Whether it was steroids or other substance abuse, its sad to look back before the explosion of social media, when most wrestler deaths were not being reported in the mainstream media. [102][103], Phil C. Astin III was the personal doctor for Chris Benoit. Other high profile names posted messages of condolence on social media when they heard the news. [1] On June 25, Nancy was found wrapped in a towel with blood under her head, although Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard reported no other signs of a struggle. Brian Pillman was one of the first wrestlers I saw in WCW who was both a high-flying artist as well as a technician. Although the exact cause of death has not been announced, her son-in-law Tony Spera announced on Facebook that she died in her sleep at her Connecticut home on April 18. A copy of the Bible was left by her body. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. A suicide note was not discovered during the initial investigation, but one was later discovered in a Bible that had been among Benoit's possessions that were sent to his first wife (Martina Benoit) and their two children in Canada. Tonight's storyline was to have been the alleged demise of my character, Mr. McMahon. His last appearance was a cameo on the Run-D.M.C. In a July 2013 interview, Sandra Toffoloni (Nancy Benoit's sister) said she believes a blackout caused him to murder her sister. Wrestlers work year round. The recording session saw Warren re-united in the studio with WWE music composer Jim Johnston for the first time in over 7 years. Chris Warren was born on January 24, 1968. [116] WWE would take similar actions with other wrestlers in later years, notably with Jimmy Snuka for his 2015 arrest regarding the death of Nancy Argentino,[117] and Hulk Hogan following the release of a tape that included Hogan making racist comments (see Bollea v. Gawker). At 4:00 p.m. on June 25, the police arrived at the scene of the crime. He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. Im referring toguys like Curt Mr. A blood-alcohol level was found to be 0.184. The voice behind a host of iconic theme has died, aged 49. The death forced WWE to take concussions more seriously, enforce substance regulations, and conduct rigorous drug testing. As some more time progressed without any contact from Benoit, WWE called the Fayetteville, Georgia, police for a welfare check at the Benoit household. [107] After news of the early death notice reached mainstream media, the anonymous poster accessed Wikinews to explain his edit as a "huge coincidence and nothing more. [34] Tests conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, showed "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient". Albeit it was never to the extent Chris Benoit's death did. He was, however, unable to replicate his father's success, eventually being released from the company. Hennig's son Curtis Axel was also a WWE superstar. Further cuts of other songs appeared (and continue to do so) on various TNA video packages.