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EadgeArt β WWE Fallen Superstars: Chris Benoit
Published: 2013-07-09 01:22:32 +0000 UTC; Views: 9474; Favourites: 149; Downloads: 0
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This is the 27th and final (for now) in a series of drawings dedicated to my childhood heroes, the WWE Fallen Superstars.
I contemplated not drawing this one largely due to the way Chris Benoit left this world. Once I did some research I realized that I had to honor him because no one else would.
Prior to the events of his demise, Chris Benoit was one of my favorite technical wrestler of all time. I have fond memories of the arrival of the "Rabid Wolverine" to the WWF as a member of The Radicalz with his friends Dean Malenko and the late Eddie Guerrero. There was also his great feud with Triple H that culminated in an epic triple threat match at Wrestlemania XX with Benoit defeating Shawn Michaels and Triple H to become the World Heavyweight Champion.
Now let's address the elephant in the room. On June 25, 2007, police entered Benoit's home and discovered the bodies of Benoit, his wife Nancy aka former wrestling valet Woman and their 7 year son Daniel. It was determined that Benoit had killed his wife and son and then committed suicide. Before they were aware of the details of the murder-suicide, the WWE canceled their scheduled Raw show and replaced it with a tribute to Benoit. After the details were revealed, WWE quickly distanced itself from Benoit by no longer mentioning him.
After the double-murder suicide, evidence was revealed that suggests that years of trauma to Benoit's brain may have led to his actions. Tests conducted on Benoit's brain by Dr. Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, showed that "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient." Benoit was a 40 year old. He suffered from an advanced form of dementia similar to NFL players that suffered multiple concussions. This evidence concludes that Benoit might not have been in his right mind when he killed his family. It was just a sad state of affairs all around. A man who gave his life and mental health for a sport and company in the WWE he loved who will never acknowledge how great he truly was.
Sad...
Be sure to check out more of the WWE Fallen Superstars series:
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Comments: 55
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I'll still remember him as a great wrestler
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It's sad that this is one wrestler everybody wants to forget.
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Yeah.. after what he did. Yet i never forget him.
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Also, I liked him alot better together with Kurt Angle. Yes, despite their rivalry .theyΒ both can be a technical yet unstoppable team.
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What is interesting is that Benoit's passing was pretty much the final nail in the coffin for what had been the attitude era. WWE soon locked down their Wellness Policy, which led to the release of a number of Superstars, and changed the whole feel of the programming. They have managed to build a product that I can watch with my 40-year-old friends (amidst some complaining) and my 12-year-old nephew, alike. Clearly, it's not perfect, hence the losses suffered, but they are embracing new technology that enables things that were not possible a year ago.
I am watching Wrestlemania 8 as I write this thanks to the WWE Network.
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While I'll never forgive him for what he did to his family it seems wrong for the WWE to just act like he never existed. He's one of my all-time favorite wrestlers with excellent in-ring skill and underrated charisma AND he's a world champion
Like him or not he's a part of WWE history and I think they should treat him like such
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Yeah. It really pisses me off that WWE rejects him and doesn't give him the credit he deseves.
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Regardless of what he did he is one of my favourite wrestlers of all time.
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I feel the same way.
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Great drawings what pleases me is all the positive comments. Often I see something about him and it just spurns the ugliness of humanity. It's sad that one event at the end of their life can ruin a great person's legacy forever...
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I know I was surprised by the overall positivity. I thought I'd have to disable the comments. Thanks for the comment!
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These tributes are greatΒ as well asΒ the creativeness of your art.Β I am happy you explained the details about Chris for the uninformed about what happened apart from the tragedy. As a die hard wrestling fan it saddens me about how hard a business pro wrestling is and it can more than easily chew up and spit out the athletes that love it with a hardcore passion going to indy shows and having seen some of the legends that perform to make a buck that you can tell are wavering themselves is heartbreaking.
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(Adding on from my last comment) It's a damn shame what happened to Benoit. He was one of the wrestlers who loved, believed in, ate, slept, breathed, and unfortunately died for this business. Quoting Double-A, I choose to remember him as he was rather than as he is. On a separate note, I have 2005's One Night Stand and Royal Rumble both featuring matches between Beniot and Eddie Guerrero. It was so bittersweet watching them again.
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Yeah they were really great. It always makes me sad to watch a great match that features wrestlers who passed away too soon. Thanks for the comment.Β
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For the longest time (Until just last week, actually) I blamed Benoit for the murders, and not only condemning him, but the entire world of pro wrestling, completely insulting the entire thing. Before the entire thing, I was a Christ Benoit and Undertaker fan., then I damned all of it.Recently, I began reading into the case of the murder-suicide, and realized that I have been cursing wrestling and Benoit over something beyond the late Chris Benoit couldn't even control.Recently, I have begun watching the classic matches, and have retracted all my statements about pro wrestling. I don't blame the WWE for distancing themselves from him, but it still saddens me. I have recently forgiven Benoit, and started watching his old matches (As well as Undertaker's). At least he is at peace.
