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Chris Candido
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As of April 28, 2005 this site runs in memory of a man I am proud to call my friend, No Gimmicks Needed Chris Candido. The images that appear on the main page of the site will remain there, and new ones will be added, as a tribute to Chris, on a regular basis. Below you will find numerous thoughts and stories that were sent to me, by various wrestlers, in the days that followed Chris' death. Anyone wishing to contribute to these pages with thoughts, pictures,
stories, etc. are welcome to email me at WresClothesline@aol.com
- Brett Schwan |
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Chris Candido's Obituary | Brett Remembers Chris | Chris Candido Bio | Wrestler Comments on Chris | Other Press/Comments | One of Chris' Final Interviews | Chris Quotes |
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Chris Candido's brother, Johnny Candido, made the following statement in regards to his brother's death. "I find it only fitting you hear the truth from me about
the death of my bestfriend, brother, and soulmate. Chris died tonight
due to a blood clot brought on by complications with his surgery.
I just want to tell everyone that in their sorrow, find a way to
be happy that he went out the way he wanted to...on top of the world,
blonde, tan, and loving life up until the last minute. Every ounce
of my brother loved this sport, and for him to go out 2 or 3 years
ago wouldn't have been a fitting end to the life of such a determined,
passionate, and benevolent human being. I truly view my brother
as an angel as will all who knew him. Thanks to everyone for all
your positive press, Chris went out a happy man and will forever
live on as the(one of) greatest of all time. He would have had it
no other way." courtesy usaprowrestling.net ------- WFS Column: Chris Candido Hello everyone. My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the Candido family for the passing of Chris Candido. I had the pleasure of first meeting Chris and Tammy Sytch several
years ago when I began wrestling for Smoky Mountain Wrestling. Some
of the best matches I had with that territory was with Chris Candido
for the SMW TV title. Remember watching Candido with Bobby Blaze
and Tracy Smothers putting on classics in the ring. Even then, watching
Chris's passion for the business was very inspirational. He was
very driven and truly enjoyed the business. It was great to see
him and Tammy again years later in WCW. Even though our paths have
went different directions over the years, I have always held Chris
and Tammy dear to me. Chris, you have and will always be an inspiration
to me. I will never forget you my friend. - The Stro ------- Sometimes it doesn't pay to sign on. I know that seems strange to say but as I sit here in shock in a Internet Cafe in Helsinki, Finland I feel a real sense of sadness. Just less then five minutes ago I had gotten an email from Fred Rubenstien with only the text "Because you are my friend, I never want to write this about you." and I couldn't understand what he was saying until a fan named Mick instant messaged me and told me about the death of Chris Candido. To those that knew Chris if there would have been a story about him dying two years ago I don't think there would have been anyone that would have been shocked. But the Chris Candido of 2005 got his life together and was making such an amazing comeback that it just doesn't seem fair that his life was taken like this. I just saw Chris in February at a USA Pro show and it was so good to talk to him and see the fire back in his eyes. You could tell that he defeated all the demons that were holding him back for the last couple years and he had a goal. Chris was always a great guy to me. From the moment I wrestled in him in my beginning days of ECW to the last time I saw him he was just one of the cool guys. A guy that even at his worst couldn't have a bad match and a guy that you had fun around. Ian Rotten even joked with me last week that I wear my towel around my waist in the locker room like Chris did. That is something that both me and Justin Credible stole from him. I will miss Chris Candido's humor, his wrestling, and the inspiration he showed to young and old wrestlers and fans that even though you are down you can make a comeback. I hope Chris is remembered for the person he was and that was a guy that loved wrestling, the boys, and the fans. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your life Chris.
