The Disturbing Truth of Chris Benoit’s Double-Murder and Suicide

One of professional wrestling's worst moments occurred in June 2007. Chris Benoit was rebuilding his career as a professional wrestler with the ECW brand, and the former World Heavyweight Champion was facing CM Punk at the Vengeace: Night of Champions pay-per-view. However, Benoit never showed up.

The following night on WWE Raw, a tribute show was given from Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment after finding out Benoit was dead. However, what really happened during that dark night in Fayetteville, Georgia near Atlanta changed everything.

It was revealed that Benoit was a part of a double murder-suicide, which included his wife Nancy Benoit and his son Daniel Benoit. Benoit murdered his wife, suffocated the couple's 7-year-old son to death, and committed suicide by hanging himself.

The pro wrestling world was shocked by the Benoit family tragedy, and WWE blacklisted the former WCW star ever since.

Benoit's wife Nancy Toffoloni was heavily involved in pro wrestling and broke into the business after meeting Kevin Sullivan. After her divorce from Jim Daus, Nancy married Sullivan. But in 1997, Nancy began seeing Chris Benoit, and eventually turned into a real-life angle between Kevin and Chris.

Over the years researchers found that effects of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) was a major factor at the time of the apparent double murders and suicide. Findings concluded that Chris was suffering from "an increased risk of depression and cognitive impairment" from concussions before he took his own life.

While the case is closed, this unfortunate event will remain a topic of discussion for wrestling fans and further research of brain damage for many years to come. In addition, this act has also extinguished any chance of him getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, although his pro wrestling resume would undoubtedly merit this achievement.

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