[Beer Baron]

I just read at the OOther message board that Chris Kanyon was found dead in his apartment, a victim of an apparent suicide brought on by an overdose of pain pills.

Rest in Peace, Innovator of Offense.

www.f4wonline.com/content/view/12867/

[Byrntrigan]

That's sad. I always liked him and thought he got wasted by WWF.

[creepy]

Who's deader than Kanyon?

I liked that lispy innovater. Where had he been? Why didn't he ever go to tna? Assuming he never went to tna? Guess I need to use the Ol' Wiki service.

[Byrntrigan]

Guess TNA guys didn't wanna wrestle with an openly queer wrestler.

Oh, wait...

[Batman]

This is just depressing.

[Beer Baron]

Everything I've read over the past few years about Kanyon points to that he was living with a lot of depression and sadness. His career highpoint was in the WCW and he wasn't really utilized as well as he could have been while in the WWE. I feel that this was the beginning of the end of his career in the WWE:

From wiki: On October 29, 2001 Kanyon tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during a dark match with Randy Orton. He underwent surgery with Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama and was sidelined for the remainder of the Invasion angle. In May 2002, Kanyon was cleared to compete and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWE developmental territory, through the end of the month to restore himself to full fitness.[1] However, while wrestling Lance Cade in Lima, Ohio on July 13, 2002 Kanyon injured his left shoulder, suffering a humeral head contusion and supraspinatus tendinitis. He underwent surgery on July 21, 2002 but began experiencing breathing difficulties on July 25, 2002. As a result of an allergy to the medications with which he was being treated, Kanyon's lungs filled with fluid and his blood oxygen level fell to 41%. He gradually recovered and was discharged from hospital on July 28, 2002 having lost 32 lb (15 kg) in the interim.

I almost feel like he was essentially blackballed from pro wrestling after he came out of the closet. That should have never been the case, as he was pretty damn good in the ring. Just sad that he died like this.

[pjc]

I have a story to share about Chris.

I didn't know him very well but apparently I knew him enough for him to seek me out when he came out of the closet. I remember getting an email from him with his number and a request to call. He talked about doing what he felt he had to do to "make things right" with people he's known in his life. He then proceeded to tell me that he was gay and wanted to know what I thought about that. I told him that I, like alot of other guys, thought he was working the internet but he wasn't - He was dead serious and reiterated his question.

I paused for a minute and answered, "Chris as long as you're the same old Kanyon, I don't give a good goddamn who you're blowing." It sounded like he paused for a minute because the phone was silent, then I could hear the laughter. I took his breath away with that one I guess but gave him a good laugh. His only answer was, "Fair enough." We talked for about 15 or 20 minutes more before saying goodbye. That was the last time I talked to Chris.

When wrestlers die, sometimes you're on "the list" that gets a call before the internet, or as the internet is finding out. This was one of those times. I don't have a very favorable view on suicide personally. The last wrestler to die that hurt really bad was Mike Awesome who hung himself. Chris though - I was mad about. I remember shouting, "That sonofabitch!" My wife looked around the corner to see tears coming from my eyes and she knew. Another one was gone.

I relish the time I spent in wrestling and the time I continue to try. I don't relish the fact that so many people I've crossed paths with are gone for no good reason. Everyone has demons but this business seems to be infested with them.