You will never be forgotten. -Steve Corino ------- "I had the pleasure of meeting Chris, Tammy, and Johnny on several occasions, in many locker rooms, and god dammit I am in shock. Chris and Tammy were always a pleasure to talk to and most of all, to just listen to. Chris is in a better place right now, my condolences are with Tammy and Johnny, and the rest of his family and friends. I'm not quite sure what else to say other than rest in peace brother. The wrestling business is better because of you being a part of it, and the world itself was blessed to have you around. So here's a toast to one hell of a super guy, Chris Candido, you will absolutely be missed." - Joey Image ------- Professional wrestling has lost a friend and super-star performer
in Chris Candido. Chris was only 33 years old. He was an NWA World
Heavyweight Champion. I wrestled Chris in Japan In October of 1994.
I will never forget how he was over with the Japanese people for
his aggressive and daredevil style of wrestling. In the match, Chris
performed his specialty at the time, the hurracarana from the top
rope. It was the pop of the night for the show. They loved him as
did so many others. - Dory Funk Jr. ------- I had the honor and privilege to wrestle Chris Candido a few years ago and he was a class act all the way. He was one of the most down to earth people you'll ever meet. It's kind of weird and sad referring to him in the past tense. My family and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Candido family. Gone but not forgotten. God Bless, ------- In March of 1992 I was 17 years old and all I wanted to do was be a pro wrestler. I was at Mike Sharpes wrestling school one night traning and in walked a guy who I knew from watching the indies. He was tan, blonde, in great shape and a great wrestler, we were all in awe, he was Chris Candito. I wanted to be Chris so bad. I looked up to him so much. I watched tapes of his NWA and WWA maches and than when he went to Smokey Mountan I got those tapes also. His work was flawless and he worked so hard. Every night he worked so hard. I wanted to work with him so bad and more importantly I wanted to get to know him and get advise from him. I had the chance to do both. When you build someone up in your head so much its hard for that person to live up to it. Chris surpased both. He was always a funny positive person and in the ring he just brought it. I have asked him for advise a hundred times and he always took the time to tell me. You had to have your working boots on with him because whether there was 50 people or 5,000, Chris was stealing the show. The summer of 1999 I had the pleasure of working with Chris 5 weeks in a row. I was blow away by the matches we had. They are my favorite I have ever had. 20 minutes matches with Chris ready to go another 20. Chis was so much to all of the young guys and everyone in any locker room. We looked up to him and he was something special. We all lost a one in a million. Thank you for making me laugh and making me look like a millon bucks. I told you in the car ride back from Wildwood that you were my hero, and you didnt believe me.......Im sure you were to more than just me. All my love and support to Tammy, Balls, and the entire Candito
Family. ------- It has only been 2 days and I did not sleep last night. Chris always made me laugh, he was always happy. He is going to be missed alot. What sticks out in my mind was in his fanny pack he always carried pictures of Tammy, and I would think ....WOW they are high school sweethearts... been together for 15 years and still in love as they where when they were kids. How lucky they were to have had that kind of true love. Missy Hyatt ------- I was informed last night that another friend is gone. I tried to start writing this at the time, but was just unable to type the first word without breaking down. I thought if I slept on it that it would be a little easier
today. I was wrong. So F*** it, I have to say good bye to you Chris.
