This past Saturday morning, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher committed a murder-suicide. Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend at their home then subsequently turned the gun on himself shortly after arriving at his team's practice facility.
Unfortunately for most wrestling fans, this incident brought up the painful memory of the Chris Benoit double murder-suicide from 2007. Benoit, who suffered numerous concussions during his wrestling career, murdered his wife and son in their Atlanta home. The wrestler then proceeded to hang himself on his workout bench.
Immediately after Benoit's death, the WWE entered a state of damage control to help preserve its image from the event. So how far have they come since?
Continue after the jump for my thoughts on how the WWE handled this tragedy.
It's now been a little over five years since the infamous Benoit incident. And if I had to sum up the WWE's approach to their recovery from this, I would use one word-- admirable.
Their handling of the situation began on the very same day Atlanta police discovered the gruesome scene. The live three-hour Monday Night Raw event was canceled and was replaced by a tribute show to the fallen wrestler. At the time, details of the incident were extremely scarce. Only police and investigators knew of the crime's true nature.
The very next night, WWE's ECW program was set to run a taping. By now, the company as well as the public were informed that Benoit had actually murdered his wife and son.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon started the show on that Tuesday with a brief message. McMahon and the company refused to further acknowledge Benoit for his actions.
Here's the video that was run at the start of the show:
From that moment on, the WWE began its "healing process," as McMahon stated, tried to distance themselves from the tragedy.
As expected, the WWE and the rest of the wrestling industry received some unfavorable press and drew some unwarranted perceptions from the general public. Many people blamed the business for their mistreatment of their workers and allowing the use of steroids in the sport.
Although initial suggestions to the motive of the crime were highlighted by "roid rage" accusations, sources closer to the case cited Benoit's mental state as the reason behind the act.
Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, examined Benoit's brain and claimed it resembled that of an "85-year-old Alzheimer's patient." During his career, Benoit often performed a move known as the "Swan Dive." The move was essentially a diving headbutt from the top turnbuckle.
This is a clip of Benoit performing the diving headbutt off of a ladder at WrestleMania 21. Some speculate this may have caused Benoit to fall into a seizure:
Shortly after his death, Benoit's name was practically stricken from the record. All of his videos, photos and title reigns in the company were removed from WWE-based documents.
More importantly, the WWE implemented a more efficient method of tracking drug use by their performers. The current WWE Substance Abuse and Drug Testing Policy monitors wrestlers' use of banned enhancers more closely than ever.
Since his death, the WWE has done an exceptional job of handling this tragedy. From 2007-2009, many people might have thought of "Chris Benoit" when you mentioned the WWE.
Now? I believe that chapter of the industry and the company has been written, edited and closed.
We can only hope that the NFL can do the same off the heels of Jovan Belcher's actions.
Click on the following links for more details on the incident, scientific findings on Benoit's brain and the WWE's initiative and wellness policy to eliminate substance abuse.
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