Christopher B. "Chris" Candito (March 21, 1972–March 28, 2005) was an American professional wrestler. He was better known by his ring name Chris Candido. He was best known for his time with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW). He was also known for his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he competed under the ring name Skip and was part of the tag team, The Bodydonnas.
He was married to wrestling valet, Tammy Lynn Sytch who is better known by the name, Sunny.[1]
Death
On April 24, 2005 at Lockdown, Candido suffered a fractured tibia and fibula as well as a dislocated ankle during a steel cage match with Lance Hoyt against Apolo and Sonny Siaki.[2] He would undergo surgery the next day and would have titanium plates and screws inserted into his leg.[3] Candido would be at the following Impact! tapings and managed The Naturals when they defeated America's Most Wanted to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. On April 28, 2005, Candido felt ill and his condition had worsened during the day. Candido collapsed during the evening and he was rushed to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. The doctors drained his lungs, but he died shortly afterwards. His brother Johnny said that Candido had died because of a blood clot, a complication from surgery.[4]
On the April 29 episode of Impact! as well as at the Hard Justice PPV event, TNA paid tribute to Candido.[5][6] TNA decided to hold a tournament called the Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament in his honor in late 2005.[7] In 2009, Candido was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame.[8]
Championships
- Extreme Championship Wrestling
- Legacy Wrestling Enterprises
- LWE World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- Mid-American Wrestling
- MAW Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA New Jersey Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- NWA Midwest
- NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 2005
- PWI ranked him #45 out of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI 500" in 1998.
- Smoky Mountain Wrestling
- SMW Beat the Champ Television Championship (two times)
- SMW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- SMW Tag Team Championship (two times) with Brian Lee
- SMW United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (three times)
- United States Extreme Wrestling
- USEW United States Heavyweight Championship (three times)
- USA Pro Wrestling
- USA Pro United States Championship (one time)
- World Championship Wrestling
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC World Television Championship (one time)
- World Wrestling Federation
- Xtreme Pro Wrestling
- XPW World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Most Underrated Wrestler in 1995
References
