. Looking forward to your thoughts on the Rumble 2001 ladder match
Posted By: Brian (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Go ahead and make your pathetic little delusional columns. Its not
gonna change the fact that Chris Benoit will forever be remembered as
murderer. Rot in hell midget rot in hell.
Did anyone say this column was going to change what he did? This is about Chris the wrestler, no matter what he did, thats not going to change that fact he was one hell of a wrestler, if you dont like it? Then dont read it, simple as.
Posted By: Guest#6049 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:09 PM
To those that say "its too soon" o r "how dare you"....straight and simple FUCK YOU.
The last days of Chris Benoit's life were NOT lived by the Chris Benoit we all knew and loved. Even his best friends say there was something not really right with him. I am not here to defend Chris Benoit the husband, father and man. I did not know that man. The one I knew came out every night, even when jerking the curtain, and put in a Wrestlemania performance EACH AND EVERY NIGHT. In the process, he influenced the new generation like NOONE has.
THAT is the luxury that we fans have, we can CHOOSE to ignore the drug addicts, alcoholics, sexual predators, and murderers and see only the in ring accomplishments. I saw Chris and Nancy as one of the great wrestling love stories and was DELIGHTED when I saw little Daniel hug his dad when he won the WHT. It shattered me when I found out the truth, but I will take the lessons ive learned from this and move on. I suggest we all do the same, shutting Chris' career out of our minds and hearts will only punish US and prevent future fans from learning not only the good but the cautionary tales that come from the "sport of kings".
Posted By: CM Wolf (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:33 PM
Sting, Bret Hart, and Benoit those are my favorite wrestlers.
Benoit killed his wife his son and himself...he will never be forgiven. He is a coward, a bully, and a killer...he will never be forgiven.
No One should ever say a kind word about this monster ever again. I dont care how entertaining he was.
He killed his son
He killed his wife
He cannot be forgiven
EVER
Posted By: Chris, Louisville, KY (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:46 PM
Yeah its funny how much people want to honor this guy. I wonder how many people still wanted to talk about how great of a football player OJ was when he was on trial for murder or even today.
Posted By: Guest#2065 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:12 PM
The Chris Benoit of June 22, 2008 uh ok the guy was a murderer of 2 people it doesn't change when it happened.
Posted By: by the way (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:14 PM
"Yeah its funny how much people want to honor this guy. I wonder how many people still wanted to talk about how great of a football player OJ was when he was on trial for murder or even today."
That's the thing, nobody ever talks about how great OJ was anymore. Certain things in life are just more important that a sport or a game. Family, for instance. So even though a lot of people still remember OJ's playing days, they do NOT discuss them publicly. You just don't hold a murderer up to that kind of light, no matter how many yards he rushed for or how many great matches he worked. It pales in comparison to real life.
Wrestling fans, on the other hand, are a very weird people that I still do not fully understand. I get that people still like Benoit and his work, fine, but why they have to be so vocal and defensive about it...well it creeps me right the fuck out.
Posted By: MP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:20 PM
Its typical of wrestling fans Austin beat his wife threw a fit and left the company high and dry and people still cheer him iike hes the greatest. Chris Benoit killed his wife and son theres no PC involved TG Corke in fact its because of people like you that make us wrestling fans look bad. No one honors people who commit murders. You all are being exposed at just wanting to honor one of your favorite wrestlers and want to imaging he never did anything bad so you say well it was before he killed his family or make excuses for his actions. By the way he also killed himself which is a sin in itself. As pointed out by others if this was some terrible wrestler who still was in the uppercard you would never mention him again. You just want to support your favorite wrestler and it makes most of us sick to our stomach.
Posted By: Guest#5034 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:24 PM
no its the other way around CM F**K YOU the benoit you know? When did you know Chris Benoit on a personal basis heck there seemed to be a lot of marital problems between Chris and Nancy years ago what do you know about him which by the way does away with the whining about the condition of his brain Nancy almost left him years ago because she couldn't take it anymore. Why don't you stop making excuses for this jerk and do some research.
