TAKE PWTORCH
WITH YOU! Get our iPhone App (FREE!): Click Here Or enter "PWTorch.com" on your Blackberry or other Smart Phone browser for mobile-version of PWTorch.
WWE News
Correction: Statement attributed to Jerry McDevitt, WWE attorney, was incorrect Nov 30, 2007 - 12:47:01 PM
In PWTorch Newsletter #997/998, during a Torch Talk with Shawn Daivari, I said in a question to Daivari: "Jerry McDevitt said [Benoit] did not and could not have had steroids in his system because he was tested two months before he died and was clean."
That attribution is incorrect and PWTorch retracts it and apologizes for the error.
Keller Analysis: A press release issued June 26 - a press release which McDevitt said on MSNBC he "largely drafted" and said was "somewhat mischaracterized" in the media - stated: "Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation)." What's confusing is that the press release was meant to convey what WWE contended authorities said in the press conference earlier that day, rather than being an assertion they were coming up with on their own. MSNBC's Dan Abrams read it to McDevitt on MSNBC believing WWE had meant to assert that point, when in actuality they were interpretting what authorities said earlier that day in a press conference.
For the record, here is the complete press release:
STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2007 - World Wrestling Entertainment is stunned and saddened by the details released by local authorities concerning the double homicide-suicide involving Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel.
However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff's Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that "roid rage" was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:
1. The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.
2. Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit's state of mind, and rightly did not do so.
3. Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE's independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.
4. The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife's feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.
5. WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.
WWE is continuing to monitor the ongoing investigation being conducted by local authorities.
The following is video of the press conference the above WWE press release apparently refers to: YOU TUBE LINK
During the referenced press conference, Lt. Tommy Pope was asked whether steroids had anything to do with the deaths of the Benoit family. He said: "Not necessarily directly related to the cause of death; the cause of death was asphyxiation for all three." On a follow up question, when asked if roid rage was involved, he said they were not able to speak to Benoit's state of mind at the time. Det. Scott Ballard was asked about steroids being found in the house. He confirmed they were, but said he couldn't confirm Benoit was on them. There were no other references to or connections made or questions asked regarding steroids in that press conference.
INCREDIBLE BENEFITS! Over 50 full-length audio updates per month (iPod compatible)... New weekly award-winning Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter (text and printable pdf versions) with latest exclusive insider news, new Torch Talks, great columns, Keller's cover story, much more... Hundreds of full-length back issues of PWTorch Newsletter from late-'80s to today... Ad-free access to PWTorch.com's Main Listing... VIP Forum with interaction with other subscribers and Torch staff... Torch Talk Library with text and audio of hundreds of interview installments from last 20 years... Great layout... Deepest archives on pro wrestling history anywhere... Keller's PWTorch Today PDF Bulletins with email alerts... VIP Email reports on major PPVs and TV shows... Staff Roundtable Reviews (text and audio) followiing major events... The best staff of writers and world class reporting since 1987... We'd love for you to join us and experience the most entertaining, authoritative, experienced staff of professional reporters and commentators in the business...
Compare the value of four or five months of PWTorch VIP content to the price of just one PPV. Can you cut 25 cents a day from your budget to make room for PWTorch VIP?
AND NEW FOR 2009! Monthly "Vintage Audio Torch Talks." We are releasing for the first time ever audio versions of our text Torch Talk updates, the historical first series of insider interviews ever. Wade Keller's newsmaking in-depth interviews with wrestling's biggest names are now being made available exclusively to VIP members. But you must be a member each month, as these are not archived, so they are replaced with a new one each month! This debuted in January 2009 with a 68 minute interview with the late "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith. Who's next? Hulk Hogan? Eric Bischoff? The Rock? Goldberg? Jeff Hardy?