Wrestler's Wikipedia Entry Altered Before Investigators Discovered Dead Bodies

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Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  Endocrinology
Article Date: 29 Jun 2007 - 10:00 PDT

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An anonymous user, who placed an entry saying Chris Benoit's wife was dead, did so before the three dead bodies of Chris, his wife and son had been discovered, according to authorities. The person who placed the entry claims to be dumbstruck that the entry was true.

Benoit, known as The Canadian Crippler, hanged himself after killing his wife and son. Authorities are still not sure why he did this.

The medical practice of Dr. Phil Astin, a friend of Benoit, in west Georgia, is being searched by federal drug agents. Dr. Astin provided Benoit with prescriptions for testosterone. According to Astin, in an Associated Press interview, Benoit suffered from low testosterone levels, probably brought on by the use of steroids. Investigators want to see whether his present and previous treatments were appropriate.

The number of wrestlers who die early is surprisingly high. Even though most wrestling matches are choreographed and the results are pre-determined, the work involved preparing and performing those matches is colossal. Professional wrestlers spend most of their time on the road, there is no off season, accidents are common, as are drugs. Wrestlers are notoriously addicted to painkillers to numb the pain that comes with the job. The problem with painkillers is that they make the wrestler slow and lethargic, so he has to take another drug to pep him up. In order to look super-human they take more drugs and hormones.

Unfortunately, when they retire, many wrestlers continue having problems with drug addiction and dealing with the consequences of years of drug abuse.

Here is a list of famous wrestlers who have died prematurely over the last 20 years:

-- Adrian Adonis - 34
-- Andre the Giant - 46
-- Art Barr - 28
-- Bad News Brown - 63
-- Bam Bam Bigelow - 45
-- Bertha Faye - 40
-- Biff Wellington - 42
-- Big Boss Man - 42
-- Big Dick Dudley - 34
-- Big John Studd - 46
-- Billy Joe Travis - 40
-- Bobby Duncum Jr. - 34
-- Boris Malenko - 61
-- Brady Boone - 40
-- Brian Pillman - 35
-- Bruiser Brody - 42
-- Bulldog Brower - 63
-- Bulldog Brown - 58
-- Buzz Sawyer - 32
-- Chris Adams - 46
-- Chris Benoit - 40
-- Chris Candido - 33
-- Chris Von Erich - 21
-- Crash Holly - 32
-- Curt Hennig - 44
-- D.J. Peterson - 33
-- Dale Lewis - 62
-- Davey Boy Smith - 39
-- Dick Murdoch - 49
-- Dick the Bruiser - 62
-- Dino Bravo - 44
-- Dr. Jerry Graham - 58
-- Earthquake - 42
-- Ed Gatner - 31
-- Eddie Gilbert - 33
-- Eddie Graham - 55
-- Eddie Guerrero - 38
-- Gary Albright - 34
-- Gene Anderson - 58
-- George Cannon - 62
-- Giant Haystacks - 55
-- Gino Hernandez - 29
-- Gorilla Monsoon - 62
-- Hawk - 46
-- Haystacks Calhoun- 55
-- Hercules - 45
-- Hiro Matsuda - 62
-- Jay Youngblood - 30
-- Jeep Swenson - 40
-- Jerry Blackwell - 45
-- Joey Marella - 30
-- Johnny Grunge - 39
-- Jumbo Tsuruta - 49
-- Junkyard Dog - 45
-- Karl Krupp - 62
-- Ken Timbs - 53
-- Kerry Von Erich - 33
-- Kurt Von Hess - 56
-- Larry Cameron - 41
-- Leroy Brown - 38
-- Little Beaver - 61
-- Louie Spiccoli - 27
-- Marianna Komlos - 35
-- Mark Curtis - 38
-- Mike Awesome - 42
-- Mike Davis - 46
-- Mike Von Erich - 23
-- Miss Elizabeth - 42
-- Moondog King - 56
-- Moondog Spot - 51
-- Nancy Benoit (Woman) - 43
-- Owen Hart - 33
-- Pez Whatley - 54
-- Pitbull #2 - 36
-- Randy Anderson - 41
-- Ray Candy - 43
-- Ray Stevens - 60
-- Rick McGraw - 30
-- Rick Rude - 41
-- Rocco Rock - 49
-- Rufus R. Jones - 60
-- Sapphire - 61
-- Sherri Martel - 49
-- Shohei Baba - 61
-- Stan Stasiak - 60
-- Tarzan Tyler - 55
-- Terry Garvin - 60
-- Terry Gordy - 40
-- The Renegade - 33
-- The Spoiler - 56
-- The Wall/Malice - 36
-- Tony Parisi - 58
-- Uncle Elmer - 54
-- Vivian Vachon - 40
-- Wahoo McDaniel - 63
-- Wilbur Snyder - 62
-- Yokozuna - 34
SOURCE: (About.com - Professional Wrestling)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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