Chris Benoit, also known by his ring name The Rabid Wolverine, was a prominent figure in the world of professional wrestling within WWE. He achieved great success as a world champion, headlining Wrestlemania and emerging victorious at the Royal Rumble.
Tragically, in June 2007, on the night he was poised to win his third world championship, he committed a heinous act by taking the lives of his wife and their seven-year-old son before ending his own life at their family home. This shocking incident led to Benoit being effectively removed from the company’s history.
Despite his past accomplishments, his name was scrubbed from the website, video games, press releases, and DVDs, and seldom mentioned in broadcasts. In 2024, former WWE CEO Vince McMahon addressed the double murder-suicide during a Netflix documentary series titled “Mr. McMahon.”
At the time of his death at the age of 40, Benoit had been involved in professional wrestling since he was 18, competing across various promotions globally, including in the US, Canada, and Japan. Throughout his career, he secured 30 championships and was revered as one of the finest technical wrestlers in the sport’s history.
Following his demise, there were speculations that Benoit may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition associated with repeated head injuries, known to cause severe mood swings and behavioral problems, commonly found in American football players.
Post-mortem examinations conducted on Benoit’s brain revealed severe damage, akin to that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer’s patient. Additionally, steroids were discovered at his residence post the tragic incident, sparking discussions of a potential link to “roid rage” triggering the deaths.
In discussions with Netflix, McMahon refuted claims of a correlation between steroids and Benoit’s actions, attributing the tragedy to human flaws. WWE, previously embroiled in a steroid scandal in the 1990s, has since implemented stringent concussion and drug-testing protocols while disclaiming any responsibility for Benoit’s actions.
The documentary also featured renowned wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin expressing doubts on the CTE theories, and McMahon acknowledging Benoit’s prowess in the ring and his previous positive reputation. WWE maintains its commitment to rigorous protocols and denies any culpability for the tragic events involving Chris Benoit.