There’s a reason this column is titled the way it is, and you’ll find out why by the end of this read. It seems to me that over the last two excruciating days, people seem to have lost their minds. It’s hardly anyone’s fault, and it’s even harder to blame the folk for reacting in the way they did. To say what has taken place since yesterday is pure insanity is an understatement.
We have lost one of the best wrestlers of all time, and I mean that sincerely. That is a statement I would have made on every given day over the last few years, so the current circumstances have no effect whatsoever as to why I’ve said that. I have followed professional wrestling for a lot of years now, and very few people come to mind who were so consistent in the business. Consistent when it comes to in-ring work rate, dedication, passion, love, and toughness. In fact, I don’t even know how many people I can name who have had more than three bad matches in everything I’ve seen them produce. I know for a fact, though, that Chris Benoit was one of those people. For the life of me, I can’t remember seeing a bad match from this guy. You know, a real stinker, or hell, even close to bad. I do recall a couple of SmackDown matches that I could have done without that involved Benoit, and only one appearance on PPV that I wasn’t too happy with, but the fact that I don’t even remember the match or person he worked with only shows you how insignificant it was. I can remember, however, the dozens of near-five-star performances I’ve seen from the Crippler. The matches with Jericho, Angle, Guerrero, and Michaels to name a few simply stand out. Boy, they were some classics too.
I find it scary that what bothers me the most from everything my mind has sucked in over the past couple of days is not that Benoit possibly “killed” his wife and child, or that he hung himself to death. What bothers me most is that in this ridiculous tornado the media and some people have imposed on us, we forgot to remember Chris Benoit, the wrestler – The Rabid Wolverine. People have started speculating because of more details that officers have released, and have turned this around into a murder/steroid issue. I’m not saying that Chris Benoit didn’t do what he did (and I don’t even know what is it he really did), nor am I saying he is excused for his actions, if they did take place. I’m saying that Chris Benoit is human, and for family problems to happen, there’s probably a lot more than what we know to conclude anything, nor should we even discuss this issue. It absolutely bothers me that people are forgetting Chris Benoit is a human being. A human being who loved, hated, smiled, cried, cursed, prayed, and lived life – just like we all do. We hear of horrible tragedies everywhere, and why can’t we hear about it with Chris Benoit? Isn’t he just another human being? Don’t we all just break at some point in life? Whether steroids were the reason, or another drug, or no drug at all, it really isn’t as important to me. Human beings make sinful mistakes all the time, and again – this is no way an excuse of what took place. What bothers me is the ignorance some people have put on display when it comes to the topic.
The USA Network and some “offended” people want an apology. You see, WWE was wrong for putting together a three-hour tribute of one of their best performers in the last decade, a guy who nobody in the company had anything bad to say; a guy, whose name was never brought up in any negativity, political struggle, or backstage insinuation in a business full of shenanigans; a guy who was always there to give a hand to young guys, help them out, and support his company’s decision, even if they moved him from the A, to the B, and ultimately two weeks ago to the C brand; a guy who as everyone told you on RAW gave 120% of himself to this business every night he came out through the curtains. That is the guy WWE celebrated for three hours. That is the guy Vince had obviously cried over for quite some time before going on air to say his “death” was a storyline, but reality strikes even harder. That is the Chris Benoit we have known, and learned to love. Not the guy who had problems at home, whatever they were.
It seems to me that this is an issue of “celebrity status.” Killings happen in the United States every day. But when a celebrity is involved, everyone rushes to the conclusions, spin-offs, and rating grabbers. It’s another example of why the United States of America has the worst news reporters in the world. What bothers me more is how many people out there buy into it. So now we’ve all been taught and instructed to hate Chris Benoit for what he’s done. You know, just forget his amazing career, his passion, love, and dedication for the business, for us – to make us entertained every night. We just need to think of him as a murderer. But hey, we all love Steve Austin, don’t we? You know, that guy who beat the shit out of his wife not so long ago? Yeah, no biggie. She didn’t die or anything like that.
People need to wake up and realize that yes – we have a tragedy on our hands. A seven-year-old lost its life. A woman might have been killed by her husband. And a man hung himself. In the midst of it all, though, we forgot that we lost the best technical wrestler besides Bret Hart to step foot into a wrestling ring. People lost a friend who has helped them through hardships, and some say even helped them safe their live. Perhaps it’s very fitting that the murderer is up there in Heaven next to his buddy – the druggie. After all, they murder, and abuse drugs, what good are they right?
Wake up, sheep.
I’ll never forget you, Crippler. I’ll never forget seeing the first Money in the Bank live with you in it; I will never forget the standing ovation you got every night, no matter what; I will never forget the time I called my friend and was in absolute awe when I saw what I thought was probably the best ladder match ever with Jericho at the Rumble in 2001; I will never forget Royal Rumble 2004 or WrestleMania 2004 – Jim Ross’ best on-screen call, and obviously clear his second most genuine and truthful emotional yelling besides Steve Austin winning the title; I will never forget Royal Rumble 2003 and the Triple H DQ embarrassment with Steiner, and how you and Kurt Angle saved the show – but more importantly how you lost in 20 minutes, and after Angle left the entire arena spent five minutes clapping for you. I will never forget you Chris Benoit.
Rest In Peace.
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