As hard as it is for me, It's just as hard or maybe harder for so
many others who have gotten to know and love you through all of
the years you have been in As I continue to wipe the tears from my face & off this
keyboard, I can only imagine the pain Tammy and the rest of your
family are feeling. I am thinking about the first time we met at
Dennis Corraluzo's show in Jersey If you haven't noticed, I am doing alot of remembering right now. Like the time I worked that guy in Clementon, NJ for Dennis & Larry Sharpe and he came off the top while I was on the floor, his bodyweight driving my head into the concrete floor damn near killing me. I don't remember a thing but he was suppose to do the job for me, so he picked me up by the "head" rolled me into the ring and somehow had me pin him as I was out cold. You all were so pissed...You threw his shit out of the building
and ran him out or something. Like I said, I don't remember anything
until waking up in the hospital. It was You and Tammy, Dennis &
Glenn Ruth I saw I can't help thinking about the show we ran in Minneapolis with Dennis. Terry Funk & Hawk, Myself & Sabu, You & Jerry Lynn, Tazz, Masa Saito. Holy shit what a line up that was & that was pre ECW days. Well I know alot of people thought Sabu & I had such a great match, but I have always said the best match on that show was without a doubt You & Jerry Lynn. Phyllis Lee was at that show. I believe that was the first time you met her. I say that because the last thing we did the other night was exchange numbers, I called yours & you answered it "Phyllis Lee Fan Club". It was funny to us. If most of the people reading this are wondering why I am rambling on so much about such things, it's because I'm writing this to you, not them. Damn, I could go on and on after nearly 15 years of knowing each other. It was good to see You and Tammy at the XPW shows a few years ago. I wasn't too good to see how bad we both were doing health wise at the time & then I came back to TNA and there you were looking fresh and excited like You did the first day I met you in New Jersey in 1991. Chris you did it. You went out with people remembering a Chris Candido at his best. Obviously we all will miss you. Please say hello to Curt, Hawk, Owen, Boss Man, Louie, Joe C., The Great Malenko (who was like a father to me), and everyone else I haven't named that you are probably standing right next to. I miss you all very much. Peace be with you. Your friend, Sean Waltman ------- Another day, the loss of another friend from the wrestling business. Shortly after that I went to USWA Memphis. When I came back
he went, or maybe visa-versa. Our paths haven't crossed a whole lot, over the last few years, but Chris would usally call 2 or 3 times a year, just seeing where the work was, or let me know about his upcoming schedule, in case I could use him on one of the NCW shows. Ironically, I got an E-Mail on Wed from Bud Carson, saying he was having Chris and Tammy in for a daytime autograph session on May 21, in Allentown. That is the same day as the next NCW show in York,Pa. Before I could work the budget out & check the rest of Chris & Tam's itinerary for that day to see if they could make the 2 hour transit, I recieved the horrific and tragic news. I would have loved to hang out with him just one more time. You will be sadly & overwhelmingly missed by the entire pro wrestling community, your family, Tammy, and everyone you've ever touched. RIP buddy, ------- Chris Candito 1972-2005 May 1, 2005 I am still coming to grips with this myself, so you will have to bear with me as I try to honour the memory of a great partner, opponent, and friend. I was lucky enough to know Chris Candito for 11 years, and some of my fondest memories in this business are of matches and time spent with him. We first met in 1994 in SMW. My wife and I lived in the same apartment complex as Chris and Tammy. We went to movies and the gym together and more importantly had some of the best times in the ring together. We were reunited again in ECW where we got to both team and feud with each other, oddly enough at the same time. We both loved being in the ring together as we both just wanted to have a great match and have fun (something I believe we managed to do each night). It was always about entertaining the crowd and more often than not the boys as well. Chris loved throwing things in to our matches just to ‘Pop the Boys’. He loved popping the boys so much that I started taking it upon myself to try to pop him and make him lose his composure during matches. I could regularly get him with my Tom Prichard/Jimmy Garvin Hair fussing routine before tying up. I obviously never had the hair for it, which made it look even more ridiculous, and Chris would usually have to rush the tie up to help cover up his laughing. My crowning moment was the night we did a mix tag match at the ECW Arena with Tammy and Dawn. I did the ring announcing for our match and laid into them pretty stiff. I cleared everything with them ahead of time, except one line, which I knew would pop him. I introduced him hailing from ‘His mother-in-law’s house in Spring Lake, NJ’. Chris actually had to turn and bury his face in his arm on the top turnbuckle he was laughing so hard. Chris actually was living at his Mother-in-Law’s house, which sounds worse than it really was. She had this huge home and both Chris