We are still awaiting further details, but PWInsider.com is extremely saddened to report that former WWE and WCW World champion Chris Benoit and his wife, former WCW and ECW personality Nancy "Woman" Benoit were both found dead today in Atlanta, Georgia. Obviously this will be a huge developing story in the days to come but at this point, we'd like to express our deepest condolences to the Benoits' family, friends, and fans at this time.

A meeting is currently ongoing at WWE TV and it is expected that tonight's three hour Raw will now be dedicated to Benoit's memory.

6:09 Update: WWE.com issued the following statement this afternoon: "WWE is sad to report that Chris Benoit and his family have been found dead in their home. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Tonight's Raw will be a tribute to Chris and his family."

I am praying to god that this is not a damn storyline they are trying to do. Everyone within the company felt like it was a bad idea to do a Vince McMahon "death" angle 3 weeks ago. A few days later, legendary female wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer Sheri Martel died. Yet they continued the angle. This week's 3 hour RAW was do be in "memorial" for Vince, however with the passing of Benoit and family, they are not supposed to be doing a tribute to him.

Everyone within the company (i.e. those with damn sense) did not want to continue the angle after the passing of Martel, but if they were to continue it now, it would be in EXTREMELY poor taste. People wondered what would happen if Vince really died during this story, well now something has really happened to his top wrestler. The entire company should be ashamed of themselves for mocking such a real life tragedy when they did. Now something horrible has really happened.

Bret Hart speaks to Global TV in Canda regarding the murder-suicide.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CbmuPq5MpfU

He's a wrestler -- paid to "fight" for a living. Am I the only one not at all shocked about this turn of events?

New York Times Article

Stone Cold Steve Austin's ex-wife Debra said abuse like this is rampant in the WWE.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s ex-wife Debra Williams spoke on the FOX 31 web site about the Benoit family tragedy. “Domestic and drug abuse is out of hand in the WWE and something needs to be done about it,” commented Williams, who also claimed that she witnessed Austin use steroids. “If only I had spoken up sooner, maybe Nancy and her little boy would be alive today ... That's why I'm going public now. Something has to change!” A victim of domestic violence in 2002 by Austin, Williams told the web site that she filed for a restraining order from Austin after a third incident between the couple. Williams alleged in the web site that Austin forced her to write a letter to the courts, ending the restraining order. Williams later consented to a gag order regarding the matter.

I was surprised because I thought he was one of the so called good guys. Not every wrestler is necessarily violent. That goes for nay other profession that involves physicality. As a fan, I respected Benoit for his technical skills. From all accounts, he behaved like a rational and sane human being. But he obviously had demons he could not escape from. I was fooled. That's why I was shocked. If this had been Scott Steiner, I woldn't have batted an eye but Benoit was.is so repected.

But there's no way in hell a bastard like him is being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Many people excel at their jobs, but their efficiency doesn't excuse a heinous act as this.

As for the roid accusations, it's not just in wrestling. it's everywhere.

I know I'll never watch a Benoit match again. I'll just see him murdering his poor family.

Sad. I wish he would've gotten some help. I hope it's revealed he had a brain tumor or something. Otherwise, he's just a cold blooded killer.

Edited June 27, 200718 yr by Q Steph

Wow this is quite scary to me. I mean I don't want to assume anything but with 2 victims one would think there are more right?

As for the Hall of Fame...yeah right. If they even mention CB anymore after acknowledging his passing he should be grateful.

My apologies, my friend told me he was in the Hall of Fame. I will edit it.

Below is a detailed WWE/Chris Benoit timeline from Saturday to Monday:

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Chris Benoit was scheduled to appear at the WWE SmackDown/ ECW live event in Beaumont, Texas

3:30pm

A co-worker received a voice message from Benoit. The message from Benoit stated he missed his flight and over slept and would be late to the WWE Live Event. The co-worker called Benoit back, Benoit confirmed everything he said in his voice message and sounded tired and groggy. Benoit then stated, “I love you”. The co-worker stated that it was “out of context.”

3:42pm

The same co-worker was concerned with Benoit’s tone and demeanor and called Benoit for a second time. Benoit did not answer the call and the co-worker left a message stating “just call me back.”

3:44pm

Benoit called the co-worker back stating he didn’t answer the call because he was on the phone with Delta changing his flight. Benoit stated he had a real stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel being sick with food poisoning. They discussed travel plans for the WWE Tour of Texas with Benoit still sounding groggy at this point according to the co-worker.

