Around the Ring: Breaking down Benoit

The hardest thing to do when writing a wrestling column is to come back after a few months of summer break to tackle what has happened during the past three months. Note: I was going to do this column with some mini titles and give my two cents on some of the big events of the summer and where I think things are headed, but after writing this column and going on a writing rant (like I usually do), it turns out that I wrote almost two pages on one story and this is how we are going to start the year off in the Interrobang's wrestling column:

The Chris Benoit incident

I use “incident” because I don't really know whether to call it a tragedy or a stupid, selfish act, or both. I remember coming home and expecting Raw to have already started. It was supposed to be a three hour Raw revolving around Mr. McMahon's death angle. When I saw that it was on at 9 p.m., I just figured that The Score network pushed it back an hour. My heart sank into my stomach when the program started with “In Memory of Chris Benoit.” I was speechless.

The next scene startled me just as much: Vince McMahon broke two months of a storyline and his death angle out of respect to Chris Benoit. I was absolutely floored on so many levels. Little did I know that an hour later (while the broadcast was happening), it was announced that it was a murder/suicide. I woke up the next morning to WWE.com to see what was happening and the whole tribute to Benoit was taken down and the WWE site was looking at the incident as a terrible act that they, and of course everyone else, couldn't believe.

This was a very surreal time for the WWE and you could tell that the writers and performers for all three programs were struggling with what had happened and trying to re-write two to three months of programming probably right up to the minute they went to air or tapings. The Raw/Smackdown/ECW shows were quite awful for a couple of weeks, and let's not forget The Great American Bash PPV.

Are WWE and their writers to blame? I don't think so because not only is it hard for writers to get enough fun and entertaining material for a regular 22 episode TV season, but these guys have to write for three shows, 13 or so Pay Per Views a year and the odd special here and there.

The media attacked this like a bunch of vultures. I tell people I'm a wrestling fan and I get weird looks, so if that's what the majority of people do for me, imagine the heyday that the media could have bashing the industry once again.

Do I believe that this incident was caused by roid rage? I don't think so. You heard in many of the WWE wrestler's tributes to Benoit that he was a quiet man, kept to himself most of the time and barely spoke of his family life. He may have had issues that we had no idea about — not to condone his actions.

What we're left with now is a great wrestler who will now be remembered for his heinous actions instead of what he gave to the industry, as well the untimely deaths of his wife and son.

Vince is now back on TV and is speaking out against the US congress, who now want documents about their drug testing. I find it hilarious that wrestling is attacked so much and when something like this happens. Wrestling seems to be the only sport, or entertainment, which gets its nose rubbed in dog shit and attacked like this when something tragic happens. Look at ALL of the major sports out there. You tell me that none of those guys are on roids or professional enhancement drugs even though all the clubs have drug testing? What about the “sports heroes” that are caught because they were involved in illegal activities, not to mention those who are not caught? Do the media attack their sport as a whole? No. And if they make any comments, it's not at this level. I'm sure there are many who will disagree with me on this point but ignorance is bliss when even the most entry level professional athlete gets paid more than the entry level (or even mid card) wrestlers and do half the work for half the year just so you can cheer for your hometown team.

Don't get me wrong. I can guarantee that the WWE has turned their noses up at some of their superstars during times when some of them have done things they shouldn't be. There are probably a couple of them who can hide stuff very well — just like all athletes.

The WWE has gotten a little too much flak for someone's horrible decision and there looks like it's going to keep going a little bit longer.