Chris Benoit

I have now have had a night to digest everything that has happened in the past 24 hours or so. Chris Benoit, a hero of mine, along with his wife and child, are dead. From the instant I heard this news, I wanted to believe that he had no part in the death of his wife and child, but unfortunately reality isn't always kind. "But this is Chris Benoit" is all I could keep telling myself. Why would one of the best representatives of a business that is so often put down go and do something so terrible? This is a man who had to earn everything he achieved in this business. He was short, lacked mic skills, didn't play the politic game, yet somehow he succeeded. There have been more talented competitors, more athletic performers, heck, just more gifted all around wrestlers, but I know there has never been a harder working wrestler. If Chris Benoit was on the card, you knew you were going to see at least one good match. There has probably never been a more touching moment than when he and Eddie Guerrero, best friends, celebrated their world championships at WrestleMania XX. That is one moment I will never forget. But I ask this, why would someone who lived and breathed this business, who worked so hard to become a legend, take this route and ruin everything he had earned? His name will now forever in infamy and it truly is a shame. Why, Chris, why?

Chris Benoit, you were an inspiration to me and I am proud to have been able to follow your career. You were everything that wrestling was supposed to be about and gave us countless memorable matches and moments. I will miss being able to watch you wrestle every week, as I am not sure if there was a better wrestler that I have ever watched. My respect for you as a wrestler will never go away, but unfortunately, as a human being, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get over the disappointment of this tragedy and the role you played in it. Chris, you will be missed, but I can't help but feeling betrayed.