Chris Candido verstorben

[Nefercheperur]

Chris Candido passes away - 1972-2005
April 29, 2005

World Wrestling Entertainment is saddened by the passing of Chris Candido.

Chris appeared in WWE as Skip of the Bodydonnas in the mid 1990s. He also
competed for ECW and WCW, and held both the WWE and ECW World Tag Team
titles and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship. He was an amazing athlete and
a gifted performer, and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and
friends.

[Sidewalker]

Eine unglaubliche Geste von Seiten der WWE. Ist ja immerhin schon etwas länger her, dass Candido im Dienste der WWE stand. Vor allem, da er ja jetzt vor seinem Tod TNAW Wrestler war.

[DiViNo]

Echt traurig das Ganze,mein Beileid an seine Verwandten und Bekannten

RIP Chris Candido

[Nefercheperur]

-Die Totenwache fuer Chris Candido wird am naechsten Montag denn 2 May von 2 bis 4pm in Wall Township, New Jersey stattfinden. Die Beerdigung findet am darauffolgenden Dienstag denn 3 May um 9:30am in der Catherine Church in Spring Lake, New Jersey statt

-Die UXW (USA Pro Wrestling) hat nun eine E-Mail Adresse eingerichtet fuer diejenigen die Tammy Lynn Sytch und ihrer Familie ihr Beileid bekunden wollen: candidomemorial@aol.com

Ausserdem wird die UXW am 21 May in Long Island, New York eine Chris Candido Memorial Show abhalten. Die Einnahmen der Show werden Tammy Lynn Sytch zukommen. Wer Tammy Lynn Sytch selber Geld zukommen lassen will kann dies durch Paypal unter folgender Adresse tun candidomemorial@aol.com

Wer ueber denn Postweg Tammy Lynn Sytch erreichen will, kann dies unter folgender Adresse tun, jeder Brief wird Tammy Lynn Sytch am 21 May ueberreicht werden.

UXW Wrestling
c/o Tammy Sytch
PO Box 140573
Howard Beach, NY 11414-0573

[Nefercheperur]

JAPW
The Stars, Staff and Management of Jersey All-Pro Wrestling join the wrestling community in mourning the untimely death of Chris Candido.

Chris was a one of a kind in the wrestling business, and his loss is even more tragic after the efforts he has made in recent times in getting himself back in peak condition as he moved himself back up the long ladder that is the Wrestling Business. We are proud of his last ECW arena match with JAPW at last month's Caged Fury, and the "Welcome Back" chants that the Fans greeted him with were truly sincere. It was a great match that will be always remembered by those of us here at JAPW. He will be deeply missed.

Our thoughts go out to Tammy and the Candido family during this difficult time.


NWA Oklahoma
I just wanted to pass on to the Tammy and the Candido family that they are in our thoughts and prayers here at NWA Universal (Oklahoma). We brought Chris in for a show back in September of
2004 in Broken Arrow, OK to work with his friend and our old UWF wrestler Michael "Thunderbolt"
Norton. I remember getting a call from our booker Doug Cook saying Thunderbolt had wanted to
come work for us and could bring Chris Candido in as well. To be very honest, I went round and round
with Doug about those stories of the "past" and was very hesitant in bringing Chris in. But once Chris and I spoke on the phone I had a sense he was on the road to a new start. Needless to say when TBolt and Chris arrived in Broken Arrow on 9/25/04 I witnessed a true PROFESSIONAL who was willing and ready to do whatever was needed to put the promotion over. His constant smile and
his willingness to give advice to the other younger workers was something you just don't see anymore. It seemed like there was no stopping Chris Candido and his new rise to the top, with the NWA and TNA push. I still cannot believe he is gone, Rest in Peace my friend.

Christopher Fox and the entire staff, roster of NWA Universal.

