Pissing Vinegar vol. 43: Chris Benoit, You Dead, Twisted Fuck

You know we're living in a crazy, fucked up world when you get two PV's in two days. Somebody check the stopwatch, 'cause this just might be a record.

Okay, here's the situation...

Even if you're not a wrestling fan, chances are you've had this story shoved down your throats already. For those who somehow managed to avoid the news, it breaks down like this. Over the weekend, WWE "athlete" Chris Benoit (aka one of the most respected wrestlers in history until this batshit crazy stuff went down) thought it'd be a swell idea to strangle his wife to death with a cable. Some time later (possibly over a day), he considered murder so much fun, he figured he's try the same thing on his seven year old son. Some time after that (again, possibly over a day), he ran out of people in the house to kill, so he hung himself. Sources say steroids may have been a factor, but the WWE cries "preposterous" (of course).

What pisses me off to the point of wrecthing is that I was a wrestling fan a few years ago when he won the WWE title, and I thought to myself that this was a phenomenal achievement for someone who truly deserved it. Now, I look back on that moment and wish anyone else would have won. And, no offense to the wife's family (and I don't mean to imply anyone "has it coming"), but it's almost conceivable that she could have done something horrible to make him snap and kill. But, what the hell possesses a man to kill his seven year old son? It's a shame, and I'm absolutely beside myself with hatred for this man I was once proud to call a Canadian.

As for the steroid accusations, I'm with the WWE... sort of. While some steroids can cause paranoia and outbursts of a violent nature, I find it rather difficult to fathom someone getting so enraged as a result of using steroids as to kill his wife and son, especially over an elongated period of time. At some point in between the two killings, the effects would pretty much have to wear off. Not that I'm an expert on steroids or anything; I just think chemicals are no match for a human psyche intent on killing.

HOWEVER... I firmly believe that downplaying the possible role of the dope is foolish until it's proven that they didn't play any part in what happened. It's possible that roid rage could have triggered something that Benoit's twisted mind didn't want to stop. In fact, it's entirely conceivable that this wouldn't have happened if steroids weren't taken. And besides, surely anyone with even a passing knowledge of wrestling is well aware of how many young men's lives have been cut drastically short by the use of steroids. And yet, Vince McMahon continues to prefer his boys juiced up (I'm talking about steroids, but if your mind is filthy, that line is waaaaay funnier). Personally, if I were on the WWE roster and on steroids, I'd take a long, hard look in the mirror right about now. And, if I were Vince, I'd thoroughly encourage a system that condemns the use of steroids and growth hormones to prevent the ever-growing list of wrestling related tragedies that have been occurring.

One of the really sad parts about this senseless incident? WWE's ratings are going to soar as people try to get reaction and insight from the people Benoit worked and travelled with. And, it's just what the doctor ordered for Vince McMahon; being in a business that includes the sale of wrestling DVDs, I've seen firsthand how quickly WWE's sales have been slipping in recent months. It's a crying shame that the inevitable increase in revenue is coming at the cost of three lives, and at the hands of a man whose mind obviously went horribly astray.

Here endeth the ePISSle.