4:30pm

A co-worker who consistently travels with Benoit, called Benoit from outside Houston airport and Benoit answered. Benoit told the co-worker that Nancy was throwing up blood and that Daniel was also throwing up. Benoit thought they had food poisoning. Benoit stated he changed his flight and he would be arriving into Houston at 6:30pm. Benoit told the co-worker to drive onto the WWE event.

5:35pm

Benoit called WWE Talent Relations stating that his son was throwing up and that he and Nancy were in the hospital with their son, and that Benoit would be taking a later flight into Houston, landing late, but would make the WWE live event in Beaumont.

6:10pm

A representative of Talent Relations called Benoit. The representative from Talent Relations asked Benoit what time Benoit was getting into Beaumont. Benoit responded he was leaving Atlanta at 9:20pm Eastern time arriving into Houston at 9:24pm Central time. The representative from Talent Relations advised Benoit that it would be too late to make the WWE live event in Beaumont. Benoit apologized citing he had a family emergency. The representative from Talent Relations suggested to Benoit that instead of going to the WWE live event in Beaumont, Benoit should take the flight to Houston, rest up and be ready for the Vengeance Pay-Per-View event.

6:13pm

The representative from Talent Relations called Benoit to reconfirm the travel plans with no answer from Benoit. The representative from Talent Relations left a voice message to take the flight and rest up.

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Text messages sent to co-workers from Chris Benoit and Nancy Benoit’s cell phones:

Text Message 1

Sent to: Two Co-Workers (the same who had verbal correspondence with Benoit the day before)

From: Benoit’s cell phone

When: 6/24 at 3:53am from

Message: C, S. My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215

Text Message 2

Sent to: Two Co-Workers (the same who had verbal correspondence with Benoit the day before)

From: Benoit’s cell phone

When: 6/24 at 3:53am

Message: The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open

Text Message 3

Sent to: Two Co-Workers (the same who had verbal correspondence with Benoit the day before)

From: Nancy Benoit’s cell phone

When: 6/24 at 3:54am

Message: C, S. My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215

Text Message 4

Sent to: Two Co-Workers (the same who had verbal correspondence with Benoit the day before)

From: Nancy Benoit’s cell phone

When: 6/24 at 3:55am

Message: C, S. My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215

Text Message 5

Sent to: A Co-Worker who consistently traveled with Benoit

From: Nancy Benoit’s cell phone

When: 6/24 at 3:58am

Message: My address is 130 Green Meadow Lane. Fayetteville Georgia. 30215

WWE made several attempts to contact Benoit via phone and text messages, as well as, the local hospitals in the Atlanta area. As of 11:00 pm Sunday night there was no contact made with Benoit.

Monday, June 25, 2007

12:30pm

WWE was notified of text messages sent to the two co-workers.

12:45pm

WWE contacted the Fayetteville County Sheriff’s office and requested them to go to Benoit’s

residence

4:00pm

WWE received a call from the Fayetteville County Sheriff’s office, advising that they entered

the house of Benoit and found 3 deceased bodies (a male, a female and a child). The Fayette County Sheriff’s office has secured the house as a “major crime scene” and that the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office had no further information.

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

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

And this is why people need to leave Vince and the WWE alone. Obviously they were decieved and at the time that they paid tribute to him, they believed he was getting the respect that they thought he deserved.

Even though steroids may not be a factor in the deaths, Congress should still go after the WWE and other wrestling organizations just like they do with Baseball. Something needs to be done about the steroid use in professional wrestling.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s ex-wife Debra Williams spoke on the FOX 31 web site about the Benoit family tragedy. “Domestic and drug abuse is out of hand in the WWE and something needs to be done about it,” commented Williams, who also claimed that she witnessed Austin use steroids.

I know there have been so many incidents of wrestlers committing suicide and all-around just not living very long with their lifestyle. It just doesn't come as a shock.

Benoit tragedy not the only one

Kevin Hench

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Professional wrestling is fake.

The carnage it has left in its wake is not.

Add Chris Benoit to the long list of freakishly muscled carnival attractions for whom a pro wrestling career ended tragically.

