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Submitted by Wevv Mang on Monday, July 2, 2007 at 8:31 PM EST
Ridin’ With The Bossman - The Legacy Of Chris Benoit Greetings. Welcome to another edition of Ridin’ With The Bossman. By now you have probably read all the sordid details of the murder-homicide of the Benoit family. Chris Benoit, for reasons only guessed at killed his wife Nancy over a week ago, and then killed his seven-year-old son Daniel, and then took his own life. The news started appearing on the net last Monday. WWE scrapped plans for a regular Raw, which was going to feature another tribute to Vince and a funeral. Instead, the show was a three-hour tribute to Benoit. See, the details of the murder/suicide were released hours after the news of his death, and well, by that time, the tribute plan was already in motion. Once the news hit the net, the tribute show took on a creepy tone. The next WWE show, ECW, featured an apology of sorts for airing a three-hour tribute to a murderer. Also by the time, the media had started to pick up the story, with all the sordid details. The rest of the week turned into feeding frenzy, not just on the net, but also in the media. WWE tried to keep up, but then gave up. ECW was a strict wrestling show, Smackdown it was almost, but not quite, business as usual. What a week. And the show, in more ways than one, goes on. I learned of Benoit’s death when I got home from work and logged on my computer. The main page was down, so I clicked on the forums and seeing a thread titled ‘Remembering Chris Benoit”. I couldn't believe it. I checked around and sure enough, Benoit was dead. I knew he wasn’t at the PPV and had gone home according to net sources due to a family emergency. Then I learned that the show as going to be a tribute show to Benoit. So I thought of my favorite Benoit match. May 3, 2004, Raw Chris Benoit was going to face HBK. I was at that show. It was a good show. Jericho challenged for the title. I got to see the quickly pulled and never seen again video of Regal and Eugene training, and by God, that retard could wrestle! It was a hilarious clip as well. Then came the main event. One hell of a match, and personally, I think it was a turning point for HBK. Finally, here was some one not just keeping up, but also helping set the pace of the match and pushing HBK. Great spots, that were done during commercial of course, but I saw them. Benoit flying out of the ring, HBK doing daredevil stunts, and it kept going. Both men seemed to be at the top of their game, and were willing to give the fans a match to remember. But it was the crowd I’ll remember most. Dueling HBK and Benoit chants, and they were loud. And passionate. And didn't go away. Fade down yes, when the action picked up, but they came back as strong as ever. It wasn’t just dueling sections. We had guys and girls in our area in about equal numbers yelling for both. To me, it was a peak of what going to a live event is all about. Then H came in at the end and tried to steal the show, which was a downer. Well, to me at least. I wanted to see who was going to win. I was rooting for Benoit, but if HBK won, no problem. Hell of a match, and whoever did win deserved to get that win. I also started gathering my thoughts about the passing of another fan favorite. I never was a huge Benoit mark. The guy was a consummate professional in the ring, no doubt about that. The guy had tons of talent. It’s a fact that talent didn't carry over to his mic skills. He didn't need to be a great orator, he just had to let his wrestling do the talking for him. Benoit was admired, idolized by some, and basically what most wrestlers wanted to be in the ring. A guy who was the epitome of a generation. Much like Ric Flair was the epitome for his generation. Benoit was the guy who folks could look at and say hard work can take you places in wrestling. Then you learn that he was nuts and killed his wife and mentally handicapped son. Not all at once. He spread it out. Over time. A weekend. He then killed himself. In January of 2000, A group of wrestlers left WCW for WWE. They were not considered headliners in WCW, but they were respected. They were not big guys, they were not famous names to the casual fans. They had fans, no question about that, but mainly it was to a new type of fan. One that gained the name “Smark” or smart mark. These fans grew up at a later date and used the new forms of media to learn more about the industry. Websites were plentiful, detailing backstage happenings, real or not. Newsletters were getting more subscribers, due to their names now reaching a broader audience. The Era was a strange mix of old and new. Old names were plentiful on WCW. Names like Hogan, The Steiners, Macho Man, and many more stars that once were hot, and now seemed to be catching a second wind. The Monday Night wars were at a peak, and the competition was fierce to get that slight ratings advantage. But the smarks were picky. Armed with knowledge of other styles of wrestling and talking amongst themselves about things like “workrate, style, pureso, lucha libre”, and other strange terms and phrases, they were a more discriminating type of fan. And boy, they had little fear of expressing their opinions, not just in their little isolated world. They took pride in getting the word out to the “marks”. Signs at shows, standing in line for a show, the guys at the water cooler. Word spread and frankly, when it was on your TV, it’s hard to refute. You would hear a so-so ten-minute promo and the big payoff was a punch. Then you had these guys come on next and put on a hell of a match, tearing the house down. To be followed by more plodding big guys whom the announcers loved. The fans bought what they wanted from the companies and shit on what they didn't like. The fans, it seems, had developed independence. In 2000, Eddie Guerrero, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, and Perry Saturn left WCW. More wanted to follow, but didn’t. Actually, Raven and Konan were the first to just get up and leave, I think. Shane Douglas was going to, but didn’t. Raven and Konan were no big deal. But the four who did, well, they were great performers, and if they left, who was going to carry the old guys? What make the matter even more tense is that WCW realized what they had, too later it turns out, but they had given the World Championship belt to Benoit at Souled Out. And Benoit still walked. To WWE. These four men took a stand. They set an example to the younger wrestlers, to the wrestlers who felt held down. In other words, they became heroes. CM Punk, on the Raw tribute show, said he was looking forward to wrestling Benoit, and realized that he’ll never get the chance. I’m sure many of the young talent in the WWE, and possibly TNA had hope that someday, they too would get a chance to wrestle the legend, Chris Benoit. Benoit suffocated his mentally challenged son hours after he choked his wife to death with an electrical cord, and police suspect that he smashed her face into the floor. The group came to WWE for less money than they were making in WCW. A point could be argued that they were lowballed. But to them, it didn't seem like it was about the money. It was about pride in the craft they had chosen. Wrestling. Mick Foley was the one to introduce them, and in their first appearance, Eddie blew out his elbow. After that, things took a downward slide. Perry Saturn was made crazy, and then cut, Malenko was not given much to do, and Eddie had to work his way back into WWE’s good graces. Which he did with style and flair. Out of the group the only “survivors” were Benoit and Guerrero. Benoit was made into a workhorse. But he did well. He was part of the Smackdown Six, a group that carried that show for months. His partner was Kurt Angle and they had the classic gimmick of not being able to stand each other. A great angle. But as time went on, and the H Mega-Push was still going, Benoit won the Royal Rumble. He then went on to Wrestlemania and put an end to H’s reign. Benoit, the net darling, and hero to the smarks, was the one who put the kibosh on H. It was more than just a win for Chris, as the win was a good symbol for disgruntled fans everywhere. Hard work and wrestling talent, and not sports entertainment could earn you the highest prize WWE had to offer. No backstage politics. Just wrestling, and giving it your all. A strong message. Prescription medicine and anabolic steroids were found in large quantities in Chris Benoit’s home. The belief that the murders might be due to roid rage and drug abuse has been a flashpoint for the media. WWE released a press release saying that Roid Rage could not have been the cause of the tragedy. After the death of Eddie Guerrero, the WWE put in place a wellness policy. Basically, it was to test for steroid and drug abuse, not just recreational drugs like cocaine and X, but also for abuse of prescription pain medicine. Chris Benoit had undergone neck fusion surgery in 2001. He was the second person I believe to have that surgery. To recover, Benoit had to spend months out of action, and indeed, he missed nearly a year. It’s a hard road to come back from, but Benoit did, and did it well. However, once the wellness tests were starting Benoit was sent home. He did not test positive for anything, as far as I know. But I believe there were concerns. He was not suspended. Indeed, in April Benoit passed a test, and he did not have steroids in his system according to WWE. There are no wild stories about Benoit like there are for many other wrestlers. Benoit had a DUI back in 1998. There were some violent outbursts with his wife, and his wife did file for divorce, but she pulled the request. A wrestlers life is hard on families and marriage in particular. Benoit was also a proud Canadian. When Brett Hart wrestled his tribute match to honor the memory of his brother, who tragically fell to his death, he chose Chris Benoit to wrestle. In his hometown of Edmonton, the citizen dedicated a day to honor him. Chris Benoit day was declared on April 16th, 2004. Chris is often referred to as the Canadian Crippler, right along with Rabid