[Nefercheperur]

Trinity
I am at a loss for words. I still can't believe he is gone. I have always knew of Chris Candido and actually met him when I first came into the business, it was a brief encounter, where I got to meet and talk with both Chris and Tammy. I was honored to be in the locker room with them both and felt so privileged to have been able to talk a little with them about the business. But, it wasn't until Chris came to TNA that I really got to meet him and sit with him around the locker room, on the bus, and at lunches and dinners with him and others to hear great stories and laugh with him. He was such a pleasure to be around. His smile and wonderful demeanor is something that made me feel so comforted at work. He was always so nice to everyone in the locker room and around the building. I still always felt somewhat intimidated, yet so fortunate to be around such greatness in a company and a business that I've only been in for a short time. Getting to see him on a weekly basis starts to feel like you are all part of a family. I feel very blessed to have had the chance to meet Chris Candido and to have worked with him. I will miss him.
I will miss you, Thank you for being you, God Bless.
Trinity


Diamond Dallas Page
The first thing I did
was call Bob Ryder to confirm it wasn't a mistake and then aI called
Dusty who was as shocked as I was... Chris was a fellow Jersey boy and
I can't believe he is gone... he was a good guy with a huge heart and
truly loved our business... I was so proud of him for kicking the drugs
and finally putting it all behind him... I feel terrible for him and
his family...

Dory Funk Jr
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.
Photos of Chris Candido are at http://www.dory-funk.com .
Thanks to Masa and The Claw for photos.

[Nefercheperur]

Ich glaube Sonny Siaki ist momentan derjenige der sich am meisten vorwuerfe macht.

" My thoughts and prayers goes out to Tammy, his family and close friends. I didn't know Chris very well before TNA but in the short time i've known him i didn't realized how funny, well respected and all around good person he was and not only did i become a friend, i became a fan of his personality and 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 change your life for the better. I know you're in heaven smiling down on us, we miss you and we'll see you soon. Take care buddy."

Sonny Siaki

[Nefercheperur]

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
our sport. 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
back in 1991. What were we? I guess 19 at the time. I remember how excited
about wrestling we were back then & I remember how you were just as excited
about wrestling & life when I saw you for the last time at the hotel in
Orlando Tuesday night. 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
standing over me. 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 fist 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

[Nefercheperur]

Wrestler remembered as man who loved life
Shore resident Christopher B. Candito, 33, died Thursday in hospital
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/30/05
By CAROL GORGA WILLIAMS
COASTAL MONMOUTH BUREAU

MATAWAN — Christopher B. Candito, a well-known professional wrestler and longtime Shore resident who died Thursday from what his brother called complications from surgery, was remembered Friday as a man who loved life and loved wrestling more.

Candito, who wrestled under the name Chris Candido, died at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, and had earned many wrestling accolades over his life, including the National Wrestling Alliance World Title.

Born in Edison, Candito, 33, had lived in Spring Lake until moving to Matawan 10 years ago. He attended H.W. Mountz Grammar School in Spring Lake, Red Bank Catholic High School and the University of Tennessee.

He had been wrestling competitively since he was 14, according to information provided by the funeral home handling arrangements for his memorial.

Candito is survived by his wife, Tamara Sytch, his parents, two sisters and a brother, Jonathan, who also wrestles professionally.

According to an e-mail posted on USAProWrestling.net, his "best friend, brother and soul mate" died from a blood clot brought on by complications from 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 — blond, tan and loving life up until the last minute . . . Chris went out a happy man and will forever live on as the. . . greatest of all time. He would have had it no other way."

Candito's funeral is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Catharine's Roman Catholic Church, Spring Lake. The wake will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the O'Brien Funeral Home, Route 35 at New Belford Road, Wall. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to the Christopher B. Candito Foundation, in care of the Bank of New York, 1310 3rd Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762. The donations will go toward establishing a scholarship to benefit a student at the H.W. Mountz Grammar School.

Joe Panzarino, promoter for the independent wrestling organization, National Wrestling Superstars, which is based in Hazlet and Stafford townships, said Candito would receive a 10-bell salute Friday at a match in Middletown. Participants also would wear black arm bands.

An event Saturday in South Toms River will be renamed in honor of Candito.

"As long as I'm promoting it, I'm going to try to keep his memory alive," Panzarino said. Candito was "probably the most consummate professional in the independent wrestling circuit over the last two years." Panzarino said Candito's death "is a tragic loss to the industry."

Candito was supposed to be at the Middletown event Friday to watch his brother perform, Panzarino said.