Toxicology results are pending and Benoit may well have been battling deeper, more primal personal demons when he reportedly killed his wife and son before taking his own life, but only the most naïve observer could ignore the overwhelming evidence that most wrestlers who look like Benoit have undergone countless cycles of chemical enhancement.

The prescription anabolic steroids found at Benoit's home have long been known to contribute to paranoia, depression and the violent outbursts we've come to know as "roid rage." Couple that with the near-compulsory painkillers a wrestler must take to do his job effectively after enduring countless body slams and you have a cocktail for massive, mind-altering mood swings.

The Benoit story is the latest and most tragic installment in an ongoing saga that the men who get rich promoting professional wrestling would prefer their fans didn't know too much about.

Photo gallery...

Wrestling tragedies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WWE: Steroids not to blame

Other wrestling deaths

Video: Benoit details

Vince McMahon wants you to think about the stars of today and tomorrow, not the cemetery of steroid-fueled bodies his "sport" has helped put in the ground. But on the grim occasion of the deaths of Nancy and Daniel and Chris Benoit, let's remember some of the other pro wrestlers who died before their time.

Ravishing Rick Rude — Died at 40 of an apparent heart attack in 1999, a bottle of prescription pills for his bad back at his side. The autopsy report said he died of "mixed medications." Rude was an admitted user of anabolic steroids.

Louis Mucciolo, a.k.a, Louie Spicolli — Died in 1998 at age 27 when he suffocated on his own vomit after ingesting massive amounts of Soma and alcohol. Investigators also found an empty vial of testosterone, pain pills and an anti-anxiety drug at the scene.

Brian Pillman — An admitted user of steroids, he died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1997 on the morning of WWF's In Your House: Badd Blood pay-per-view event.

Rick "the Renegade" Williams — Died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 33 after being released from his World Championship Wrestling contract in 1999.

"Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig — Found dead of a cocaine overdose at age 44 in his motel room on April 10, 2003, the morning of a match. Hennig's father maintained that steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.

Rodney "Yokozuna" Anoa'i — Died of a heart attack in 2002 at 34.

Davey Boy Smith, "The British Bulldog" — Died of a heart attack at age 39 on May 17, 2002. An autopsy report indicated that past steroid use had likely played a part in his death.

Michael "Road Warrior Hawk" Hegstrand — An admitted steroid user, he died of a heart attack at age 46 in 2003.

Michael Lockwood, "Crash Holly" — In 2003, at the age of 32, he choked to death on his own vomit after ingesting 90 painkiller pills.

Jerry Tuite, "The Wall" a.k.a. "Malice" — Died at age 36 in 2003 of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room.

Raymond "Hercules" Hernandez — Dead of heart failure in 2004 at age 47.

Ray "The Big Boss Man" Traylor — Found dead of a heart attack in 2004 at age 42.

Eddie Guerrero — After a long battle with painkillers, he was found dead of a heart attack by his nephew in his hotel room at age 38. The first person his nephew reportedly called was Guerrero's best friend, Chris Benoit.

Chris Candido — Died in 2005 at age 33 from a blood clot after breaking his tibia and fibula and dislocating his ankle in a pay-per-view event.

Owen Hart — Fell to his death at age 34 in 1999 when the rigging that was lowering him into the ring malfunctioned.

And then there's the story of the Von Erich wrestling family.

Wrestling patriarch Fritz Von Erich, nee Jack Adkisson, had five wrestling sons: Kevin, David, Kerry, Mike and Chris.

David died in a hotel room in Tokyo at the age of 25 in 1984 just as he was embarking on a three-week pro wrestling tour of Japan. The official cause of death was acute enteritis, severe inflammation of the intestines.

Three years later, Mike committed suicide by overdosing on the tranquilizer Placidyl at the age of 23. After David's death, Mike had suffered a series of setbacks including a serious shoulder injury that had left him severely depressed.

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Devastated by the deaths of his older brothers and frustrated by his own limitations as a wrestler, the youngest and smallest brother, Chris, shot himself to death at the age of 21 in 1991.

Two years later, Kerry, who had battled a long addiction to painkillers, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 33, leaving eldest brother Kevin as the only survivor of the sport that had defined his family.

And now Chris Benoit, his wife and son have been added to the long, unbearably sad list of victims claimed, in part, by the brutal chemical calculus that is professional wrestling.

There is no arguing that the physical capabilities of these massive men can provide awesome theater. When Hulk Hogan lifted the 500-pound Andre the Giant and dropped him to the canvas, it was legitimately hugely thrilling.

