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R.I.P.
Wrestling Superstar Found Dead

Posted Jun 25th 2007 6:51PM by TMZ Staff

WWE superstar Chris Benoit, 40, his wife Nancy and young son were found dead in their Atlanta home early this afternoon, this according to WWE.com.

No further details regarding the tragedy have been released. Benoit was scheduled to appear at a pay-per-view event last night ... WWE said that there was a "family emergency" that prevented him from being there.

Benoit, a former World Heavyweight Champ, wreaked havoc with his signature move, the "Crippler Crossface."

The incident comes on the heels of the shocking death of former WWE wrestler "Sensational" Sherri Martel, and the supposed "assassination" of WWE head honcho Vince McMahon. TMZ has learned that the WWE is scrapping all references to the McMahon death storyline on tonight's episode of "Raw.'

According to the official WWE website, tonight's "Raw" will serve as a tribute to the wrestling great.

Police are investigating the incident.

UPDATE: ABC News is reporting that the deaths are being investigated as a possible suicide and double homicide.

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76. I am deeply sadden on hearing this. Chris was one of my favorite wrestlers. and will always be my favorite. Who could do such a horrible crime. Who ever did this you will be found. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Benoit family on losing three of there family members. Chris you will never ever be forgotten

Posted at 8:14PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Cassie

77. Actually WWE had a very strict drug policy. Roids may have been something in the past but now when wrestlers are caught action is taken. Look at RVD, arrested for possesion, within the next week he loses both WWE and ECW titiles and is suspended for 30 days. Randy Orton came up hot as well and was suspended. These reports were made available to the public. Benoit was not a steroid user or he could magically pass the drug tests. He has been in the business for over twenty years and was one of the most determined and trained just as hard if not harder than anyone else. Maybe he did kill his family, who knows, but he was not a steroid freak that went bezerk.

Posted at 8:26PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Danny

78. this is the new way to kill--take everyone out--SICK!!!!!!

Posted at 8:14PM on Jun 25th 2007 by janice

79. You're just mad Matt, because the truth hurts. If roid-boy really walked in on his sick family, "coughing up blood", a normal person dials 911 and the ambulance is on its way. A normal person doesn't wait until they die and then kill themself in his "grief."

Posted at 8:14PM on Jun 25th 2007 by John

80. What has this world come to when people in the face of a family's death have nothing to say but negative, derogatory, and meaningless comments. As the mother of two sons who watch wresting, I know that there is a LOT of fakeness to the shows and to some of the storylines, but when the current storyline is put aside to do a tribute to a fellow wrestler who has died along with his family, shouldn't there be some compassion from those of us who do NOT know these people. If you have no compassion or nothing meaningless to say why bother. My prayers go out to those members of the Benoit family. May God Bless.

Posted at 8:18PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Deeply disappointed

81. So long, 'roid boy.

Posted at 8:16PM on Jun 25th 2007 by flbiker

82. i dont think it was murder suicide i think it was home invasion crack heads trying to get money

Posted at 1:08PM on Jun 26th 2007 by flagirl

83. My heart and prayers go out to the family of Chris Benoit and his wife's. This is such a tragedy.

Posted at 8:30PM on Jun 25th 2007 by sheila

84. oh john that was not nice--but true

Posted at 8:17PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Kay

85. This news is just unbelieveable. It is just truly heartbreaking. My thoughts are wih his family and friends at this tragic time.

Posted at 8:18PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Lyndsie

86.
I have been trying to find more info about this . I was watching for SVU and they
started to run wrestlng instead. They showed the original ad with the faked death. Then
Vinc came on and told about the death of the family,but no details.

Posted at 8:19PM on Jun 25th 2007 by little bit

87. My prayers go out to Chris' family, a tragedy.

Posted at 8:27PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Donna

88. My heart and prayers go out to the famliy's. Chris Benoit was a very good wrestler.
He will be missed.

Posted at 8:24PM on Jun 25th 2007 by Michael Friend

89. So you make fun of wrestling but then post under different names to try to get a rise out of fans? John you are a disturbed individual.

Posted at 8:19PM on Jun 25th 2007 by John and flbiker are the same person.

90. OK --what happened --do we know??

Posted at 8:45PM on Jun 25th 2007 by bob

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