Who would still be respected if they killed their families and themselves?

[Uncle Sam]

Y'know, wrestling-wise.

Although Chris Benoit still has his critics, there are a good deal of people that think a textbook German suplex more than makes up for a double murder. I think that there are many others that would still receive a good amount of respect in similar circumstances.

Mick Foley, for one, would still be respected. Although I can only imagine the amount of "Foley caned Dewey" signs; he'd be remembered as more of a legend in the wrestling business than he is now. A martyr, almost.

I won't have all the fun. What do you reckon?

 

[Coco]

There are a'plenty of fat chicks who may very well let Matt and Jeff Hardy off the hook for that.

The business might forgive Taker. Ya know... yard, respect, all that jazz. The man honestly can do no wrong with some people. Anybody will take shit from him and sell it like they deserved such treatment from the almighty leader of the locker room. He's talked up like a deity for some reason, and I doubt a simple double-murder/suicide will change that. If anything, the legend grows because MMArk wouldn't have to break character and show-up to accept his Hall of Fame induction.

 

[jmt225]

Definitely HHH. I mean, he's truly the greatest of all time and since I'm a fan of his, there's nothing he could ever do that I would consider harmful to the business or his legacy. He's just that awesome. Plus, it'd take some serious balls to kill Vince's daughter and his grand kids. How can you not respect that?

Seriously though, there are a couple of wrestlers that no matter what they do, I would most likely always be a fan of their work, but most of them... I can't picture pulling something like that off. But say if, I don't know, Raven did kill his wife tomorrow, I'm certain I would still be able to pop in any of my dozen Raven DVDs and enjoy it to the fullest just like I could before he commited the crime.

 

[kingdirrtysouth1]

Kevin Sullivan! He portrayed a convinsing evil character in WCW. Most people would find it believable that he would snap & lose it. Plus, if he survived the suicide attempt, Vince would bring him in and turn into an angle!

 

[Coco]

There's a subculture of nuts who already think Sullivan did the Benoit family, so I agree. Nobody would notice anything being off if Sullivan snapped.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

No one would still be respected if they pulled a Benoit. To think otherwise is absolutely ludicrous.

 

[Uncle Sam]

No one would still be respected if they pulled a Benoit. To think otherwise is absolutely ludicrous.

Not really. "He may have killed people, but wow, I still respect him for his in-ring work". Sound familiar? It should.

 

[Little Jerry Lawler]

I don't and will never condone what Benoit did to his family but I will always respect him for his in-ring ability and passion for the business. Most of the wrestlers who would do the things Benoit did would still be respected for what they did inside the ring, just not outside the ring.

 

[Mustang Sally]

.... there are a good deal of people that think a textbook German suplex more than makes up for a double murder?

The suplex doesn't "make up" for the murder. Rather, the two factors should be regarded separately. I'm still uncomfortable with the idea that WWE has chosen to ignore the fact that Benoit ever existed. It's not right; what he did during his career was one thing...... and what he did at the end was another.

Much of the problem has to do with the damn "Political Correctness." That we aren't supposed to say anything good about Benoit comes in the same vein that we aren't supposed to say anything bad about Owen Hart. As great as Owen was, he wasn't perfect. Yet, to say that out loud is to invite ridicule.

It's changing, though. With the passage of time, I hear more and more references to Benoit's great career instead of just what happened at the end.

Yes, it's horrible what he did, but after reading accounts of the brain damage he suffered during his life, I can feel some sympathy for him, especially for the agony of mind he must have gone through in his last days.

 

[FromTheSouth]

Beyond Ozzy Osbourne, I can't imagine anyone would be lauded for killing their families.

I guess it goes with Taker's gimmick, so maybe him. Plus, like has been said already, some people can think he did no wrong.

I guess, Kane could do the same. I mean, he already killed his family. Right? Wrestling gimmicks never lie? Do they?

