Chris Benoit Life Bio Film in Works

[Dr. Evil]

The WWE might not have a leg to stand on in that regard. If the movie is based on a book, and the book is considered a work of journalism (albeit sensationalist yellow journalism) you don't need permission to mention the WWE and some of its people by name.

Remember they didn't need to get permission from CBS or Lorillard Tobacco to make The Insider. They didn't need Ford Motors permission to make Flash Of Genius. They didn't need Al Qaida's permission to make Zero Dark Thirty.

Well that's interesting if that is the case.

 

[DaddlerTheDalek]

From Wikipedia:

Tests were conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, and results showed that "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient." He was reported to have had an advanced form of dementia, similar to the brains of four retired NFL players who had suffered multiple concussions, sank into depression, and harmed themselves or others. Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to dementia, which can contribute to severe behavioral problems. Benoit's father suggests that brain damage may have been the leading cause of the crime. He also confirmed that his son was quietly cremated, but what was done with the ashes is not public knowledge.

They should have sent him into a Hospital or a Mental Institution...
This whole Tragic could have been prevented.

 

[jolldan]

Its truly tragic what happened to his family but people and other athletes can take from this and see not to abuse steroids. I understand this will be a very delicate matter to a lot of people but just because its not a nice story doesn't mean it should be swept under the rug.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Well that's interesting if that is the case.

Although they probably can't go as far to use character names. For example, you'd have to call Triple H "Paul" instead, etc. Which is fine, as the movie is supposed to be a realistic treatment of the WWE as an unsafe workplace, rather than a movie about wrestling.

 

[Teelie]

Its truly tragic what happened to his family but people and other athletes can take from this and see not to abuse steroids. I understand this will be a very delicate matter to a lot of people but just because its not a nice story doesn't mean it should be swept under the rug.

Steroids are only one part of a much larger problem. The steroids didn't cause the brain damage. The repeated concussions did. The physical abuse these guys put their bodies through and the lack of concern or care by the people in charge should be regarded as criminal exploitation.

 

[jolldan]

Steroids are only one part of a much larger problem. The steroids didn't cause the brain damage. The repeated concussions did. The physical abuse these guys put their bodies through and the lack of concern or care by the people in charge should be regarded as criminal exploitation.

I know they are not the only issue I think that's just one of the things that all sportsmen could take from it. Almost all sports you will have people who use steroids where as you may never suffer the concussions and varied forms constant injury that Benoit and other wrestlers have. Just a real shame that a massive company like the WWE couldn't take better care of its athletes.

 

[DorneyDave]

I have an interest in seeing this completely. I think a story of the dark side of wrestling like this needs to be told so that fans can see the reality of what they're money promotes. Too many fans see only the bright lights and not all the shady things that go on behind the scenes. Too soon we forget these things like the premature deaths of many wrestling stars way before their time, many quite violently like Owen Hart.

Owen Hart was an accident. What does that have to do with the shady side of wrestling? It was a freak accident.

There have been plenty of documentaries about the dark side of wrestling. There was also "The Wrestler"

Many wrestling stars that have died young did so because of their own accord and demons, not soley because of the business. The business is tough, yes, but there are better ways to deal with it.

Wrestling as we know it today isn't the drug invested world it once was, at least in the WWE. Some guys may still use, but the testing policy and concussion policies are much better. Same with the NFL. We know so much more about the effect of concussions today than we did even less than 10 years ago. It's amazing. Every contact sport is becoming more aware, along with WWE.

 

[DorneyDave]

Steroids are only one part of a much larger problem. The steroids didn't cause the brain damage. The repeated concussions did. The physical abuse these guys put their bodies through and the lack of concern or care by the people in charge should be regarded as criminal exploitation.

Lack of concern? Are you kidding me? WWE takes care of their athletes so much. They even pay for rehab programs AFTER the guys leave the company, like in Scott Hall's case.

These athletes sign up for this abuse because it's what they want to do and they love it, they aren't forced to perform. When they get hurt, WWE takes care of them.

I know I sound like a WWE publicist but people who spew the crap you just spewed make me angry. They don't even allow pile-drivers, chair shots to the head, or any high impact head moves like that anymore.

