- published: 19 Dec 2012
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Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit (French pronunciation: [bəˈnwa]; May 21, 1967 – June 24, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler and murderer. During his 22-year career, Benoit worked for numerous major promotions including Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment (WWF/WWE). Benoit committed suicide after perpetrating the murder of his family.
In professional wrestling, Benoit was a two-time world champion, having been a one-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion in WWE; he was booked to win a third world championship at a WWE event on the night of his death. Benoit was the twelfth WWE Triple Crown Champion and sixth WCW Triple Crown Champion, and the second of five men in history to achieve both the WWE and WCW Triple Crown Championships. He was also the 2004 Royal Rumble winner, joining Shawn Michaels as the only men to win a Royal Rumble as the number one entrant.