Mark Henry, a dominant force in WWE during one of its most tumultuous eras, recently spoke candidly about the profound impact the Chris Benoit tragedy had on him and the wrestling community. As a contemporary of Benoit’s and a respected figure in the locker room, Henry’s perspective offered a raw, unfiltered look at the aftermath of an event that shook professional wrestling to its core.

Advertisement

Speaking on “Busted Open Radio,” Henry delved into his initial reactions and the complex emotions that followed the shocking news.

“What he did was horrible. But it wasn’t until after he died that we found out that he had brain damage. That he wasn’t in his right mind. And anyone who knew Chris, who loved Chris, would tell you that they could feel him starting to slip. But we didn’t do anything about it,” Henry recalled. “How do you say, ‘Man, bro’s slipping a little bit. He seems a little weird, you know?'”

Henry’s reflections did not stop at personal observations. He touched on the broader context of Benoit’s deterioration, citing compounding factors and the harsh medical realities revealed post-mortem.

Advertisement

“I think Eddie (Guerrero) dying and all that, his brain just couldn’t handle it. He had the brain of an 80-year-old. Like when they did the autopsy on his brain, he had so many scars and dark spots,” Henry said. “I’m not giving him an excuse (just) because he did something for me. I’m just saying I feel sorry for him. And I know he did something wrong.”

The Hall of Famer, who was recently the subject of the A&E documentary series “WWE Legends,” previously pledged to donate his brain for CTE research.

If you use quotes from this article, please credit “Busted Open Radio” and let Wrestling Inc. know so they can transcribe it.