RIP Chris Kanyon

[$heriff Tom]

Dead at 40, of an apparent suicide. From what I am reading he has been depressed for years. He came out of the closet a few years ago. I always liked him somewhat, especially through the "Who better than Kanyon!" stage.

Seemingly took his life by pills, and notes were found. Sad story, yet another wrestler gone at a young age.

Heres how the story was reported on www.f4wonline.com - thanks to them

Chris Kanyon passes away

Chris Klucsaritis, who wrestled as Chris Kanyon, passed away last night from an overdose of pills at his apartment in the Sunnyside section of Queens, NY, last night. He was 40.

Klucsaritis' death is believed to be a suicide. He had been open about suffering from a bipolar disorder and had talked and threatened suicide many times in the past according to those who are close with him.

He had been talking about going through another bout with depression and taking his life earlier in the week. Because he had talked about it so often, it was

Klucsaritis was trained locally in New York by Bobby Bold Eagle, and later in Columbua, SC by Lillian "Fabulous Moolah" Ellison at her home gym in Columbia, SC, and developed into an innovative and underrated wrestler. He debuted in 1992, and wrestled the bulk of his career for WCW.

He started with Mark Starr as part of a tag team "Men at Work," and later developed the Mortis gimmick. His highest profile role, including holding the WCW tag team titles, came with Diamond Dallas Page and Bam Bam Bigelow as the Jersey Triad.

During that period, he also worked in Hollywood on movie sets during a boom period for pro wrestling when the movie industry was interested in films, including on "Ready to Rumble" and a made-for-TV movie on Jesse Ventura.

He was a victim of the demise of WCW, as WWE wasn't really a good fit for him stylistically. Even though he was 6-3, he did not possess the kind of look they wanted. He was also plagued by injuries during that period and was finally released in 2004.

He attempted to get back into the major leagues doing a gimmick as the first openly gay pro wrestler, later admitting to be gay in real life. He tried to garner publicity claiming WWE fired him for being gay, but the publicity went nowhere. TNA was also not interested in the gimmick. He had wrestled sparingly in recent years, had announced a retirement, but still on occasion wrestled.

He was part of a lawsuit with Scott Levy and Mike Sanders against WWE for misclassifying wrestlers as independent contracts, but the suit was thrown out of court because the statute of limitations had expired on filing such a suit.

[$heriff Tom]

Career profile from ONLINEWORLDOFWRESTLING


Wrestler: Chris Kanyon
Real Name: Chris Klucsaritis
Birthday: January 4, 1970
Hometown: Sunnyside, New York
Marital Status:
Height & Weight: 6'4" - 270 lbs
Trained by: Wild Samoan Wrestling School
Debut: April 5, 1992
Previous Gimmicks: Chris Morgan
Chris Canyon
Mortis
Chris "Champagne" Kanyon
"Positively" Kanyon

Finishing Move: The Flatliner
I'm Better Than You
Favorite Moves: Swinging Fisherman Suplex
Kanyon Cutter
Electric Chair Drop
Leg Face Driver Out of Corner
Super Samoan Drop
Super Russian Leg Sweep
Sitout Dominator
Torture Rack into Neckbreaker
Super Kick
Notable Feuds: Glacier
Ernest Miller
Diamond Dallas Page
Buff Bagwell
Mike Awesome
The Undertaker
Kane
Bruce Steele



WCW World Tag Team titles w/Diamond Dallas Page defeating Perry Saturn & Chris Beniot (June 13, 1999);
WCW United States Heavyweight title Awarded (July 24, 2001);
WWF World Tag Team titles w/Diamond Dallas Page defeating Farooq & Bradshaw (August 7, 2001);



In the Beginning:

In School, Chris Klucsaritis played rugby, roller hockey, basketball, and baseball..
1992: Chris Klucsaritis attended the University of Buffalo and graduated with a degree in physical therapy..
Chris Klucsaritis was a full time physical therapist for 3 years before becoming a wrestler..
Before hitting the bigtime, Chris Kanyon teamed with Billy Kidman in a 'hockey players' gimmick team..
September 26, 1994 - WWF RAW: Shawn Michaels & Diesel defeated Bob Starr & Chris Kanyon...
November 21, 1994 - WWF RAW: Tatanka defeated Chris Kanyon...
December 19, 1994 - WWF RAW: Bob Holly defeated Chris Kanyon...