Posted By: No CM Wolf (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:28 PM
Oh, waily waily! So many opinions that tell me i'm not allowed my own opinion unless its the same as theirs, which then makes it okay to have. I mean clearly their opinion must overwrite my own (if i had one) because Its Theirs, which apparently automatically makes turns their opinion in to fact, fact for us all to live by. I feel all silly and insignificant now because i only had a little opinion, just one to call my own that i wasn't going to force anyone else to agree with, honest i wasn't, and now i'm not allowed it any more because it involved smiling in recollection of something Benoit once did. Oh waily waily, life on the internet can be so hard!
Posted By: Theo (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Before I start, I want to state for the record that I have no problem with this column being posted, based on what Benoit did in his final days. With that said, what did Benoit offer outside of the ring to make him the one people clamored for to win the big one?
The guy was top notch in the ring, I do not doubt that one bit.
Outside of the ring, on the mic, in backstage segments, he always came across so wooden and timid. I know it is thrown around a lot on the web, but in my honest opinion, Benoit lacked that certain "IT" factor. The thing that connects you with the fans. Again, I am not attacking his ring work, but isn't there something to be said about only looking forward to seeing one of his matches, when he was wrestling someone highly entertaining, that could make you care about the angle?
This is totally my opinion, and I do not expect everyone...actually I do not expect anyone to agree with me, but you show me the one "great" Benoit promo, or backstage segment, where he did not have someone more entertaining carrying it for him...
I will however say that it speaks volumes on his in ring ability, the fact that he made it without the huge amounts of charisma we've seen displayed by your Austins, and Takers, and Rocks.
Posted By: Toddo (Registered) on June 23, 2008 at 01:51 PM
You know, I posted earlier and I was a bit more mellow. Now I am a bit more flat out pissed off. On the anniversary of his crimes, we celebrate the man's career?
Hey, where's Nancy's retrospective? Does she not merit one because she lacked workrate? What about celebrating the life of Daniel Benoit? He doesn't warrant one because he never headlined Wrestlemania? To honor the career of a man who robbed a child of life and killed his wife is both selfish and despicable.
To Matt:
"OJ is still a good running back"
Yeah, and OJ was acquitted of all charges. Or do we not believe in the legal system? Do we know better than a jury of the man's peers?
Posted By: Ronald Reagan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:07 PM
"Ryan's comment was most amusing.
If Mark Henry did this, you won't see a career retrospective on him a
year later.
Mark Henry? Think anyone will miss him when he's gone? Seriously?
That's like doing a career retrospective on the Mulkeys."
Thank you for proving my point exactly.
Posted By: Ryan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:19 PM
i didnt know chris from louisville was god
Posted By: Guest#7821 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Mark Henry is ten million times the human being Benoit ever will be. Theres no such thing as separating a man and his career. Only delusional wrestling fans who have no social life would feel that way. Fuck wrestling fans your all bunch virginized losers.
Posted By: guest (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:43 PM
I could rant about separating man from character, whether it's too soon, blah blah blah. I just don't care anymore. Because I am intelligent enough to avoid falling prey to celebrityism and do have the ability to see the forest for the trees, I prefer to remember him for the 22 years of service to the industry than the one day he wasn't himself. No one will sway me.
Posted By: Ego vs. Id (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:50 PM
"Hey, where's Nancy's retrospective? Does she not merit one because she lacked workrate? What about celebrating the life of Daniel Benoit? He doesn't warrant one because he never headlined Wrestlemania?"
This is exactly what I was thinking, Ronald Reagan (probably the first and last time I'll ever say that, if you are in fact the late president).
Posted By: MP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Benoit is part of wrestling-history, thanks for giving us our history-lessons. If we stop telling Benoit's story, we leave a gap in the history of our beloved sport.