"We're all at a loss for words," he said. "The industry has lost an absolute gem. He will be very, very dearly missed on every aspect of professional wrestling."

Candito's attendance at his brother's match was typical of him, Panzarino said. He always had time to explain nuances or impart advice to other wrestlers.

"He was a great teacher," Panzarino said.

Panzarino also said Candito was a natural wrestler.

"There are people who are natural actors, natural comedians. He made it look easy," he said. "I think Chris loved performing for the fans. Chris has a twinkle in his eye. He had a way of relating to fans. He loved every aspect of it. He loved making people smile."

Candito was so versatile that he could play the hero as well as the heel in the ring, though he leaned toward the heel in his ever-changing, on-stage persona, Panzarino said.

"He was a heel but he was not a terrible heel," Panzarino said. "He was a heel you could love."

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...004/NEWS01

[Nefercheperur]

CHRISTOPHER B. CANDITO, 33, of MATAWAN
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/30/05

CHRISTOPHER B. CANDITO, 33, of MATAWAN, and a longtime resident of Spring Lake, died suddenly on Thursday, April 28, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Chris was a professional wrestler for many years. His family wrote of Chris: "Chris Candito will be regarded as one of, if not the best professional wrestler in the history of the sport. He held more titles than can be counted, including the WWE Tag Team Titles, ECW Tagteam Titles, the WCW Cruiserweight Title, and the NWA World Title, just to mention a few. He wholeheartedly loved the art of professional wrestling and passed on at the peak of his career. To know him was to love him, as he was a passionate, determined, and ever benevolent human being. He is seen as an angel by many, proving true the old adage "only the good die young.' He will live on eternally as a "legend of the squared circle.' Truly one of a kind, as a person, he was the kindest, most caring and giving individual you would ever want to meet. His legacy has only just begun. All who knew "No Gimmicks Needed' would agree that nobody does it better. . . . "CC, We Miss You Already' ". Born in Edison, he had lived in Spring Lake until moving to Matawan 10 years ago. He had attended HW Mountz Grammar School, Spring Lake, Red Bank Catholic High School, Red Bank, and had attended the University of Tennessee. He was involved in wrestling competitively since he was 14 years old. He was a former communicant of St. Catharine's & St. Margaret's Parish, Spring Lake.

Surviving are his wife, Tamara Sytch; his father and his wife, Donald and Gisele Candito of Middletown; his mother and her husband, Margaret "Peggy" and Gregory Rea of Spring Lake; two sisters, Amanda and Amy Rea and a brother, Jonathan Rea, all of Spring Lake; and his grandmother, Margaret Kunak of Nazareth, Pa.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at the O'Brien Funeral Home, Highway 35 at New Bedford Road, Wall. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Catharine's R.C. Church, Spring Lake. Committal of his remains will be held privately by his family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the Christopher B. Candito Foundation, c/o Bank of NY, 1310 3rd Ave., Spring Lake, NJ 07762, for the establishment of a scholarship to benefit a student at his alma mater HW Mountz Grammar School, Spring Lake that demonstrates excellence by his/her performance during the academic year.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...00360/1075

[Nefercheperur]

Chase Stevens
An emotional Chase Stevens paid tribute to Chris Candido at Friday night's USA Championship Wrestling event at the Stadium Inn in Nashville.

Speaking to the crowd after a ten bell salute that brought out the entire USA locker room, Stevens told the audience how much Candido had meant to him and to his Naturals partner Andy Douglas. Stevens said anybody that saw this week's iMPACT could tell how much Candido was enjoying himself. Stevens went on to say how honored he was to have Candido call The Naturals "my boys".

Stevens wrestled Shawn Shultz in the main event, coming to the ring to Candido's ECW entrance music ("Back in Black"). The crowd chanted "Chris Candido" throughout the match that saw Stevens work a babyface style for the first time in Nashville in well over two years. When Stevens scored the pinfall the crowd erupted into a long ovation as they continued chanting Candido's name.

It was an emotional evening, one likely to be repeated at weekend shows that Candido had been scheduled to work.