and Tammy were always on the road, it made senses but sounded bad, which is why I used it in the introduction. Nothing was off limits with Chris and I. It was always about having fun. The day we won the ECW Tag Team Titles he started just calling me partner. At first I thought it was because we were a tag team at the time, but the title stuck and I realized it meant more than that. We covered a lot of ground he and I and when it came to this business and being in that ring, we just fit, we were partners. One of my favourite times in this business, and I’d like to think one of his as well, was the time we were ECW Tag Team Champions and feuding with each other. We pulled double duty every night, defending the Tag Titles, and then going straight into a singles match. A lot of people in the business would have looked at that program as a nightmare, but we loved it and saw it as the best of both worlds. We got to tag and wrestle each other, what could be better than that? While we drifted in and out of touch over the years we remained close, we remained partners. I don’t think anyone outside the business can understand this but it’s true. We went likely 5 years without seeing each other before our last meeting her in OVW. When I walked into the Davis Arena and saw him, our faces lit up, we hugged, and he called me partner. We sat around the whole day telling stories and laughing at all the good times we had as if we had seen each other yesturday. Chris once said to me, “I need to work with you the rest of my life.” I took this as a huge compliment knowing that he meant because it was always, fun, easy, and safe. I’ve never forgot him saying that to me, and it always brought a smile to me face because it reminded me of him and how much fun we had in the ring together. I just never figured ‘the rest of his life’ would be so short. I will remember that line till it’s my turn to join him, but I’m afraid it will never again bring a smile to my face. I will miss you my friend, and remember you fondly. You loved this business more than anyone I know and it will remember you for your great contributions. Lance Storm ------- May 2, 2005
In Memory of Chris Candido - Friends remember Candido
I had the tremendous good fortune to meet Chris and Tamara when I briefly worked with Vince McMahon in what was then the WWF, as a member of the creative team. (Upon learning of Chris’s passing, and wanting to just express my admiration for him, I am at a loss to use any other format than the one in which I experienced him-----pro-wrestling----which is such a ‘limited’ way to attempt to eulogize his life. But, that is all I have.)
Most of my career was ‘old school’ in the pro-wrestling world, but the same basics that ‘worked’ then, were still what I most admired of those ‘newcomers’ who ‘loved the business’ and would ‘do anything within their ability’ to contribute and make it better. I related to those who reflected ‘that attitude’----and thus to Sunny & Skip-----but more, to their hearts as people reflected.
Chris and Tamara, or Sunny and Skip as I knew them with their ‘ring character’ were truly a ‘chips off that old block’------and so, like a bright ray of sunshine that penetrated the darkness!
Their hearts were always open and upbeat-----and I felt they treated me with such ‘respect’----and that ‘they loved the business’-----so that, I looked forward to working with them. Whatever scenario in which they were participating, they would first of all, try to contribute suggestions that would ‘make it better’ and also, would give it 100% of their efforts selflessly-----making the ‘big picture’ of what they were projecting more complete and worthwhile. Their hearts were totally dedicated to this endeavor.
If ‘attitude is everything’----and, I believe it is key-----then truly, ‘they were everything’ that one could desire to have the privilege to work with. I was so privileged for a very short----way too short----nanosecond of time. That they so impressed me is testimony to their hearts and character----their attitudes.
So, in this eulogy, if Chris’s heart can be most remembered as it is in my heart, then truly, he has touched someone’s life-----as we all can do. For Tamara, going forward, as my good friend Jim “George the Animal” Steele just told her this morning as we spoke------‘going forward she had to live her life for both of them!’ That is a statement that could be ‘overwhelming’ or ‘empowering’----he meant it to be ‘empowering.’ I am sure Chris would want her to reflect the love they have as a beacon for others.
As my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ has accepted me in spite of all the rags of my flesh with His unconditional love, which for years and years I thought I had lost----and that I was not worthy of His love----but then, He illuminated for me His merciful grace, which surpasses all understanding, and can overcome any sin or behavior----and has allowed me to ‘fully accept His free gift of eternal salvation’-----His love-----and has ‘empowered me’ to ‘reflect His love’ to others-----it was His leading that allowed me to follow-up and write this letter (and to locate Tamara and call her today.)
May each of you who read this, consider your life, and your ‘eternal position’----and how ‘your life’s testimony’ can ‘affect others’ just as Chris’s life has-----so that your life also continues to ‘empower others.’
