I wrote yesterday about the ballot amongst people within wrestling concerning the status of Chris Benoit in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. I ended the post in two minds about whether he should be voted out or not and have now arrived at an answer.
When I originally started writing yesterday's post, I was adamant that I would have said yes to his exclusion. But, as I continued to type, I started thinking maybe he could remain in the Hall as an example of someone who had been corrupted by the rigors of professional wrestling.
A sympathy figure, if you will.
If the Hall of Fame is meant to be about your career and what you contribute to the sport then Benoit should remain. His final acts in his life put wrestling under the microscope. Changes were claimed to have been made because of it.
This ideology is all well and good but let's have a reality check.
The Hall of Fame is nothing at the end of the day. It's just a list of performers who have had historic careers in pro wrestling. Debating whether he remains in this list doesn't do justice to the real victims of his crimes.
I can fully understand why people would want to keep him in. I just cannot find it in myself to agree with them, though.
Had I been given a ballot, I would have voted for his removal because the real victim in this tragedy wasn't even a part of the wrestling business. He just happened to be the son of a wrestler.
No comments:
Post a Comment