Mike Tenay
Chris Candido was so dedicated to professional wrestling that he lived his whole life to be a part of the business. He was thrilled that TNA had given him another chance to do what he loved. While I've known Chris for years, my fondest memories of him will be from this TNA run. He was excited to be a part of the roster of a national company again and was intrigued by the combination wrestler/manager role. He always had the respect of his peers. He'll be missed ... but never forgotten.


David Sahadi
On a Friday night in the beautiful town of Chattanooga, seduced by the enchantment of spring, surrounded by glorious mountains, kissed by a starry sky, I find myself crying. And I don’t exactly know why. Except that these rivers of tears are because of Chris Candido.

When last I saw Chris he was crying, too. It was this past Sunday at the pay-per-view, up close and personal. He was sitting backstage in a wheelchair, surrounded by a dozen or so wrestlers, tears rolling down his puffy, red-faced cheeks. I will never forget that moment, the contorted leg wrapped in bandage and ice, the look of despair on his face. It was fifteen minutes after he had broken his leg in the very first minute of the very first match. In my ignorance, I thought his tears were because of his unconscionable physical pain.

“You’re mistaken,” said a TNA wrestler, who will go unnamed because his name is not relevant to the point I am trying to make.

“But he must be in so much pain,” I remarked, unknowing in my naivety.

“He’s not crying not because of the pain, but because he feels he just lost his spot on the roster.”

And then it hit me.

The physical pain was irrelevant: the pain emanated from his soul.

Had that been me, sitting in a wheelchair with a complex fracture of my lower leg, in need of major surgery, waiting for an ambulance to arrive, I would have been crying like an infant, overcome by the torment of physical pain. But not Chris. His pain was for one reason only: it was because at that very moment he thought his future, his passion, what he loved most in life, what he lived for was suddenly taken away. Little did he know his life would be taken away just a few days later.

It is well known that Chris battled personal demons a few years ago. Most importantly, Chris overcame them. From great depths he rose valiantly, like a phoenix amongst the burning ashes of a troubled past. He slayed his demons because his faced them head on, and in doing so became an inspiration to those who knew him.

For a brief moment tonight - and perhaps this is part of my personal sorrow - I look back at the dark side of this business with sadness, at a company I once worked for now embraced by paranoia and run by greed, at friends that no longer welcome friends into their homes because they work for “the competition”. I cry, too, because of their timidness and fear. Because they are lost, while Chris, although passed on, found himself, and a greater purpose, a long time ago. And it doesn’t seem fair that it takes his tragedy for us to realize what a special person he was.

Chris, you made the greatest of comebacks. You conquered your demons, you conquered the pettiness and trivialities and darks side of the business of this business. Thank you for being an inspiration, a light, a beacon of hope in a sometimes long, dark night. Thank you for making all those who knew you better for having known you.

Your brother, though I don’t know him, was right: you are an angel, and you went out the way you wanted to: “on top of the world…blonde, tanned, and having fun.” We should all be so lucky.

That is the greater picture. That is what this whole thing called Life is all about.

God bless you, Chris.

And God bless us all.

See you soon…


Bill Banks
It’s seems like such a long time since I first met Chris and Tammy in WWF in 1995 – then known as the BodyDonnas. I remember writing their first full-article in an early-1996 WWF magazine article, called “A Little Ditty About Chris and Tammy” – a play on the John Mellencamp hit. It was the “inside story” on Chris and Tammy’s life as high-school sweethearts that found fame in wrestling. I interviewed both for the article and they were generous enough to donate their own personal photos.

The reason I bring it up is that to this day, I cannot forgot how appreciative and happy Chris and Tammy were with having their first full article in the magazine. While I’m still relatively new to this business, it’s that same kind of excitement from young superstars that keeps me motivated in this crazy sport. It’s why I’m still in this after all the blood, sweat and tears – after WWF, after WCW and now with TNA.

Unfortunately, I saw Chris nearly lose that excitement during some of his dark days. The same Chris Candido I worked with in WCW was not the same Candido from WWE. Even after WCW ended, I continued to hear more heartbreaking stories about him. I thought the familiar demons had once again stolen the life and love from another person in this business.