 

[Uncle Sam]

I think people would condone what Kane did just because they'd sympaphize with him. I mean, at least Benoit got a legitimate crack at being the champion. Kane only ever held the title for a day. I mean, it's certainly at least a little bit more understandable.

 

[Coco]

I don't think many people are hung up on Kane's wrestling as it is. At least they don't have any good reason to be. He's more sloppy than other big men and only has a job because of his connection to Undertaker. It's sad, but he wasn't the same caliber of talent as Benoit.

 

[Deexter Jorgan]

two words JOHN CENA, People would probably mark out if Cena killed his family, the guy can do no wrong, the kids would love still love him, Vince would still sell the T - Shirts, they probably would never delete cena off of WWE.COM, im not condoaning what Benoit did but i agree with sam, the guy was a ring veteran who made a huge mistake, he wasnt in his right mind, its not like he was R Kelly who wasnt even tried for pissing on his god daughter, people still buy his albums so why should those same people stick their noses up at benoit for commiting something atrocious when he wasn't even right in the head in the first place.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Beyond Ozzy Osbourne, I can't imagine anyone would be lauded for killing their families.

Neither can I. Benoit doesn't get lauded for killing his family...... he gets lauded for his career in wrestling.

Killing his family was a tragedy, whatever caused it.

 

[Coco]

HDJ, people stick their non-murderer noses up at Benoit because if he wasn't in the right mind than him, his friends, his employer, or his family should have taken action to get him help. And don't give me the line that Benoit wasn't showing any outward fucked-upidness before the incident. We're talk about a man who supposedly had his insecurities, his emotional problems after Eddie (who probably knew how fucked Chris was), and his spousal-abuse issues. We have every right to hold this kind of shit against Chris and those around him.

 

[Deexter Jorgan]

HDJ, people stick their non-murderer noses up at Benoit because if he wasn't in the right mind than him, his friends, his employer, or his family should have taken action to get him help. And don't give me the line that Benoit wasn't showing any outward fucked-upidness before the incident. We're talk about a man who supposedly had his insecurities, his emotional problems after Eddie (who probably knew how fucked Chris was), and his spousal-abuse issues. We have every right to hold this kind of shit against Chris and those around him.

I agree with you on that, I agree whole heartidly because like you I hate what that monster did, but all im saying is you cant blame him totally for what he did, some blame has to go on the company that allowed him to pass the drug tests, that rather had him work then take time off or pay to get him some help, Im not giving any lines but the fact is this incident shouldnt fuck with benoits legacy because that benoit and that monster are two different people, my da
d is going through the same thing and we are getting him help and understand what hes going through but sometimes people are just to fucked up that you have to do one of two things, break contact or get them locked away where they can get the treatment they need before they harm others or themselves, the problem is that people look the other way and pretend not to notice because of the fact that he did whatever they told him to do out of fear of losing his spot!

 

[Azrael Cain]

As a person? No one.
As a wrestler/character? Whoever did it.

I didn't know Benoit personally, but as a wrestling fan I respect Benoit. His wrestling career stands on its own and is a separate entity entirely from his personal life, as it should be. One cannot assume that Chris Benoit in the ring is the same as Chris Benoit out of the ring; much like the Triple H in the ring is not the Triple H out of the ring. We assume so, but I would argue that we are incorrect in that assumption.

 

[Razor Blade Dream]

Murder is murder no matter how you cut it. Does someone say, "Yeah, Hitler ordered the murder of millions of Jews but dammit, he was a painter and vegetarian and that says a lot about how much he cares about animals!" Then again that would be a PETA members argument.

Do I respect Benoit as a wrestler? History doesn't go away, the man had accomplishments in the ring. I can't deny what he did. I don't respect him but I don't "erase" his memory either. Do I think what he did was reprehensible and totally fucked up? Yes.

And WWE hasn't totally erased Benoit, he had a nice little bio in the Encyclopedia that was released.

But I don't think we would give anyone a "free pass" for respect after killing their families. I don't think I can respect anyone after doing something like that. But I will not "erase" them from my memories.