Wolverine. Benoit was known as a family man. He traveled with his sons at one point, taking along with him on the road and to shows. During the Raw Tribute show, one common theme was that Benoit was a family man. Benoit has two children from a previous marriage. They were not at the home when Benoit killed his wife and child. In the span of hours, Benoit went from being another tragic loss, to being something else. From hero to villain. From a good guy to a monster. All before the shock could wear off that he was dead, the shock of HOW he died and what he did before he died hit twice as hard. And they kept on coming. As the clock ticked on, more and more information came out. None of it was good. None of it did anything to soften the blow. Now, it seems to have hit a lull. But it’s not over yet. There’s still more to come. The speculation has been done, and now, it’s time to just wait for more facts. The toxicology reports will take a long time to come back. No concrete reason for Chris’ action were given. Nothing to point to and say “this is why he did it.” In fact, no one seems to really have known what was going on with Benoit. A common recurrence in the media reporting is that Benoit was a Jekyll and Hyde. Two people trapped in one mind. Benoit was a legend in the ring and now, he’s a legend out of the ring. So, young, up and coming wrestlers, do you still have regrets? Do you regret saying in interviews, to friends, to whomever, that one of the guys you’d like to wrestle the most was Benoit? That one of the wrestlers you most admired was Chris Benoit? So, wrestling column writers, what do you do now? How do you describe the talents of a wrestler without using the phrase “He’s no Chris Benoit?” That was a reliable one for me, maybe not others, but it was there, and used a lot at times. Now, just thinking that thought brings up conflicting thoughts. I know that some of them had tribute columns running through your heads and then SURPRISE! Benoit is a Killer! So, WWE, and this has got to be a tough time for them, what do you do now? You did a tribute show to a murderer, one that killed his own mentally handicapped son for crying out loud. It was the right thing to do at the time, and I was proud that you did it, and scrapped an angle that involved a fake death. You apologized and Vince even got on the Today Show to try and explain. Vince was clam and collected, and did a good job, but there were gaps in the armor. What do you do now? And also, WWE, here’s the controversial hype you have been trying to get for so long. Is it what you expected? There’s no easy excuse saying it’s just a TV show and just a TV angle. This one is real, but still, it’s the result you were trying for, isn't it? It’s what you were hoping to accomplish, eh? Everyone seems to be talking about WWE… For the wrestlers, here’s a guy, that many who may not have known Benoit well, or as well as they thought, that was admired, respected, a leader, and an all around good guy. Then, he not only kills himself, but his wife and kid as well. Stories then come out that the guy was acting like a complete nut job. And they had no clue. It’s a total mindfuck. For everyone. And the question of the moment seems to be what do we do now? And that one is both easy and hard to answer. The easy answer is to just keep going on like before. Keep putting on shows, keep hoping that it all passes into the background, and that the final fallout is not as bad as it could be. Find another wrestler to cheer for and hold up as a poster boy. Keep watching WWE. Crack a few jokes and carry on as you always have. And keep asking yourself the question in the back of your mind. “Who’s next?” Or there is the harder path to take. The one where changes are suggested and plans formed. The path that will take a toll on both the bottom line of WWE and the path that may do more damage in the short term, but offer greater benefits in the long run. The question of “Who’s next?” will be asked as well, but it will be followed up with “Will it be as bad?” and also “what can we do to stop it?” Another wrestler will die. That’s not a grim prediction, it’s just playing the odds. Steroids and drugs have been around wrestling for a long time. And they will still be around wrestling after this incident. The damage has already been done in some cases, and it’s just a matter of it catching up to the person. Every single professional wrestler could make an effort to get off drugs and it would still happen. There will always be some one willing to take that extra step and try to gain an advantage, no matter the cost of the rules. It’s the same in all of a professional sports, and even amateur sports. Or competition of any kind. It’s just human nature. But the issue is not just the fact that steroids were mentioned. It’s the fact that no one saw it coming. With the death of Eddie, it was a tragedy, but it was only one person, and was not violent. It was just…something that happened. A sad something, but it just happened. This, this was premeditated. It was deliberate. It was violent, and it took innocents