In February of this year, Chris came back to wrestling with TNA and I made it a personal goal to interview him for the website. After all the hell he had been through, all the ups and downs both in wrestling and his personal life, it made me happy when I realized Chris had that excitement and happiness back in his life. Chris Candido had won – the demons had lost. During that interview, Chris taught me what it means to nearly lose everything in life – only to kick out and come back in the end. Above all, Chris reminded me why I’m still in the business.

I last saw Chris on Wednesday morning as he, myself, Dutch Mantel and TNA staffer Tim Welch took the same bus to the airport. Chris joked with the driver about the cast on his foot and shared stories about wrestling in Puerto Rico with Tammy, who was picking him up from the airport back home in New Jersey. Tim and I helped Chris bring his bags to the ticket counter, and I said a quick goodbye to him as we were cutting it close to catching our flight. Now I wish I would have stayed with Chris a little longer….

Goodbye Chris – we’ll all miss you back here


Bob Ryder
It's still hard to come to grips with the news that Chris Candido has passed away. It's almost too cruel to be true. Here's a guy who had battled his demons and had won the battle. He kicked the bad habits that had put him out of the wrestling business, and he was loving every minute of being involved in the business again.

Stories are making the rounds about the way Chris dealt with the horrific ankle injury he suffered at the Lockdown pay-per-view, and those stories say a lot about the dedication he had to make sure he didn't relapse into his old bad habits. He refused to stay overnight at the hospital on Sunday night and returned to the hotel we all were staying at in Orlando. I was coming out of the elevator and there he was...sitting on a luggage cart with a big grin on his face. He was, of course, upset that the injury had happened...but was happy that he had been reassured by everyone at TNA that his spot was not in jeopardy and that he would continue to accompany The Naturals to the ring. He was also happy after having talked to promoters who told him they were not canceling his bookings for upcoming shows, and was thrilled to have been told by doctors that he would be able to return to action much sooner than had been initially anticipated.

If you watched iMPACT this week, you saw how big a role Chris Candido would have continued to play in TNA. His charisma jumped through the screen, and he was a perfect fit for the role he was playing with The Naturals. After that match, Chris was ecstatic. He couldn't stop raving about how good the match was and how much fun he had being involved in it. He said he felt like a fan sitting at ringside, and that he was really enjoying working with Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas. He was proud of his boys.

I saw Chris on Wednesday morning as we were leaving the hotel to head to the airport. He was in good spirits, and was still talking about the match from the night before. I couldn't help but think of how happy I was that someone with his history had beat the odds and had turned his life completely around and was able to have a positive attitude even while dealing with such a serious setback as his ankle injury.

Much has been written (and will probably continue to be written) about the "wrestling deaths" that have plagued the industry in recent years. Far too many young wrestlers have died too soon, and Chris Candido will be added to that list. He should have an asterisk placed next to his name though, to indicate that he was different from many of the others on the list. He dealt with his demons. He won his battle. He turned his life around. He was on top of the world. His death is made more tragic by the triumphant way he had been able to deal with his problems.

To say Chris Candido will be missed is a tremendous understatement. In his brief time spent in TNA, he touched a lot of people....particularly some of the younger talent on the roster. His passing came as a total shock, and he will be remembered as someone who absolutely loved being a part of the wrestling business..

My thoughts and prayers are with Tammy and his family and friends.

[Nefercheperur]

Hier ein sehr interessanter Artikel ueber Chris Candido mit einigen sehr bewegenden Aussagen:


They say the quality of a man's life is measured by how deeply he has touched the lives of others. Chris Candido's untimely death on April 28 left fans, friends, and family shaken by the sudden loss of a man who brought joy to the lives of so many people.

In a posting on the USAProWrestling.net message board, Candido's brother, Johnny, wrote that a blood clot brought on by complications from surgery to repair a dislocated ankle, a broken tibia, and a broken fibula suffered during a tag team match on TNA's Lockdown pay-per-view on April 24 caused his brother's death. Surgeons inserted a metal plate and screws into Candido's leg on April 25 to help the bones heal, and one doctor even estimated that Candido would be back in the ring within six weeks. One day after his surgery, a wheelchair-bound Candido managed the Naturals to the NWA tag team championships during a television taping in Orlando. By all accounts, he appeared to be in good spirits backstage and was excited about his burgeoning on-camera role as a manager.

