Wrestler Chris Candido Passes Away

[Andy Mancini]

From TNAwrestling.com: (http://www.tnawrestling.com/news/2005/4/29/newscandido.html)

CHRIS CANDIDO
1972 – 2005

TNA Wrestling joins the entire wrestling world in mourning the untimely death of Chris Candido on Thursday night.

TNA is deeply devastated by the loss of Chris, who touched the lives of millions of fans around the world during his successful career.

We hope everyone will keep Candido’s friends and family in their thoughts and prayers as we say goodbye to a friend

TNAwrestling.com will post a statement from Candido's family as soon as possible
Wow... didn't see that one coming...

[EinBebop]

http://jon.everperfect.com/images/candidopose.jpg

WCW Cruiserweight Champion
WWF Tag Team Champion
Two-time ECW Tag Team Champion


CHRIS CANDIDO PASSES AWAY
By: Bob Ryder
4/29/2005 12:31:56 AM

Chris Candido passed away Thursday night after collapsing earlier in the evening and being rushed to a hospital by ambulance. The cause of death is unknown at this time.

Candido had suffered a serious ankle injury at the Lockdown pay-per-view on Sunday and had surgery to repair the injury on Monday evening. Candido appeared at TNA's iMPACT taping on Tuesday night in Orlando just hours after being released from the hospital.

Here is a post from Candido's brother on the incident:


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.

Johnny Candido



http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/c/chriscandido/12.jpg


Chris Candido began his career in 1990 in the WWA, which later became known as Smokey Mountain Wrestling. He was a big hit, and became even bigger when he took on Tammy Sytch, a regular at the Smoky Mountain shows, on as his manager. Candido held every title in Smoky Mountain, including the heavyweight title.

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/b/bodydonnas/03.jpg


He caught the attention of WWF, and both he and Tammy were brought in as Sunny and Skip - The Bodydonnas in 1995. They spent the year at the bottom of the card, until the WWF brought in 'Zip' Bodydonna to form them into a tag team. Skip and Zip won the WWF Tag Team Titles from the Godwinns on the Wrestlemania pre-show. They lost the titles to the Smoking Gunns in May, along with Sunny. Sunny turned on the Bodydonnas and joined the Smoking Gunns. Sunny shot off into stardom as top WWF 'diva' before there was such a turn, and was supposedly the most downloaded lady on the Internet for a year or so. Skip and Zip slowly vanished. By the end of the 1996, Candido bailed and went to ECW. He teamed up with Lance Storm and won the ECW tag titles from Furnas and Lafon. Candido was also part of the 'Triple Threat' with Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow.

http://www.obsessedwithwrestling.com/pictures/c/chriscandido/09.jpg

Tammy Sytch eventually left the WWF and sank into drug problems, and Candido was not faring much better. He all but vanished until resurfacing in WCW in 2000. He had a run as cruiserweight champion, and even brought Tammy in eventually. But drug paraphanalia was found in their dressing room and they were given the boot.

The two drifted the independents and made quite a reputation for themselves. Chris, for his part, apparently cleaned up his act and managed to get himself hired into TNA back in January. Candido was making a solid mark for himself again, both as wrestler and manager.

http://www.tnawrestling.com/superstars/candido/live/4.jpg

His last match was this past Sunday at the Lockdown PPV where he was a last minute substitute for Kid Kash, teaming with Lance Hoyt against Sonny Siaki and Apollo in a 'Six Sides of Steel' match. Candido broke his leg a couple minutes into the match and had to be removed.

Candido had surgery on the ankle on Monday, and still showed up on Tuesday to manage FROM A WHEELCHAIR. The next three weeks of television were taped, including a match involving The Naturals, whom Candido manages, against America's Most Wanted for the NWA World Tag Team Titles. It is unknown if TNA will still air pre-taped segments with Candido.

[EinBebop]

For my part, I took an instant liking to Skip and Sunny when I first saw them, and predicted that Skip would be Intercontinental Champion within a year.

