50 Facts About Chris Kanyon

Chris Kanyon was best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation from 1994 to 2004, under the ring names Chris Kanyon, Kanyon, and Mortis.

Chris Kanyon was given the nickname "The Innovator of Offense" during his career, and has been recognized by commentators as one of the most underrated stars of WCW.

Chris Kanyon attended Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, graduating in 1988.

Chris Kanyon worked full-time as a physical therapist for three years before becoming a wrestler.

Chris Kanyon wrestled his first match on April 5,1992, in Levittown, New York at the Island Trees Junior High School, and wrestled one match as Chris Morgan before adopting the ring name Chris Canyon and later changed it to Chris Kanyon.

Chris Kanyon worked as a physical therapist for the next three years, wrestling on weekends and in the evenings, before finally deciding to become a full-time professional wrestler in 1995.

Early in his career, Chris Kanyon formed a tag team with Billy Kidman which saw both men wrestle in hockey uniforms.

Chris Kanyon debuted in World Championship Wrestling as a jobber.

Chris Kanyon did win one upset victory over Disco Inferno on a Saturday Night taping.

Chris Kanyon was replaced with Mike Winner before the team disbanded altogether.

In 1996, Chris Kanyon donned a mask and was repackaged as Mortis, a Latin word meaning death.

In February 1998, Chris Kanyon asked Raven if he could join Raven's stable The Flock but was told that he could only become a member if he defeated Diamond Dallas Page for the United States Heavyweight Championship.

In May 1999 at Slamboree, Chris Kanyon helped Raven and Saturn defeat Billy Kidman and Rey Misterio Jr.

Chris Kanyon then formed a stable with Bigelow and Page known as the Jersey Triad.

The Triad disbanded shortly thereafter, with Chris Kanyon placing his wrestling career on hiatus to work on the WCW produced film Ready to Rumble, where he served as stunt coordinator and as the stunt double of lead actor Oliver Platt.

Chris Kanyon claimed that he had become acclimatised to the glamor of Hollywood and thus began indulging in luxuries such as champagne, women, and expensive cars.

Chris Kanyon feuded briefly with Bigelow and Page before being removed from WCW by interim booker Kevin Sullivan.

Chris Kanyon returned to WCW once more on April 10,2000, when Vince Russo replaced Sullivan.

Chris Kanyon teamed with Page for several months, which climaxed at Slamboree with him attempting to save DDP from being powerbombed by Mike Awesome on top of the triple cage which was used in the Ready to Rumble movie.

Chris Kanyon saved Page, but Awesome turned his attention to Chris Kanyon, throwing him off the triple cage onto the ramp below, ending the pay-per-view in dramatic fashion.

Chris Kanyon then joined Eric Bischoff, the leader of the New Blood faction.

Chris Kanyon began arbitrarily delivering the Kutter to various WCW backstage employees, and at one point executed the move on Gene Okerlund and Buff Bagwell's mother Judy, leading to a short feud with the Bagwell family, which led to Buff Bagwell defeating Kanyon at New Blood Rising in a Judy Bagwell on a Forklift match.

Chris Kanyon returned to WCW on the February 5,2001 episode of Nitro attacking Diamond Dallas Page renewing his feud with Page.

Chris Kanyon returned to the ring and defeated Page at SuperBrawl Revenge on February 18,2001, but Page defeated Chris Kanyon in a rematch the following night on Nitro.

Chris Kanyon began feuding with Ernest "The Cat" Miller in March 2001.

Chris Kanyon made his WWF pay-per-view debut at Invasion, a one-off show featuring WWF superstars against former WCW and Extreme Championship Wrestling employees.

Chris Kanyon reformed his tag team with fellow Alliance member Diamond Dallas Page on the August 6,2001 edition of Raw when Chris Kanyon helped Page attack The Undertaker backstage.

Chris Kanyon went on to lose the WCW United States Championship to Tajiri on the September 10,2001 episode of Raw.

Chris Kanyon then had a small feud with Matt Hardy over Chris Kanyon hitting on Lita.

Chris Kanyon pinned Hardy on the September 24,2001 edition of Raw.

On October 29,2001, Chris Kanyon tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during a dark match with Randy Orton.

Chris Kanyon underwent surgery with Dr James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama and was sidelined for the remainder of the Invasion angle.

Chris Kanyon would appear only once in a cameo role at the Survivor Series pay-per-view.

In May 2002, Chris 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.

However, while wrestling Lance Cade in Lima, Ohio on July 13,2002 Chris Kanyon injured his left shoulder, suffering a humeral head contusion and supraspinatus tendinitis.

Chris Kanyon underwent surgery on July 21,2002 but began experiencing breathing difficulties on July 25,2002.

Chris Kanyon made one appearance in a backstage segment with the APA, where they wanted him to attend a battle royal at the next pay-per-view event.

On February 9,2004, after a year of facing two injuries and not being used in any major storylines, Chris Kanyon was officially released from his contract.

Chris Kanyon retired from professional wrestling on August 28,2004, after losing a retirement match to Diamond Dallas Page in Wayne, New Jersey.

Kanyon appeared at the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling pay-per-view Turning Point on December 11,2005, as Larry Zbyszko's choice, Chris K, losing to Raven.

Chris Kanyon appeared in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla taking on PWG champion, Joey Ryan.

Chris Kanyon came out of retirement on December 19,2009 for New York Wrestling Connection's Miracle On 57th Street defeating Alex Reynolds by disqualification.

Chris Kanyon continued working for the promotion before his death.

Chris Kanyon wrestled his last match on January 30,2010 as Mortis in a handicap match defeating Blake Morris and Mike Reed.

Chris Kanyon was released that same day after fellow wrestler Luke Hawx provided a US$750 cash bond.

Chris Kanyon publicly stated he did nothing wrong, and the case was thrown out of court.

In 2004, after Chris Kanyon's release from jail, he began what was thought to be a gimmick in which he was an openly gay wrestler.

Chris Kanyon later told reporters and radio personalities that this was just a publicity stunt, but later retracted those statements and acknowledged that he was, in fact, gay.

Chris Kanyon had been suffering from bipolar disorder, and he threatened suicide in the weeks prior to his death.

Chris Kanyon left behind a note of apology for his family.