Lance Hoyt is honoured to have teamed with Candido in his final match, a tag team bout against Apolo and Sonny Siaki.

"The fact that I was in his last match with him, I consider that an honour. I didn't know him that well. I knew him from TNA, and the Chris that I knew was an amazing, cool cat," said Hoyt. "It's sad to be in somebody's last match. I consider it an amazing honour to at least have been out there with him for the last time he was actually in a wrestling match."

Candido loved to help younger talent hone their skills. According to Les Thatcher, a trainer for Elite Pro Wrestling Training, Candido was particularly good with the young workers in the independent locker rooms, telling them not to make the same mistakes that he did. Candido also helped out during one of Thatcher's training camps.

"I'm going to miss him. He was just a great friend," said Thatcher. "If it wasn't for his demons, he should be mentioned in the same sentence as two other Chrises, Benoit and Jericho. He loved to perform. He really did."


Wrestling was in Candido's blood. His grandfather, "Popeye" Chuck Richards, worked undercards for the WWWF. As a youngster, Candido accompanied his grandfather backstage, meeting legends like "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. As a teenager, Candido and his childhood friend Balls Mahoney dreamed about one day wrestling inside the very rings that they helped set up in the New Jersey area. Candido and Mahoney even trained together at Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory before Candido debuted in Dennis Coraluzzo's WWA promotion in the early 1990s. Candido traveled from show to show with his high school girlfriend, Tammy Sytch. Later, in Smokey Mountain Wrestling, Sytch would accompany Candido to the ring as his manager in what would become one of professional wrestling's most famous pairings.

Former Smokey Mountain Wrestling promoter Sandy Scott was saddened by the news of Candido's passing. He remembers Candido as a true professional, both inside and outside of the squared circle.

"He was a great performer and conducted himself well," said Scott. "I never had problems with him. He was always a gentleman. He never got into any trouble with us. He went out there and put one hundred per cent into it. That's all you can ask."

Jim Cornette first booked Candido in Smokey Mountain Wrestling more than a decade ago. At the time, Cornette felt Candido was one of the brightest young stars in the business.

"I felt like that Chris was the best in the ring in the business at a young age, with the most potential, by far, of anybody," said Cornette. "At that time, there weren't a lot of young guys that were really good when they were still young. I had an experienced crew, and Chris just brought a whole bunch of fresh air to it. He was still in his early 20s, and had so much potential and could do so much stuff."

Cornette calls Candido a throwback to wrestlers of years' past. "He may have been one of the last old-time young veterans. He was really good at everything he did," said Cornette.

Candido caught the attention of WWF brass and was signed to a contract in 1995. He debuted with Sytch as Skip and Sunny, collectively known as the Bodydonnas. Candido briefly held the WWF tag team titles with Dr. Tom Pritchard, known as Zip, before leaving the company.

Following his WWF stint, Candido headed to Extreme Championship Wrestling in October 1996. He teamed with Shane Douglas and Brian Lee in the first incarnation of the Triple Threat. Douglas was devastated to hear about the passing of a man he considered a brother.

"He was a great human being that would do anything for anybody. He's truly one of the good guys in this business," said Douglas. "I'm going to miss him terribly. I'm absolutely devastated by this. It's a total understatement to say that Chris will be sorely missed."

Between the ropes, few could match Candido's extraordinary ability, said Douglas. "Chris was an extraordinary performer, completely underrated in this business. Truly one of the best performers I've ever seen in the ring. It came so easily to him. I feel sorry for the young kids in this business who won't get the opportunity to work with and learn from him."

In one of their final conversations, Candido revealed to Douglas how thankful he was to have the opportunity to perform on a national stage in TNA.

"The last thing we spoke about was how thankful he was that he had a job in TNA. Chris is one of those few guys who wouldn't even bitch and complain when everyone else would. He would never join in the moaning and groaning. For that, he was refreshing to be around," said Douglas.

Candido eventually resurfaced in WCW for a short time. Broadcaster Mike Tenay, who worked with Candido in both WCW and TNA, says Candido's passing came as a sudden shock.

