Thursday, June 28, 2007

Benoit Balls

Well, there’s no need to wait until we have our heads wrapped around this, because I doubt that’ll happen, so here it is. I know that a monster committed those terrible, unforgivable acts of horror. Just like everyone who knew Chris Benoit, I can’t think of him as a monster. Not Chris.

Chris was truly a role model’s role model. You simply had to respect him and admire his focus and unmatched discipline. If I ever got asked a question about who I looked up to the most in the business, you guessed it. That’s me sharing a real feeling with you. Not talking about bull shit that I have little interest in, like who would I like most to wrestle with, or what’s my favorite color, but who I actually looked up to in the dressing room. It’s Chris Benoit- in the ring and in the dressing room and with his family.

The last time I talked to Chris, a few weeks ago, he told me how much he respected me for stepping away from the business. His message now comes to me from beyond. He said “Some of us don’t know when to get out.” I told him that I always held a little contempt for him telling me back in 1992 that I was a dumb-ass for wanting to quit WCW, and mentioned the irony.

Over the last several years, on overseas tours I’d always see Chris in the gym when the other guys were recovering from the night before. He’d train hard and sometimes I’d see him allowing young wrestlers to follow his lead and get a guaranteed killer workout. He took pride in what he did and set a great example for others, myself included, to follow.

How many murderers…baby murderers at that… are praised so highly by EVERYONE who knew them? This is all so bizarre and new information seems to come out every few hours but I can’t imagine we’ll ever understand what happened here. It appears that Chris took the answers with him. To tell you the honest truth, the easiest thing for me to believe at this moment is that if no frame work was involved, he was taken over by demonic energies with no compassion. I have to believe this is often the case with such inhumane acts.

Nancy, Daniel and Chris’ tragic deaths obviously have affected a lot of people. Just remember, there’s enough hate in this world. Hateful thoughts do not move us in the right direction, so make a conscious effort to remember that. It’s important now and always.

121 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is beautiful. Thank you Rob. You have managed to articulate with striking accuracy and heart what so many of us are thinking at this time.

June 28, 2007 at 5:44 AM  
Blogger Javier Rivera Carozzi said...

Truly great words Rob. It's hard to forget the amazing wrestler he was, and although we cannot condone his actiones, we also are nobody to judge him. I think we'll never know the truth, and I don't know if I want to know it. Right now, we have to mourn for them, and respect the family members that are still in this world.
Javier, from Chile

June 28, 2007 at 7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear RVD,

You hit the nail right on the head, especially your last statement. When so many people are ready to condemn Benoit when there is virtually no evidence ANYWAY, you still have faith. Thank you RVD.

God Bless.

June 28, 2007 at 7:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful comments, Rob. A tragedy like this cannot be comprehended. It touches everyone, and even fans feel guilty, that we may have contributed somehow to what happened. Did we help kill Chris Benoit? Recall Bob Dylan's song about boxing, 'Who Killed Davey Moore?'

I'm all for you for stepping away. If you have friends in the industry who need to do this, also, please contact them and try to persuade them.

Bless you, Rob.

June 28, 2007 at 8:26 AM  
Blogger Tiago said...

Well, I'm here to see what my favorite wrestler wrote about the great wrestler Chris Benoit, and I saw that... Rob you're realy the best person in this industry of wrestling, you're amazing!!! Your words shown that Benoit was a great person in old times, but what he did is horrible!
However, I'm your greatest portuguese fan and I want you as WWE Champion!
Please don't leave WWE, you're the best and no one can beat you!!!
Stay...
Tiago, Portugal

June 28, 2007 at 8:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very true..thanks.
xx

June 28, 2007 at 8:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Words of truth, Rob. This is pretty much what I've been saying. Hopefully a lot more people will listen when it comes from one such as yourself.

Let's just hope we can eventually have some kind of idea what caused Benoit to do these things.

I look forward to seeing you on TNA or something in the near future.

Peace!

-Jake-

June 28, 2007 at 8:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hope your taking some much needed time off I think wrestlers should have at least 2 months off every year. Shane, from Ireland

June 28, 2007 at 9:03 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Rob, your 100% right in what you said. What you said is exactly how I feel. i hate how people think they know "exactly what happened" and thye just blantly say he killed his family. I think there was a lot more behind it, and I think persoanlly, that he though they would be better off in a better place. He was oviously under immense pressure, and I would guess did not want it anymore. Thank you Rob for posting this, it really made me feel a lot better...

Dylan

June 28, 2007 at 9:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I guess the only comments that won't be something like "He's a monster that will burn in hell" will only come from wrestlers and wrestling fans. It's so easy to tear apart someone that you never knew, or probably never knew existed. Does anyone outside the wrestling world stop and consider what the people that knew him best are saying? No, no one is forgiving him, no one is saying what he did isn't completly wrong. But they are saying that the man they knew was one of the best people they know. Either tons of people are right, or Chris was one heck of a liar, covering his true self for 22 years, and more. No one can comprehend WHY. We'll never know. And no one can know HOW either. This is one of the most bizarre crimes of the century, at least by a celebrity. But I'm rambling.
Thank you Rob, for trying to be a voice of reason in these difficult times. My thoughts and prayers go out to Chris and Nancy's family.

June 28, 2007 at 9:43 AM  
Blogger suki said...

Rob,
I too would like to thank you for your honest, and heart felt words. For all of his fans of him as a wrestler I believe it is very important to disassociate Benoit the wrestler from Benoit the man. For all of those commenting upon Benoit should recognise that as fans, we only knew him as the wrestler and should only comment upon that.
It is undenialable that he was one of the best technical wrestlers of all time and should be recognised as that. None of us knew him as a person, like Rob did for example, and so should not comment upon it.
In reference to the comment made above by "Anonymous" to be honest I think you should be ashamed of yourself for those sort of comments. Yes everyone has their opinions, but there is a time and place in which you should air them. For one, none of us know the true details of what happened and why, all we have are details released by the press,which to be honest can't really be treated as 100% reliable. If you actually read what Rob said, he stated that yes he thought a monster committed those crimes, but he was commenting upon the person that he knew. To be honest the one thing you have no right to comment upon as you did not know Benoit as that.
As for your comments about The Benoit's giving their son growth hormones, that is truely way out of line to comment upon and you have truely been influenced by the media hype way too much. Nothing gives you the right to comment upon parents giving their son medication/treatment which may well end up benefitting them in the future. Giving their son growth hormones has nothing to do with the events of that weekend and should no way be commented upon.
Finally with reference to your last sentence..no you did not know him, and you do not know exactly what happened that weekend so stating what you did was pretty pointless.
No one is condoning what he did or making excuses for it, they are simply commenting upon what they thought of him as a professional wrestler. As fans that is the only right that we have to comment upon as Benoit was in fact two people, only one of which we knew. The wrestler.

June 28, 2007 at 9:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So you looked up to a man who killed his wife and his sick 7 year old son? If your response isnt "the man I thought I knew, wasnt the man I thought I knew" then you are taking the side of a murderer. The wrestling business is full of poor quality human beings who needs to accept reponsiblity for the way they live their lives. Yourself included, with your constant "wink wink" endorsement of marijuana use. Almost every wrestler is still a carny,nothing more nothing less.

June 28, 2007 at 9:54 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Again, Mr. Anonymous, you are way out of line. Especially with your reference to marijuana use. That has nothing to do with this blogor the comments being posted about it. Sadly, I did not know Benoit as a person like RVD did. but, yes , I knew him as a wrestler. I will truly miss being entertained by him do what he did best, and that is wrestle. If you have bad things to say about this man, in the manner you are saing it, take it to a forum, and get out of this site. No one is defending him as a murderer, but stating that there is more behind black or white murder in this case, and that it is hard to beleive that he did what he did. Now, Mr. Anonymous, will you please shut your mouth!!

June 28, 2007 at 10:03 AM  
Blogger suki said...

Wow, you really are infuriating. Do you not read the comments that people place properly? Can you not understand the concept of disassociating the man from the wrestler? I, along with most people on here, was commenting upon the wrestler and his wrestling abilities. And maybe you should read my last comments again, when I said no one is condoning the actions taken and events which took place that weekend.
None of us as fans have the right to comment upon any wrestler as a person or the way in which they lead their lives away from the ring.....IT IS NONE OF OUR BUSINESS.
And on a final note....out of interest....if you feel that way about wrestling and wrestlers...why on earth are you on this page to start with?

June 28, 2007 at 10:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Now that the new evidence has been put out there, it appears Chris did murder his wife and son...

I can understand both sides of what people here are saying. Yes, he was a murderer. Yes, he was a great wrestler. But like Moshe over here said, nobody is defending him as a murderer. Seperate the man from the performer.

June 28, 2007 at 10:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yo RVD!

This whole situation is just fucked up, Bro.

Chris was obviously a stand-up guy, up until the moment he decided to take 3 lives including his own, then his legacy in the professional wrestling business became tainted forever.

At least from this fan's point of view...

It hurts to know inside that a person you admire had a complete mental episode and did something that was a completely unthinkable act, something that his Boss, friends and fellow workers were all completely shocked by and no one saw it coming.

I just wish someone could have seen this coming. I wish Chris could have been more of an secure man to express himself to people around him about his troubles and feelings going on inside his mind.

I wish someone inside "Vince and Stephanie's Trojan Horse" would get mental health evaluations for some of the boys every now and then.

Maybe Vince and Steph get in-line?? Get them checked out with someone??

June 28, 2007 at 10:49 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob,

Thank you for your point of view on this. I am still at a loss for words and still in shock. I can't believe that Chris is REALLY gone, and that he could have done this. It's just insane to me.

There are a lot of people who have already gone turn coat and flipped on him. Condemning him before we know what actually happend this weekend.

I HATE what Chris (allegedly) did, but I can not bring myself to hate him. He was the world to me, he was one of the major inspirations for me getting into the business (Eddie, Jerry Lynn and yourself being the others), and I can't bring myself to turn my back on all that he gave me. Especially without knowing the WHY.

I'm just so sick with guilt and pity for Chris and sadness for Nancy and Daniel. I will pray for them all. Hopefully we will get some answers.

And "Anonymous", you talk about people being chicken shit, how about you nut up and supply us with your email and real name.

Oh yea, you won't do that, trolls usually don't.

Thanks again Rob,

Bless you and yours

-Kristen/Siren

June 28, 2007 at 11:05 AM  
Blogger just me said...

it's nice to read some semblance of honesty lately regarding this instance. i am sure that some want to cover up the truth just as others want to exploit it. regardless, i, like everone else, have been battling how i feel about benoit after all this. i must say u have put it in the best way possible, there is too much hate in the world.

June 28, 2007 at 11:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said, Rob. I never met Chris Benoit, the person. All I ever knew him as was Chris Benoit the Character. What I do know, however, is that damn near every single fellow entertainer that ever once locked up with him in the ring, or knew him on the other side of the Gorilla, had nothing but the best to say about him.

Part of me holds on to hope that whoever was in Chris's body at that point in time wasn't the real Chris. Sentimentality over a favored wrestler? Maybe, probably.

