Chris Benoit

With every pro wrestler that dies, i always seem to get a little upset for obvious reasons. I know I dont know them on a personal level, and their passing by no means is as significant as that of a close friend, neighbor, or relative...However, growing up with wrestling figures, and watching them every week leads to some sort of unexplainable bond. They were my favorite friends and villians, they were my top celebrities, and in some cases they were my idols.

I could go through the long list of my fallen heroes that passed away prematuraly, but I'm pretty sure I've done that before and if I haven't you probably don't care anyway. BUT the death of Chris Benoit was certainly the most painful of them all.

He was without a doubt my favorite living wrestler. The guy was an intense athlete who wrestled every match like it was his last.. it's been said that he could wrestle a broomstick and put on a good show..and its true. Wrestling was his passion..it was"his mistress". Wrestling consumed his life...and I as a fan appreciated that passion. He always entertained me..and no matter who he was up against..I never felt like he didn't have a shot of winning. Yeah i know- wrestling is fake but some of the smaller guys wrestle the bigger guys and you just watch and shake your head thinking.."yeah like he could really win this fight in real life". But Benoit could fight God and I'd think he could win- because of his work ethic and his intensity..you always knew it was gonna be a good show. His no-nonsence, no gimmick persona eraned him the nicknames of the Canadian Crippler and The Rabid Wolverine.

With all that said, his alleged double murder-suicide of his family is absolutely horrific. I can't condone his actions- I don't see how anyone could. When i first found out the news- I was in disbelief and still today I hold out hope that some how, some way he is not to blame. I want him to be regarded as heroic, the same way I viewed him..But as more and more details leak out, i face the sad truth.

His wife was also kind of a big deal in the wrestling world, although she had been out of the spot light for a few years. Her alias was "Woman", and she met Benoit through a story line in WCW which involved her then husband..story mirrored real life and they got together. (Watching those interviews and matches- was a wresling fans nirvana- real life feelings and pot shots..it was amazing to see). But her passing also pains me...and to hear Bill O'Riely say that she should have seen the warning signs is outrageous..she is in no way shape or form to blame for anything. And then the 7 year old- thats the topper. I heard reports that he was part mentally retarded as well which adds a new level of sadness..I'm not going to get into the HGH hormones that were said to be injected...the story gets weirder and weirder with every news story i hear.

But i think the saddest thing of all is how Benoit will be remembered. The guy was a living legend in the ring, a sure WWE hall of famer. (He was scheduled to win the title the next night but for whatever reason, he opted out of his life). Some may say he cheated to get where he was (steroids) but he never cheated the fans...He never mailed it in. In my opinion, he worked his ass off and deserved much more than what he got...but he still achieved greatness.

I still view him as a hero..as creepy as that sounds. But if you think about it Van Gogh was a nut job..he cut off his ear and comitted suicide..but he is still regarded as an amazing artist..I think the same should be held true for the Canadian Crippler (the character, the wrestler). His work in the ring should be viewed on its own. A lot of people or quick to call him "sick" and "an animal" and you know what they are right on both accounts.. He was sick, I dont think he was a cold blooded killer i think he suffered from some sort of mental breakdown...whether its depression, road rage, or another mental illness the man was sick and he flipped. And of course, he was an animal.... a "Rabid Wolverine".