Posted By: PaulOrndorff (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:03 PM
If Benoit had survived after killing his family, this column would never have been written. Somehow, in death, he has been forgiven by a lot of people.
I just think the whole situation is sad, and whether he did it because of his brain tumors or not, it still doesn't change the fact that 3 people are dead, and the worst part is that son will never have the chance to grow up. I won't pass judgment on Chris Benoit (or Andy for writing the column), but it did make me realize that, as much of a fan as I was of Benoit, I really didn't know this man at all.
Sad story, and a testament to the fact that life can turn on a dime.
Posted By: Alan Kay (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:04 PM
Seriously people. The fact of the matter is, plain and simple, two pointed. First off, Chris Benoit was indeed a murderer, and not only did he take two other human lives, he did it with no real reason, at least that anyone can figure out, aside from a possible mental unstablity. No one will argue that. However, to say that because he killed two other people means that his entire, what is it 20 year career, should be overlooked?! Come on.. the man was a member of the Four Horsemen, a former World Heavyweight Champion, a pivotal jump in the Monday Night Wars.
Do you really think that all those people we learn about in the history books were as noble and upstanding as they were made out to be? Of course not! But they aren't noteworthy people based on the devilish things they've done, they're noteworthy based on the historical things they've done.
Chris Benoit should be noteworthy for being a celebrity that snapped and killed two people, and people shouldn't sweep that under the rug or forget it. BUT, BUT... Chris Benoit is also noteworthy for all the excellent wrestling matches and memories he gave his fans. Neither of those can be debated.
Now, if you can't relive Benoit's accomplishments because of who he is, then so be it... but they still happened, and you have no right to judge someone else for the ability to remember them. Period, end of story.
And.. I don't mean to seem callous here.. but the reason that neither Nancy or Daniel has a career retrospective up on 411 is that quite frankly, neither of them did anything to deserve one. I'm sorry they died, even more so that someone they loved killed them, it's quite tragic. But.. when you just look at accomplishments, Daniel was 7.. he never got a chance to carve out a path. And Nancy, while she did have a career in wrestling, never did anything of any particular importance except being a footnote in Benoit's career, around the time of his feud with Kevin Sullivan. What else did she do worth a retrospective?
I'm not meaning to sound cold hearted, or like I'm sticking up for Chris Benoit, or excusing him. We should remember that he did take the lives of two innocent people. He killed them for seemingly no reason. Perhaps he did have a mental problem that God will forgive him for, maybe the three of them are up in Heaven now. Or, perhaps Chris Benoit is rotting in Hell as some of you have mentioned. The thing is.. Benoit still had a hell of a career in professional wrestling, and when you look back, that's got to be remembered.
Posted By: Blackbird 13 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Some people, like myself, cannot hate him. Throughout 2003 - 2004, he had such an impact on my life in a positive manner by being my hero that today I cannot find myself to hate him. I hate the actions.
As I wrote in another column, it is not like he was Scott Peterson and schemed everything. This is an act of severe brain trauma. That is by no means a defense for the crime.
"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone"
Benoit does not have a proven track record of being an evil man. For those of us that believe in God, God can see this and while he sinned, it is not our place to judge whether he will end up in Heaven or Hell.
I personally will remember him for the heroic portions that he had on my life. I will remember the shot of seeing him with his wife and son at Mania XX. The 3 of them, and their family members remain in my prayers to this day, and for such a great man prior to June 22nd, 2007, I can only hope that that is what will be seen in His eyes.
Posted By: JP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Benoit is worthy of a tribute. Anyone who thinks otherwise, may they have the worst thing they ever did define their lives.
Posted By: buzzard (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:48 PM
a mistake?!?!?! Really? Did someone really call what Chris Benoit dia a mistake? When you drop a jar of pickles and it breaks, that's a mistake. When some stubs their toe on a door, that's a mistake.
