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We should know about Chris Benoit before talking about his double murder and suicide. So, Chris Benoit was a 40-year-old professional wrestler employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and living in Georgia.
He was one of the best wrestlers ever and famous by his technician style. He was known for his dangerous moves. He won a lot of championships. He married Nancy Benoit and they had one boy named Daniel.
What happened?
Between 22 June and 24 June, Chris Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself. The tragedy stands alone as wrestling’s saddest and sickest moment, ending the lives of two innocent people, forever staining Benoit’s previously stellar wrestling reputation.
First, Chris murdered his wife in their bedroom. He tied her limbs, wrapped her body in a towel. A copy of the bible left beside her body. Injuries indicated that Benoit had pressed a knee into her back while pulling on a cord around her neck and that causes strangulation.
Second, after killing his wife, Chris killed his son Daniel the next day. The reports said that Daniel was sedated with Xanax and likely unconscious when he was killed. Daniel died by strangulation and killed in his bedroom. also, a copy of the Bible was left beside his body
Third, after killing his wife and his son, he committed suicide. He found died in the weight room. Also, a copy of the Bible was left beside his body.
What were the reasons for that tragic event?
It had many reasons.
First, Alcohol, Hardcore holly, former wrestler, said in his autobiography that alcohol played a bigger role in the tragedy than many might believe. Holly, who traveled with Benoit a lot, said that Chris drank a lot when he had issues with his wife. At the crime scene, police found multiple wine bottles half drunk or more.
Second, brain trauma, Former WWE superstar Christopher Nowinski, also a Harvard graduate, studied Benoit’s brain after the tragedies and they found he had the mind of 85-year-old suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Benoit’s brain tissue showed severe CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) to all four lobes of the brain and its stem. that was the result of years of concussions, unprotected chair shots, and dangerous moves. WWE banned these moves after that tragic event.
Third, Eddie Guerrero’s death was the beginning of the end for Benoit. Guerrero was Benoit’s best friend and road partner. When Guerrero suddenly passed away in his hotel room at the age of 38. Both he and his nephew Chavo were going to meet Guerrero that morning and Chavo recalled breaking the news to Benoit.
“I said ‘hey man, are you sitting down?’ He says ‘yeah’ and I said ‘Eddie passed away this morning.’ And all you hear is, from a guy with no emotion whatsoever, you hear a wail. This wail from deep down, like a heartbreak. If you’ve ever heard one, this was a heartbreak.
What happened after and between the murder?
June 23, 2007, close friend Chavo Guerrero received a message from Benoit's phone stating that he had overslept and missed his flight and would be late for that night's house show in Texas.
Chavo called Benoit back and found that Benoit sounded tired and groggy as he confirmed everything that he had said in his voice message. Guerrero, who was "concerned about Benoit's tone and demeanor," called him back 12 minutes later.
Benoit did not answer the call, and Guerrero left a message asking Benoit to call back. Benoit stated that he had a stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel "being sick from food poisoning". Guerrero then replied with "All right man, if you need to talk, I'm here for you". Benoit ended the conversation by saying "Chavo, I love you".
late Sunday morning, Benoit called WWE's talent relations office stating that his son was vomiting and that he and Nancy were at the hospital with him. He also stated that he would be taking a later flight into Houston where he was scheduled to face CM Punk for the vacant ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions. Benoit failed to appear for the Vengeance.
On June 25, 2007, police entered Benoit's home in Georgia when WWE requested a "welfare check" after Benoit missed weekend events without notice, leading to concerns. The officers discovered the bodies of Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel.
Summary
While intense and quiet, those close to Benoit always maintained he was a loving family man throughout. He appeared to stray away from that and become more insular when Guerrero died.
From that point, it was a toxic cocktail of alcohol, steroid abuse, and the severe, serious brain damage he had that culminated in one fateful weekend.
- Written by Ahmed Mohamed (EMN Community Member From Egypt)
- Edited by Mridul Goyal (EMN Community Member From New Delhi, India)
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