[originally published at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter website on June 5 under the headline, “Benoit anniversary investigative questions: a Top Nine list,” http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=23070.
By Irvin Muchnick
On June 22-24, 2007, Chris Benoit killed his wife Nancy, their seven-year-old son Daniel, and himself. Here’s a stab at listing the most important open questions at the approach of the first anniversary.
Congress: all lick and no stick?
Legislators in Washington can’t even figure out where they stand on the wars of our nation’s late-empire period, so it’s not surprising that they’ve gone back and forth on investigating an astonishing death cluster in late-empire mass entertainment. The latest smoke signal from one of the two interested House of Representatives committees – Bobby Rush’s Energy and Trade subcommittee – was that it would revisit pro wrestling after Vince McMahon no-showed an omnibus hearing on sports and drug testing. But that was so February. Sure, Congress could get reenergized. However, given WWE’s state-of-the-art lobbying operation and the public’s indifference toward the health and safety of “mere” wrestlers, that might require additional dramatic deaths. And, of course, wrestling just might oblige.
Dr. Astin/Signature Pharmacy/DEA?
Benoit was both a patient of Dr. Phil Astin, a regional drug connection who is now under federal indictment, and a client of the Internet gray-market dealer Signature Pharmacy, which is part of what has become a highly publicized Drug Enforcement Administration dragnet. The progress of those cases should lead to eventual release of Benoit’s medical records (see below, What’s the mix of the “cocktail of death”?), as well as to other information about what’s the same (a lot) and what’s different (not much) about the drug cultures of the sports-entertainment and sports worlds.
Civil litigation?
Nancy and Chris’s parents have settled estate issues, clearing the path for possible lawsuits against WWE. Whether or not such suits were ultimately successful in extracting significant damages, they would shed further light on the inner workings of this peculiar industry.
Fayette County authorities – threat or menace?
In the words of one person close to the official investigation, the offices of District Attorney Scott Ballard and Sheriff Randall Johnson “got played like a cello by WWE.” The McMahon legal-and-spin team has come a long way since Vince pulled an all-nighter in 1983 to keep Whitehall, Pennsylvania, police from charging Superfly Snuka in the death of his girlfriend due to a fractured skull. Here, the investigators left unanswered a bunch of questions they themselves had raised during the original media frenzy – that’s mostly Keystone Kops fallout. But they also misled and dissembled about key missing text message and voicemail evidence – much fishier, though not definitively so.
WWE’s head start?
The timeline of Benoit-related events published by WWE has more holes than Kimbo Slice’s ground game. The Raw tribute to Benoit on Monday night, June 25, was a work, though Vince kept the secret from most of the talent as well as from the viewing public (shocker!). From analysis of raw phone records – and no thanks to the sheriff’s report – we also can interpolate that the company knew the score at least two hours before calling 911. At this point there is no evidence that WWE did anything with their early knowledge other than get out in front of and shape the public story by “slowing down” the timeline and garnering early sympathy.
Yo, Scott and Chavo?
Scott James (Armstrong) and Chavo Guerrero were sent strange text messages by Benoit in the early morning hours on Sunday. Yet we’re supposed to believe that WWE executives didn’t learn of them until 12:30 p.m. Monday. What happened in between, guys? And Scott, specifically, why did you send a text to Benoit, “What time do you land?” – presumably in reference to an Atlanta-to-Houston plane flight – at 9:26 a.m. Sunday? (See above, WWE’s head start?.)
Who let the dogs out?
Early Sunday morning Benoit texted that the German shepherd guard dogs were in the fenced area surrounding the backyard pool. But when the sheriff’s deputies responded to the 911 call, the dogs were loose at the front gate. (See above, WWE’s head start?.)
What will change about WWE policies and practices?
Drug testing will be more stringent – until it isn’t. Chairs shots will be banned – except when they aren’t. Big business can be relied on to regulate itself about as far as Floyd Mayweather can throw Big Show. (See above, Congress: all lick and no stick?, Dr. Astin/Signature Pharmacy/DEA?, and Civil litigation?.)
What’s the mix of the “cocktail of death”?
Chris Benoit had marital problems. His best friends in the business had died. He took painkillers. High doses of steroids and growth hormone had given him off-the-charts testosterone levels. Multiple untreated concussions had left him with a condition that new research is terming Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Physically, mentally, emotionally, Benoit was in pain. What followed was the perfect storm.