Did Benoit accidentally suffocate his son after drugging him? Did he do that by accident the day after he accidentally tied his wife to her bed and strangled her with a electrical cord?
These weren't mistakes. And whether he was in his "right mind" or not, it doesn't discount the fact that his wife and a young child are now dead because of his actions. He does not deserve to be remembered for anything accept being a brutal killer
Posted By: Guest#1763 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 03:52 PM
i'm going to youtube some of those matches right now. thanks.
Posted By: tully (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:07 PM
I think this is a cheap ploy to increase the readership of your column. I know you may not mean it that way, but thats what it has and will turn into. Benoit MURDERED HIS WIFE!HE MURDERED A CHILD! Here is a guy who had everything in the world going for him: Fame, fortune, adulation, a beautiful wife, and from all accounts a sweet child. And it did not make him happy. He cannot be viewed the same way. **** matches do not wash away what a horrible thing he did. I kept wishing when the news came out that he was framed,that their was a mistake in what was reported. Instead, I was crushed by how someone I adored as wrestler, had rabidly followed for nearly 20 years, who I cried for when he won his WCW and WWE titles, turned out to ruthless, cold blooded killer. You say that we should not read this column if we don't read it in the context of how great Benoit was before we knew what he was. I say we should remember the latter, that you should write about the latter, and maybe write about how this pyschopath robbed his 8 yr old son of any chance of living a full life because he was a selfish, drugged up, lunatic who could not appreciated the great things in his life: money, fame, a beautiful wife, good friends, and the adulation of fans everywhere. The same reason I will never watch Over The Edge 99 and rate the matches is the same reason I cannot watch Benoit matches: The ghoulishness of a real life tragedy is just not entertaining, and to me, everytime he is mentioned or a match of his shown, thats the gut feeling I recieve! No wrestler even compares to what a piece of garbage that man really was!
Posted By: ETS (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:16 PM
Hey, id be cool with it if he didnt kill his kid.
THANK YOU BENOIT!!!
Posted By: John Bradsaw Caplan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:27 PM
Csonka, you need to check JP's head if you want him to continue as a columnist. Maybe he has the same problems as Benoit himself.
Really JP? He's your hero? How pitiful are you that your hero is a professional wrestler? In a post-9/11 world, I find it absolutely amazing that someone would refer to an entertainer as a hero. A hero to the point that after he has murdered his wife and child he is still made a teflon, untouchable. Enjoy pro wrestling for what it is. It's a TV show, it's not real. JP, do you look up to Jack Bauer? A TV hero that beats up terrorists, kills spies and uses illegal torture techniques to obtain information? If Kiefer Sutherland pulled out a gun and shot two people on the street would he still be your hero?
get in touch with reality, please.
Posted By: Guest#8683 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:29 PM
I would put the strap on Benoit if I could.
Posted By: John Bradsaw Caplan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:30 PM
OJ may be a good running back and Benoit may be a good wrestler but they both are cold blooded murderers. Both deserve to be forgotten. Nancy benoit had a great career but I do not see any career report card for her. It seems that she is just a footnote in the Chris Benoit story. Allow me to remind you how she died: He choked her to death in a rage allegedly caused by steroids. Hours later he killed his son with the crippler cross face. His son, his pride and joy. Then the SOB stayed in the house and killed himself hours later. I do not care what he did in his life. He needs to be forgotten. Before the murders, Benoit was my favorite wrestler. This article is just an attempt by andy Clark to generate cheap heat. I will never read his stuff again. in fact, i think he should be fired.
