The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

My friends link me with the WWE. Most don't watch now, but did at one time, and like to hear updates about their favourite stars from the golden age of wrestling in the 1980s. At lunch today, I was telling my friends how wrestler/manager/valet Sherri Martel, or Sensational Sherri as many know here, passed away at 49 years old. Found dead at her mother's home, early reports indicating no foul play but not due to natural causes. Another former wrestler dead, probably drugs, something I've been desensitized to over the years.

Today though, Chris Benoit, a tough-as-nails Canadian, one of the most talented and respected performers of WWE, who made the right choices and never got caught up in the world of booze or drugs, was found dead along with his wife Nancy and son Daniel. He was supposed to wrestle at last night's Vengeance Pay-per-view but no-showed citing family reasons for his absence. The end result of his family being found dead was the last thing anyone would think would happen to them.

The first thing that came to my mind was his best friend Eddie Guerrero who died from heart failure from the effects of years of drug use that he had managed to get himself off of a few years prior. At Wrestlemania XX they were both crowned champions, they held each others arms up in front of the enthusiastic crowd after their years and years of dedication to the business reaching its pinnacle. And no one would have guessed just three years later they would no longer be with us.

Maybe it's because he's Canadian, but I really took it to heart when I heard of his passing. I remember being annoyed when WWE started announcing him as "residing from Atlanta" and ignoring his hometown of Edmonton to get the American fans to cheer for him more. He was such an entertaining guy to watch, and although many of his wrestling brothers would say he was tough on them, he brought out the best in their performances and was fair, and always gave the fans their money's worth.

Vince McMahon wisely did the right thing and canceled the regular RAW program, instead doing a Chris Benoit tribute show for his fans.

Last night, when Benoit didn't wrestle and was replaced by another, the fans throughout the match chanted "We want Benoit! We want Benoit!" We still do. We will miss you Chris.