12 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2007
11. Unpacking The Benoit Tribute Raw
WWE's 2007 couldn't be discussed without some mention of Chris Benoit. Benoit's depressing end has been analysed in-depth by VICE for 'Dark Side Of The Ring', and it's remained one of the most controversial hot topics in industry circles for almost 20 years now. When people think of wrestling that year, Benoit's name tends to come up in the conversation.
The 25 June 2007 Raw was entirely dedicated to him. Details about what happened in his family home hadn’t fully surfaced when Vince McMahon made the call to turn that week's episode into a tribute show. Nobody could’ve guessed what was about to come out about the final days/hours of Benoit’s life. Nobody. Obviously, there’s a reason why this episode will never see the light of day again - unlike tributes for other fallen stars like Eddie Guerrero, WWE has never drawn attention to the Benoit episode, and they never will.
It was awful and it was complicated, to simplify things. Few knew many specifics in the moment despite their suspicions and/or what may have been leaking out as the show was on the air, and fundamentally a lot of people were simply grieving the sudden loss of a friend and colleague.