Biography

Chris Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler known for his technical ability, intensity, and contributions to the wrestling industry. Born on May 21, 1967, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he rose to prominence in promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Benoit was regarded as one of the best in-ring performers of his time, earning multiple championships, including the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XX in 2004. He was known for his signature moves like the Crippler Crossface and Diving Headbutt, and his intense, no-nonsense wrestling style. However, his legacy became deeply controversial due to the tragic events of June 2007, when he was involved in a murder-suicide, taking the lives of his wife, Nancy, and their son, Daniel, before taking his own life. The incident shocked the wrestling world and led to significant discussions about CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), brain injuries in athletes, and mental health in professional wrestling. Following this, WWE erased most references to Benoit from its programming and history. Despite his in-ring accomplishments, Benoit's name remains a highly controversial topic in wrestling due to the tragic circumstances of his death.