But what you have to remember, is that not one of us was present over that three day period. We don't know exactly what happened,, and there's a good chance we may never know. Do I defend of justify his actions? Not in the slightest. But you can't deny he paid the ultimate price for what he has done. Only the one who WAS there can judge him, now, and Chris
-WILL- certainly get what he deserves, be it Eternal Peace, or Torment.

As for me, I don't know that I will ever be able to reconcile the man and the monster named Chris Benoit into one person, in my head..

This is just so terrible.....

June 28, 2007 at 11:10 AM  
Blogger Rodrigo -Hitman- Cortés said...

Rob, you truly touch my feelings towards Chris Benoit, all this week I felt the worst a man who can admire someone like Chris Benoit can Feel.

I admire the The wrestler, but whit this, i dont know how to feel about this.

People does not understand many times that people could snap because of some many shit around their person.

Man, i wish all this could be an angle and not what really Happened.

greets from Mexico.

Rodrigo Cortés Lozano.

June 28, 2007 at 11:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dude, that was truly awesome. i just cant see the evil in benoit. how can anyone who brought so much joy to so many people be seen as evil? troubled maybe, but never evil. vince has been his usual callous self in selling benoit out. thanks again dude, yours is the first comment ive read that told it how it is. big love

June 28, 2007 at 11:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe if you folks ventured out of your Trailer parks long enough to put the beer down you would see it's not that Benoit "allegedly" killed his family. It's investigative facts, or are you too busy brushing your tooth to comprehend. As well, you assume because calls out a murderer for what he is, that he's not a fan of the sport, or uneducated ( pot calling the kettle black), in the field. I personally have been a fan for 20 years. Can't hate him? Not evil? Circumstances? You people are a bunch of fucked up hillbilly excuse makers. Look at your ridiculous blogs " he was my hero". Newsflash, if a WWE Wrestler is your idol and hero, you might want to seek some therapy, or get a life. As well, the majority of you should try spell check before posting like buffoons. Your the best, no one can beat you. HELLO, can we say Pre Determined match outcomes? Are you people literally so blatently ignorant that you can no longer separate fantasy from reality? Chris Beniot the Acting Wrestler was not Chris Benoit the Murderer. That was the real guy, you know the one who KILLED his family? Or are you all too busy preparing for "Mr. McMahon"'s funeral, and trying to sell your hot daughter's on eBay for plane fare money to attend his service ( Small spoiler...that's staged too...shhhh!).

June 28, 2007 at 11:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RVD-san, it is a great relief to see such a level-headed disposition reflected in the nature of your comments. Thank you for speaking up.

As much as I respect the need for privacy... I wish I could be there just to hug everyone, turn off the news and reassure you that you are not alone in wishing to remain as positive and dignified as possible about the entire situation.

... I don't know if it will bring any comfort to you and I'm not sure if it is my place but... I've added Rabid-san and all who knew him to two prayer chains. Thanks to the power of the internet, the non-denominal nature of prayers and the tendacy of information to be shared between these groups, his name could be on as many a hundred prayer chains around the globe by the end of the day. Thousands by the end of the week.

Please hang in there.

~CalmMountain

June 28, 2007 at 11:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rvd,

What you said about Benoit is how everyone feels we did not know Benoit we only knew the Wrestler!!! I do not condone what Benoit did but how do we know what caused him to snap too much stress/pressure only one person knows and he's not here to tell us!!! Mr Anonymous just reading your blogs says your not a wrestling fan and your brain is that small that it spews out all the crap in the news we don't know anything other than Benoit killed his wife, child and himself!!! As with anything the media can twist it anyway the want!!! So leave real fans alone and get a life yourself!!!

June 28, 2007 at 12:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I never knew Chris Benoit personally. I'm just a wrestling fan like so many others who were thrilled to watch his incredible talent in the ring. But having followed his career so closely for so long, I fell more of a connection that I probably should, logically, and that connection has left me in shock since the tragedy began to unfold.

For me, Benoit was what the wrestling business should be but seldom was. His tireless work ethic, his iron determination to always give his best, and his solid professionalism all made him a role model of all that was best about a sport too often full of hyper-inflated egos and lazy dilettantes. I keep thinking of q a\quote I read once, allegedly from Kevin Nash. "I don't bring my A game to every show." That was the exact reverse of the energy and passion you saw in Chris every time he walked through that curtain.

And yet for all that, he still evidently committed these horrible, unforgivable crimes for no apparent reason, out of a clear blue sky. It's tough not to go with Rob's explanation of demonic possession. Nothing else seems to fit the facts...

The whole affair has made me feel kind of guilty to be a wrestling fan. We've lost so many talents, both great and small, over the years. It seems obvious, even to those of us outside, that the business takes a terrible toll from those who perform in it. I can't help but feel at least indirectly responsible. I didn't make anybody make the bad choices they did, but I help support the industry that helped them die. I don't have the answer, but I wish we could find a way to run the sport we all love without asking such a terrible price.

June 28, 2007 at 12:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear RVD,

Very great words. It's just hard to believe what has happened. It's like a bad dream. But like I have told many of my friends, family, and co-workers I am not judging Chris . I am not God to judge him only God judges people. Reguardless of what is said at the end of this, we must forgive him if he did it or not. Because when a family member does something wrong no matter what it is the family always forgive that person sometime or another.Rob I'm glad you wrote something from your heart and that you are not judging Chris because that not our place to judge someone . Take care of yourself Rob and hope to see you back in the ring soon no matter where it's at if WWE, TNA, or etc...

Steve , NJ

June 28, 2007 at 12:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While I don't want to blame the wrestling industry for this my best hope is that I don't see either Rob or Chris Jericho in a wrestling ring again. Changes need to be made in the "business" and they need to be made quickly!

June 28, 2007 at 1:25 PM  
Blogger SickDawgs said...

Very straightforward comments from a straight shooter. Thanks for that Rob.

June 28, 2007 at 1:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He couldant posably do this its not like him. Some say he was on steroids but he would not do that.

June 28, 2007 at 1:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

IT SEEMS LIKE VINCE AND THE WWE ARE WASHING THERE HANDS OF BENOIT THEY HAVE PRETTY MUCH REMOVED EVERY TRACE OFF THE WEBSITE WHICH I THINK ISNT THE RIGHT WAY TO GO IM NOT CONDONING WHAT HE HAS DONE BUT RVD KNOWS HIM BETTER THAN MOST AND HAS ALREADY SAID THAT WASNT THE CHRIS HE KNEW SO WE SHOULD TAKE A LEAF OUT OF RVDS BOOK AND REMEMBER CHRIS AS GREAT WRESTLER INSTEAD OF A MONSTER HE IS BEING MADE OUT TO BE
MILESY BLACKPOOL ENGLAND

June 28, 2007 at 2:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for writing this. I don't think anyone could have put it better. Reading this has helped me to understand my own feelings about this tragic event. Thanks again.

June 28, 2007 at 2:52 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Amen Rob, nuff' said.

June 28, 2007 at 3:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man, the fact that HE DID what he did taints all the talent he had in the ring, in discipline, and in the gym.

June 28, 2007 at 3:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

He did what he did for reasons none of us will ever know. it is with genuine respect that the wrestlers his true friends and such speak out, as they too cannot comprehend the tragic turn of events. We watch these people week after week and they are part of our everyday business and when something as tragic as this occurs what do you think and feel you cant turn the telly off and think i wont watch again its there and will remain throughout these tragic events. For what ever reason this has happened i for one will still remember the man who entertained as throughout the years and can only hope he has found some peace somewhere. There is much that can be said that hasny already been voiced and i just hope that people every where take a minute to think about the situation and maybe even wonder why someone who was such high profile chose to take this option??

June 28, 2007 at 3:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RVD,

I'm going to register an opinion somewhere mid-way between yours and this "anonymous" character.

I've been a pretty serious wrestling fan for 26 years, but guess what, Rob...it's over for me.

I have spent countless years being entertained by you guys, and I've enjoyed the spectacle, but now is not the time that I want to hear about how you looked up to Benoit. I don't care about "the business", and I don't care about his contributions to it. What has happened here is far too heavy.

Benoit is a murderer. THE END.

Somebody else here said they feel a little guilty being a wrestling fan. Well, I feel A LOT guilty. Why? Because in order to be a wrestling fan and enjoy the product, you have to do more than suspend disbelief that wrestling is "fake". You also have to suspend what you know to be true about the many men and women who have gone to an early grave. You have to ignore the fact that dozens of young performers have dropped dead of unnatural causes at a ridiculously young age. Like it or not, this form of entertainment comes at a tragic price.

After what Benoit has done, this for me seals the deal. I can't watch wrestling any more. I'm not one of these people who's going to sit here and coyly say "Let's just wait for the toxicology results before we pass judgement on Benoit". BULLSHIT. In this case, if it looks like a roid-head, quacks like a roid-head and acts like a roid-head, guess what...it's a roid-head.

Did Benoit have demons? Probably. But I think the wrestling lifestyle undoubtedly created this monster. 300 dates a year, the grueling travel, the injuries, the painkillers, the HGH, the steroids, the lack of sleep, the stress...all of it contributed.

RVD, a lot of your peers are dead. And frankly, I don't get the sense that Vince McMahon really gives a shit. The only image I have is of Vince sneering at Bob Costas or slapping Armen Keyteyian's notes out of his hands when he's confronted about the legions of dead wrestlers who worked for him.

This week, we saw more of WWE's pathetically stupid knee-jerk reactions and its failure to accept responsibility.

Vince deserves NO credit for pulling the tributes, or for dropping the storyline for his own character. He only did what he knew was expedient, because if he didn't, he'd be getting hammered worse in the media than he is already.

The white-hot spotlight is now on Vince and WWE, and it should be. I want to see him squirm, and I want him to explain himself. I hope WWE stock takes a bath, and I hope the company suffers.

Why? Because it's time to come clean. It's time to admit that WWE profits are quite literally built upon the heap of dead bodies that litter the wrestling landscape. It's time to admit that you guys are treated like circus animals.

I really do feel sickened and guilty that I watched this stuff for so long and ignored the death, injury and pain. I should have known better.

At least I'll feel better about myself knowing that I admitted how foolish I was to support this hypocrisy all these years.

Meantime Rob, I do wish you well, and no disrespect intended, but I hope I never see you wrestle again. Take your money and invest. While you're still young and healthy, go forth and do something new.

As for the rest of you sycophant fans who are boiling over with rage at my comments, I'll await the inevitable slings and arrows.

Nick

June 28, 2007 at 4:41 PM  
Blogger Thee Most Exalted Potentate of Love said...

I've been keeping up with some of the coverage of this since I'd heard about it. A friend of mine is into wrestling. . . and, with his activities with the whole "In Your Head" radio show, I've found myself occasionally interested in wrestling.

I've got to say, man, that out of all the stuff I've read so far this is one of the most human and reasonable ways to look at this (at least from the standpoint of someone that knew him, admired him, or looked up to the man that he projected to the world at large). You can rightly condemn someone's actions because you're judging the action itself. You can try to understand how it happened and mourn the tragedy that occurred (the destruction of a person that could allow them to take the actions). None of these things, however, can destroy the impression someone made when they were truly at their best -- mentoring other wrestlers, being a friend, etc.

This was all well said, man. . . and I hope other people see this and have a little temperance when they speak about this again.