"He was so dedicated to the wrestling business and, basically, had lived his whole life to be part of the business," said Tenay. "He was so excited to be back in the business again, and he knew that it was a chance that he couldn't squander."

According to Tenay, Candido was overjoyed to work for TNA during his final run.

"He was so excited about managing the Naturals. It was an opportunity to come back and be part of a national company again," said Tenay, adding that Candido's death was an "incredible disappointment because of everything that he had accomplished."

After being released from the hospital on Sunday night, Candido returned to the Double Tree Hotel in Orlando to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans.

"He was such a trooper. He didn't want to spend the night in the hospital on Sunday night, so he went back to the hotel lobby in a wheelchair and signed autographs and took pictures with the fans," said Tenay. "That just shows you how much he loved the wrestling business. He dedicated his life to the business."


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005...19043.html

[Nefercheperur]

The entire TNA locker room, and indeed the whole wrestling world, was saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Candido on Thursday. Chris reportedly died from a blood clot due to complications from his surgery to repair the broken leg he suffered at the TNA Lockdown pay-per-view.

To those who knew him, Chris was a wonderful person, always with a ready smile and a quick wit. He exuded charm and zeal and was one of the few guys with the guts and determination to make it back from an addiction problem that could have lead to his demise if not for his inner strength. It is beyond unfortunate the he was taken from us just as he was coming back into the superstar status he so richly deserved and worked so hard to regain.

I first met Chris during his time with the WWE in 1997. He was part of the crew in Calgary for the In Your House Canadian Stampede PPV that July. I had been in the military and was just about to be released at the end of my contract. After the show I made my way backstage and the first person I ran into was Chris. Aside from a few chance encounters with other stars like Hulk Hogan and Roddy Piper and a lot of the Harts and Bulldogs, Chris was the first guy I talked to about getting into the wrestling business. To show what a class act he was, he listened to me gush -- with patience and genuine interest -- and was extremely helpful with advice and well wishes. It was shortly after talking with Chris that I met Bruce Hart and joined the Dungeon. Thanks to Chris, and bolstered by his words of encouragement, I was able to talk Bruce into letting me come train once out of the army. I owe him much.

I was able to speak with Chris's current protégés, the Naturals, Chase Stevens and Andy Douglas, and get their thoughts on Chris's passing. Both are distraught and wish they would have had more time with Chris as Chris was a joy to be around. They pointed out that as soon as Chris joined TNA, he was one of the boys. He was relaxed and fun, told great road stories, and did fantastic impersonations. Andy and Chase both particularly loved his Tracy Smothers and put it over as bang on. They both said that even though he didn't go out to hang out after the shows, as it was well known about his past, he would go out to eat for a bit and still be one of the boys.

Unlike some of the talent that has come aboard from WWE and ECW, his was an easy fit in the locker room. Some of the valuable things they were able to learn from Chris in their short time together have already become apparent in their work -- as is evident by their recent World Tag Team title win. Chris' influence has been invaluable.

But more valuable than the title win for the Naturals was the praise that Chris gave them after their tag match with AMW. "Chris put our match over as bringing him back to being a fan of wrestling," recalled both Naturals.


"I haven't enjoyed a match from a fan's point of view in a long time, and what you guys did tonight made me a fan again! You guys were fantastic and tore the house down. I am so proud of you," Chris told them. Andy and Chase both said they got goose bumps from the strong words of praise.

Although he will be missed, both Naturals feel the same as Chris's brother Johnny Candido. "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."

It is always unfortunate when someone of such talent and passion is taken from us prematurely. It's the kind of travesty that makes you appreciate the time you've had with that person immensely. If I could have had one request before Chris was taken it would have been to be able to climb into the ring with a truly great performer and person.

Chris was a gentleman and all-around wonderful human being. I and many others are saddened by his passing and send our deepest condolences to his family at this worst of times. Those of you wishing to can visit http://www.tnawrestling.com for information on where to send well wishes and donations to the Chris Candido scholarship fund.

Good bye Chris. We didn't have you long enough, but it was enough to have you as long as we did. Bless you and see you one day at the shows in heaven.

Stay Hot
Devine


http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Devi...19285.html