Posted By: Tugman (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 05:08 PM
It's truly hard to believe that it's already been a year since the Benoit tragedy. I lived through losing someone special to me in that manner in October when my best friend was murdered by her husband in a murder suicide here in Frederick, Md. Luckily for them, they didn't have any children between them. I wonder how many people can look at Benoit and if you erase the murder-suicide, would you still want this man to be your world wrestling champion? Would I have wanted my friend still married to that man if he hadn't killed her? The answer I have to both of those is no. Benoit was a great competitor and had several great matches over the years. I never saw him on the same level as Bret Hart, Randy savage, or Steve Austin. I wouldn't have wanted my friend to still be married to the monster tha killed her since I knew them and knew he was an alcoholic. We now know what he was like and how he treated Nancy. It's a shame that it happened. Here in Frederick, we had a lot of domestic violence last year that claimed several lives including an entire family at Thanksgiving. I think any tributes to Benoit and his career are obscene right now. His personal life has to be looked at and how he ended up overshadows his wrestling accomplishments. Yes, he was a great wrestler and had some awesome matches but he will go down in infamy as a murderer and a man that committed suicide. I didnt' want to believe that he had committed these horrific crimes but now. after some time, I believe he is that monster. Why not do a tribute column to Nancy and Daniel Benoit, not Chris. They, along with us fans, are the true victims from the murder suicide. For Nancy and Daniel, may they continue to rest in peace along with my friend.
Posted By: Dan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Good report card as usual. Why only his work in WWE, though?
Posted By: waaproductions (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 05:36 PM
I just want to make one thing clear first: Benoit's reprehensible acts are unforgivable and inhuman. If there is a Hell, I hope he's taken up permanent residence there. However, to blatantly purge from memory the fact that he was an instrumental part of the wrestling business prior to his terrible crimes is sheer ignorance. Kudos to Andy for taking a massive amount of heat in order to write this column.
Posted By: Nick (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 06:06 PM
Is it possible that everyone just agree to disagree? Clearly Benoit was at best a very sick individual who was good at his job. Personally I cannot stomach his matches or reading about him anymore but if others can still enjoy the matches doesn't bother me either. I am not here to place judgment on anyone from Benoit to fellow fans. Just my two cents.
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Who the fuck cares about Nancy and Daniel Benoit! Just like who the fuck cares about John Doe and Jane Doe who are murdered every day across the country. No one commenting here knew anything about them(except having to look at Nancy's box head when she managed Benoit in WCW). So all you pussies whining about Nancy and Daniel, why don't you take a walk around Arlington Cemetary and cry for some people who deserve it.
Posted By: Guest#3461 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 06:22 PM
"
You know, I posted earlier and I was a bit more mellow. Now I am a bit
more flat out pissed off. On the anniversary of his crimes, we
celebrate the man's career?
Hey, where's Nancy's retrospective? Does she not merit one because
she lacked workrate? What about celebrating the life of Daniel
Benoit? He doesn't warrant one because he never headlined
Wrestlemania? To honor the career of a man who robbed a child of life
and killed his wife is both selfish and despicable.
To Matt:
"OJ is still a good running back"
Yeah, and OJ was acquitted of all charges. Or do we not believe in
the legal system? Do we know better than a jury of the man's peers?"
Dude, Have you ever even looked at the OJ trial?
Another thing, Benoit at one time had an impact on my life. At one point, I wanted to be Chris Benoit, But after everything happened last year, My whole life was turned upside down in a matter of seconds once I heard that he did what he did. Does this mean that Chris Benoit doesn't deserve to be remembered for what he did inside a wrestling ring? This man had an impact on each and every fans life. He deserves to be remembered as a wrestler, but not as a man!
Posted By: B.B. (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 06:41 PM
You know what? I'm going to have to go back to Reagan because his ignorance simply fucking astounds me.
Alright Ronald, so let's say Benoit had lived and been given a trial. And let's say that despite all the overwhelming evidence that he killed his wife and child, he was declared innocent. In that case, am I correct to assume you would have no trouble with this column?
Good on JP for writing this column despite the shrill whines of the internet police. It gave me some good matches to look up on Youtube.