June 28, 2007 at 5:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

...thank you, Rob, for saying what soo many of we fans are feeling right now...as a diehard wrestling fan for over 28 years and a proud Canadian, Chris Benoit was THE GUY that myself, my wrestling fan buddies, and even now my 13 year old wrestling fan son was always behind...I watched Chris' in-ring celebration with Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 20 at home on the couch with my arm around my son, both of us far too emotional to say a word...I saw the tears in my boy's eyes and felt them in my own when we, together, watched Chris' broken-hearted sobbing as he told us all how much he loved Eddie Guerrero during the Tribute to the great Latino Heat...I cannot believe in my heart that THAT man, the man that helped me week in and week out forge another bond with my son through being a wrestling fan, could take the life of his own son...thank you for renewing my faith, RVD.

June 28, 2007 at 5:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nicely said. It reflects everything I believe about this situation.

Thank you.

June 28, 2007 at 5:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nicely said. I agree on not wanting to know.

The worse part is the media coverage but if I said I was suprised by it I would be lying,maybe for once the media should try to focus on mourning the loss of in this case 3 very beautiful human beings and not focus on all the negative aspects, also I see no need for the WWF/E to apologize for anything due to the tribute Monday night, or reasons to remove all traces of Chris from dvds, merchandise ect. As I see it they were celebrating the man and performer he was over the past 22 years not the man he was had become over the weekend.

June 28, 2007 at 6:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob, and every one else,

I know that there are people and fans that are bashing Benoit; however they are not looking at the whole picture. Rob, what you said sums up most of our feelings. Everyone is confused hurt and grieving in their own way. The meia is not helping in the grief they are just feeding the coonfusion. I cant believe that it was the real Chris that did those horrible acts and noone will ever know who that man was. I am from missouri and there was a man that drove his family to a place in Illinois and shot all 3 of his childen and his wife, then he shot himself in the leg and pretended that his wife did all the shooting. That story is not being posted everywhere. Just here. The real bottom line is that no matter what happened and how it happened, We have all lost a mentor, friend and one hell of a wrestler. Those of us who loved watching Benoit, will miss him dearly. God bless the Benoit family and all of their friends, and fans. May we all find a lesson in this tragedy. I know my family has, It doesn't matter how famous you are, or how much money you make, we are all human, and we all have minds that can be corrupted in one way or another. Benoit was human, and everyone has to remember that.
tiny

June 28, 2007 at 7:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

THX... its good to hear some one who knew the real chriss talk about him jus the way i felt about him...RIP..

RvD4 eva.. ::cough::

June 28, 2007 at 7:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you Rob. This is why I admire you. You have class. Yes, he committed the murders but don't let those action stain his wonderful career and his life. There was no way in hell he could've been in his right mind to do that to someone, let alone his own family. He was too much of a nice man. we can't agree with what he did, but we can still commemorate his legacy in professional wrestling. Don't trash it and throw it away due to actions that occurred when he wasn't in his own mind. I respect Chris's work in professional wrestling and let God forgive him for what he did. Thank you Nancy and Chris for everything you done for professional wrestling. God bless Chris, Nancy, and Daniel, the most innocent of all. May they all rest in piece.

June 28, 2007 at 7:55 PM  
Blogger Andz said...

Rob, i have been trying to find a way to put words on the situation and i just did, by reading your words.

on whatever website i have browsed i find people not being able to comprehend the situation and calling Chris words i will not utter, because the grief is still to close to my heart.

what you said about demonic spirits is as close as anyone can get trying to make sense of the situation, i will never forget the man chris benoit was, and the legacy as an athlete the rabid wolverine has left behind.

in times like this, its easy to let anger take over, but i know you are very balanced, i heard that in your audio commentary at eddie's death.

let god's light shine upon Nancy and Daniels memory and may God forgive Chris, as i reckon he aleready has, as jesus christ said; Forgive them father, for they do not know what they are doing.

and Rob. Thanks for making so much sense in this dark hour. forever your fan, Andz from norway

June 28, 2007 at 8:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very well said Rob. I don't think I'll ever be able to wrap my mind around this. Of all people, Chris was the last person I'd think capable of doing something like this. Sure Shit happens between spouses all the time, but why the child? Chris just always seemed to have everything going the right way and then BANG this comes out of the blue. I'll keep hoping some explaination turns up.
Best to you, hope to see tou somewhere soon.

June 28, 2007 at 8:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RVD, thank you for being human about this. I also believe that evil spirits can cause these types of tragedies.

Fans will talk about wrestlers being our idols, and how wonderfully they entertain us, but there are some things i don't think we really think about too much, and this tragedy brings a lot of it to the forefront.

You guys don't have a season, you wrestle all year long. Of course you get injured, but when do your smaller injuries get a chance to heal completely ? You guys are on the road almost constantly, and it's hard to maintain a quality relationship/marriage unless your partner and kids are on the road with you. I'm not going to get into the medicine conversations, because i honestly don't know as much as i'd need to know to make an intelligent comment about it.

Look..we already know that they don't have decent health insurance, if they have any at all. Is there a pension plan ? Are they unionized? Are there mental health services available ? Are there any programs in place that insure that 'our idols' have as much balance between home and the road as they could ? Is there a protocol that helps them heal properly without being rushed back ?

I'm not sure of those answers, but from a lot of what i've read, the answers to most, if not all, of those questions is NO. I have a feeling that if and when this entire event is pieced together, we may find that it may have been avoided had quality-of-life resources based on the needs of the wrestlers had been in place.

Here's an idea: The FANS can take a stand for our 'idols'. We can.
What's the best way to get a corporation to make changes in the way they do business ??? HIT THEM IN THE WALLET !!!!

Vince McMahon makes more than than enough money to take care of his athletes the way he should. If WE stop giving him our money through ticket, t-shirts, action figures, video games, videos, etc sales until WWE decides to be human about how they treat their employees, AND if we make it known through online petitions, e-mails, and phone calls to WWE that we are witholding our money for that reason, perhaps they may think twice about the way they do business.
If WE contact the sponsors and let them know that we are not happy with WWE's treatment of their employees, AND that we will not be inclined to buy their products until they pull their advertising (read: MONEY) from WWE broadcasts, perhaps WWE will seriously reconsider their current way of conducting business.

These athletes bust their asses to entertain us ALL YEAR LONG. They are always hurting. They look out for us to make sure they give us a good show. Surely we can look out for them by taking a stand.

If this tragedy stunned and saddened you; if your heart is hurting as a result of this tragedy; if you are saddened and sick and tired of hearing about those who've entertained us over the years passing away from the same types of things over and over again; then think about it.

If what i'm proposing is not viable, the FANS need to get together and discuss what IS viable. If these athletes can wrestle hurt damn near all of the time just so we can be entertained, surely we can take a moment, sign a petition, send some e-mails, and make some calls.

You don't have to spend your money on a ticket and a t-shirt. You don't have to feed into this monster. If you start missing wrestling too much, there are alternatives to the WWE.

LET'S TAKE A STAND !! Just remember..if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Let's stop falling for the BS, and call Vince out on his s**t once and for all while the iron is still hot ! Maybe, just maybe, we can make a difference for those who entertain us.

Think about it. Then act on it.

June 28, 2007 at 10:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's a shame so many people are vilifying Benoit in such a manner by comparing him to OJ.

Yes, what Chris did was tragic and horrific but it's apparent he had issues with severe depression.

It's a shame that mental health awareness is so stigmatized, people are actually mocked when they ask for help.

I just hope he and his family have found the peace they deserve.

Despite his crime, I will always remember fondly his matches in New Japan, ECW and WCW. I'm not some idiotic, teenaged fanboy. I acknowledge what he did was wrong but nor will I defend what he did.

God will forgive in the end as will Nancy & Daniel

June 28, 2007 at 10:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't take my mind off of how great of a wrestler he was. What he did to his wife and his young CHILD was wrong. Wrong. Dead wrong, no doubt, sick, twisted, horrifying, etc.

I just can't forget how a little part of me would light up inside, every time i saw him enter that ring. Its hard to shut that out....

June 28, 2007 at 10:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i agree on one thing, what happen is not like benoit. an personally i refuse to believe he killed his family. i think someone framed him. the texts said the door is open. isnt possible someone could of came in?

June 28, 2007 at 11:06 PM  
Blogger JAYLTEAVI said...

Hi, Rob.There are many people in the world that if for some reason had a gun,like a cop security guard,etc. Will probally had killed someone or themselves,in a moment of rage or drunk or on drugs.inluding steroids. But probally didn't and lived on to repent themselves and think of what a big mistake they were about to make.People shouldn't be judge for one two,three ect.acts of cruelty or even for killing anyone.Because you don't know in what state of mind they were. There no excuse ,but you know that there have been tons of thousands or millions of bad actions in the world.people who killed ,robbed violated others.For many reasons unknown.But thanks to God and his son Jesus.WE could all leave our past sins behind.The bible says after we learned the truth that all we were before stays in the past ,Killer ,Prostitute,thief etc.Benoit made the biggest mistake in his life and he has paid for it. The price for our sins is death after we die we pay all are sins.But God will not judge like humans do.God tells us to remember we our dust simply dust,and born imperfect cause of our 1st fathers Adam & Eve.But for those who havn't learned the truth the complete truth Jehova will grant us a second chance.He will not let us died forever remember it's only the 2nd death that humans can't have any ressurrection the Gehenna the 2nd death.Will you punished a child without teaching him whats right and whats wrong 1st.will you kill your son if he wasn't in his complte senses.Today we are living in Satan World the same world that he offered Jesus.In which he said he would give him all the kingdoms if JESUS gave him an act of wordshipness.So this world is ruled by satans and he knows he has short time . So now being that we are near the end of the world. (Like Gods prediction have showned).Peoeple are more prone to make evil acts and for that reason we needs JEHOVA proteccion.and JEHOVA knowledge.Just as we know more than are sons Jehova knows alot more than we.And if the Devil atacks us daily we must protects ourselves daily.With the help from Gods word the Bible.You belive Benoit was Protected on the road ,he told R.V.D. that he respected ROB for leaving.But for Benoit it was probally hard,hard to go back to reality a sick son a wife who had all the responsibilty of protecting her son.Surely if Benoit had won the title he would have been even a little more occupied. Life if though. And for a man that kept all to himself. He didn't have that friend to help him out.He needed more of God. Do you believe that a person that did what he did had god.He hads like ROB said a monster in him.The monster was the Devil.But he was alone probally even felt that his wife didn't understand him either.So he felt alone.Do you belive a person like Benoit who tried to help others out is a person that the devil would not attack. He did Attack him like all of us. He attack a person who had many problems kept to himself, and he found him alone, easy prey for the Devil.we must read the bible every day to help ourselves. JEHOVA says we should read it everyday.To be Protected everyday.Big problems small problems we should always remember the true person that gave us life.just like we should talk to our sons daily to record in there minds every single problem that they might come around in life.Becuase simply like we know more than our sons ,God knows more then us.when Adam and Eve sinned and disobey. Jehova said what have you done.He knew what they had done yet said these words because he was sadden they had to die.They sinned in perfect knowledge and had everything we which for today.Youth,health,a perfect world under perfect conditions.Yet God felt sadden for them.God doesn't feel joy over peoples sins he feels heartbroken.If god hasn't ended the world yet is because as his bible says he wants all of us to learn the truth and repent ourselves from our sins.He does not have joy over our sins .He knows those who sin could live 60,80 years. Yet those who follow Jehova word could die today and yet live forever. May those who are free of sin throw the 1st rock.Rob you keep proving your might favorite wrestler.You got a big heart lion heart,from the movie Lionheart,(Jean claude Vandamme.) Rob I hope you find peace in whatever you do for yourself your wife and your whole family.till next time from probally your biggest fan J.L.-T.V.Adios Amigo

June 28, 2007 at 11:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i read some of the stuff some of these people are saying an i cant believe my eyes. Rob if you read this do you know what rey is feeling? i know for one that i will never let anyone tell me that chris is a bad man. i have been a fan for 20 years. an i have followed chris an he has always been a very great man an he always very nice respectful an has alot of heart an passion. i am very hard on wrestlers. i either respect them or they have to earn it or they never get it. chris has gotten it right off. thats not a man who is a murder. an i dont think wwe should of taken everything off either turn their backs on him. i never met the man an i will not turn my back on him. there is a reason for everything. i think he was framed or something. i dont know but one thing is he is not a murder.

