For fans of a certain age, they remember the all-time classic matches Chris Benoit put on in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment. But 13 years after the darkest day in pro wrestling history the question that has persisted is should, Chris Benoit be in the Hall of fame?

The simple answer is no, He was one of the best performers of his day and he deserves all the press and praise he gets. But, the key word in that scenario is “performer” the man was a great “performer” but in the man’s social life especially at the end of it he did have some problems. Leading to the double murder suicide. That is why the answer will always be no, Chris Benoits personal demons will always overshadow his in-ring accomplishment’s.

Many people have made a case for him to be inducted on the marrieds of his performance in the ring and what he did should not matter for his performances as an entertainer. That argument is complicated, this conversation came up again after Vice renewed their wrestling documentary series Dark Side of the Ring earlier this year. The first two episodes of season two shinned new light to the events that happened back in 2007. With testimony from the people who were closest to him including his son from his first marriage and his sister in law who accounted for the life of Benoit and his wife Nancy before their deaths showed how his life changed leading to the tragedy.

Many fans have compared it to other sports hall of fame controversies such as baseball, where players such as Pete Rose and Alex Rodriquez are not being allowed in their respective hall of fame for tampering their careers and the sport. But fans need to understand the repercussions of putting Chris Benoit or his wife Nancy in the hall of fame. It is Understandable why they both should be in the hall of fame.

Chris was one of the best technical wrestlers of his time from his time in Japan where he had amazing matches with his good friend Eddie Guerrero. To his World title-winning match in the WWE at WrestleMania 20. His wife Nancy was one of the best pro Wrestling personalities of her time, she kept up her role as a valet no matter who she was working with she put them over with the fans every single time. She was a great character and personality back in a time where that was the most important thing she could do.

But at the end of the day as Pro wrestling announcer Jim Ross said in the Vice Documentary “It would be a distraction.” He is 100% correct, fans have to understand even though the man was one of the best to ever lace up a pair of boots and his wife was one of the best mangers of her time.

With all the news coverage forms the double murder-suicide and the magnitude of the event sadly will always overshadow everything the man and his wife have done in the wrestling world. It is a shame but if someone saw his face in the hall of fame next to some of the all-time greats of pro wrestling, all you can think about is the tragic event that took place back in 2007.