Posted By: Vallejo (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:03 PM
OK - Chris Benoit was one of the best technicals wrestlers ever, BUT he betrayed everyone of you who now sit here and defend him!
You say we should not overlook his accomplishments - I say we should NEVER forget he massacred an innocent child and his mother!
Christ Benoit does not deserve any respect, his selfish, evil act removed his right to respect.
Shame on ANYONE who says Daniel or Nancy shouldn't have tributes b/c they had not done much!! Rubbish! They lived, laughed and loved, and they did not deserve what happened to them.
Maybe it was the concussions, but that type of rage has to come from somewhere. There is NO EXCUSE for what he did. He butchered the very people he vowed to love and protect - you cannot come back from that.
He may have been great in his career, but he is no longer entitled to greatness, only to be remembered as the butcher of his family!
I used to be a huge fan, but if I never hear his name again, It will be fine with me!
It saddens me to see a cold-blooded butcher celebrated. One year is certainly not long enough for me, and I doubt forever would be long enough for the families of Nancy and Daniel.
I have as much right to criticize as you do to defend. Keep that in mind while you are attacking people for disagreeing with you.
Posted By: AndreFan (Registered) on June 23, 2008 at 07:06 PM
Go fuck yourself AndreFan. Did you know Nancy or Daniel? NO! So why the fuck do you care? She lived with Chris and if she was too dumb or pilled out to know what he was capable of doing then I blame her for Daniels death as much as Benoit. The kid is the only real victim here. He was too young to understand but that stupid bitch Nancy should have known better. I guess that hex Kevin Sullivan put on here really did mindfuck her.
Posted By: Guest#9446 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
He didn't kill any of my family members so I could care less. Dude was awesome in the ring and I have no problem enjoying his matches. Anyone who does just doesn't have enough braincells to rub together.
Posted By: Anon (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:46 PM
My dear Vallejo, I didn't know that you watched OJ Simpson kill his wife. Otherwise, let us not pretend that you know the facts of the case any better than the 12 people who spent months saturated in the evidence or lack thereof. OJ Simpson's trial is one of the most glaring examples of our subconscious racism of the past generation.
As for Mr. Benoit - the man robbed his son of his future. The man bullied and ultimately killed his wife. We do not know the man, let us not pretend to do so. To honor him, is a disgrace. To honor him to out of love for wrestling "history" (a history that rewrites itself and ignores parts that promoters would rather not have. Fuck, a history built on a work, on shilling marks.) that is almost inhuman. I sincerely hope no one who visits this site will ever fully understand the nature and ramifications of the "man's" crimes.
Posted By: Ronald Reagan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:10 PM
"I really can't recall anything too terribly memorable about this match."
There was a Northern Lights Suplex.
Posted By: Simpleton (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:11 PM
If you feel so offended by the critique of his work, simply don't read the column. Despite his horrific actions, you are NOT FORCED to read this column.
Posted By: Guest#3545 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:20 PM
Why punish the people who were actually in the matches with Chris Benoit? Why shouldn't their efforts be remembered? There is one or more person involved in every Benoit match and that it is the biggest crime of trying to erase his history. For guys like MVP, Jericho, Booker T, Edge, etc, that eliminates some of their better work from record.
Posted By: Willie D (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:40 PM
My dear Vallejo, I didn't know that you watched OJ Simpson kill his
wife. Otherwise, let us not pretend that you know the facts of the
case any better than the 12 people who spent months saturated in the
evidence or lack thereof. OJ Simpson's trial is one of the most
glaring examples of our subconscious racism of the past generation.
Posted By: Ronald Reagan (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:10 PM
How fucking completely retarded are you? How old were you during the trial? If the answer is I wear a helmut and I am 15 years old then you are excused. If not then you are more brain dead than the 40th president of the
U.S.
Posted By: Scrotum Pole (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:41 PM
"Who the fuck cares about Nancy and Daniel Benoit!"