June 28, 2007 at 11:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the great words on a great man. Benoit will always stay in my heart as a hero.
Thank you again and i wish you the world of luck for whatever the future holds.
xx

June 28, 2007 at 11:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I find that I cannot either accept or deny Chris Benoit's guilt at this stage, but it says much for the man that people like you are still willing to stand up for him, even with the accusations that are being made.
I am thankful to find others in the world that realize there are act of evil, but that also realize that to commit evil doesn't mean you are evil, and in addition realize that suspicion of an evil act is not enough to make you guilty of said act.
In fact, to join with the junior dectective squad, I question if Chris actually commited the murders, as all the died of a different form of oxyen deprivation. I feel all judgements should be held until final word has been recieved, and perhaps even after that as there is much left to comprehend.
Again thank you for your loyalty and intellience in a matter than inflames the emotions of all who knew the man or the wrestler in any fashion.

June 29, 2007 at 12:43 AM  
Blogger Ninja Andy said...

You deserve a bag of Cheetos for that post. Well spoken, and unlike most of the an7|1337 douchetards posting things about this whole situation, you were even-handed in your evaluation. Nice.

Andy

June 29, 2007 at 4:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You know what, Rob? Your statement was very true, and I've found it, really. You speak out like you promised ECW... That you're gonna keep speaking.

Anyway, people are filled with so much fallacies, aren't they? "Narrow Minds" are coming out of their shells again, releasing such fallacies I call "Poisoning the well". Benoit was dead enough to defend himself. Your fans, such as I, were fallacious too. Sometimes they just go on to your side because they idolize you or either Chris Benoit. But anyway, I don't believe that myself. It was a mere supposition. But they don't have to curse to let you know how they feel.
I admire you so much for giving such respect to the person who had long been with you in the business. Respect may be an understatement, but it always serves its purpose, Rob. You influence everybody.

One of your loving fans,

Hana Roberthaley

June 29, 2007 at 4:30 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Mr/Ms Anonymous:

I can't say that I totally disagree with what you said, and even though you were mildly amusing, your approach could use some work. I agree with you that Rob's comment was "safe". I think that what you are failing to realize is that he is probably very limited to the things he can actually say without getting heat from the WWE. We haven't heard anything that says Rob isn't still an employee. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt here.

I posted a blog here several days ago before I knew all the facts and I must retract my prior statement. There is no excuse for hurting a child, let alone a handicaped child. His actions were planned and deliberate. He was sane enough to text Chavo with his address and help the police find a clear path into his house around his dogs. Yes, he is/was a monster. Maybe he was a great guy once and then Friday he just snapped. Maybe he was always a monster and was able to hide it from everyone. We'll never know. But facts are facts, he sat in a house for 2 days with dead bodies. Was he sick? Sure. How can anyone defend him? Do you remember when they caught John Wayne Gacy? As they were pulling bodies of children out of his crawl space, they were interviewing his neighbors and they all kept saying what a wonderful man he was. Do you remember thinking what a bunch of idiots those people were? Well, you guys are acting like those idiots. That, combined with the lack of grammer and spell check in the blogs doesn't make some of you look good. You'd be better off not saying anything at all.

While yes, wrestling is fixed, you can't deny the actual ability that some of these guys (like RVD) have. Everyone has a hero. You can't take that away from us. Many of us live vicariously through these guys. I'd love to have a job where I could slap the shit out of my co-workers, wouldn't you?

As far as the **wink wink** comment, maybe if Benoit smoked a joint once in a while, this would not have happened. Stoners usually aren't into doing to much.

As far as the "carney" comment bashing Rob, do you even believe what you are saying? Maybe you could say that about Mick Foley, but Rob? C'mon. Enough said.

And now to my last point, the whole "burning in Hell" comment. Spoken like a true Christian, my friend. If you are in fact a Christian, then you would know that all sins are the same in the eyes of God. If he's truely sorry, he won't "burn in Hell". If he was really sick, he'll be forgiven. It's not yours or anyone else's place to pass judgement on him. Benoit destroyed the lives of his family, Nancy's family and the children he left behind. Now his kids get to grow up knowing that their father is a monster. Do they deserve that? Does Chris "burning in Hell" make that any better? Those types of comments aren't going to help his children cope. He also destroyed 22 years of legacy with his final three acts on this earth. How do you guys think that Chavo and Rey feel? This isn't helping them either.

The situation is horrible. I still believe that all this bullshit is just feeding the monster. We can kick a dead horse all day long, but it won't change the fact that this is NOT going to get better. Wrestling isn't going to be the same. The WWE is going to be up every wrestlers ass now. I'm sure none of them are happy about that. One bad apple spoiled the entire basket on that one. It doesn't matter what side of the fence you are on here, this whole thing ROYALLY SUCKS........Satanika

June 29, 2007 at 5:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Um, Kev. Suggest you learn a little bit more about "love" before you go judging how other people go about it.

June 29, 2007 at 5:58 AM  
Blogger Angelo Dimitriani said...

Hey, "nick said..."

Thank you for an intelligently presented comment from the other side.

It's true; we can't separate the sky-high death rate from the nature of the industry itself. We would rather explain things away with some glib comment when another one bites the dust rather than admit that the death was a by-product a beloved source of entertainment.

Ultimately I agree with RVD's comment from his blog, "Just remember, there’s enough hate in this world. Hateful thoughts do not move us in the right direction." And though I doubt I will stop watching wrestling, your post gave me a lot to think about.

June 29, 2007 at 6:15 AM  
Blogger nick_higg said...

Rob

At a time like this when all the world seems to be turning on one of our own, things can become a little clouded and dark.

Your words summed up how most of us are feeling, and is most cases made it that little bit easier.

Granted while there is no condoning what Chris has done, its seems unfair for everyone to judge him when the facts are unknown, and for certain members of the current WWE roster to brand him a disgrace and a monster i.e Jillian Hall.

Chris was a true legend in this business and as such we should remember him as not only one of the best technical wrestlers ever, but as the loving husband and father we all knew he was before this tragedy.

Chris is up there now, with his family at ring side, watching him in a 5 star match against Eddie.

R.I.P Chris Benoit, u will be missed

P.S It was amazing to meet you in Detroit at the Wrestlemania mid-day madness session.

June 29, 2007 at 8:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow. There has been so much negativity... It is disturbing. Disappointing. That anyone could take pleasure in the grief of others is just profoundly sad. Please allow me to attempt to restore some semblance of balance here. To anyone who may read this, now or in the future, here are some thoughts to consider.

First: What has happened, has happened. No amount of debating, ranting, speculating, accusing, insulting or name-calling can change the past. Sure, you are all entitled to your opinions but please take the negatives elsewhere. This site belongs to RVD-san and he specifically requested good energy only here. Please honor that.

Second: Haven't you noticed that negative energy is a vicious cycle? That old saying 'misery loves company', there is truth in it. Not a pleasant truth. Many of the people who cause pain and suffering to others - they are merely giving what they have, at some traumatic point or another in their own lives, received. I do not defend or excuse their actions. But we, the citizens of this planet called Earth, can not expect to break the cycle if all we do is offer these offenders exactly what they offer us. It is not possible to cure negative energy with more of the same. Yes, we do need still laws and prisons. It's unfortunate but realistic. Humans are creatures of habit, changing and limiting negative habits is a process that takes time.

So before you begin spouting off with negative energy... Please pause and catch yourself and ask yourself: are you perhaps a part of the problem here? Why do you have this impulse to be negative? What is it that you expect to happen from this? And precisely what good does it do anyone, anywhere, ever if your random hostile comments manage to upset some person? Get real. Be serious. If you're so hurt that you have to broadcast bitterness, so eager to try and provoke anger... Then who are you truly upset with? Please do not attempt to verbally mangle the reputation of RVD-san or the memory of Rabid-san just because you can't stand to be honest with yourselves.

And hey, aren't you bible-quoting ones supposed to have a belief that says 'let the person without flaws be the first to throw rocks'? Not the exact words, I'm sure, but that's one of the better ideas in that faith. What happened to that? Are we supposed to believe that none of you critical ones have flaws? Uhm. Not likely. Flaws are a necessary part of humanity. Mistakes are learning opportunities. Good things can come from bad circumstances, if given a chance.

Let's hope so, anyway.

Third: Eternity. Let's talk about exactly what that means, okay? Eternity is not some far off somewhere, someday. Eternity, by its very nature, is timeless. I realize that even to the open-minded, this is not an easy task to comprehend. Our human brains are naturally ego-centric and finite-oriented. We like boundaries, in other words. But the point is worth making because a human life, even a very long human life... Set next to eternity, what is a hundred years? What about forty years? What about three days? Such a short amount of time, set next to absolute timelessness... Wouldn't it be like a drop of water to an ocean?

So please do not ever condemn anyone to an eternity of suffering. Do not even think of saying or writing such a thing unless you really, truly and sincerely mean it. And if you really, truly and sincerely mean it... Then I mean this in the nicest way possible, please seek professional counseling. Soon.

If for whatever reason you can't - not won't but can't - get counseling then maybe try this instead. It's a breathing exercise. A visualization. Shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Maybe it will help. Find a quiet place where you can sit down. You don't have to close your eyes but you can if you want. Breathe slow and deep, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Relax and imagine a sphere of white light around you as you breathe. Very bright white. Feel the gentle warmth. By the third breath, imagine the white light as not only around you but radiating out from you as well. If you know what and where your seven chakras are, imagine the light as shining from those. Otherwise just imagine the light as radiating outward from your physical heart. Allow the color of the sphere that is both within and around you to slowly change to pink. Complete and utter calming pink. Hold that for a few breathes then switch again, to green. Finish by reverting back to white or - if you're up for it - purple.

Try to be sincere in your efforts – take this little exercise seriously – and then you will get good results. If you can’t be sincere and can’t get results from a simple breathing exercise… Sorry but that’s your problem. Nobody can fix that for you, not without your permission.