But keep in mind there is a price these impossibly engorged specimens are paying for your entertainment.

And the price for many of them is their very lives.

New York Times Article

Stone Cold Steve Austin's ex-wife Debra said abuse like this is rampant in the WWE.

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s ex-wife Debra Williams spoke on the FOX 31 web site about the Benoit family tragedy. “Domestic and drug abuse is out of hand in the WWE and something needs to be done about it,” commented Williams, who also claimed that she witnessed Austin use steroids. “If only I had spoken up sooner, maybe Nancy and her little boy would be alive today ... That's why I'm going public now. Something has to change!” A victim of domestic violence in 2002 by Austin, Williams told the web site that she filed for a restraining order from Austin after a third incident between the couple. Williams alleged in the web site that Austin forced her to write a letter to the courts, ending the restraining order. Williams later consented to a gag order regarding the matter.

I'm surprised that Debra has come out the confirmed it, this was a big rumor back went it happened along with their divorce (which she seemed to disappear afterwards when it happened.) I'm not surprised, but Vince is just recently started the steriod testing (or I should say enforcing the rules.) So maybe he will do something about this too, instead of turning his head; especially if these deaths are the consequences.

That list of deaths is obscene.

That list of deaths is obscene.

Its true though....In fact the entire article is true. Its time that Wrestling just be ended completely. People say Boxing is a joke nowadays thanks to UFC. At least Boxing is REAL! Wrestling is mostly a bunch of steriodal enhanced rejects making a spectacle of themselves in front of large audiences as they perform fake moves, hits, and attacks. Its amazing how I used to think that stuff was real. And its even more sad to see that there are adults who actually think that that stuff is really happening.

As for the lists of deaths thats reality. A lot of people have been affected in a negative way by Wrestling and this latest death just proves that if any "sport" needs to be investigated its wrestling. So no I don't find the list of deaths gruesome. I think its necessary that people find out the crap thats occured over the years.

That list of deaths is obscene.

Shocking. So many over a relatively short time.

I don't follow wrestling so I wasn't aware of those real life consequences, but you'd have to be Helen Keller to think there isn't a steroid abuse problem in the industry.

I'm still waiting for a timeline that makes sense before I make a judgement that he was the killer.

Dr. Phil Astin of outside Atlanta told the Associated Press Wednesday that the 40-year-old World Wrestling Entertainment star visited his office Friday and showed no "signs of any distress or rage or anything."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=3320736&page=1

Autopsy results reveal the wife was killed Friday and the son was likely killed the next day, said Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department.

http://accessnorthga.com/news/hall/newfull...y.asp?ID=115243

She died friday, he left for TX by plane on friday and returned home on Saturday, and then killed the son when he got home?? What exactly was the son doing during that time if he'd left him home alone with his dead mother's body? Playing XBox? We then have the absense of any form of ransom note, and phone conversations about coming out to the event on saturday, but text messages only regarding the dogs and his address (that anyone could have sent from the phones)?

There are so many holes in this case, and it's quite evident that police never even considered anything other than "big dumb wrestler goes mental" just because he was a "big dumb wrestler".

I'm waiting for more solid details before I just blindly accept the scraps that don't make sense that the mainstream news media is feeding, in an attempt to sensationalize the story.

As for the lists of deaths thats reality. A lot of people have been affected in a negative way by Wrestling and this latest death just proves that if any "sport" needs to be investigated its wrestling. So no I don't find the list of deaths gruesome. I think its necessary that people find out the crap thats occured over the years.

And if they showed you the long list of stunt performers killed, would you stop watching movies/tv? Or a list of all the people who die on construction sites, would you refuse to live indoors?

There is not a profession in existence that does not have a list of people who are dead, or injured because of it.

This story continues to grow more bizarre. If he saw his doctor and acted in a sane demanor, perhaps he was in control of his facilities. He may have simply been keeping up appearances. If he was coherent enough to visit a doctor without offering any hints of distress, he is a dleiberate killer. Not even his wrestling talents is enough currency to repair his legacy.

Although, a small part of me is hoping that he may have had a brain tumor. Or that there's another party out there who killed all of them and this is a huge set up. But those conspiracy theories are just grasping at straws. I'm 99% convinced he knew what he was doing and that's truly f--ked up.