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Yes, may he rest in peace.Β
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Forgot about Test...maybe.Β
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A very nice rendition of Benoit. I think it is horrible how he died, and I don't really blame WWE for distancing themselves from him as a result.
I will admit, whenever I see Daniel Bryan doing the flying headbutt during a match, I can't help but wince.
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Thanks for the kind words. Appreciate it. The flying headbutt should definitely be retired. LOL
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No problem!
Yeah, I agree. The flying headbutt should be banned. I always believed that Benoit's usage of it contributed to the brain damage he suffered, especially since it is known to cause real head injuries and neck problems. It's why I wince when I see Daniel Bryan using it.
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Man, I loved seeing this guy in the ring. I was shocked to find out what happened to him, though. Thanks for posting this.
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One of my childhood heros.. Respect this guy to this day. I don't listen to whatever people say about him.. People do wrong things outta frustration. And it may be possible that he didn't even do it. Anyways.. legends never die. He's still alive in our hearts.
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Legends never die. Amen to that.
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I find it funny that Eddie died of a drug overdose and the WWE hails him as a fallen hero, inducting him into the hall of fame, and even using it as a storyline for almost half a year. But Benoit, who most likely suffered a complete psychotic break, coupled with possible depression after Eddie's death, isn't even allowed to have his name mentioned on a WWE broadcast. It's sad when a company puts its own interests ahead of honouring someone who gave everything to them
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Incorrect. Eddie had been clean for months when he died.
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Yeah it sucks. I also think that because they felt a little foolish jumping the gun paying tribute to a murderer adds to it. It is not something the WWE ever wants to look back upon. Benoit was also a heavy drug abuser as well because of the intensity of the job. The whole thing is tragic. Maybe some day when Vince passes and his children (along with Triple H) are running the WWE, they will acknowledge the greatness of Chris Benoit as a wrestler by inducting him into the Hall of Fame.
Thanks for the comment, man!
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There's a definite chance that that might happen, because after Benoit's death Hunter was using the Crossface as a sort of tribute to him for a couple of years.
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I think you made the right choice by doing this. After all, you're talking about Benoit as a wrestler, rather than as a person. When myself and my brother first watched wrestling, he was one of the guys that we enjoyed seeing, and his technical wrestling skills were some of the best, even against today's superstars. We'll never know the absolute truth about the circumstances surrounding his death, so we shouldn't dwell on it. I'd rather just remember what a great wrestler he was.
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Remembering him as a great wrestler is exactly what I'm choosing to do. Thanks for the great comment.
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You're very welcome!
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I've heard rumours that Benoit may be innocent, that it wasn't fully investigated...
But even if he is responsible, as it widely believed, I still support him. He was a great guy in the ring, had problems, and is a massive loss.
Thank you for choosing to honour him. He was just a flawed human being that gave his life and mental health to the company. In my mind, the least he deserves is Hall Of Fame, even though I know it's not going to happen...
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I've heard those same rumors as well. I read something that the reason it wasn't fully investigated was because his body was cremated without permission from his family.
Anyway I chose to honor the wrestler and not the flawed man and I'm glad you agree with my decision.
Thanks for the great comment.
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Innocent or not, I guess we'll never know.
I'm glad you chose to honour him.
You're welcome ^^
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Why do he do that for and his heart was three times bigger that's what the doctors told his sister-in-law and that he had 10 mounts to live
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I heard that rumor as well. The sister-in-law also doesn't believe the head trauma argument. It's just sad all around. Thanks for the comment.
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I know and yw
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I thank you for honoring Chris Benoit. Not may people would ever have the courage to this. I myself have received a lot of hate just for saying he was one of my favorite wrestlers. I just wish WWE would give him the honor of going into the WWE Hall Of Fame, he definitely earned it due to his in ring achievements. I understand that they wish to distance themselves from Benoit, but he ultimately gave his life for the company. He at least deserves that.
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Thanks for the nice comment. I wasn't sure how people would react to this. I too wish he'd be acknowledged as well by the WWE but it will NEVER happen. That was the main reason why I chose to honor him here. He might have been a flawed human being and concussions might have had something to do with that but one thing that can be agreed upon was he was a fantastic wrestler.
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I heard recently that Kevin Sullivan may have had Benoit's family killed to get back at Benoit.
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