The colors symbolize the intentions of the meditation. Pink is symbolic of love. True, unconditional, eternal, compassionate love. Green is healing, learning and growth. White and purple represent different aspects of peace and divine protection. It is the rough equivalent of calling for an extra angel. There is always an extra angel. Angels - like prayers - transcend religion and language. So anyone of any faith can try the exercise if they want.

Oh and here's another thing to consider: Angels exist regardless of whether you choose to acknowledge or believe in them. Hell, on the other hand... It's my personal humble theory that if you give hell a place in your heart and/or mind then that is exactly where the awful place takes up residence. So please be careful of what you choose to believe.

Eh. Enough of the lecture.

PEACE.

~CalmMountain

P.S - RVD-san, ever heard of a movie called Amelie? It's a beautiful little romantic satire. French with English subtitles. Kind of sweet and whimsical and at times, cartoonish. Don't know if that might appeal to you but it could be worth a look. Might even get a smile.

And I don't know why but I am compelled at this point to mention Pixar Studios to you. They have good connections. Maybe take a tour someday. Just an idea. *shrugs* Take care, okay?

June 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Calm Mountain:

That is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard. I am so tired of all this hippie bullshit floating around. It's not negativity, it's life. I'm not visualizing pink elephants in tutu's and focusing on my inner child. My inner child is just fine, thank you very much. Life sucks, get a helmet. Don't sit around picturing pink elephants or you'll miss the crap that's coming your way and you'll get splattered with it. Angels? C'mon, dude. Put the joint down.

June 29, 2007 at 10:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

VanDam I so sorry about all the crap some people give you. I am upset mytself. Benoit was one of my favorites. I also think he was framed. Did you hear that on the new 14 hours before the bodies were found it was already on the net. I will not belive he did it. They found 10 empty beer cans in the garbage, and a empty wine bottle a few feet from his hanging body. Please contact me at conaways@suddenlink.com, Bye

June 29, 2007 at 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob, I do not watch wrestling anymore and stopped at around 2004 and I was absolutely shocked to hear of Chris' death however all of the sources I have observed from external wrestlers have given touching yet incomplete feedback on this tragedy but finally ONE wrestler - that is you Rob - showed understanding and bewilderment upon the actual situation whereas the other wrestlers blanked out this theory of the double murder suicide and I respect you for showing all the understading casually and to conclude with yet allot of obvious respect toward Chris and I have noticed you must of had a close relationship with Benoit. Salar, England... Brap.

June 29, 2007 at 6:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One mistake didn't erase Chris Benoit's greatness as an entertainer and a wrestler -- most of all as a person.

And to that anonymous who look only at the outcome and not all of chris' greatness before the tragedy, tell me you've never done anything wrong in your life and i will forgive you for not respecting Chris. You won't understand anything because your mind is closed. Why didn't you consider Chris' feelings and his situation? That's the problem with people like you. You only see what happen in the end. There are a lot more better things he gave us before that ONE mistake.

Thanks Rob!

June 29, 2007 at 6:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dearest Rob,

Thank you for leaving trail marks of such huge respect, and for that you deserve a crown, a throne and a sash.

To that 'anonymous' that I started to meet just yesterday, another reaction to your fallacies:

*Benoit might've got a reason why he did that. Actually, you shouldn't just focus on what he did only once, because he had done so much to please us, and to keep his family living for years.

He may be out of his mind when he did that. Take for example the rapists under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Instead of being taken to jail, they were sent to rehabs. Or even those psychotic persons who murdered a million people. They were sent to mental institutes instead of rotting in jails, right?
(Actually, I never knew where the 'silent hill' did my sister got that but it was, at least, believable)

Even though it's his time to leave this world, he deserves such respect, at least, for everything that he contributed to this world.

Don't be such a partial little garbage, friend. You wouldn't look intellectual. I just think you and your bunch of 'whatsoever' were more like murderers, condemning and disrespecting the resting Benoit. I am not the preaching type, you know, but most of us here still look up on him. It's about respect to his memories and consideration for what he did. I believe now what my sister told me. One wouldn't kill others and kill himself afterwards if he wasn't affected by some underworld force.

Hey, it's what RVD was trying to let us know, right?

Anyway, I just want to address him my entire thanks for standing up for Benoit.

A Greek Philosopher reincarnate,
indeed.

Hana Roberthaley

***Pahabol Sulat!!!
For more of my comments about it, you can check my blog:
http://harleybobbie.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-latest-comment-on-rvds-blog.html
Thank you!

June 29, 2007 at 6:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was in total shock when I first heard the news, when I seen the headline Benoit dead, I figured it was via natural death. before I clicked the link. The media sensationalising it as expected, the one thing that pisses me off as a wrestling fan the most is the haters who say, ah well wrestling sucks anyways, because it is pre-determined, scripted and they don't really hit each other. etc etc, well these dickheads who say this, they all watch movies and movies are all scripted and pre-determined in the same way any wrestling is, yet they don't say the same thing about movies do they?.

June 29, 2007 at 6:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For everyone on here that has posted saying Benoit is a piece of shit. What about his so called friends in the WWE that got his text messages Sunday morning and the WWE waiting till Monday at noon to contact the police. If they would have contacted the police on Sunday maybe Chris would still be alive and then they would be able to figure out why he did this. I also think it is funny that his text message said the dogs were locked up in the pool area but when police got there they were running around the yard.

As for the Chris i do not condone what he did. But he was one of the greatest wrestlers off all time, to bad he will never get elected into the WWE hall of fame.

Thanks for great words Rob. Ihave not seen too many people talk so nice about Chris

Paul from Jackson, MI

June 29, 2007 at 7:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While I always enjoy your insights and opinions I really have to hand it to you on this one, you said it all so well.

I don't know how you stay so clear-headed considering your job involves being hit upside the head for a living! Seriously, I wish politicians and other "leaders" had as much of a reasonable and thoughtful perspective on events as you do.

June 29, 2007 at 7:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well said RVD. This whole orgy of hate that is surrounding the Benoit tragedies just makes everything worse in my opinion. People need to create a monster in order to clear their own consciences about a horrible crime like this. If a good guy like Chris Benoit is capable of somthing like this, then what of people who may be composed of less integrity? I think it is easier for people to just write off someone when something like this happens than to truly attempt to grapple with the horrible tragedy and all of it's painful realities. It is harder to look one's self in the mirror and realize that we all need to take care of one another in this life, or that each and every one of us can fall. No man is an island unto himself. Judge not less ye be judged yourself. We as a society canno't condone Chris's actions, but Chris will now answer to a higher power, and no amount of hate and destruction of his legacy as a man will bring back his wife and innocent child. I wish that the media would just let them all rest in piece.

June 29, 2007 at 8:17 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

There are still many unanswered question about Benoit and the recent events. Benoit to me was a great wrestler that many people look up too. Now, many people are baffled and shocked. Even myself I can’t get over it. Yes, Chris Benoit is great wresters. Yes, Chris Benoit was a man of his word. Just too bad a great wrestler ends up with a tragic death. Otherwise, farewell Chris……

To Rob: Please come back and become ECW World Champion!!!!!!

June 29, 2007 at 8:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i have mixed feelings on the whole situation really. all the evidence doesn't point to benoit, and he had alot of positive things going on in his career. i can understand, raising a child with any mental problem can be strenuous, but when you have the means to pay for treatment and care most of the burden is lifted. i will take the legal stand-point, innocent untill proven guilty.

June 29, 2007 at 9:08 PM  
Blogger JAYLTEAVI said...

Hi Rob ,it looks like haters will be haters.whatever happened happened we can't turnback the clock ,but we could learn from everything in life.The bible has many stories that were left from God to learn from there mistakes.But it's not who you are that defines you ultimately ,but who you will become the Bible says he who prevails till the end will be save.you wouldn't like for judgement day to come and be found as a person of hatred ,but a person of forgiveness.I seen many families and evrytime you get to know more you could tell how many are contaminated with hate and bad actions.We should all look for the good side of people it doesn't mean we for get there actions ,but are willing to forgive them and let Jehova who knows all of our hearts be the judge.Isn't it bad enough to die and loose everlasting life.you know those who follow gods word will have a 2nd chance.and those who died and didn't know the truth comepletly will be given a chance to know.How many people have sons who turn into someone they didn't want them to be.Some because they didn't know any better.Yet will you say he was bad or will you feel sorry for him .For your own son.Jehova felt sorry for Adam and Eve after they sinned.They were his sons just like all of us. He said that the very day they would disobey him and eat from the tree of deafth they would die .and so they did . For God the bible says that a 1000 years is like a day for Jehova. Adam and Eve or any Human that lived has never lived past that.When they disobey they determined for themselves what was right and wrong,but god knows most and everyone who chooses against his word will have the same fate.When Jesus was being killed he said forgive them ,because they don't know what there doing.Will you have said the same if you felt the same love that jesus felt see he saw all of them more like his brother then his enemy.doesn't the bible teach to love you enemies. But since peoeple keep changing for the worst you will have turned like many others full of hatred.let it go free you heart. The devil contaminated his heart thinking to be bigger than Jehova.If you wan't to lived in a perfect world you must eliminate every hatred and bad deisre.For those thinngs will not be carry into a world of Peace and everlasting happiness. Rob, sorry if you feel i use your site for different reasons.It,s not something a planned.i apreciate your thoughtful words it,s more of what people need to know, and understand.Out with the negative. There are so many of negatively in the world,but there is great hope in Gods word and he who never has lied is who promisses it. From J.L.-T.V. to the One of a Kind wrestle Mr. Robert Szatkowski.Bye,Bye.

June 30, 2007 at 12:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

With that simple blog you hit the nail right on the head RVD (whoa i just realized someone else said that too, guess you really were on point!). Thank you for not bashing Benoit (cough Jillian cough) but instead talking about the occurence as what it was, a complete tragedy that came out of the blue. You didnt mention 'roid rage' or scream 'child killer' instead you went the high road and that is more than the majority of people have done, including certain wrestlers who didnt even know the man. Thanks.

June 30, 2007 at 2:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, Benoit was a great wrestler. Yes, he was well loved by the fans and respected by his peers, but what the fuck is wrong with all you people? Should the loved ones of Jeffrey Dahmer's victims look past his acts because he made great candy bars? Should the parents of Gacy's victims look past his deeds because he was one hell of a clown? My god, people. What if Benoit was married to your sister? Your mother? Your cousin? Your best friend? Guess what, he was married to somebody's sister, somebody's mother, somebody's cousin and somebody's best friend. It's not our place to judge him, but lets call a spade a spade. He certainly doesn't deserve to be put on a pedestal. What would you be saying if he was an accountant, a lawyer or a mechanic? You'd be calling him a murdering dog.

June 30, 2007 at 2:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Let's leave Benoit out of this, okay? We all comment on what RVD said about him and not about what Chris did to ruin your entire brains so to those who still condemn him, better cut it out and start right now!