Okay, Nostradamus I ain't. But I thought he had a lot of potential, and it's a shame that drugs kept him from reaching it. It's even sadder to hear of tragedy striking someone who after years of drifting was finally getting his life on track.

[Spike Mcdougal]

Word is coming down now that he got a staph infection after the surgery and that killed him

Always a shame when a wrestler dies

[Andy Mancini]

The following is from Candido's brother, Johnny, on the message board:UXW (http://www.usaprowrestling.net/) message board:

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.
Not to get all philosophical or anything, but I really think that this comes down to the fact that it was simply his time. This couldn't be just a random string of events.

[VCXZX]

This is very surprising and sad. But in this business, nothing is really that surprising. Wrestlers die prematurely a lot, more so than any other sport.

I hope Tammy doesn't suffer another relapse because of this.

My thoughts go to Chris' family and friends.

[Sigma]

This is truely sad news. I've been a fan of Chris Candido for years now and as you all know im a huge TNA fan. Candido had made a great comeback in TNA and he was looking in great shape. He was a man who was very passionate about the business and it was really very bizarre how this whole thing came together. Originally Candido wasn't even scheduled to wrestle at the Lockdown PPV and it was just Apolo and Hoyt, one on one, but at the last minute Candido and Siaki were put into the match as well. Of course most of you already know that during the match Candido suffered an injury to his ankle.

This all makes me lean towards the story of his ankle having a blood clot because I don't think Candido would fall back into drugs like he had in the past because everything was still going good for him and TNA paid for his surgery and continued using him on Impact. Candido was the kind of guy who touched everyone who know him be it personal, professional, or just a fan in the crowd.

Rest in Peace
Chris Candido
1972 - 2005

[Zero-V]

Horriifc, sad news, complications from something like this do happen often, but it's very rare to see a great wrestler and a competent, legendary performer like Candido die from an accident, and not a drugs overdose, and please take note that Chris had his share of crack in the WWF.

He never got his due in that company, buried by lowlifes like Shawn Micheals and others, in TNA, he seemed very comfortable as a managerial werestler, and was helping to elevate The Naturals and have them noticed

Wrestling fans mourn the death of Chris Candido, a competent performer, for ANY competent promotion.

[Jaguar]

That is just horrendous. :( I totally didn't expect to see that. But I guess that's just how it is...

[Robin2099]

Wow, talk about a surprise. I remember seeing Candido and Tammy at an IWA Midsouth show, and was depressed at how far they had fallen because of there "personal demons". Candido is another example of a guy who really, never got anywhere in the wrestling business despite the fact that he had a lot of talent, which was a shame it never showed through in WWE. What made me really enjoy Candido though was his time in ECW has part of the tripple threat, and his teaming with Lance Storm. That was probabbly the best thing for Candido's legacy since if it wasn't for Heyman's booking in ECW, he would of just been known as that guy with an awful gimmick like the Red Roster. RIP Chris, sorry that this happend once you got your life back together and got a second chance.

[sag_2002]

As with the rest of you, I am surprised and saddened by this loss.

RIP, Chris.

[Djm912]

The worst part of all of this is that Candido was only 33. :(

You can't help but feel bad for Tammy Sytch right now. As if she and Chris didn't have enough to deal with thanks to the wrestling business.

[EinBebop]

Indeed. For all of Chris and Tammy's problems, they always stuck together. Whatever they had together was real, and I can't even imagine how she must be feeling right now.

[Sigma]

Horriifc, sad news, complications from something like this do happen often, but it's very rare to see a great wrestler and a competent, legendary performer like Candido die from an accident, and not a drugs overdose, and please take note that Chris had his share of crack in the WWF.

He never got his due in that company, buried by lowlifes like Shawn Micheals and others, in TNA, he seemed very comfortable as a managerial werestler, and was helping to elevate The Naturals and have them noticed

Wrestling fans mourn the death of Chris Candido, a competent performer, for ANY competent promotion. Shawn Micheals is no lowlife by any means.

