One-year anniversary of the Benoit tragedy
It sounds like a cliché, but I’ll bet that every pro wrestling fan knows where he or she was when they heard about the deaths of Chris, Nancy and Daniel Benoit on June 25, 2007.
It was a Monday, and Raw that night was advertised as a special memorial show for Mr. McMahon, who had been presumed “dead” after his limo exploded two weeks earlier.
Taking some time off from work, I had been out all day and had not logged on to the Internet or watched any news on television. That evening, I was talking to a friend on the phone instead of watching Raw (I was taping it and planned on watching it later that night), and he asked me what I thought of the Benoit situation. “What Benoit situation?” I asked.
My friend proceeded to tell me that Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son were found dead in their home in Atlanta, but he didn’t know any of the specifics. After hanging up, I turned on Raw about an hour into the special three-hour episode to find a memorial, not for the fictional Mr. McMahon character, but for the Benoit family. It was as surreal as it was heart-breaking.
After the emotionally draining show ended, I got on the Internet and began reading the latest updates. I quickly learned that my theory – that the family had been murdered in their home by an intruder – was wrong. The authorities were saying that Chris Benoit did the unfathomable: He murdered his wife and son and then killed himself.
I had started this blog the month before thinking I was going to be writing about angles, pay-per-views and industry trends, and instead found myself writing about an unspeakable crime that had been committed by someone universally liked and respected by fans and his peers.
As I sat down to write my first entry on the double murder/suicide, I was sorrowful, angry, disillusioned and bewildered all at once. Pro wrestling certainly has had its share of untimely deaths, but nothing shook up fans and people in the industry quite like this.
Even a year later, I don't think most of us have come to grips with what happened. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be for the family members of the deceased to try to gain closure.
There’s no way to say this without sounding trite, but the tragedy did spur some positive change. It brought mainstream attention to some of the ills of the wrestling business such as steroid abuse, painkiller addiction and concussions, which led to WWE making its Wellness Policy more comprehensive. That development undoubtedly will save lives.
Sandra Toffoloni, Nancy’s sister, also wants to make a difference. She and other surviving family members founded The Nancy and Daniel Benoit Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching the effects of steroid abuse on the brain and body and educating high school children about the adverse effects of steroid and prescription drug abuse. For more information, go to ndbfoundation.org .
Comments
I remember last year getting caught offguard by the trajedy. June 25th is my birthday so the family and I went out to celebrate. Afterward, I came home and watch Raw live for a change. It was a real sad time for me. I remember after hearing it, running out to TRu and buying a Chris Benoit figure as some sort of memento before all the eBayer bought them all. I have always been a Benoit fan and his death hit me hard. Then after finding he actually did it really tore me up.
My prayer goes out to the family who loss so much and have to deal with it for the rest of their lives with the pain, betrayal and lost.
Posted by: Norman | June 25, 2008 8:15 AM
"Even a year later, I don't think most of us have come to grips with what happened. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must be for the family members of the deceased to try to gain closure."
You're not the only one there Kevin
It's hard to imagine what was running through Benoit's head that weekend or the days leading up to his decision to do this.
As far as the policy WWE has put together, I hope it works. They really need to take care of the wrestlers/entertainers. Reading about them dying in hotel rooms like Eddie, Curt and countless others just boggles the mind. You don't read about 30-40 year old baseball players just up and dying in their hotel rooms.
I know the latest policy has taken Regal off TV and knocked Orton and Hardy(Jeff) off for a while which was the right thing, but I'd like to know besides taking them off TV what the WWE is doing for them.
Every time I see Piper I always wondered what happened to the Union he was trying to get started for the Wrestlers. If there is a group that needs a Union its these guys.
Posted by: Rob | June 25, 2008 8:40 AM
It's just sad something like this had to happen for changes to be made.
What other steps do you think the WWE could/should take to better insure the health of their wrestlers? Health Insurance is an obvious one, but it seems like people are even suggesting that unprotected chairshots to the head are an unnecessary health risk. Are they, or are they just a part of the business?
Posted by: Jon | June 25, 2008 11:40 AM
Kevin, can you provide a link to the blog you posted when you found out what had happened?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Here's the link:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2007/06/coming_to_grips_with_benoit_fa_1.html
Posted by: RH | June 25, 2008 1:13 PM
I had traveled home to attend my uncles funeral. The day of his funeral my daughter called me to her room. She is a big fan of WWE and she was crying. When she told me what happened I just sat on the bed and could not wrap my mind around her words.
It's been a year and I still can't wrap my mind around it. I was still dealing with Eddies passing and then this. My heart hurts for both families. For the littlest victim I cry. I don’t ask how or why anymore. I just pray for peace for the families, friends, co-workers and fans.
Posted by: Rebecca | June 25, 2008 2:58 PM
It still hurts to this day to think that one of my favorite wrestlers committed such horrible acts. To find out that the business he loved had a cause in it was a crushing blow. So sad that even in our 21st century lives of high tech gadgets and gizmos, that it takes the grimmest of tragedies to make the sort of progress that should have been done from the beginning.
Posted by: Mike In Pasadena | June 25, 2008 4:27 PM
RIP Nancy ( "Woman" ) & Daniel Benoit . Nice job Kevin .
Posted by: jack in hebron | June 25, 2008 6:11 PM
As soon as I heard about what happened, I knew he had killed his wife and son. I never like Benoit -- there was an evil look in his eyes that scared me. I used to tell my husband that he was a very angry man, and my husband said it was an act. I knew it wasn't. I hate to say it but I wasn't surprised at all when they confirmed he had done it.
Posted by: Kate | June 25, 2008 11:17 PM
Kevin,
Have you read "Ring of Hell" yet?
I'd be very interested in your thoughts on the book.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I haven't read it, although I almost feel as if I have because people have told me so much about it.
Posted by: Ronnie | June 26, 2008 12:06 PM
I too turned on RAW about one hour into the show.
I was somewhere doing something & recall being in no particular rush to finish. My friend mentioned the time approaching for Raw to which I replied I am not bothering to rush home - it;s only that stupid McMahon tribute show. Once I turned on the set a tearful Stephanie was on screen - Oh No - I hate this crap, I said out loud - then I heard her mention "Chris ". Chris who??? Jericho? - Then came the still phoo of the Benoit family. Must have been a horrible auto accident. Never in my widest imagination could I have imagined the gruesome truth.
Posted by: Jaynie | June 29, 2008 8:33 AM
i would like to know ur fillings on the undertaker do u think he is done or will he be back. i hope he comes back when edge and vicky get married. i just whated to know ur fillings on it. i saw him(undertaker) when he first came to the wwe.he was going to wrestle hogan in a body bad match buthogan didnt show so he had to wrestle savage instead well savage won and when i saw that body bag sit up he would make it big in the wwe. so maybe u can let me know if he is going to come back or not.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: He'll be back soon.
Posted by: frank | June 29, 2008 10:09 AM