A haunting final message sent by former WWE star Chris Benoit has resurfaced almost twenty years following one of the wrestling industry’s most tragic events.
In June 2007, Benoit, a prominent figure in WWE at the time, committed the horrifying act of murdering his wife Nancy and their young son Daniel before taking his own life at their residence in Fayetteville, Georgia.
The brutal murders sent shockwaves across the globe, marking a profound shift in the landscape of professional wrestling.
In the days leading up to the discovery of the tragic incident, Benoit sent a series of increasingly distressing messages to his close friend and fellow wrestler Chavo Guerrero. However, one particular message sent to another acquaintance was particularly alarming.
Authorities disclosed that Benoit had left a chilling voicemail indicating that his dogs were outside in the backyard with the back door left ajar, a message now widely interpreted as a grim indication that something was amiss within his home.
Concern escalated for Benoit and his family’s well-being when he failed to appear at a scheduled WWE pay-per-view event where he was slated to perform.
A welfare check was subsequently requested, leading to the grim discovery on June 25, 2007, when police officers found the lifeless bodies of Benoit, Nancy, and Daniel in the home.
Investigations revealed that the killings unfolded over a three-day period, starting with the strangulation of Nancy followed by the sedation and suffocation of Daniel. Benoit then took his own life by hanging using gym equipment in the basement.
At the time of his death at the age of 40, Benoit was highly esteemed as one of the most technically proficient wrestlers of his era.
Just three years prior, he had triumphantly celebrated a world championship victory at WrestleMania 20 alongside his wife and son.
Postmortem examinations on the wrestler’s brain exposed severe damage consistent with advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative condition associated with repeated head injuries, likened by doctors to advanced Alzheimer’s.
Despite WWE initially airing a controversial tribute episode following his death, the company swiftly distanced itself from Benoit once the truth came to light, erasing him from its history.
His name is seldom mentioned in WWE broadcasts, excluded from the Hall of Fame, and his legacy forever overshadowed by his abhorrent actions.
