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
WWE
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.
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.
Johnny Candido, Chris's brother
"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."
Dory Funk Jr.
In Funk's Corner - Chris Candido
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 www.dory-funk.com .
Thanks to Masa and The Claw for photos.
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...
Missy Hyatt
It has only been 2 days and I did not sleep last night. you can put for me.
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 of had that kind of true love.
Lance Storm
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.
Shane Douglas
"I would like to send my sincere condolences to the family of Chris
Candido. I will make an official statement on the passing of what was
one of my best friends in the business later today."
Tracy Brooks
I just wanted to take the time to say good bye to Chris Candido and let Tammy know she is in our thougths and prayers...Tammy you are the reason why any of us girls are where we are today and you are the first and best diva there ever has been or ever will be...Please know we are all here for you in your time of need...Chris brought so much laughter and enjoyment into the wrestling world and he will be missed by all...God Bless
Sonny Siaki
"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."
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.
Lou E. Dangerously
i am at a total lost of words
it's so sad to see someone go that was a part of the tightest and most influential locker room in wrestling . . .
times like this are always so surreal . . . and i wish they never happen but it's life and its so sad . . .
i always liked chris and was so happy to have a chance to work with him in E.C.W. after watching his work in Smokey Mountain - and i was so happy to see how things were going for him . . .
i may not be as involved in this business as i once was, but that doesn't mean I don't feel great happiness when i see people i worked with still busting their ass and getting rewarded by the fans that respect them so much . . .
chris will always be respected by all of us -
my heartfelt wishes for strength go out to his entire family, friends, and fans.
The Stro
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.
Michael Shane
Chris Candido will be greatly missed. I am very happy that I had the
opportunity to know and work with him. Chris always had a smile on his face and
there was something about him that just made you happy even when you were
feeling down in the dumps. One night after a show Chris and his brother were
kind enough to drive me from Pittsburgh to Cleveland when the promoter forgot to
set up a ride for me. On a trip that should have taken about 2 and a half hours
this one ended up taking 4 and half because we kept getting lost in true
wrestler fashion. To get Chris Candido for 4 and half hours with all the
stories that he had to tell was simply a treat for me. I really got to know
Chris that night and it is a night I will never forget. Chris really touched
the hearts of everyone that he came across and he is someone that will surely be
missed by me and many others.
April Hunter
I'm just kind of in shock. I've been working with both since more or less starting to do indy shows. Tammy's always been very cool and helpful towards me; I sincerely hope someone is looking out for her right now. The dedication they had for each other is very unusual both in our business and in life.
I'm very sorry for her loss.
Slyck Wagner Brown
My condolences to the family and friends of Chris Candido who passed away early this morning. I met Chris for the first time in CT a couple years ago when we had an unscheduled match in ACW. I was very nervous to wrestle Chris, because he had so much experience and I respected him as an entertainer/wrestler. Chris was a great person to have in the locker room, he was always laughing and telling jokes. Thanks for the memories Chris, you are appreciated!
So Cal Val (Valerie E. Wyndham)
Just wanted to chime in and give my condolences. I will miss Chris a lot.
Besides being a fan of his and never once being able to get through
watching a match of his without laughing my head off at his crazy antics,
even though I only knew him for a short time I will remember him as being
one of the most sincere, respectful, kindest guys I've met thus far. Always
smiling. On several occasions he came to talk with me and gave me advice.
That is something he didn't have to do, but went out of his way for. I
really wish I could have thanked him for that. His family and friends are
in my prayers.
Claudia "The Claw" Reiff
How sad to pass away so young....Chris beat his Demons, Chris was on the
comeback trail looking better than ever, and do Die so young from a Blood
Clot after surgery...how sad....
I met Chris a couple times, a few years back. The first time was on a WWF
WrestleVessel with Tammy Stytch. We met the first day at poolside, started
talking and became friends and hung out the rest of the cruise...he and
Tammy were nothing but nice and a pleasure to be around. The second time I
met him was the day after an ECW PPV in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I was at the
Ft. Lauderdale Airport flying out to New York City to spend time with my
parents, and Chris was on the same plane and he remembered me, we sat
together and talked the whole way to New York. We both met my parents at
baggage claim and my parents loved him and even offered to give him a ride
to his home, and we did....Chris won my parents over with his politeness and
wrestling stories. (bags took a long time, so we all talked with my parents
for about 20 minutes till the bags arrived.)
May you rest in peace my friend...
Alicia
Chris Candido was one of a kind. One of the greatest people I have met in my life. One of the few who was always a pleasure to work with or even be around. All my condolences and love goes to Tammy, Johnny, and the rest of his family & friends. Chris Candido will NEVER be forgotten.
Josie
I awoke this morning to a ton of text messages saying that Chris had passed away. All I can say is the world lost a great person yesterday. He was a great entertainer and had so much to offer. He shared his knowlegde with us all and I thank him for the many laughs and good times he shared with us. I never met Tammy but I look forward to meeting her someday. Chris and Tammy will be in my prayers today.
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If anyone would like to send a donation to Tammy Sytch, a paypal address has been setup for all donations online. Please send your paypal (credit card) donations by clicking any link below:
candidomemorial@aol.com (PAYPAL ADDRESS)
A scholarship fund has been set up in memory of Chris Candido:
The Chris Candido Scholarship Fund
Bank of New York
3rd Avenue & Washington Street
Spring Lake, New Jersey 07762
