Should Chris Benoit be in the WWE HOF

[Troy]

A discussion in the VIP chatbox the other day inspired me to post this thread and poll. We were talking about the HOF and whether or not Benoit should be in the WWE HOF, I thought that I would put it to all members and see what everyone thinks.

Do you think that WWE should focus on what he did in the ring. He put his body on the line for decades all over the world in many top companies and he finally rose to the top in WWE in what at the time was a great feelgood story. Should he get in for that or does what he did in his final two days on this planet overshadow everything that he did in the ring.

Note I am asking whether or not you think he SHOULD be in the WWE HOF. I know that WWE will never induct him so I am not bothering to ask whether you think WWE will induct him.

Also I know that this is a controversial topic and people normally get quite worked up when discussing this but please stick to discussing the topic. If you disagree with someone then that is great, that is what forums are about but don't start insulting and attacking other members because they have a different opinion to you.

So vote in the poll and post your thoughts.

 

[Andrew]

Might be a bit bias here but I honestly believe he should be inducted for his in-ring work. He was one of if not the greatest technical wrestler around and I am a huge fan of his in-ring work and I strongly believe it shouldn't matter about what you did outside of the ring. I understand what he did was horrible. WWE won't induct him at all and have removed him from all videos. I would love to see him be inducted for his work.

 

[The New F'n Show]

The WWE HOF isn't a legit HOF, because of his actions he has no business being part of a publicity stunt which is what the WWE HOF is. I say No.

 

[Heisenberg]

Yes, he should be remembered for his career not what happened with his death. I'm not saying that what he done was right but he clearly wasnt in the right state of mind. He had brain damage and the brain of an 80+ year old Alzheimer patient, steroid abuse and suffering severe depression. He gave his all every day week in week out for years to entertain the fans and help the WWE and he done it damn well. He was very dedicated and passionate. What he done shouldn't cloud his career and I'm sure many others agree. That's just the way I think about it.

It's a shame he'll never be inducted though. Why? Because the WWE would lose a lot of sponsors and support and the media would attack WWE very badly if they were to acknowledge him by inducting him into their HOF. WWE already suffered enough with the situation.

 

[Vivido]

Might be a bit bias here but I honestly believe he should be inducted for his in-ring work. He was one of if not the greatest technical wrestler around and I am a huge fan of his in-ring work and I strongly believe it shouldn't matter about what you did outside of the ring. I understand what he did was horrible. WWE won't induct him at all and have removed him from all videos. I would love to see him be inducted for his work.

You're bias? Did you have a bit of a beef with Nancy and whatever his kid was called?

I say NO, he killed his wife and family, losing all respect he has perviously gained.

Amazing worker though.

 

[Cwalker]

Should he be? Yes. Benoit worked 20 perfecting his craft in that ring. He held almost every major title in the WWE, he won a Royal Rumble and he was a company man, willing to put anyone over.

But should he and will he are two completely different questions. WWE will never induct him into the Hall of Fame. I was thinking that time heals all wounds, but it'll be 5 years this summer and there have been very fee signs that he's been forgiven. Even before the Rumble, I remember Micheal Cole talking about The Miz entering number 1, and he said that two people won the match after entering first. He mentioned Shawn Micheals but not Benoit. That led me to believe he's back to being "He who must not be named"

Benoit should be inducted but it'll never happen. End of story

 

[Clydefrog]

of course he should, shame Wrestling and personal life get mixed into everything

benoit was one of the best workers and entertainers i've ever had the pleasure to watch wrestle!

shame its never going to happen so this poll is useless

 

[AF.]

No. His induction would disgrace the HOF and the WWE.

Murderers aren't welcome in this world.

 

[SAL]

The Hall of Fame isn't just a way of memorializing and celebrating careers. It's a way for WWE to promote its history and gain more publicity. His in-ring accomplishments warrant celebration, but the way his life and career ended would (rightly) overshadow any discussion of his career. I have to vote no.

 

[AF.]

It's also more about how you were as an overall person. Only good people enter the HOF irl sports, it's the same for the WWE.