World Championship Wrestling - Paying Dues:

Started out in WCW in a team called "Men at Work" with Mark Star. The men whore construction outfits to the ring..
WCW soon through a mask on Kanyon and called him Mortis, managed by James Vanderburg, and teaming with Wrath (Bryan Clarke)..
Mortis & Wrath feuded with Glacier & Ernest Miller in an angle entitled, "Blood Runs Cold" managed by James Vandenberg..
March 16, 1997 - Uncensored 1997: Glacier beat Mortis..
May 18, 1997 - Slamboree: Glacier beat Mortis by DQ when Wrath (aka Bryan Clarke) appeared..
July 13, 1997 - Bash at the Beach: Mortis & Wrath beat Glacier & Ernest Miller..
September 14, 1997 - Fall Brawl: Wrath & Mortis defeated Meng & The Barbarian..
December 13, 1997 - Worldwide: Glacier over Mortis w/James Vandenburg after the Chronic Kick..

World Championship Wrestling - Evolving:

Chris Kanyon gained a reputation as a trainer for celebrities like Dennis Rodman, Karl Malone & Jay Leno for their WCW appearances.
Chris Kanyon has worked as stunt coordinator and stuntman on movies such as The Jesse Ventura Story & Ready To Rumble.
Chris Kanyon was Oliver Platt's stunt double on the set of the movie, Ready to Rumble..

World Wrestling Federation - Alliance:

July 6, 2001 - Smackdown: Chris Kanyon makes his WWF debut as part of the WCW Invasion..
Booker T presents Chris Kanyon with the WCW United States title..
August 9, 2001 - Smackdown!: Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Kanyon beat the APA to win the WWF Tag Team titles..
August 23, 2001 - Smackdown!: Kurt Angle defeated Chris Kanyon...
Chris Kanyon is taken off Television with a knee injury..

World Wrestling Entertainment - Injuries & OVW:

May 2002: Kanyon has been cleared to compete and is in Louisville through the end of the month getting back in ring shape..
July 12, 2002 - OVW Summer Series: John "Prototype" Cena defeated Chris Kanyon..
Chris Kanyon falls to yet another injury..
September 20, 2002 - Ross Report: Chris Kanyon is about a month away from being back in action and will go to OVW for a month..
October 2002: Chris Kanyon hopes to be released to return to work next week at Ohio Valley Wrestling..
October 30, 2002 - OVW TV Taping: Nova defeats Chris Kanyon by DQ when Kanyon turns heel..
November 6, 2002 - OVW TV Taping: Rob Conway vs Chris Kanyon went to a NO CONTEST..
November 14, 2002 - Smackdown!: Chris Kanyon defeats Rene Dupree in a "dark" match..
November 20, 2002 - OVW TV Taping: Chris Kanyon defeats Charlie Haas..
January 15, 2003 - OVW Taping: Chris Kanyon defeats Chris Cage..
January 29, 2003 - OVW Taping: Nova & Rob Conway defeats Chris Kanyon & Doug Basham w/Nikita..
February 13, 2003 - Smackdown!: Chris Kanyon returns to RAW, dressed as "Boy George" and gets his ass kicked by the Undertaker..
March 12, 2003 - OVW Taping: Doug Basham/Damaja/Kanyon vs Nick Dinsmore/Bradshaw/Johnny Jeter..
April 19, 2003 - Velocity: Rhyno defeated Chris Kanyon...
June 14, 2003 - Velocity: Bill DeMott defeated Chris Kanyon...
June 19, 2003 - Smackdown!: Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Kanyon..
June 28, 2003 - Velocity: Billy Gunn defeated Chris Kanyon...
July 5, 2003 - Velocity: Chris Kanyon defeated Mike Bell...
July 12, 2003 - Velocity: Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Kanyon...
July 26, 2003 - Velocity: Chris Kanyon defeated Ryan Sakoda...
July 27, 2003 - Vengeance: Ultimo Dragon defeated Chris Kanyon in a match shown LIVE on Sunday Night Heat!
September 13, 2003 - Velocity: Jamie Noble defeated Chris Kanyon...
October 11, 2003 - Velocity: Rey Mysterio defeated Chris Kanyon...
November 1, 2003 - Velocity: Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Kanyon...
November 8, 2003 - Velocity: Spanky & Paul London defeated Shannon Moore & Chris Kanyon...
November 15, 2003 - Velocity: Rhyno defeated Chris Kanyon...
November 29, 2003 - Velocity: Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Kanyon...
December 6, 2003 - Velocity: Spanky & Paul London defeated Chad Collyer & Chris Kanyon...
December 13, 2003 - Velocity: Orlando Jordan defeated Chris Kanyon...
February 9, 2004: After a year of mistreatment in the WWE, Chris Kanyon is officially released from his contract!