June 30, 2007 at 11:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob, thank you for speaking on this. First, I just want to say that my heart goes out to you and all of Chris's friend and family. And Nancy's and Daniels.
I cant imagine how hard it is to know that someone you were so close to has done this. And now thanks to the media you have to hear and read about it all the time.
For the people that criticize Chris... well you didnt know him. Yes, what he did was wrong. Totally wrong. But something must have happened. This want Chris and everyone that knew him says so. So, if Chris was a violent monster like some say then how come no one knew?
For the ones who take shots at Rob and other friends of Chris.. put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if someone told you that your best friend killed his wife and kid and then himself? Think about it. People need to realize that the loved ones of all 3 are going through hell. We need to respect that.
For the ones taking shots at fans who loved Chris and respected him.. I have personally watched Chris most of his career, almost 20 years. I met him on several occasions. If your not a wrestling fan then you have no idea what this man could do in the ring. You also have no idea what it is like to watch these guys every week, a few times week.
No matter what I will always respect the things Chris did. I will always remember who he was before Friday.

June 30, 2007 at 11:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous why dont you step away from your TV and Fox news and look at some other facts. Looks like your another stupid person going by what the media says is right and wrong when they dont know half the damn story. For example and I quote the stupid idiot Nancy Grace "Benoit might have been depressed because he was demoted from the Four Horsemen and moved to RAW." Now for anyone who watches wrestling and knows the 4 horsemen was 8 or 9 years ago know this is stupid.

Im not saying what he did was right, but when did the media ever look into wrestling deaths? They never cared before but just because its something to report as a murder now they care, now its Vince's fault and now everyone thats a wrestler is "bad".

Lets get on to football players for killing people, doing steroids or getting arrested numerous times. The media wants you to buy into there crap and thats why this country is going down hill. Because people like you cannot form your own opinion. You let the media do it for you. Your the one that needs to get a life my friend and I pray you do. God forbid your breeding more stupid people into this world. Ohh yeah, if you dont like wrestling please dont comment here, as you can see your not wanted.

July 1, 2007 at 8:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It’s nice to see a representation of Chris Benoit that isn’t the one that’s constantly thrown out by the media or anybody trying to make a buck off of this tragedy. Regardless of what happened, he had a life that seemed to touch many people and other than your comments and those of a few others out there, that seems to have been misplaced. Congratulations on stepping back from the wrestling world and well wishes for whatever your future brings.

July 1, 2007 at 8:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Here's what I have for the Benoit fans out there:

FatBoyMember since: March 28, 2007
Total points: 1,985 (Level 3)
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FatBoy
0 Why are so many wrestling fans so fixated on steroids as a cause for Benoit's behavior?
I admit he took steroids, but why are you guys discounting any injuries/concussions he suffered from his flying head butt? The damage that he was taking from that move had to be a lot more serious than the steroids that he used with the constant slamming of his brain against his skull.

However, from everything that has been said about Dr. Astin, it seems like he was treating Benoit properly for his condition and he wasn't going to jeopardize his license for what would be considered a paltry sum to juice up a single wrestler.

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JadeinneMember since: June 29, 2007
Total points: 139 (Level 1)
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S Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

It's simply because they commit the "acts of wrong thinking". They are too PARTIAL to look only on one side of the side of the situation, too EGO-INVOLVED to defend themselves right because they think the'yre intellectuals, too EGO-CENTRIC for they do not consider what others feel, and too ADVERSE to defend their sides and stick on it when they should've been 'researching' to find answers and not just say what they know.

Source(s):
Psychology and CFY English books

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.................................

And also to those fans-turned-anti Benoit. May those things be lessons to y'all.

July 2, 2007 at 7:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Knowing you as I do, I for sure thought you would condemn the "Pound-for-pound Greatest Wrestler That Ever Lived". Some things are all consuming..ego, narcism, steroids. But how could you condemn him..you fit the same profile.
Seems funny you wouldn't condemn Chris, even to the point of HONORING him,, yet you condemn your closest ally.. one who did anything you wanted.. one who dropped everything at your beckonning. What of those demons?
Chris WAS my favorite wrestler,, you were my friend...many 420 memories...
RIP, both of you.

July 2, 2007 at 9:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank You. Your last statement is a true and pure motto for life. My girlfriend and I cried when we read it. I hope to look at the world more in that way.

July 2, 2007 at 5:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Demons? I guess so...

But usually when these demonic actions occur it happens rather quickly. It’s almost a moment of temporary insanity....

But that wasn’t the case... this freakin guy (who I’ve cheered for many years) killed his family and himself throughout a span of three days....

What do you call that?

July 3, 2007 at 9:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yea, is very true. I mean he didn't even give all the drama bullshit to wrestling just seemed to like to compete and to train and just to be the better man. I believe some serious fucked up shit happened. Well even if you leave all of wrestling in general your still my number one, your what kept me to like wrestling =)

Peace out

July 3, 2007 at 10:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

your words were very close to the way I feel about this situation. Every thing I have read, suggests that Benoit was a loving family man, who loved his kids. So many things just don't add up with the double murder, suicide theory. I even read the other day a theory that a satanic Kevin Sullivan killed the family for revenge. Something to think about, people will say or do anything when they feel the people they love are in danger, I know I would die to save my family.....did anyone in ATL ever bother to compare fingerprints on the cell phones used in texting, to see if perhaps they matched benoit......I have studied law for the better part of 3 years now, and professors will tell you, if something just doesn't make sense, it's either not true or there's more to the story.......I respect Benoit for the man he was in the ring. One of the last real wrestlers left in the business that I have watched for 20+ years. If he did it, may God have mercy on him.......if he didn't, then may God point the police to the culprit. God bless the entire Benoit (and Nancy's) family. Chris you will be missed in the ring!!!!!

July 3, 2007 at 12:54 PM  
Blogger Sally said...

I first got into watching wrestling seriously when I watched Brett Hart wrestle Chris in WCW in a match in memory of Owen Hart.What an introduction! Is it any wonder I became a huge fan of both men?

Rob your comments reflect just how I feel. I cannot believe the Chris I know other wrestlers so admired is the same person who did this awful thing.

My heart goes out to his surviving family and to all the wrestlers who knew Chris who must all be going through hell at the moment.

July 3, 2007 at 1:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am very sorry for your loss. Take care.

July 3, 2007 at 3:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Speaking the truth. Benoit was great and hard to believe he did it. Your the best wrestler ever and I hope you are having a fucking great vacation.

July 3, 2007 at 3:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob,

I am very sorry for the tragic loss of your friend.

July 3, 2007 at 3:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I foresee a witch hunt (again) by folks who are the least educated on supplements let alone steriods. I would also suggest they are the least likely to desire to educate themselves on either..as it's easier to judge.. I hope at the end of the day that the "employers of professional wrestlers" focus on mental health (employee well being) vs "implementing new drug (steriod) testing policies".

But I guess it's easier to point figures - and make money off of a tragedy!

I definitely appreciate your thoughts as I know you both were very close.

July 3, 2007 at 7:50 PM  
Blogger TJ said...

Good interview on 570.

July 3, 2007 at 8:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow.
Just... just wow.

I'm sorry, but I was a huge fan of Chris Benoit, and just to hear your honest opinion on this, not listening to what the media's said about Chris, it means a lot to me. Thanks, buddy.

Keep cool, and never let your opinion die down,
xxxHannah

July 3, 2007 at 9:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Chris Benoit will truely be missed and I have to agree with you about possible demonic energies. They are very real. I would rather remember him as a truely awesome technical wrestler that he was, than some evil freak jacked up on steroids. The media is usually mostly hype and it was great to listen to your interview on the radio. I hope it gave people a better perspective on the situation. You are right about perscriptions. I also agree about Testosterone suppliments and steroids being OK as long as they are not being abused. The same thing with "weed" I feel there is nothing wrong with smoking a little as long as you don't make it your life and addiction. As in Oh Man! I gotta get another oz or I just won't be able to deal with tomorrow even though I just got an oz 3 days ago... Hello make it last and enjoy the buzz. Same as the scrips. Take as directed by the DOC because then they will be the most effective and as safe as possible.

July 3, 2007 at 9:08 PM  
Blogger clanmackinnon said...

ikik - while i agree w/most of what you said, here's another thing to consider. if we, as fans, avoid patronizing wwe events, ppvs, merchandise and boycott wwe sponsors to make your points, what do you think will happen to wwe wrestlers? assuming this effort could be reasonably well orchestrated and sustained, do you think the wwe would keep as many wrestlers on the payoll? personally, i don't.

i think we'd be left w/a fraction of the wrestlers employed, essentially the top of the card, and most of the lower and mid-card wrestlers would be looking for work on the independent scene or heading to europe or japan. do you think those organizations would be able to provide the "quality of life" balance you describe? do you think there would be much "work/life balance" when touring japan for two to three weeks [or more] at a time?

are you prepared to tell those lower to mid-card wrestlers that they need to prepare to seek other employment? at the end of the day, when prices for labor rise [which in this case, they would], the business typically does at least one of two things - it raises prices and/or reduces employees.

mind you, i'm not suggesting that what vince mcmahon does is necessarily equitable or right. i think he should treat the wrestlers as contracted employees instead of independent contractors and provide the standard set of services provided by many employers for their employees [medical/dental insurance options, federal and state withholding, fica contributions, 401k plan options, etc.]. perhaps this could be offset by adjusting the wrestlers' pay schedules to offset some of this expense. by working under the umbrella of the wwe's group plan, the wrestlers would have more purchasing power.

July 4, 2007 at 7:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks, Rob. Nice to see an honest from the heart comment rather than a lot of the PC crap that seems to be going around.

And well done for quitting the WWE. The schedule is a joke and your family and your health are so much more important.

