I don't know how this is going to read as I'm actually in a bit of shock right now. Last night I watched a DVD on The Four Horsemen the original clique if you will in professional wrestling started by Ric Flair. Over the years the group had many incarnations but the one I was exposed to the most was one of the later line ups that featured the Canadian Crippler Chris Benoit. Benoit was simply the best in ring performer I've ever seen. Every move was crisp and had meaning, there was no wasted motion. Benoit was only 5'11" a size that many higher ups saw as a disadvantage but Benoit used his compact size and speed to create a bezerker effect which led to his other nickname the Rabid Wolverine. At Wrestlemania 20, Vince McMahon finally rewarded Benoit's 18 years of complete dedication and professionalism by giving him the World Heavyweight Title. The victory is my favorite wrestling match of all time as Benoit bested two legends in the industry in HBK Shawn Michaels and Triple H. At the end of the match Benoit cried as he clutched the title and then was joined in the ring by his longtime friend and fellow champion Eddie Guerrero. As the two friends embraced I cried and still tear up to this day when I watch the match. When Eddie passed in November 2005 I was devastated, watching Chris pay tribute to his friend by working his ass of in the ring during a tribute show truly touched me. Eddie should not be meeting his friend in the afterlife this soon. There is much more to this tragic news I'm sure. The fact that not only Chris but his wife Nancy and their seven year old son Daniel were also found dead leads one to believe some sort of foul play but right now I just want to remember Chris as the great man he was inside the ring and by all accounts outside of it.
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