Out of retirement:

June 4, 2004--Buckeye Pro Wrestling: Shark Boy defeated Chris Kanyon in a 20:00 match..
July 9, 2005: Chris Kanyon comes out of retirement at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles as well as Sunday in Chico, CA..
July 22, 2005--Elite Wrestling Entertainment: Chris Kanyon did a post-show run-in to set up the main event for the next show..
July 30, 2005--EWE: Buck Quartermaine & Roderick Strong vs Steve Madison & Chris Kanyon ended in a Double DQ..
August 19, 2005--EWE: Buck Quartermain/The Marker Crashers beat Steve Madison/Chris Kanyon/Erick Stevens in a No-DQ match..
October 16, 2005: Chris Kanyon was arrested in Tampa on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing or opposing an officer.
October 30, 2005--Blood, Sweat and Ears: James Champagne defeated Chris Kanyon..
November 5, 2005--Pro Wrestling Warfare: Bruce Steele defeated Chris Kanyon..
November 19, 2005--Blue Water Championship Wrestling: Chris Kanyon defeated Sean Casey by Disqualification..
December 3, 2005--Pro Wrestling Warfare: Chris Kanyon defeated Steve Madison..
December 11, 2005 - TNA Turning Point: Raven defeated Larry Zbyszko's Choice (Chris K. aka Chris Kanyon)..
December 16, 2005--Pro Wrestling Guerrilla: Joey Ryan defeated Chris Kanyon to retain the PWG Heavyweight title..
January 14, 2006--Pro Wrestling Warfare: Chris Kanyon defeated Steve Madison..
January 21, 2006--Elite Wrestling Entertainment: Bruce Steele vs Chris Kanyon ended in a 2-2 tie in a 20:00 Iron man match..
February 4, 2006--Blood, Sweat & Ears: Chris Kanyon defeated James Champagne.....................
~~~Chris Kanyon cut a post-match promo saying that Vince McMahon released him because he was gay..

Who GAYER Than Kanyon?:

While Chris Kanyon claimed to be the first and only openly gay pro-wrestler, he actually isn't the "first".... Simon Sermon is..

Robert McLearren wrote: I'm Chris Kanyon's moderator, so I thought I'd clarify something that you have on his profile: While Chris Kanyon claimed to be the first and only openly gay pro-wrestler, he actually isn't.... Simon Sermon is.. There was a lot of talk back and forth between Simon, Kanyon and the film maker about this. Kanyon said that he was the first, because Simon never made it past the indys and never did it as a full time job. Simon would be the first Independent wrestler to come out, and Kanyon would be the first pro wrestler to come out. Kanyon never tried to ignore Simon's accomplishments, and actually talked about Simon in several interviews.. just thought I'd pass that along, it's kind of misleading the way you have it.


February 25, 2006--Pro Wrestling Warfare: Chris Kanyon defeated Rod Steel (w/Bruce Steel & Amy Love)..
March 5, 2006--Legends PPV: Diamond Dallas Page defeated Chris Kanyon (who confirmed that he was GAY)..
March 8, 2006--Elite Wrestling Entertainment: Bruce Santee defeated Chris Kanyon.....
April 1, 2006--Elite Wrestling Entertainment: Chris Kanyon defeated "Sensational" Scott Davis..
April 22, 2006--OWA: Vic Grimes defeated Chris Kanyon and Altar Boy Luke in a 3-WAY in Alameda, California..
April 28, 2006--Elite Wrestling Entertainment: Jake "The Snake" Roberts defeated Chris Kanyon ..
September 8, 2006--Live Event in Tampa: Chris Kanyon bought a ticket to "get noticed" by WWE officials..
September 16, 2006--Rock-N-Shock Benefit Show: Chris Kanyon defeated Onyx...
October 26, 2006--Pure Wrestling Association: Ruffy Silverstein defeated Chris Kanyon ......
October 29, 2006--Pure Wrestling Association: Chris Kanyon defeated Phil Latio..
October 29, 2006--Blood, Sweat and Ears: Chris Kanyon defeated Frankie The Mobster..
October 29, 2006--Great Canadian Wrestling: Chris Kanyon & Hayden the Destroyer beat Michael Elgin & Jake O'Reilly
Chris Klucsaritis (aka Chris Kanyon) announced on his MySpace that he was retiring from pro wrestling immediately..

Kanyon returns:

December 19, 2009--NYWC: Chris Kanyon defeated NYWC Interstate champion Alex Reynolds w/Maxwell Belvedere..
December 26, 2009--NYWC: Chris Kanyon defeated "Flawless" Blake Morris by DQ when "Hot Shot" Mike Reed interfered

[thecaptain15]

I liked the "who's better" gimmick as well...From all I heard in recent years, I can't say I am surprised by this. RIP