Chris & Nancy

The True Story of the Benoit Murder-Suicide and Pro Wrestling's Cocktail of Death

By: Irvin Muchnick

Narrated by: Richard Tatum

Length: 6 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Exploring the steroid-fueled world of professional wrestling, this riveting chronicle lays bare the devastating events that led to the 2007 murder-suicide of Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their seven-year-old son, Daniel. Benoit's performance-enhancing drug addiction - massive amounts of doctor-prescribed human growth hormone were found in Benoit’s home - and subsequent suicide proved to be the tipping point for the professional wrestling world, resulting in unprecedented scrutiny of the sport’s subpar health and safety standards. Using public records, dozen of interviews with those inside and outside of wrestling, and investigative results, this authoritative analysis provides an uncompromising look at the price athletes pay in this rough-and-tumble world.

©2009 Irvin Muchnick (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Almost good journalism, but falls short

This book started out good. Mr. Muchnick did a good job of laying out the facts of discovery, the time of events, and revealing crucial evidence like the text messages between Nancy and Chris. But, unfortunately, the book takes a nose dive off a cliff. Where he did get some information correct, he did not thoroughly check ALL of his facts. He misspoke and said that the story of the prophet of Elijah came from the New Testament…BUZZ! Wrong! It’s in the Old Testament. He said that Andrew Martin’s wrestling name “Test” was an inside joke about taking drug tests…BUZZ! Wrong! It came from Andrew being a roadie for bands and doing microphone checks (TEST one, two, three). Mr. Muchnick wails and complains of Meltzer and others using bias in doing poor journalism or believing what they believe about what happened. Well, Mr. Muchnick, I hate to break it to you, but SO DO YOU! In hearing this book, it is SO obvious that you have a disdain not only for professional wrestling, but also WWE, and most definitely Vincent Kennedy McMahon. You don’t even take head trauma and even alcohol abuse into account in this tragic situation. You, Mr. Muchnick, are on this blind crusade of riding the world of not only steroids, but apparently professional wrestling and Vince McMahon. Sir, did you know that many serial killers have been linked to past severe head trauma, usually just one or two occurrences of it? Chris Benoit had many, many occurrences of it. Sir, did you know that alcohol has on many occasions been the instigator in many violent crimes? The Benoit home had many, many empty bottles of wine scattered all around. And yet, you only wanted to focus on the steroids and drugs because you are a crusader! Where’s the call to put more restrictions and bans on alcohol? More people are killed by drunk drivers than people fused by roid-rage. What about a crusade on that? Where’s your passion and disgust with that? Sir, you had an agenda with your book and it was SO blatantly obvious. Steroids cause enlarged hearts and heart attacks and strokes. Alcohol weakens a person’s ability to enact self-control. Severe head trauma can affect the individual to where they have difficulty invoking self-control in their actions. To throw caution to the wind when things get heated and intense. From examining the facts that are available as of right now (especially Nancy’s and Chris’s rocky relationship that was building and building up to a fever pitch, yes that is the BIGGEST piece of evidence here and played a HUGE role in what was to happen), anyone with common sense and logic can deduce that Chris, and Chris alone, was responsible for his actions, and many key factors played a role in him losing the ability to control his temper and his actions, and sadly his wife and son paid the ultimate price for it. In your own words in regards to Dave Meltzer, Mr. Muchnick, you are an embarrassment and a disgrace to journalism, and you should be a shamed of yourself! Good thing I don’t have to touch this book again, and possibly any other work of yours in the future.

Good journalism, unsure conclusion

It is clear that the narrator has little wrestling knowledge what with the constant mispronounced names. Author has a clear agenda, not sure if truth is one of them. Funny how he seems to alienate all of those whom he questions. Not bad, but you've heard it before.

Still worth listening too

the narrator is pretty dry, I thought it was the author which is understandable since they are not normally a performer. however this was with an actual performer. Also while the topic kept me listening the author would go into tangents or would say satirical things that just seemed more personal stabs then details

Decent book, but author is on a mission

The facts were good, and the research was there...but it was clear the author hates pro wrestling. Maybe he was denied a tryout when younger?

Great News Coverage and Unreported Info

Where does Chris & Nancy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the better non-fiction audiobooks in my library right now.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Though the case was just in 2007, among the media circus it was difficult to figure out what exactly happened at the time. This book is a good run down of what happened, and some other info that wasn't prominently reported.

What about Richard Tatum’s performance did you like?

His reading was great and thorough. The book was mostly investigative, and the reader was very good at reading it in a neutral tone without being completely boring. He added good emphasis to make certain point clearer.

Any additional comments?

There is some bias in the reporting, but the author is good to note that those points are speculative, either his own or someone else's.

Not exactly correct

Aside from quite a few of the names being mispronounced and the facts being incorrect, this was a very interesting, albeit morbid listen.

Very interesting info

I would listen again just for the little nuggets of info I did not know about this tragic event. I feel it was too deep of a dive into the pro wrestling industry and steroids. I understand there is a obvious connection but it took away from the main topic.

Chilling, couldn't put it down.

For what is ultimately a condemnation of professional wrestling and the people involved, Chris and Nancy takes a long, well-researched unblinking at not only the circumstances revolving the infamous Benoit murders but the devastating side effects of the sport, and the negligent people that enable them.

Great Factual Details, Dumb Conspiracy

What did you like best about Chris & Nancy? What did you like least?

I liked the details explained through the history of events, which were presented fairly despite the Author's bias against pro wrestling and especially WWE. The portions I did not like were the Author's inability to let his bias go and the poor presentation that a conspiracy exists.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

As the book was based on true events (with some spin by the Author), there were no surprises at the ending.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Richard Tatum?

Yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

I would not have an interest in watching a movie about this book or about the events in this book, but I know there has been ideas pitched for making a movie about Benoit. There is zero chance that movie is accurate if it's ever made.

Any additional comments?

This book would have been much better is presented strictly in a factual manner. The Author has a long bias against pro wrestling and could have presented the information without showing that bias. Perhaps it would have given the book more credibility because most of the information in the book is well presented and accurate.

Facts?

In my opinion you can’t hold someone accountable for someone else’s actions. Chris Benoit killed his wife and child not Vince McMahon and not WWE. Nobody forces these men and women into professional wrestling nor are they forced to use drugs and alcohol while on the road. Taking steroids is a choice. Murdering your family is a choice. When you make bad choices for 30 years it usually ends badly. This book is just another witch hunt on McMahon and his company. Im not saying Vince is innocent in fact I think he’s one of the sleaziest people on earth but he is not responsible for the deaths of Nancy and Daniel.

There was at least a dozen names mispronounced and/or incorrect “facts” for example Andrew Martin AKA Test got his name because test is short for testosterone when in fact test got his name because in the story ( possibly in real life but I don’t know for sure ) was the body guard for the band mostly crew and also did sound checks. During the sound check he would say test 1 2 and they called him test.

I’ve done zero research on this subject and found several missed facts. My conclusion is you either want to see Vince McMahon held responsible for something he didn’t do or you just flat out suck at doing researching. Personally I believe it’s a combination of the two.