Chris will be missed------but I will remember him for his smile and his heart-----and for the brief time our lives crossed paths----until I see him in heaven.
Sincerely,
Cowboy Bill Watts ------- I got the honor of working a lot with Chris these past few months and he would always take the time to watch my match and talk to me after about them. I know everyone in the wrestling world has been touched by Chris and today we have lost a great member of the wrestling community and a big loss to our wrestling family... Chris, you will be missed, but your memory will go on forever. Thank you for the laughs, the stories, and your talent... God Bless you Chris Candido and thank you for becoming a wrestler and entertaining us all these years. - Traci Brooks ------- He would wrestle, entertain, and make you laugh for the next 20-30 minutes. He never cared about winning or losing, he only wanted people to be entertained. He wasn't interested in critics' reviews or what the internet had to say. He only cared about having the best, most entertaining match he could possibly have. He would do it in front of the family-style crowds of the NWS. He would do it in front of the smart mark crowds of USA Pro/UXW. He would do it in front of national television audiences in ECW, WWF, WCW, and TNA. He would do it in front of crowds who knew him and those that did not. He did it every single time he wrestled and for that, anyone who wrestled him was honored. Anyone who saw him perform was lucky. Anyone who knew him was truly blessed. I was lucky to have been all three. That's the affect Chris had on people. He truly was a "great worker," a "professional wrestler," but most importantly, one heck of a human being. - Pat "Simon Diamond" Kenney ------- In my opinion, the greatest shame of this tragedy is that Chris Candido was one of the people in this business who recognized and identified his demons and addressed them before it was too late, only to be taken away from us far too soon. He overcame his demons and beat his demons. I saw Chris in Puerto Rico at times when he was battling those demons, but when I first saw him when he debuted in TNA several months ago, I could not believe it! Chris lost weight, got back into shape, refocused his attention to wrestling and working, and most importantly, Chris had beaten those demons that had touched his life. That is the mark of a true man and a "real" champion. Chris was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to me as well as many in wrestling today and tomorrow. - Chris "Abyss" Parks ------- My thoughts and prayers go out to Tammy, his family, and his close friends. I didn't know Chris very well before TNA, but in the short time I knew him I didn't realize how funny, well-respected, and what an all-around good person he was. Not only did I become a friend, I became a fan of his personality and his work. In the locker room, no matter what kind of mood you were in, he always found a way to make you laugh or smile. Chris, you made your family and friends proud because you changed your life for the better. I know you're in heaven smiling down at us… we miss you and we'll see you soon. Take care buddy. - Sonny Siaki ------- Like Brett Schwan, I first met Chris and Tammy back at the John
Arezzi convention. I was the "kid" that was hired by John
to take the pictures for any fans who wanted a snapshot with the
Dynamic Duo of Smokey Mountain Wrestling. Sitting with both of these
fine people that day was truly a divine appointment. Let me explain. ------- ------- NWA NJ & NY Mourn Chris Candido We would talk with Chris before the shows we worked together. His life was complex at times. A variety of issues that he ultimately conquered. Different types of pain that he lived with and overcame. A courage that is exemplary. A commitment that was synonymous with his excellence. A person’s greatness is not measured by position or bank balance. It is not measured by a statue in a park or having a building named in one’s memory. Rather, it is measured by the smiles that come to the faces of those who can reflect on the moments of happiness and friendship they shared with you. The theatrical world of wrestling aside, Chris Candido stood and will stand as a giant in the memories of those who were privileged to know him. BANDIDO, ORLANDO & FRED ------- The following comes courtesy of Bambi Weavil and CandidoOnline.com C.M. PUNK’S TRIBUTE TO CHRIS CANDIDO “No Amount Of Blood Was Going To Stop Me Tonight” C.M. Punk’s First singles match with Chris Candido was supposed to take place during the first week of January 2005 for IWA Mid-South. Both Punk and Candido had been looking forward to that bout. They had squared off several times before in tag team and three-way matches