Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit
Benoit in 2006
Birth nameChristopher Michael Benoit
Born(1967-05-21)May 21, 1967
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
DiedJune 24, 2007(2007-06-24) (aged 40)
Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by hanging
Spouse(s)
Martina Benoit
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​
(m. 1988; div. 1997)​
​
​
(m. 2000; died 2007)​
Children3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Chris Benoit
The Pegasus Kid
Wild Pegasus
Billed height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Billed weight229 lb (104 kg)
Billed fromAtlanta, Georgia
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Trained byBruce Hart
Stu Hart
Mike Hammer
Tokyo Joe
Tatsumi Fujinami
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
DebutNovember 22, 1985

Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 - June 24, 2007) was a French-Canadian professional wrestler. He was first noticed in the United States when he started wrestling for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1994. He would later go to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) the next year. Within a year, he became a member of the Four Horsemen (with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Brian Pillman). He joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later renamed WWE) in January 2000. In January 2004, Benoit won the 30 man Royal Rumble match which allowed him to main event WrestleMania. He would go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX on March 14, 2004.

On June 24, 2007, Chris Benoit committed suicide by hanging after murdering his wife and son (murder–suicide). Their dead bodies were found on June 25. Benoit's father, Michael Benoit, says that Benoit had brain damage. Benoit was also believed to have been on several different medications to aid his in ring performance, sleep, and pain. According to ESPN, "Benoit's body contained 10 times the normal level of testosterone, as well as amounts of the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the painkiller hydrocodone, authorities said. The testosterone, a synthetic version of the primary male sex hormone, is considered an anabolic steroid. The state's top medical examiner said it appeared to have been injected shortly before Benoit died." It is a speculation which Benoit may have dealt with Roid-Rage, and this could have set him off the rails along with other trauma issues to the brain as well. A study of Benoit's brain by the Sports Legacy Institute showed that he had depression and severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Another test also revealed that Benoit's brain was so badly damaged that it "resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient". This is what caused Benoit to kill his family. Because brain damage can be caused by concussions, WWE no longer allows wrestlers to hit each other in the head with steel chairs. Mentions of his name were also banned thereafter (although his name is still listed in title histories on WWE's website, and he is still shown in their video library on Peacock/WWE Network).

In wrestling

Chris Benoit performing his Crippler Crossface on MVP
Chris Benoit performing his Diving headbutt on MVP at WrestleMania 23
Chris Benoit performing his sharpshooter on Chavo Guerrero

Championships

Benoit after winning the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX

1His reign with the championship is not officially listed by the WWE. Reigns before December 1997 are not listed by the promotion.
2The hall of fame held a special recall election in 2008 because of the double murder–suicide of his wife and son. 53.6% supported the decision but it was under the 60% threshold needed to remove him.

References

  1. 1 2 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  2. ↑ Randazzo V, Matthew (2008). Ring of Hell: The Story of Chris Benoit & the Fall of the Pro Wrestling Industry. Phoenix Books. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-59777-622-6.
  3. ↑ McCoy, Heath (2007). Pain and Passion: The History of Stampede Wrestling. ECW Press. pp. 214–215. ISBN 978-1-55022-787-1.
  4. ↑ Hart, Bruce (2011). Straight From the Hart. ECW Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-55022-939-4.
  5. ↑ "Erased! The Tragic Story of Chris Benoit". Wrestling Examiner. February 9, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017. Benoit began training at the legendary New Japan Dojo, and began wrestling for NJPW
  6. ↑ "Chris Benoit Results Archive". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Chris Benoit". Puroresu Dojo.
  8. ↑ "Chris Benoit's Murder, Suicide: Was Brain Damage To Blame?". ABC News.
  9. ↑ "Study suggests brain damage may have affected Benoit". ESPN. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say". ABC News. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  11. ↑ Mueller, The Doctor Chris. "WWE Bans Blood, Chair Shots To Head, Sexiness, and Wrestling". Bleacher Report.
  12. ↑ "Rabid Rumble". WWE. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  13. ↑ "SLAM! Wrestling: Quizzing the Canadian Crippler". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved July 21, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  14. ↑ Jericho, Chris (2007). "38". A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex. Hachette Digital, Inc. ISBN 9780446408905.
  15. ↑ "World Wrestling Federation: The Music, Vol. 5". AllMusic. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Our Lady Peace retires 'Whatever'". Examiner.com. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  17. ↑ "List of CAC Award Winners". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  18. ↑ "CWA World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  19. ↑ "ECW Tag Team Championship - Chris Benoit & Dean Malenko (February 25, 1995 - April 08, 1995)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  20. ↑ "IWGP Junior Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2004". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  22. ↑ "British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Title (Calgary Stampede)". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Stampede International Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  24. ↑ "Stampede Wrestling Hall Of Fame". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  25. ↑ "WWF World Light Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  26. ↑ "United States Championship - Chris Benoit (August 09, 1999 - September 12, 1999)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 1, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  27. ↑ "United States Championship - Chris Benoit (December 19, 1999 - December 20, 1999)". WWE. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  28. ↑ "WCW World Championship - Chris Benoit (January 16, 2000 - January 17, 2000)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  29. ↑ "WCW World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  30. ↑ "WCW World Television Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  31. ↑ "World Heavyweight Championship - Chris Benoit (March 14, 2004 - August 15, 2004)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  32. ↑ "WWE Tag Team Championships - Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit (October 20, 2002 - November 07, 2002)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 17, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  33. ↑ "United States Championship - Chris Benoit (August 21, 2005 - October 21, 2005)". WWE. Archived from the original on April 30, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  34. ↑ "United States Championship - Chris Benoit (February 19, 2006 - April 02, 2006)". WWE. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  35. ↑ "United States Championship - Chris Benoit (October 13, 2006 - May 20, 2007)". WWE. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Intercontinental Championship - Chris Benoit (April 02, 2000 - May 22, 2000)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Intercontinental Championship - Chris Benoit (May 08, 2000 - June 20, 2000)". WWE. Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Intercontinental Championship - Chris Benoit (December 10, 2000 - January 21, 2001)". WWE. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Intercontinental Championship - Chris Benoit (July 29, 2002 - August 26, 2002)". WWE. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  40. ↑ "World Tag Team Championship - Chris Benoit & Chris Jericho (May 21, 2001 - June 21, 2001)". WWE. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  41. ↑ "World Tag Team Championship - Chris Benoit & Edge (April 19, 2004 - May 31, 2004)". WWE. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  42. ↑ "World Tag Team Championship - Chris Benoit & Edge (October 19, 2004 - November 01, 2004)". WWE. Archived from the original on March 19, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Royal Rumble (2004): Full Event Results". WWE. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  44. ↑ "NJPW Super J Cup '94". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  45. 1 2 "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, 2003". Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved November 7, 2013.

Other websites

Media related to Chris Benoit at Wikimedia Commons