Chris Candito

March 21, 1972

Christopher B. Candito was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Chris Candido. Candido is a one time world champion, having held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once. In addition, he held several championships in professional wrestling promotions such as Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and The World Wrestling Federation. Candido had two runs with Xtreme Pro Wrestling. The first was in 2000, and he won the XPW World Heavyweight Championship before leaving for WCW. The second run was from late 2002 until the company's final show in 2003. Also Candido and Tammy Sytch wrestled in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council in 2003 feuding with Eddie Primo Colon and in addition held the WWC World Television title. (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens) defeated Elix Skipper and Petey Williams and Mikey Batts in a six-man tag team match. At the Destination X (2005) preshow, Candido and Andy Douglas defeated Lex Lovett and Buck Quartermain. On the March 18 episode of Impact, Candido and The Naturals faced Dustin Rhodes and America's Most Wanted in a losing effort. Candido competed in his final match at Lockdown (2005) when Candido and Lance Hoyt faced Apolo and Sonny Siaki in a losing effort during the match Candido broke his leg when Siaki landed on it after a flying dropkick early in the match. The injury would lead to Candido dying of acute pneumonia on April 28, 2005. His last performance was taped to air later in the week, he was featured on an episode of TNA Impact! after his death, wheelchair bound, where he helped The Naturals win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. At TNA LockDown on April 24, 2005, Candido fractured both his tibia and fibula and dislocated his ankle during a steel cage match with Lance Hoyt against Apolo and Sonny Siaki. He underwent surgery the next day to have titanium plates and screws inserted into his leg. He was at the following Impact! tapings managing The Naturals to defeat America's Most Wanted to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship. On April 28, 2005, Candido felt ill and his condition worsened during the day. He collapsed in the evening and was rushed to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. Doctors drained his lungs, but Candido died soon afterwards. He was 33 years old. His brother Johnny, reported that Candido died due to a blood clot, a complication from surgery. In a 2016 interview Johnny Candido would reveal that Chris did not die from a blood clot, but rather acute pneumonia. This death had a profound effect on fellow wrestlers such as CM Punk, who in 2014 voiced his concern of a post-elbow surgery clot similar to that of Candido. TNA subsequently held the Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament in his honor in late 2005. In 2009, he was inducted into the Hardcore Hall of Fame. Candido's Hardcore Hall of Fame banner in the former ECW Arena.