The science behind concussions was not nearly as advanced as it is now when Benoit was performing.

The athletes are paid well, taken care of and have a team of trainers and doctors at every single show. Yes it is a high-impact physical grinding profession, but criminal exploitation? Get that crap out of here.

 

[jolldan]

Lack of concern? Are you kidding me? WWE takes care of their athletes so much. They even pay for rehab programs AFTER the guys leave the company, like in Scott Hall's case.

These athletes sign up for this abuse because it's what they want to do and they love it, they aren't forced to perform. When they get hurt, WWE takes care of them.

I know I sound like a WWE publicist but people who spew the crap you just spewed make me angry.

Dude im not for a second gonna say what happened is the wwe's fault hell last time I watched it was still wwf. My era of wrestling was the attitude era so things have probably improved unbelievably in terms of athletes healthcare since last time I turned it on but you cant for a second think that guys were getting the same treatment then as they are now. It's a much more improved system now they have to help guys nowadays. At that point most of the wrestlers were on steroids and taking crazy beatings.
Its a sad thing to say but Benoit's story will be more of a tool to younger guys getting in to the sport now as a reminder of the darkside of wrestling but more importantly as reminder to make sure not to keep themselves healthy.

 

[DorneyDave]

I just don't see the drama in a Benoit story.

Can't make him a tragic figure. I don't want the blame placed at the "big mean evil WWE's" feet. I also don't want to see him portrayed as a lifeless monster either.

I just don't see a way to make the film. Meh, maybe I'm too into wrestling to see how it would work.

 

[jolldan]

I just don't see the drama in a Benoit story.

Can't make him a tragic figure. I don't want the blame placed at the "big mean evil WWE's" feet. I also don't want to see him portrayed as a lifeless monster either.

I just don't see a way to make the film. Meh, maybe I'm too into wrestling to see how it would work.

I think a lot of it goes down to just what kind of character he was. He did just look and act like this hard as nails animal of guy I think a lot of people who go and see it will be people who connected with his character and just trying to understand what he did.

But no dude im not trying to pin it on old Vince I do think its absolute gash nowadays but the WWF did give some awesome memories.

 

[Figs]

I don't see a problem with this film, especially when there were positive films made about gangster rappers Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.

Those two definitely weren't role models so I don't see the problem making a film about a fairly famous wrestler who killed his wife and son.

 

[Teelie]

Lack of concern? Are you kidding me? WWE takes care of their athletes so much. They even pay for rehab programs AFTER the guys leave the company, like in Scott Hall's case.

These athletes sign up for this abuse because it's what they want to do and they love it, they aren't forced to perform. When they get hurt, WWE takes care of them.

I know I sound like a WWE publicist but people who spew the crap you just spewed make me angry. They don't even allow pile-drivers, chair shots to the head, or any high impact head moves like that anymore.

The science behind concussions was not nearly as advanced as it is now when Benoit was performing.

The athletes are paid well, taken care of and have a team of trainers and doctors at every single show. Yes it is a high-impact physical grinding profession, but criminal exploitation? Get that crap out of here.

Umm, yeah. They don't. And you do sound like a WWE publicist.

I'd link to an article from Cracked from a former professional wrestler who contradicts everything you just said. Unfortunately due to language content it'd probably get a warning.

I'll find safer for work articles pointing out how you bought into a publicists dream.

Here are some excerpts however:

There's been a lot of controversy lately about all of the concussions in the NFL and the long-term effects on player health. Well, pro wrestlers have a death rate 20 times higher than that of NFL players -- pro football has only lost six players directly from injuries since 1970 (and Major League Baseball has only had one since 1921). Meanwhile, between 1997 and 2004, 65 wrestlers died from heart attacks, growth enhancement abuse, and other causes directly related to wrestling. This isn't to downplay the health problems other athletes suffer -- long-term effects of head injuries are terrible no matter how you got them. The point is, only one of the above is thought of as a fake sport.

[...]

