Chris Candido

American professional wrestler. Candito was best known for his appearances with professional wrestling promotions such as World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and Smoky Mountain Wrestling under the ring name Chris Candido, as well as his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation as Skip, one-half of the tag team The Bodydonnas. For much of his career, he performed alongside his real-life partner, Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, who acted as his valet.

In the course of his career, Candido held professional wrestling championships such as the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, WWF World Tag Team Championship, ECW World Tag Team Championship and WCW Cruiserweight Championship.

At 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, USA. He was diagnosed with pneumonia. Doctors drained his lungs, but Candido died soon afterwards. He was 33 years old. According to his brother Johnny, Candido died due to a blood clot, a complication from surgery. This death had a profound effect on fellow pro-wrestlers, such as former professional wrestler CM Punk, who voiced his concern of a post-elbow surgery clot similar to that of Candido during his reign as WWE Champion.

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.