Chris Benoit, famously known as The Rabid Wolverine, was a celebrated personality within the WWE universe. He achieved the prestigious title of world champion, headlined Wrestlemania, and emerged victorious at the Royal Rumble.
Tragically, in June 2007, on the eve of potentially securing 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.
Following this shocking incident, Benoit was effectively scrubbed from the company’s records. His name was expunged from the website, video games, press releases, and DVDs, with scant mentions made on broadcasts.
In 2024, Vince McMahon, the controversial former WWE CEO, finally addressed the double murder-suicide in Netflix’s documentary series, “Mr. McMahon.”
At the time of his passing, Chris Benoit, aged 40, had been involved in professional wrestling since he was 18, competing in various promotions globally, including in the US, Canada, and Japan.
Throughout his career, Benoit secured 30 championships and is often revered as one of the most skilled technical wrestlers in the sport’s history.
Following his demise, neuroscientist and former WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski suggested that Benoit may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head injuries that can cause severe mood swings and behavioral problems, prevalent among American football players.
Post-mortem examinations on Benoit’s brain revealed extensive damage, akin to that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer’s patient. Steroids were found at Benoit’s home post-tragedy, fueling speculation of a potential link to “roid rage.”
In discussions with Netflix, McMahon dismissed these speculations, emphasizing that human behavior is complex and not solely attributed to steroid use.
While WWE had previously faced a steroid scandal in the 1990s, with McMahon accused of providing anabolic steroids to performers illegally, he was ultimately cleared of charges.
The documentary also featured wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin expressing doubt about CTE claims, and McMahon recalling Benoit as a skilled performer and person of high regard within the industry.
WWE maintains stringent concussion and drug-testing protocols and denies any responsibility for Benoit’s actions.