Im watching Impact right now and seeing Candido come out the ring and talk on the mic seriously brings a tear to my eye. Candido was never my favorite wrestler, but I always liked the guy and I had a great deal of respect for the man for how he had turned his life around and gotten his career back in the right direction.

[Andy Mancini]

I'm watching Impact right now and seeing Candido come out the ring and talk on the mic seriously brings a tear to my eye.
Yeah... I was a tad creeped out though. I mean, most of "Impact," especially the main event, was based around him.

[Sigma]

Yeah... I was a tad creeped out though. I mean, most of "Impact," especially the main event, was based around him. Seeing Candido hold those tag-titles at the end was a beautiful thing, but it was hard to watch without sheding a tear.

[Zero-V]

Shawn Micheals is no lowlife by any means.
Great peformer? Sure, pure scum before finding religion? Damn straight, I don't expect you to agree though, most biased, loyal Micheals marks see this guy that can do no wrong, tough, he DID do wrong on numerous occasions, and hiding behind religion does'nt change that.

[EinBebop]

Odd. I just tried to watch my Tivo'd TNA, and my Fox Sports channel showed last week's episode instead. Since there was Mucho Candido in last weeks episode as well, I'm assuming it was a mistake.

I found another Fox Sports channel that I get is showing it next hour, so I've got the Tivo set to try again.

In other news, check out this interview with Candido (http://www.tnawrestling.com/interact/interviews/2005/2/candido/candido.html), done shortly after he arrived in TNA.

What’s been the highpoint of your career thus far? What’s something you’ve done in wrestling that you consider a personal accomplishment that you take to heart?

Obviously, winning the WWF World Tag Team Title at a WrestleMania with Dr. Tom Prichard (as The BodyDonnas) who was a best friend and mentor to me. That was fantastic. Getting to be with Shane Douglas and Bam Bam Bigelow in ECW as the Triple Threat was great, because they’re my two closest friends. But one of the coolest things I ever got to do was something that happened behind the scenes that no one ever knew I was involved with.... [READ THE INTERVIEW] (http://www.tnawrestling.com/interact/interviews/2005/2/candido/candido.html)

[NozeNuggets]

All right, trivia time: Who is Zip the BodyDonna better known as? First right answer gets...NOTHING!

[Sigma]

All right, trivia time: Who is Zip the BodyDonna better known as? First right answer gets...NOTHING! Tom Prichard

Great peformer? Sure, pure scum before finding religion? Damn straight, I don't expect you to agree though, most biased, loyal Micheals marks see this guy that can do no wrong, tough, he DID do wrong on numerous occasions, and hiding behind religion does'nt change that. Shawn did alot of wrong things in his time, but so have alot of other people in the wrestling business and Shawn was only looking out for his own best interest throughout the majority of his career so he really didn't care who he had to screw over to get himself over. Despite that Shawn Michaels is not scum, scum would be someone like Jake Roberts or Sean Waltman.

[Frank Castle]

I've never been of big fan of Candido but he had some amazing in-ring ability and will be missed.

[Sailor Chibi Otaku]

I remember The Bodydonnas.

Never remembered him going solo after (maybe he went solo after I gave up on wrestling).

[Patrick Bateman]

It's always sad when someone so young passes away, and we as wrestling fans see it an awful lot.

I remember matches Candido had with Lance Storm, and Chris Benoit, and Rob Van Dam, and how great they were. He was a true credit to pure physical wrestling. Speaking of Storm, I'm saddened to think of his next online commentary. He's always spoken incredibly highly of Candido.

Condolences to his family and friends.

[RAINMAN]

Great peformer? Sure, pure scum before finding religion? Damn straight, I don't expect you to agree though, most biased, loyal Micheals marks see this guy that can do no wrong, tough, he DID do wrong on numerous occasions, and hiding behind religion does'nt change that.


Nobody gonna forgit survile series 97 anytime soon. But you can`t blame shawn for chris not making big in the WWE. Their could be other reason why he didn`t make big in WWE. Atleast he was not kidmen relaying on his wife being eye candy to keep a job.