Post by admin on Jun 25, 2007 20:42:40 GMT -5
Canadian pro wrestling superstar Chris Benoit, his wife and son have been found dead at their suburban Atlanta home, World Wrestling Entertainment says.
Police said Monday they are treating the matter as a homicide.
Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told the Associated press that the three were found at their home about 2:30 p.m. local time. He wouldn't give details.
Results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and seven-year-old son Daniel are expected Tuesday, he said.
WWE planned to air a tribute show to Benoit instead of its usual "Monday Night RAW" TV show.
"I am deeply saddened over the loss of Chris Benoit," WWE Canada president Carl DeMarco said on the WWE website.
"My heartfelt thoughts and sympathy go out to his parents and family. My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend. Chris was always first-class -- warm, friendly, caring and professional ... one of the best in our business."
Benoit, 40, was born in Montreal and also lived in Edmonton.
He began his wrestling career in 1985, starting with the famous Hart family of Calgary and their Stampede Wrestling operation.
He would wrestle for the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling before joining WWE in 2000.
Four years after that, he would win the world heavyweight championship at Wrestlemania 20.
Benoit stood 180 centimetres tall and weighed about 100 kilograms. Some called him "The Canadian Crippler," in part because of his signature move -- the "Crippler Crossface."
"Chris was beloved among his fellow superstars, and was a favourite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability," the WWE said on its website.
"He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss."
Benoit had been scheduled to wrestle at a pay-per-view event in Houston on Sunday night. However, he got replaced at the last minute for "personal reasons," according to announcer Jim Ross.
"He was a man of few words, but his passion for the sports-entertainment business was almost unrivaled," the WWE said. "Whether loved or hated, Benoit was always well-respected by our fans and his peers for his in-ring ability, his trademark toothless grin and his no-nonsense attitude.
"The sports-entertainment world has truly suffered a loss with his passing, as one of the all-time greats was taken well before his time."
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
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growing up i used to watch him wrestle every chance i got, not only because he was from edmonton but he was exciting to watch and i love the intense look on his face all the time.. this sucks
Police said Monday they are treating the matter as a homicide.
Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told the Associated press that the three were found at their home about 2:30 p.m. local time. He wouldn't give details.
Results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and seven-year-old son Daniel are expected Tuesday, he said.
WWE planned to air a tribute show to Benoit instead of its usual "Monday Night RAW" TV show.
"I am deeply saddened over the loss of Chris Benoit," WWE Canada president Carl DeMarco said on the WWE website.
"My heartfelt thoughts and sympathy go out to his parents and family. My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend. Chris was always first-class -- warm, friendly, caring and professional ... one of the best in our business."
Benoit, 40, was born in Montreal and also lived in Edmonton.
He began his wrestling career in 1985, starting with the famous Hart family of Calgary and their Stampede Wrestling operation.
He would wrestle for the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling before joining WWE in 2000.
Four years after that, he would win the world heavyweight championship at Wrestlemania 20.
Benoit stood 180 centimetres tall and weighed about 100 kilograms. Some called him "The Canadian Crippler," in part because of his signature move -- the "Crippler Crossface."
"Chris was beloved among his fellow superstars, and was a favourite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability," the WWE said on its website.
"He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss."
Benoit had been scheduled to wrestle at a pay-per-view event in Houston on Sunday night. However, he got replaced at the last minute for "personal reasons," according to announcer Jim Ross.
"He was a man of few words, but his passion for the sports-entertainment business was almost unrivaled," the WWE said. "Whether loved or hated, Benoit was always well-respected by our fans and his peers for his in-ring ability, his trademark toothless grin and his no-nonsense attitude.
"The sports-entertainment world has truly suffered a loss with his passing, as one of the all-time greats was taken well before his time."
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
---------------------------------------
growing up i used to watch him wrestle every chance i got, not only because he was from edmonton but he was exciting to watch and i love the intense look on his face all the time.. this sucks
