[NOTE – this column appeared on www.cagesideseats.com…I thought the author, C.J. Bradford, did a great job.]
Over the course of two decades, Chris Benoit scratched and crawled his way through the ranks of professional wrestling to hone his skills and become one of the best to step foot inside the squared circle. There were trials and tribulations, from the very beginning to the very end of his career. But he was one of the best in the business, and, for a brief moment at WrestleMania XX, he stood tall at the top of the professional wrestling world.
Over the course of three days, Chris Benoit brutally strangled his wife, Nancy, and son, Daniel, before finally hanging himself. It was a series of calculated, disgusting acts that ended the life of two innocent people and a man with severe problems. What Benoit did should never be forgotten, and can never be forgiven.
Both stories are of the same man, and yet somehow they seem so different. A story of a hero who worked his ass off to achieve greatness. And that of a villain who murdered his family in the most cowardly of acts. It’s not the traditional good guy vs. bad guy most pro wrestling fans are accustomed to, but something far more real.
How is it possibly to deal with the legacy of he has left behind? This is a question that fans, and the WWE itself, have struggled with. How can we ignore the brilliance of Benoit?
But how can we hail a monster?