as well. It was brutal and ugly. The WWE milked the death of Eddie long past the bounds of good taste. WWE is not going to touch this one with a ten-foot pole. Actually, I should never say never, but I hope they don’t, with all my heart I hope they don’t. WWE handled this crime very well. Vince took control. He made decisions in a tough situation. He made the right calls in my mind. Yes, they may have know the circumstances of the Benoit’s death before the show aired. But, it’s acceptable to me. There was a glimmer of hope that it wasn’t the disgusting act it was. To change the show at that point in time was an option, but not a good one. The follow up from WWE showed that they were thinking and trying to do the right thing, without really knowing what accusations were being leveled against them. They stepped into a situation on Tuesday that could have been a disaster, and made things infinitely worse for not only themselves, ie management, but also for the wrestlers they employ. And remaining silent is the best course of action for right now. Let the police do their job, and don't give the press ammo they can use against you. But it’s only the first steps on a very long road. The media hasn’t let go of this story. The frenzy may have died down, and it was big. They were dragging every single person into the spotlight they could get their hands on. I even saw Lex Freakin’ Luger on a show. They’re just waiting, like the rest of the wrestling world, for what’s going to be revealed next. What happens now? Where do we go from here? It’s the question of the moment. So much has been revealed in this case that is horrifying and tragic and just plain evil. There don't seem to be any simple answers. And questions about the case seem to lead to darker and more horrifying places of the soul. For the company itself, and wrestling in general, there’s a hard road ahead. The wrestling industry has rarely been portrayed in a positive light. The career of professional wrestler doesn’t look to be a good one now. There’s only one company in America that seems to be doing well enough financially to pay it’s wrestlers on a consistent basis good money. Japan’s business is shaky, Mexico is doing well, but in terms of paying all of it’s workers, well, I have no figures on that. Italy seems to be cooling down, and that’s about all I know about the global scene. WWE is the place to be. But WWE seems to be having it’s share of problems. Bonnie Hammer, president of USA makes one comment to WWE, and the mad dash is on to get ratings. WWE is making money, but it’s touring a lot. Overseas tours seem to be happening every two months. Injuries have cropped up, steps were taken to alleviate the situations but it’s early to see if it’s going to work, there’s potential there, it just needs time. The brand split seems to be a thing of the past. One could say, being a WWE employee is pretty stressful right now. And there are cracks in certain wrestlers, and this horrible incident will make them worse. Randy Orton destroyed a hotel room a while ago. I’m sure WWE was keeping an eye on him. Jerry the King Lawler just beat up a fan, something he normally would not do. I’m sure WWE has been keeping an eye on him since then. In fact, there are probably plenty of people WWE was keeping an eye on. Lance Cade ballooned up to a huge size. Cena has been go-go-go for months, and I’m sure even though he seems fine, and able to handle it, it’s gotta be wearing him down. Jeff Hardy has been non-stop for a while and with the matches he does, that’s impressive as hell. But he keeps going, despite all the bumps. Batista and Booker got into a fight, and there’s always the stories about the pressure of being on top, no reason to think there’s no pressure with being a main eventer as well. And Batista has his shares of past injuries, and he’s certainly not a small guy. WWE has the Wellness program to help keep tabs on wrestlers, but it doesn't seem to be enough. It’s a good start, no doubt about that, but there’s more that could be done. This horror has shaken wrestling to it’s very core. Who knows how many wrestlers are looking at themselves in the mirror and thinking to themselves, “Could it happen to me?”. It’s a terrifying thought. Now is the time to take the next step, and it’s not going to be an easy one. There’s no clear answer. But there are things that the WWE could do. Things that will cost the WWE time and money. But I think in the long run, will be more beneficial. I don't know if it’s the right move to make. But I don't think it’s the wrong one. Go dark WWE. That’s a term that means that the shows are no longer live. Not permanently, just for a couple of weeks. Buy yourselves some time to get together and make a plan. Not just for the show, but for all of the employees. Form the wrestlers to the writers, to management, to the road crew, and so on and so forth. Take a break from work and take time to strengthen the bonds that tie the company together. Give everyone time to cope with the situation. I’ve heard that working through problems is one course of