and were eager to step into the ring for a one-on-one showdown. For Candido, it was to be another step back in a long personal comeback after his career was nearly derailed by drug abuse and other personal demons, a match against a fellow student of the game who was making a name for himself by wrestling intense one-hour contests. For Punk, it was a chance to face a wrestler he grew up watching and admiring—all the way back to Candido’s days in Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling more than a decade ago. For both men, it was something of a dream match. Each saw a little of himself in the other. But the match never happened. For a variety of reasons, that one-on-one encounter had to be rescheduled four times. It had finally been set—they thought—for May 6, but then it had to be postponed once again when Candido suffered a broken leg at TNA’s Lockdown pay-per-view on April 24. “I talked to Chris on the phone in the hospital after he broke his leg, and he was still talking about going through with the match,” Punk said. “I told him to get his rest and heal up, and that there was plenty of time to have our singles match.” Candido’s sudden death stunned the wrestling community. He
died on April 28 from a blood clot following complications from
surgery on the leg, eight days before that scheduled singles match
with Punk. Candido’s passing weighed heavily on Punk’s
mind on May 7, as he prepared to face Jimmy Rave in a dog-collar
match for Ring of Honor. The match was held in the Grand Ballroom of Manhattan’s New Yorker Hotel—ROH’s grand debut in the Big Apple—and the card opened with a somber 10-bell salute to Candido. When it was time for the dog-collar match, Punk emerged from the locker room wearing a Candido T-shirt and flashed Candido’s old ECW Triple Threat hand signal on his way to the ring. Rave and Nana tried to pull a bait-and-switch, as Rave feigned a stomach illness and tried to get Punk to agree to face Mike Kruel as a substitute, but Punk saw through the diversion and caught Rave as he attempted to sneak-attack the Second City Saint. Punk and Rave tumbled to the floor, with Punk brutalizing Rave with the chain all over the ringside area. But Rave turned the match in his favor by using the chain to pull Punk face-first into a steel cornerpost, opening a horrific gash on Punk’s forehead. Within minutes, blood was pouring down Punk’s face, turning his blond hair a sickening shade of crimson. “I was bleeding like a pig,” Punk said as he received medical attention in the locker room after the match. “It was sort of surreal. I remember laughing at one point because there was just blood everywhere. I had never seen so much blood, and it was my own.” But even in the midst of the carnage, Punk couldn’t get Candido out of his mind. “I wanted to dedicate that match to Chris, and no amount of blood was going to stop me tonight. No matter what happened, I wanted the match to go on, and it did.” Punk endured a savage beating from Rave and somehow managed to come back, flooring Rave with a pair of stiff power bombs onto the chain. Sensing defeat, Prince Nana ordered The Embassy into the ring, but Punk battled back valiantly. Unfortunately, the numbers game proved to be too much for Punk, who had lost pints of plasma and was reeling on legs that must have felt like angel hair pasta. Rave took full advantage of the interference and the no-DQ rules of the dog-collar match by grabbing a chair and smashing it into Punk’s skull with a nauseating thud. Several times, Rave brought the steel chair crashing into Punk’s head as he slumped helplessly on the mat. Finally, Rave made the cover and scored the win. Incredibly, The Embassy tried to attack Punk more after the match, only to be run off by a contingent of ROH fan favorites led by Punk’s tag team partner, Colt Cabana. Somehow, Punk struggled to his feet and acknowledged the crowd through a veil of blood, earning a standing ovation from the ROH faithful. Some fans were saying Punk’s performance was reminiscent of Mick Foley, a comparison Punk would respectfully accept. But on this particular night, he was honoring another hardcore hero who was even closer to his heart. Somewhere, Chris Candido was smiling down on him. ------- Whew. I've really never spoken publically regarding Chris' death.
I referred to Chris as my brother from another mother. He's the
brother I always wanted. My time spent with Tammy & Chris on
the road, working shows, practically living with them (with my husband
always wondering if I was ever going to come home!) I will cherish
forever. Here are the pics from Tracii's MySpace Page. Thank you to Tracii for sharing them, and her memories with us.
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