July 4, 2007 at 12:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ok, the stupid media needs to get a life. And by a life I don't mean ruining others lives or livelihoods. I hope this doesn't get taken the wrong way, I am not saying Chris Benoit was a crazed psycho freak, personally I don't think he did it or if it was his body it wasn't his mind that did it. Please finish the message before you pass judgement on it. 99.9% of Americans have used steroids. Asmathics are prescribed steroids quite often. Are they homicidal maniacs now??? My wife and I had twins on 4-9-07, and they were born at 34 weeks. Due to the fact that they were premature and the doctor knew they were most likely gonna come way before 40 weeks due to my wife's blood pressure, he gave my wife the steroids shot to strengthen the twins lungs. Are my 12 week old twins now psycho killers??? Just about anybody who has had an injury has been prescribed some form of steroid to help the healing process speed up. Are we all murderous freaks??? NO, and again I say NOOOOOOOOO!!!! I also know that some medicines react badly with others. My daughter has been diagnosed with ADHD. She was on a medicine for it. She was sick and a doctor prescribed meds to help her get better. While she was taking those meds, she started saying she was going to kill my wife and I and then herself. She is f'ing 6 years old. 6!!!! I looked on the internet and the meds she was given for her sickness had a horrible reaction to the meds she takes for ADHD. That could have been the problem with Benoit. Damn, I still don't see him doing it, if he did. Nothing, and I do mean NOTHING has been proven yet. All that we know is that the police swear he did it. Let's see, police are humans, humans lie or make false judgements due to not knowing the facts, so, THEY DON'T KNOW!!!!! Most people in this country are religious, whether is it one religion or another. Most people believe in angels, some believe in ghosts. If they read the bible, they will see that Jesus expelled demons from people. Could this have been one of those demons??? Could he have been possesed. I am not trying to force religion on you, and I am sorry if I am spouting off things that aren't your belief, but many many people do believe this way, so they need to think of it. In my eyes, the media is steriotyping wrestlers. Ok, this is a form of prejudice, not unlike racism or sexism. Yes, a few wrestlers have died and some have taken drugs. Let's see, is that all wrestlers??? What about Barry Bonds. They say he is a huge steroid user, which I am not going to get into that debate right now. Does that mean he is now going to kill a bunch of people?? And why is the media not going crazy about that. To say that all wrestlers abuse steroids and are crazed muscle bound freaks is like saying all blacks are drug using robbers. This is not the case. It is like saying all men only want sex from women and abuse them sexually and harass them sexually. This ain't the case. It is like saying that all whites are racist pigs that hate anyone other than whites. It ain't true. So how can they say all wrestlers are psycho steroid abusing killers. How can they say this about the WWE. I do not agree with the WWE taking away all things Benoit from everything it does. That to me is the WWE allowing the media to rule over it. Yes, maybe Chris did it, but maybe he didn't. Nobody knows but Chris, Nancy, Daniel, and if someone else killed them, then that person knows as well. Don't take his name off of everything. Inside the wrestling ring, no offense RVD, but there were very very few better than Benoit. Very few. The WWE has taken that away from him now, he no longer has a wrestling legacy. They have made it to where all he is is a psycho killer roidy freak. I don't think he was that. By taking away everything Benoit from the website and tv, in my eyes the WWE is confirming the medias reputation of them and what the media says about Benoit. This is ridiculous. I have a feeling that Chris will not ever be inducted into the WWE hall of fame, which is not right. The WWE hall of fame is for the wrestlers and how they performed and pleased the fans and the crowds, not what they did outside of the ring. If it was, then probably half of them would not have been able to be inducted, if not all of them. Nobody is perfect. I am sorry to have taken up so much of your time on this, but I think this needs to be read by everyone around the world. Everyone needs to read this and get a friggin' grip on reality!!! I do hope that people will remember what Benoit did for wrestling and for the fans that loved him so much and he loved in return, and not for what happend, or is speculated on happening, those horrible 2 or 3 days. One of the things that I read that you said on the radio show you were on the other night was that it was either take drugs, and I am not saying abuse them or nonprescription drugs, or take time off. I agree with that. But the problem is to me that it isn't easy to take time off. One, the companies, and this means all companies in the whole world, don't want to pay people tons of money for them not working or being at home resting, and they think that it would not be profitable to them for the people to take time off. WRONG!!!! Yeah, sure, in the "sports entertainment" business, just like any soap opera or tv show, you got storylines and things like that, but you can't run a person so ragged that they fall over dead. Everyone needs time off. Everyone needs at least a few weeks every now and then to rest or see their family or just chill. If not, they end up being pushed to the max. Now in some lines of work, that may lead to cafiene abuse, and in other lines of work it may lead to pain pill abuse. If someone is injured, they need to rest it, cause all the pain pills do is supress the pain, not the injury. All that will end up happening is that the person taking the pain pills will not realize when they have worsened their injury until it is too late, and then the choice is either go against most companies wishes and take time off to heal, or start abusing the pain pills to keep being able to function. This is where the heels of wrestling would blame the fans. In all sports, there are other players who rely on you being there all the time, not just when you feel like it, but if you take two weeks off to heal and come back healthy it is better than working those two weeks and making the injury worse thereby knocking you out of the game for a few months or causing you to become slightly impaired by the pain pills and not function at 100% and either lose games or not please the fans or whatever, which could lead you to injure them or allow them to get injured due to not being able to stop them being hit or something. I have been working at my current job for a year and a half almost, and I have only missed 3 days the whole time, well, except for the days I got payed for by vacation days and I had let them know well in advance. The first day was when I went to wrestlemania 22, to see you win the money in the bank match. Damn that was awesome, I love the entrances of HHH and Cena, but that isn't my point, sorry. At that time I was working at my job through a temp service, and I had given the temp service a notice well in advance that I wasn't going to be there, and made sure they told my job before they had sent me there, cause I had only been there a week when I took the day off. The second day was due to ice on the roads, and the third day was the day after my wife had our twins, which was know about well in advance, but noone knew the exact date. I worked through severe back pain after I had hurt my back bad while up there at work. I couldn't even roll over in bed or wipe my rear, I know, TMI, but I still did not miss a day for that. I worked through sickness. Two days after our twins were born, I was back at work. I was really tired and had very little sleep, so I decided to drink an energy drink to help me make it through the day. It did not give me energy, it made me dizzy and shaky. I work at a chemical warehouse. I knew that me being like I was would probably cause me to drop a glass bottle of something very corrosive or me hit a person with the forklift or something, so I went to my supervisor and asked if I could go home. She was smart enough to realize that a person not at 100% was dangerous to themselves and others around them and that could mean a loss of profits due to doctor bills or the plant being shut down, so she let me go home. I am just trying to say that if a person is not given the time to rest or recuperate, that they pose a danger not only to themselves, but the people they that work with them and rely on them, and the monetary bottom line. If more companies realized that, then maybe they would not push their workers too hard or would allow them a couple of weeks if necessary to heal up, instead of making them turn to drugs or cafiene or whatever else. I know that was a long way to say that, but I think it is important. Once again, I am sorry to write for so long, but I do thank you for your time in reading this, and hope that maybe you could spread this out or at least the meaning of if so that people can get over themselves and not push all the blame on Benoit and wrestlers all together. Thank you once again.

Dusty Ledbetter

July 4, 2007 at 1:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob,
I think you are completely right...ive been tellin people from the begining that NO ONE CAN PROVE ANYTHING!!!! I have been told i am a good judge of charactor and i think that Chris was a good man...ive watched wrestling for close to 8 years now and i have loved Chris since the begining he looked like a real family man and it takes a real fan to see that...people that say he was a cold blooded killer are full of crap because he isnt...my prayers are for his family....thanks for being the voice of the nation...or at least sayin what I (and many others) were thinking...

July 4, 2007 at 5:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey,
To all you haters...i dont like the negativity...rob was right and if chris was a murderer then he was but with out witnesses the case is never proven...the truth died with him...no one saw it and as for the stuff on the net before he was found...how the heck did they know??? I mean im not judgin anyone but how the f*** do you know before anyone else did if you didnt do it yourself??? i mean do i have a point??? seriously if he didnt do it then someone did. bottom line...but all in all he was a great wrestler and i wish that some people would come to there senses. there is NO proof that he did it or that he didnt do it...get over it people...no one will ever know...i personally think that he didnt but some of my friends think that he did...all we can do is remember what he gave YOU as a fan or friend...if you NEVER watched wrestling then what the f*** are you doing statin your opinion??? as far as im conserned you dont have one...you didnt know anything about chris...dont go and jump to conclusions and start screamin "child killer" or "steriod abuser" there is nothing that said he abused steriods...or killed his son for that matter...so to all you haters...get a grip...kick your heels together and say "I NEED A LIFE, I NEED A LIFE" instead of gettin your head so far up the media's a** that we'll need the jaws of life to get ya out okay??? okay...

thanks Rob for a great point...you were the voice of reason on this subject!!!

July 4, 2007 at 6:20 PM  
Blogger Brad said...

I appreciate commentary like what you gave. I too, cannot condemn nor condone Benoit for his actions. The Chris Benoit I knew as a fan disappeared the moment I heard that it was a double murder-suicide.

Your comments have made me feel better though. Thank you, RVD.

July 4, 2007 at 10:09 PM  
Blogger JAYLTEAVI said...

Hi Rob,i hope you get to see this coment because,it'll be hard to believe you might look at it with so many comments imean thers 102 comments. i hope you get this much attention when you give the news on your future plans.1st of all i like to say i heard from you on the radio,it was nice to hear from you.Because i havn't been able to hear much from you because i don't have cable.Anyway heard all your comments,and i'm glad to know that what you were doing in wrestling was indeed a routine. I mean it wasn't worth it just the paycheck.I mean you couldn't say it a better way.we should always have something in what we do to drive us, that we are doing something for more than just money especially if you have enough.I mean it's great to be able to work at something in these case wrestling and be part of someting good or better yet great.I mean when guys aren't champs. It's good to be able to have a good storyline or a great feud with great matches or be able to be part of stable group.or anything else. when ECW return i bet you probally had the hopes of something big happening something you could be a big part of again in a big way.something fun also.I believed that it was probally fun for you to do interviews before with fonsy and sabu. Or holding the T.V title for a long time,or debuting your Vanterminator in your comeback.Or having matches with Jerry Lynn in which you helped him be called the new F,N Show.Or probally having a rivalry with a big legend like hogan. Or a wrestler you looked up to.Things like that in which you could feel that it was worth the travel and time.that it wasn't just going outhere doing a backflip and a spinkick.A comeback is something wrestlers look forward too,But it isn't worth it if it's just that and all the good of it last a couple of months.I hoped Heyman would of still have a wrestling organasation he knew how special you were ,but the WWE didn't want a wrestler that came from somewhere else be the biggest superstar in there business.At least i felt that way.Things change depends on where you are at the time you are there.You believe that flair or arn anderson would have been that big of stars in the WWE.When Hogan was the big fish.Probally probally not.What about Triple H if he stayed in WCW.He probally be more like Kevin Nash.But Kevin Nash became famous in the WWE and Scott Hall and Mick Foley & Austin.What would have Steve Austin been in WCW.If WCW signed him for 3 years he probally be still good ,but never great or world champ.Sometimes wrestlers need time to develop there character there confidence or just the right opportunity.I believed you injury probally helped you.I know you helped yourself you made ECW return.You were at your best in ECW ,because Heyman let you be at your best and boy did you had the crowd a the palm of you hand.the hidden crown jewel. That's how i felt too.I was going to my freinds house my cousins house showing them your ECW matches back when you were with the Original ECW.and you know what they all became your fans they saw your moves,your ability you were more than meets the eye.Talking about Transformers i saw it and it was pretty good.I say pretty good because i became a bit sleepy cause i was up earlier than usual.Any way it was more fun than i thiught it would be.The parts with bumble Bee and the kid. Were very fun to watch.When i was a kid i would daydream of seeing the Transformers transformed like in real life so it was really cool seeing this movie watching Optimus Prime come to life can't wait to see a part 2 and see more new Transformers and another story to it.It must have at least to more sequels to it.So Rob i spoke my mind again glad to have heard you speak your mind also.I just hope you havn't quitted the business(wrestling)Forever,but i wouldn't mind seeing you in a movie as the star of course.Or else you will be missed alot as a performer.thanks Rob hoped you read this again ,theres to much written in this page.for a good cause though.Till next From probally your biggest fan J.L.-T.V. P.S glad your happy and doing Extremely well.You just had to say Extreme.Coming from the King of Extreme.Bye,Bye.

July 4, 2007 at 11:04 PM  
Blogger Sus Ano said...

I have watched Benoit since Stampede Wrestling. He was exciting to watch, a great technical wrestler, and clearly spent a great deal of time in the gym (roids or no roids). He also seemed quite devoted to the fans and I can see how many would admire these things.

