Chris Candito

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 companys 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 sixman 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 Americas 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 Americas 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 postelbow 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 Candidos Hardcore Hall of Fame banner in the former ECW Arena