"She lived with Chris and if she was too dumb or pilled out to know what he was capable of doing then I blame her for Daniels death as much as Benoit."
"He didn't kill any of my family members so I could care less."
Oh. Now I know why I was creeped out by wrestling fans...
And now do all you FUCKING MARKS finally realize why WWE has distanced themselves from the man, and why internet writers shouldn't be eulogizing the man's career? Because of motherfucking idiots and psychopaths who wrote the above and do not know the difference.
Posted By: MP (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 08:51 PM
Lets see... if Benoit truely was brain-damaged and demented due to his involvement in pro wrestling isnt it kind of hypocritical to refuse to acknowledge his place in wrestling?
Oh, right I forgot, we live in the western hemisphere where humans who do bad things arent allowed to be considered humans, they become "animals" or "monsters". Well, all humans are animals and monsters arent real, so maybe think aboot why he had the brain of an 80-year old with dementia and be mad at the people who make wrestlers take dives off cages, chairshots during suicide dives...fans with attentions of gnats who only pop for entrances and stunts and piss on actual wrestling or brawling.
And why isnt it never ok to wear a Benoit Tee in public?
People where t-shirts with murderers all the time: Che Guevara, Mao, Regan, JFK, Einstein, Manson, if their claims are to be believed Biggie Pac et al and a whole lot more so why single out just one as unacceptable?
This may be harsh, but this week is gonna mess me up, so I may as well vent here...its what its for.
Posted By: Wooder (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Hey Ronald Regan: OJ wasnt found clear of all charges, he was found guilty of being responsible for their deaths in civil court.
How that didnt violate double jeopardy ill never know, but your bill of rights did become pretty during and after your terms
Posted By: Wooder (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Hey Let's remember Jeffrey Dahmer next! and hey Ted Bundy he did some cool shit too
Posted By: Guest#9200 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:27 PM
what the **** is this?
Hey let's remember Jeffrey Dahmer next! and that Ted Bundy, he did some cool stuff!
idiot
Posted By: Guest#9754 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:28 PM
Gotta love people getting their panties twisted in a bunch over this shit.
Posted By: Rick (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 10:53 PM
"My dear Vallejo, I didn't know that you watched OJ Simpson kill his
wife. Otherwise, let us not pretend that you know the facts of the
case any better than the 12 people who spent months saturated in the
evidence or lack thereof. OJ Simpson's trial is one of the most
glaring examples of our subconscious racism of the past generation."
Fuckin' classic. I rest my case.
Posted By: Vallejo (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 11:29 PM
FUCK THIS! Whoever is responsible for the photo of The Miz in the ring with that child-murderer being on the main page is an absolute ass.
Posted By: MIZFAN (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Good article recapping Benoit's matches in the WWE. Some hate him, some don't, some are indifferent. You can't make everyone happy. Face the facts people, you can't erase what the man did in the ring and you can't erase what he did to his wife and son. Its sad. :(
Posted By: KD (Guest) on June 24, 2008 at 03:09 AM
Thank you for having the guts to write an article about possibly the only wrestler who could be described as beloved as a performer and despised as a human being in the same sentence, and literally divide the online community down the middle.
Disgust for Chris Benoit the person does not necessitate ignoring or hatred for the body of work of Chris Benoit the wrestler. They are not one and the same, any more than an actor. I think Michael Jackson is one of the biggest nutjobs on the face of the planet, but I can still listen to his music.
When Chris Benoit died, I was more devastated than when Eddie died, because Benoit was one of those wrestlers that was a virtual hero to me. Not because of how good he was in the ring, but because you could always tell he was giving 100% percent effort, and did whatever he could to entertain the fans. I lost all respect for the man last June, and I knew immediately upon hearing that his family was deceased as well that something terrible had happened. I can never think about him the same way again; but I CAN watch his matches because it enables me to remember how much I enjoyed his performances, and I can (temporarily at least) forget what he turned into. I much prefer Chris Benoit the Memory to Chris Benoit the Murderer.
