By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Michael Benoit, the father of deceased former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, sent a letter to the Hartford Courant newspaper asking readers not to vote for former WWE CEO Linda McMahon in the Connecticut Senate race.

"The McMahons have steadfastly held that wrestlers are just independent contractors and not entitled to health care benefits, pensions or unionization to represent their best interests," Michael Benoit said.

"This is how Linda McMahon made the money she uses for her Senate race. This is how she ran her business. This is the true character behind the fancy, Hollywood advertisements. I pray the people of Connecticut do not allow her to buy her way into the world's most distinguished legislative body."

Michael identified changes in WWE's product over the years that led to increased violence in the ring during the Attitude Era. He placed the blame on WWE management, which was headed up by Linda McMahon until her resignation last year, for placing wrestlers at higher risk to sustain injuries, especially to the head.

After Chris Benoit's double-murder suicide, Chris was identified as having severe head trauma from years of physical abuse in the ring. Chris continued to use the top-rope diving headbutt at-will during his career, but untreated concussions reportedly contributed to his deteriorating physical condition.

Said Michael Benoit: "Most people view wrestling as fake and the McMahon family pushed that theory to avoid regulation. But in its lust for higher ratings and dollars, WWE began demanding that performers use more weapons and dangerous stunts in wrestling matches. Although matches are rigged and scripted, the harsh physical abuse in the form of blunt force steel chair shots to the head and power bombs through tables onto cement floors are real. I believe that this change in the industry is responsible for the majority of deaths it experienced in the last 20 years."

Following Benoit's death and the news on his mental condition, WWE added concussion testing to their Wellness Policy. Michael Benoit identified former WWE wrestler Andrew "Test" Martin as another example of a wrestler dying young and postmortem tests revealing undetected brain damage. Michael says he tried to contact WWE to inform them of the research, but he claims they avoided the topic.

"WWE and Linda McMahon evade any responsibility for the early deaths that their industry suffers at an astronomical rate. After the Martin tests were completed, I sought to educate the McMahons about the scientific findings on brain trauma and how their wrestling stunts could cause this serious and fatal health issue. They were having none of it," Michael said.

"It was clear, the McMahons were more interested in making hundreds of millions of dollars at the expense of these wrestlers, whom they regard as little more than circus animals to be ridden until their value expires."

Caldwell's Analysis: Michael Benoit is making a passionate plea to potential voters in Connecticut, so it will be interesting to see if this has any effect on voting. With this race, you never know what will or will not affect voters, as Linda McMahon's campaign has put together a strong sales pitch trying to present her as a strong businesswoman bringing change to Connecticut.

As for how McMahon's camp would respond to Michael's letter, they would assuredly say something along the lines of "Chris Benoit was a troubled man who acted independent of his physical condition." That has more or less been WWE's canned response when this topic has come up since the double-murder suicide in June 2007.

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