When I wrestled, $50 a night was considered a good night. In the independent leagues, that's about as good as it gets, other than a few exceptions (such as if the wrestler is well known and loved, like when Raven left the WWE to go back to being an indie wrestler in 2003). So unless you work at the top echelon in the WWE or TNA (which is extremely hard to break into) where the top people make upwards of $10 million a year, you are not going to make a living from working as a wrestler. It's like a pyramid, where only the few guys at the very top get to make big money and become beloved stars of the silver screen.

[...]

Even in the WWE, the pay for most wrestlers isn't great. Not everyone you see on screen is a well-paid regular -- local wrestlers are hired all the time for shows, often not even to wrestle. Sometimes scripts call for "security guards" or some other extras to get in on the action, like if the story involves a fight breaking out backstage, and nine times out of 10 local wrestlers are hired for that event. A lucky few get to enter "squash matches" where they get to fight a billed wrestler (and lose badly, to make the star wrestler look strong). I know some wrestlers who worked for the WWE in a few minor appearances; the top pay was around $3,000 for the tournament. While that is a quick buck, remember, most of these wrestlers then have to go right back to their regular jobs.

[...]

Even among the headlining wrestlers in the WWE, the guys who are taking home six figures have to deal with the fact that A) you can't do this job forever and B) the WWE has no health insurance. So all those horrific daily injuries? Well, let's just say that "huge" salary diminishes with all the medical bills. Want to buy health insurance for yourself to cover them? Make sure you're sitting down when they tell you what your premiums are once you tell them what you do for a living.

 

[Dr. Evil]

The Chris Benoit situation and the drug scandal that followed helped the WWE fix their problems. Now a first violation is 30 days and a second violation is 60. I believe a third violation results in termination. They also now pay for drug rehab for current and former talent.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I think the fact that it took an active member of the talent roster murdering his family for them to make those incredibly basic changes though really illustrates what a destructive company the WWE is to its employees. Where there is smoke there is fire, and any corporation that has talent abuse to ingrained into its culture, that takes generations to go away. You can't go from being the Blood Diamond Cartel to being Happy Progressive Sunshine Factory in just 10 years.

 

[Donnie Darko]

I think WWE Studios should go all out and produce a completely kayfabe movie about the lives of Undertaker and Kane, with all of the fires, Katie Vick, ghosts, etc.

 

[terry78]

We'll all see it out of curiosity, whether it be in the theatre or downloaded or whatever.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I think WWE Studios should go all out and produce a completely kayfabe movie about the lives of Undertaker and Kane, with all of the fires, Katie Vick, ghosts, etc.

And every 10 minutes, one of them needs to say something like, "And remember brother, as powerful as we are, we will never be as powerful as Triple H."

 

[TheNextNolan22]

And every 10 minutes, one of them needs to say something like, "And remember brother, as powerful as we are, we will never be as powerful as Triple H."

So what you're saying is....Triple H should not only play Penwah, but every other wrestler that just might be featured in the movie?

 

[Dr. Evil]

So what you're saying is....Triple H should not only play Penwah, but every other wrestler that just might be featured in the movie?

He should. Then he appears in every MCU movie and steals all of the infinity gems, making him invincible. He then gets a genetic mutation that turns him into a giant shovel.

 

[TheNextNolan22]

He should. Then he appears in every MCU movie and steals all of the infinity gems, making him invincible. He then gets a genetic mutation that turns him into a giant shovel.

THHHanos vs Drax The Diva Destroyer must happen.

 

[Dr. Evil]

THHHanos vs Drax The Diva Destroyer must happen.

And then soon after he goes into the world of DC Comics movies and defeats every villain there, absorbing all of their powers with his giant shovel.

 

[Thundarr]

I recently saw a video on You Tube claiming that Benoit's death and that of his family wasn't a murder/suicide, but in fact a triple murder. Maybe they could play the "conspiracy theory" angle in the film. It would certainly make for a more entertaining watch. And by not making the WWE out to be the "big bad" in the film, they'd have a better chance of having their cooperation.

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[Terminator]

That graphic alone tells me not to watch the video. The conspiracy theories are ridiculous. Especially when they accuse Kevin Sullivan.

 

[zeroapoc]

I think WWE Studios should go all out and produce a completely kayfabe movie about the lives of Undertaker and Kane, with all of the fires, Katie Vick, ghosts, etc.

I'm there for that one!