action, but it’s just one course. And with time off, there’s always the worry of losing your job. But if it’s company ordered, and not just for individuals, but for everyone, that can help alleviate a lot of stress. Get the wrestlers together in one location. Away from “work”. A meeting backstage at a show is one thing, but it lacks the personal touch. It’s like the fifteen-minute pep talk before you go back to your cube. The message is heard, but often ignored, as there’s work waiting to be done. Get them together at Titan Towers or something. At this meeting, make it clear that it’s not just another pep talk. It’s a special situation. Test for drugs, have grief counselors available and make each and every wrestler meet with one. Will it accomplish anything or even be taken seriously? Maybe not, but if it helps just one wrestler get the help they may need, would it be worth it? I think so. Speak not just to the wrestlers but also those in supporting roles and supervisor roles. Take charge again Vince. See, management may get different messages than the wrestlers. They are on a different level of the hierarchy after all. But if everyone gets the same message at the same time, well, it’s hard to confuse what was actually aid. Train your road agents, bookers, and whoever else is in charge of keeping an eye on talent. Train them in how to handle situations, and give them protocols for steps to take. I’ve heard the rumors of how Johnny Ace handled some situations, and well, it left a lot to be desired. How vilified was Bischoff for how he handled things? I’d say Ace has done as bad, if not worse. Train the guy. He may no longer need it, but could a refresher course hurt? Give the writers a break as well. They have pressure as great as the wrestlers, but a different kind of pressure. Again, according to rumors, the recent string of PPV’s and shows has had an effect on them. Burn out is one phrase thrown around. Give them a break and let them build up some creative strength. Vince has long said that WWE is a family business. Books written by wrestlers and in interviews have backed that up, even if they did come from WWE sources. Vince should give his family, and extended family a chance to come together and seek support from not only each other, but from other avenues as well. Maybe an outsider perspective is able to see something that an insider instinctively tries to hide, because that’s the way they’ve been taught? An outsider might be able to reach out in a way that gets through. There’s always that chance. Why not give members of the WWE family every single chance possible to get help if they need it, even if it’s for just a small window of time? It won't come without a price. The loss of revenue from shows will hurt. The timeslots for the networks could be filled easily with ‘best Of” footage. WWE has YEARs of material to fit the bill. But “Best Of” shows traditionally have bad ratings. Depending on how long the WWE stays dark, rescheduling show locations will be a pain. But there’s a bright side, outside of the benefit to the performers. It’s that when WWE does come back, it can be rejuvenated. There’s the comeback pop to look forward to as well. WWE has never taken a break. Hard to say it won't happen. I doubt many fans will be lost, and it’s not like there would be no show period. Another benefit is that this would be seen as a good move by WWE by the public. It would show WWE is addressing the situation in a responsible and caring way. Image is important. Even though WWE did not kill Benoit, his wife and son, Benoit is associated with WWE. How many pictures have been shown of Benoit with the championship belt, or stories that said Benoit was a former champion? A conference would show that WWE is looking out for it’s employees. Is taking steps to ensure their safety and well-being. That WWE is not a heartless conglomerate, run by a heartless dictator. It would show that Vince is a human being, and does have a heart. It may not be the best solution, but it seems to me like the most comprehensive one. The next death is inevitable. But this way, it might happen in years to come, not next week, next month, or even next year, but a long time away. That’s it for this week. There’s just a few more things I’d like to add. One of the people I felt the sorry for was Chavo. That poor guy. First Eddie and now Benoit. It’s gotta be hard for him. I’d just like to wish him my condolences and hope he knows it wasn’t his fault. Chris Benoit killed his wife and child. Benoit killed himself. Benoit fucked up everything good he ever did, with a horrible choice. Benoit fucked up the lives of those who cared for him. Benoit fucked up his legacy, and forever tainted every single memory of those who may have respected him. Chris Benoit is dead. Nancy Benoit is dead. 7-Year-old Daniel Benoit is dead. The memory of them lives on. For good or ill, it’s not going to go away anytime soon. The way they died will make sure of that. Wevv Mang Please label all feedback as FEEDBACK. mrwevv@mac.com
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