But now I have to question if those traits really are positive things? Do I really look up to someone who spends 300 days a year away from his handicapped child and wife? I have two small children and no amount of money would be enough for ME to spend that much time away. Is someone who spends hours working out not hours with his family really a hero?

Maybe Chris Benoit the killer and Chris Benoit the wrestler are exactly the same people. Maybe all those hours spent with fans not family made it that much easier to feel unconnected to his wife and child. Maybe all those driven hours working out, meant he could avoid talking about his problems and issues. Maybe he spent days hunting the pop from the crowd because it made it that much easier to ignore the women he chose to marry and the child that handicapped or not would have loved and wanted his dad.

July 4, 2007 at 11:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RVD is right in many ways. Thanks for being rational. You know, I also stand with you at the side of Chris Benoit. You're both wrestlers, who else would y'all turn to, right? RESPECT is your keyword, Rob Van Dam, and y'all deserve that. You do anything to serve the entire world and your bests to set fine examples, not in the ring, but inside the fist-sized thing in your chest. And your words did it accurately. You led too many fans to either two things: (1) Still love and support Benoit (2) Be neutral about this never-ending situation.
You'll always be remembered, for I could not believe that a wrestling superstar who did violence in the ring, saying stupid curses, adresses a very respectable and inspiring message.
Thank you.

Jadeinne Sparrow.

July 5, 2007 at 12:36 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I never really like how the media ever puts things. No matter what spec of truth they have, they will never know the full truth. Because they don't wish to.

Truly great words Rob. You're beyond awesome.

Peace.

-Mary

July 5, 2007 at 3:56 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree with you rvd and I hope miss chris and his family will rest in peace. He will remain my hero because he was a great wrestler.

July 5, 2007 at 11:25 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Rob, first I want to say what happened to cris is a horrible thing. I was watching some old ECW videos of u and sabu and one match at the hamerstine in nyc where you actually asked me to move a chair for u and then jumped over me onto tony anton. I think what he was calling himself at that time. what I really want to say is u were the best of the best every match I saw u do u gave 110% no slow bullshit like some of the top guy i wont say no names HHH
o well guess I will. Vince was a fool to not let u hold the WWE title for a long time like that fool sena i only wished when u took it from him it wasnt because of edge but thats vinces bullshit again. I really hope to see u wrestle again. I don't watch wrestling any more mostly because u left and I hated what they did to ECW its such bullshit now. I just want to end with saying again that u are truly the best of the BEST!!!!!

July 11, 2007 at 4:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stunning.
I wanted to see the tribute, but they removed it before we could see it in New Zealand. I know he was a 'murderer' but he still had a dazzling wrestling career and we should be able to appreciate that.
I am still quite stunned over this..
Ichliebetherasmus@hotmail.com

Thank you,
Emz

July 15, 2007 at 4:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks Rob for not completely writing Chris Benoit off like most people have, I can only say that in his interviews he seemed genuine and a nice person. Personally I do not believe that did do it there isn't enough evidence to convince me and it seems odd how he supposedly killed himself looking at wikipedia I know not the most reliable of sources but it's all I can get to.

PS you deserve a break, nobody else does what you do. I also think that WWE has been misusing you recently and you deserve a World title. Good luck in what ever you choose to do.

Jake

July 16, 2007 at 12:55 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

well said Rob. However, I think those demonic energies you are talking about were the steroids

July 21, 2007 at 1:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

it was such a shock that this happend, really. And everybody assumes that rvd is dumb "duuuuuuuuudde" you know but he seems like a realy cool person. I wish i could meet him one day. Ha, i remeber bein reely creeped out because when i went to two even last ywar [2 weeks apart] he was staring at me like crazy. rofl maybe i did the rvd sign wrong.. haha but your my new male idol :] my female is Lita couse shes amazing, i really hope i can be in the wrestling business when im older, definetly i started watching four years ago, the first one i used to be OBSSESSED like crazy but then i was like "meh w.e"...also i used to like the characters who were just pretty to watch, which was dumb, i even thought i looked up to candice..Ha-ha..sad. But, i know that if i was wrestling i would try to do my best no matter what...im terriblly scared of operations & needles tho. Im joining the boys team nest year, ill be a sophmore.


Who ever read this, sorry for tlkign so much R.I.P chris, & come back rvd cuz we miss ya..i wont be on this site so if you guys wanna rite me advice or w.e...my emails lil_evill_me@hotmail.com

July 21, 2007 at 9:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is going on here? There are about 20 different 'anonymous' people! This whole Benoit thing is just terrible. Rob your comments were probably the most sane I've read on this Whole F'n Blog (besides CalmMountain, Kudos). The media seems to have just hyped the crap out of this situation.
Anyway RVD you are the bomb, as well as Rey, Matt + Jeff, Undertaker, Sabu and the other Originals!

Tom, from Australia.

July 22, 2007 at 5:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Rob, I'm writing from England. God bless you for taking the time to say good things about Chris. The fact of the matter is, that we will never know what truly happened unless we were there at the time. I just feel deep down in my bones that Chris didnt do it. Hulk Hogan said Nancy was into Black magic maybe one of her exes came around through jealousy etc. Maybe this and maybe that yeh ?. What I do know is that you could see what kind of a guy Chris was, and if his mind became unbalanced and it can happen within a split second. If he did do it, I personally believe it was a reaction to the drugs he was taking. Certainly Zanax has severe side effects and shouldnt be given in the first place to people who have had prolonged depression etc. Mixed with others that Chris allegedly ordered off the internet (many have anti psychotic drugs added to them, and all kinds of rubbish. he should have researched this, but also his doctor should have advised him about the drugs he was currently prescribing for him, that there can be serious side effects. I feel so sad that this happened,it has affected a lot of people over here. Maybe if he had spoken to a close wrestling friend he could have let his worries out. As for the writer Anonymous,he is just one first class idiot, what we call over here a real foo foo scutter. Does he not understand the sensitivity and fragility we call the mind. When the balance of ones mind becomes disturbed for whatever reason and they lose balance they are not responsible for their actions. This message is from Mary a mental health nurse aged 49 working in this field since 18 years old. I wish you luck RVD in all your future plans. Keep Well x.

July 24, 2007 at 10:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob, you're a real guy. That's all I can really say. I wasn't the biggest fan of Chris Benoit as a wrestler, but as a human being, I had great respect for him. I knew someone in the business, and she believes that there is no way that the things that they say on the news could be true. I'll quote her word for word.
"No. No way. Not that man. ...Not Chris Benoit."
Rob, you've always been a role model of mine, and everything you said hit me right in the heart. Your words have touched me, and I'm certainly thinking about the Benoit tragedy in a new light. Thanks for your words, dude.

August 14, 2007 at 8:43 PM  
Blogger Abhishek Shetty said...

You have put it like no other guy. Your post must be lauded because you said something which even the WWE tried to cover up. You finally did not decrease Chris's stature as a wrestler.

Hats off to you, Rob.

August 17, 2007 at 12:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey rvd it seems that the truth about cris benoit is coming out as the news said yesterday.the coroners report,stated by a dr, said that cris benoits brain had so much damage to it that it looked like a brain of a 88 year old mans brain/with efflictions due to head injurys the dr.stated that it appeared that due to the amount of brain damage he had from head trama that there was no way he could of made rational thinking because of the injurys/it stated that it was some form of allshimers/tramatic brain injurys caused bye being hit/ddts and otherthings may have caused it so in return his conseption of relative thinking process was destroyed by the injurys not roid rage .wich they kept asuming from the beginig its a sad thing that the wrestling commition doesnt disregard the fact that the wrestlers put there body on the line just for entertainment they asume the fact that to get the ratings do wwhat ever it takes including pouning some other wrestlers head into the floor or ring post just to get the ratings to make more money well thats the facts jack aka (onepunchlou)from dayton ohio wrestling .

September 7, 2007 at 4:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Rob Van Dam! One of the greatest wrestlers and martial artists of all time Ive always dreamed of being taught what you know so when i go into a Federation lets say perhaps RWE or TNA possibly ECW but not really because the new ECW is more of a WWECW now the old ECW was way better i hate the fake storylines now it pisses me off but whatever. Yeah RVD i added you on myspace but yeah this blog was real great keep up the RVDTV stuff going on see yah later - Mike

October 13, 2007 at 5:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RVD I her that you are going to tna please dont turn on me a wwe fan i hate tna so plese dont turn on everyone like kurt angle. so pleas stay in ECW your fan,RYAN

October 16, 2007 at 3:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Rob! your website is F'N awesome! dont know if you want to answer this but could you possibly post something to do with your wrestling career? i'm a big fan and there have been rumors that you're going to TNA. Is this true? If not, are you going back to wwe?

Thanks for the time.

a WWE fan

October 16, 2007 at 5:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey man Ryan again when I heard you quit I was pissed OFF ! but please come back! ECW is boring without you.The only guys I could ever cheer for now is the ECW champ CMPunk,TommyDreamer,andTHE BOOGEYMAN.The suckers are JohnMorrison(JONNYNITRO),BIGDADDYV(VISCERA),And TheMiz They could eat donkey nuts.Anyway I would like to see you back in action seeya!

October 16, 2007 at 6:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey its Ryan I Forgot to tell you HBK came back last Monday on RAW.If you come back soon will you come back and ruin his fn show on RAW?I hope so tis is your fan bye!

October 16, 2007 at 6:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

um it Ryan again my last comment wasnt right I ment ruin Randy Ortons fn show. BYE!

October 16, 2007 at 6:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Even though I don't condone anyone who takes the life of another, I have to admit people usually do this out of whatever reasons that drives them at that particular frame of mind.
Might not be the right choices, but we do them as sometimes it's the only release we get.
I haven't followed WWE for a few years and really haven't seen much since the name change from WWF but from what I have seen, being in the public light and spending so much time doing what you pride so dear must be very time consuming and demanding. Chris Benoit probably had so much to deal with and it probably forced the fate that lead to tragic circumstances. For anyone to see something different than intent is truly worth listening to..

Respect To Rob..

Clearly you could see something in Chris that was all heart and nothing else and that in itself is the respect and friend anyone could ever want.

Andi-b - West Yorkshire, Uk

October 25, 2007 at 5:17 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Great words Rob But I miss you from wwe you made the right choice

November 4, 2007 at 2:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Alcohol did not show up in Chris Benoits Autopsy. He tested negetive for alcohol. source wikipedia. 10 empty beer cans were found in a trash can in the Benoit home. An empty wine bottle was found a few feet from where Benoit hanged himself. So who drank all the booze? This whole post will have alot of what did happen and what did not happen in regards to this murder. The police did not do a good job at investigating the crime scene. They did not call in CSI. The police did call it a double murder suicide after two hours at the crime scene. They did not take photos of the bibles that were allegedly next to the bodies.
They should have. At a crime scene you take pictures of everything that relevent at the scene of the crime. 9 text messages did come from two different phones. One belonging to Chris Benoit and Nancy Benoit. We have two cellphones and police did not dust both phones for Chris Benoit fingerprints. Daniel Benoit did not have Fragile X Syndrome.
The media did tell an outright lie.
Chris Benoit is innocent until proven guity. He does deserve a fair trial. We do want to know the truth of what happened.

October 11, 2008 at 11:03 AM  

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