Even More On A WWE Creative Team Firing, Benoit Case, More

Partial Source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • We've been covering the story about the recent release of longtime WWE creative team member Dave Lagana. Lagana was fired on January 25th, while he was on vacation. He had been writing ECW television since Paul Heyman's departure.

    A one-sentence email was sent to WWE employees informing them of Lagana's release. When previous creative team members have been let go, WWE has thanked them for their service, acknowledged their contributions and wished them well. There was nothing of the sort for Lagana and the company email was said to be "cold".

    While there were rumors that Lagana's release was a result of him leaking news to the wrestling news media, sources close to the situation have stated that his release was not because of news leaking but actually regarding Lagana's behavior. While the sources were not willing to elaborate further, Lagana has been on thin ice for quite some time with a number of people.

    Several wrestlers have complained about Lagana's behavior. Recently the Undertaker received a complaint from a wrestler about Lagana and this time, the company took action.

    Dave Lagana is said to be devastated about his release. He loved working for WWE and was really counting on long-term job security there. He admired Howard Finkle's position as somebody who was a loyal company man with a "job for life".

  • The Associated Press released the following article this afternoon: FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. The Fayette County Sheriff's Office in Georgia says it has closed its investigation of the killings at pro wrestler Chris Benoit's home last June. The department says that investigators stand by the initial conclusion that the Canadian-born Benoit killed his wife and seven-year-old son and then himself in their suburban Atlanta home. A statement issued by the Sheriff's office today said there is no evidence that anyone else was involved. Authorities have said Benoit, 40, strangled his wife with a cord and used a choke hold to strangle his son. He then hanged himself on a piece of exercise equipment the weekend of June 22, 2007, in their Fayetteville home. Benoit, who was born in Montreal and grew up in Edmonton, became WWE's world champion in 2004. He began his career in 1985 training with the Hart family in Calgary and competed professionally for the western Canadian-based Stampede Wrestling. A medical examiner was unable to say if steroids played a role in the killings, though suspicions linking steroid use to the killings have lingered. Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home and tests showed Benoit had roughly 10 times the normal level of testosterone in his system. Benoit's personal doctor, Phil Astin, faces federal charges of improperly prescribing medication to two patients other than Benoit. More charges are expected. Authorities have said Astin prescribed a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids to Benoit every three to four weeks for a year leading up to the killings.
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