Be a cunt (or a murderer in Benoit's case) and you shouldn't be celebrated. I'm astounded more people want him to be recognized than those who don't.

 

[Lewb]

Im a no voter too.As the Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson is getting it this year, if I put myself in his shoes, would I want to receive the same accolade as a murderer. Plus, WWE's name would be pulled through too much dirt to ever warrant it. No way should he ever get in the hall of fame when Macho Man Randy Savage hasn't had his spot in there yet.

 

[Heisenberg]

Im a no voter too.As the Baddest Man on the Planet Mike Tyson is getting it this year, if I put myself in his shoes, would I want to receive the same accolade as a murderer. Plus, WWE's name would be pulled through too much dirt to ever warrant it. No way should he ever get in the hall of fame when Macho Man Randy Savage hasn't had his spot in there yet.

Mainly because the family won't let him be inducted unless all three (Randy, Lanny and Angelo) are inducted as a family, even if they did come to an agreement it wouldn't be this year as he died not too long ago and it'd look like they're capitalizing on it..

Angelo never worked for the WWE and Lanny hasn't had what you would call a HOF worthy career, Randy is the only one worthy.

 

[We Are Legion]

Despite the fact he's one of my favorite wrestlers of all time, even I would say no. As a few people have already said, the WWE HOF is not a very legit HOF, it's part of the Wrestlemania attraction and meant to celebrate the company's history. I might even go so far to say that it celebrates that history more than the wrestlers themselves.

His murder-suicide doesn't change what he accomplished during his legendary career, but c'mon... if you think of anything else first but the horrible crime he committed during his final days when you hear the name "Chris Benoit", you're what's known as a liar. Unless WWE wants to create the worst type of controversy and draw seriously unwanted attention to their biggest spectacle Wrestlemania, it would be a great idea to keep his name far, far away from it.

 

[Big Red Jericho Punk]

This is a very controversial topic but this is an easy choice. NO because he shouldn't be rewarded when he did something so cruel.

 

[Slim]

Despite the fact he's one of my favorite wrestlers of all time, even I would say no. As a few people have already said, the WWE HOF is not a very legit HOF, it's part of the Wrestlemania attraction and meant to celebrate the company's history. I might even go so far to say that it celebrates that history more than the wrestlers themselves.

His murder-suicide doesn't change what he accomplished during his legendary career, but c'mon... if you think of anything else first but the horrible crime he committed during his final days when you hear the name "Chris Benoit", you're what's known as a liar. Unless WWE wants to create the worst type of controversy and draw seriously unwanted attention to their biggest spectacle Wrestlemania, it would be a great idea to keep his name far, far away from it.

I will disagree with you 100% there as that is a completely biased opinion based on how YOU perceive everybody should think and believe and follow your ideals when that isn't how the world works... so sorry there bud.

Now should Benoit be inducted? Yeah.

Is wrestling clean? Hell no. Are the careers of WWE guys clean? Again HELL NO! You have your drug addicts that did crack, smack, and so much more. You had those that wound up ODing and are still inducted. The HOF is already tainted with "bad seeds" and now we're about to see Mike Tyson inducted that spent how many years in prison? He's abused women, raped... but all of that is perfectly fine it seems. Nothing can condone what Benoit did in his final days. Nothing. Even though its been proven and shown that his brain was pretty much mush after all the years he spent inside of the ring... it doesn't excuse that two people were killed and he hanged himself.

But the first thing I think about when I hear the name Chris Benoit is... amazing wrestler. For 20 years he's been in the business. Hardest worker that was there. And before it was known what happened the only thing people had to say about Benoit was respect. Everyone respected Benoit for his accomplishments, for what he did inside that ring night in and night out. He literally gave everything he had inside of that ring and then some. He had a storied career that few could ever match up to.

Just some refuse to differentiate what he did from what he accomplished inside of the ring which is why he will NEVER be inducted inside of the HOF and everything that he accomplished inside the ring will all be forgotten. Its just the way the world turns. They turn their back on people all the time.