Posted By: uWo Hollywood (Guest) on June 24, 2008 at 11:57 AM
RE: Go fuck yourself AndreFan. Did you know Nancy or Daniel? NO! So why
the fuck do you care? She lived with Chris and if she was too dumb or
pilled out to know what he was capable of doing then I blame her for
Daniels death as much as Benoit. The kid is the only real victim
here. He was too young to understand but that stupid bitch Nancy
should have known better. I guess that hex Kevin Sullivan put on here
really did mindfuck her.
Posted By: Guest#9446 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I am very sorry you are such a sad human being. You want to know why I care that Nancy and Daniel got killed? It is actually simple, they were innocent and did not deserve to be slaughtered. They were ripped from their families by the very man who was supposed to love and protect them! Apparently, you have no heart and even less class. Be content in the knowledge that people will be praying for your soul.
Posted By: AndreFan (Registered) on June 24, 2008 at 05:05 PM
stop being homos and honor the man for his accomplishments.
Posted By: Jon Bradshaw Caplan (Guest) on June 24, 2008 at 08:46 PM
I'm still trying to figure out what he did t hat was so wrong.
Posted By: Jon Bradshaw Caplan (Guest) on June 24, 2008 at 08:49 PM
Thank you - some people need to learn to read and others need to realise not everyone feels the same as you do - its called a matter of opinion.
Posted By: UK (Guest) on June 24, 2008 at 09:41 PM
All you hateful people out there need to grow up! Everyone has the right to their opinions, but you are just making fools of yourself when you post ugly comments. I have been reading the forums for a long time and finally decided to comment. To AndreFan, Captain_Snackpipe, Ronald Reagan and all the others who have been attacked on these boards for DARING to share an opinion - don't let the bitches get you down. BTW the comment about praying for souls was priceless - can you go ahead and add all the other idiots to the list to?? LOL. Come to think of it, add me as well, I must be crazy to be getting involved in this mess!
Posted By: dwg48 (Registered) on June 24, 2008 at 10:23 PM
"All you hateful people out there need to grow up! Everyone has the
right to their opinions, but you are just making fools of yourself
when you post ugly comments. I have been reading the forums for a
long time and finally decided to comment. To AndreFan,
Captain_Snackpipe, Ronald Reagan and all the others who have been
attacked on these boards for DARING to share an opinion - don't let
the bitches get you down. BTW the comment about praying for souls was
priceless - can you go ahead and add all the other idiots to the list
to?? LOL. Come to think of it, add me as well, I must be crazy to be
getting involved in this mess!"
lol rly? ok ttyl, kthxbai!
Posted By: Vallejo (Guest) on June 25, 2008 at 12:12 AM
Directed at Posted By: Guest#8683 (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 04:29 PM
For starters, I do not write for this site anymore. I write on TCKT, but I still go here quite often.
If you would have read ANYTHING that I said, I said that the man inspired me through what I learned about him. I clearly state that I did not know him (obviously) but based on reading the pages within the book presented, he became such to me in a rough time in my life, so he has credit there.
And if you also read my post COMPLETELY, you would be able to tell that I do not approve of the crimes committed.
If my father, another hero in my life, went and killed another person and himself on impulse, I would not find myself to hate my father because that is what is in my personality. I would remember him for all of the positive influence that he had on my life.
Thank you for pointing out that it is a TV show to me. I would never have figured this out without you saying it. Thanks for that.
If you would stop being a useless troll and taking some of my words completely out of context and putting other words in my mouth, maybe then you can get back on here and find an opinion that is not clouded by your false perception on what I consider an influence on my life or not.
And for the record, I do not watch 24.
Posted By: JP (Guest) on June 25, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Why such a long report on the history of a psychotic killer?
Posted By: Chris (Guest) on July 07, 2008 at 10:05 AM
