[TNA] Sean Waltman on Chris Candido

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I was informed last night that another friend is gone. I tried to start writing this at the time, but was just unable to type the first word without breaking down. I thought if I slept on it that it would be a little easier today. I was wrong. So F*** it, I have to say good bye to you Chris. As hard as it is for me, It’s just as hard or maybe harder for so many others who have gotten to know and love you through all of the years you have been in our sport. As I continue to wipe the tears from my face & off this keyboard, I can only imagine the pain Tammy and the rest of your family are feeling. I am thinking about the first time we met at Dennis Corraluzo’s show in Jersey back in 1991. What were we? I guess 19 at the time. I remember how excited about wrestling we were back then & I remember how you were just as excited about wrestling & life when I saw you for the last time at the hotel in Orlando Tuesday night. If you haven’t noticed, I am doing alot of remembering right now. Like the time I worked that guy in Clementon, NJ for Dennis & Larry Sharpe and he came off the top while I was on the floor, his bodyweight driving my head into the concrete floor damn near killing me. I don’t remember a thing but he was suppose to do the job for me, so he picked me up by the “head” rolled me into the ring and somehow had me pin him as I was out cold. You all were so pissed You threw his shit out of the building and ran him out or something. Like I said, I don’t remember anything until waking up in the hospital. It was You and Tammy, Dennis & Glenn Ruth I saw standing over me. I can’t help thinking about the show we ran in Minneapolis with Dennis. Terry Funk & Hawk, Myself & Sabu, You & Jerry Lynn, Tazz, Masa Saito. Holy shit what a line up that was & that was pre ECW days. Well I know alot of people thought Sabu & I had such a great match, but I have always said the best match on that show was without a doubt You & Jerry Lynn. Phyllis Lee was at that show. I believe that was the fist time you met her. I say that because the last thing we did the other night was exchange numbers, I called yours & you answered it “Phyllis Lee Fan Club”. It was funny to us. If most of the people reading this are wondering why I am rambling on so much about such things, it’s because I’m writing this to you, not them. Damn, I could go on and on after nearly 15 years of knowing each other. It was good to see You and Tammy at the XPW shows a few years ago. I wasn’t too good to see how bad we both were doing health wise at the time & then I came back to TNA and there you were looking fresh and excited like You did the first day I met you in New Jersey in 1991. Chris you did it. You went out with people remembering a Chris Candido at his best. Obviously we all will miss you. Please say hello to Curt, Hawk, Owen, Boss Man, Louie, Joe C., The Great Malenko(who was like a father to me), and everyone else I haven’t named that you are probably standing right next to. I miss you all very much. Peace be with you.

Your friend,

Sean Waltman

Credit: WrestlingObserver.com

Matthew Michaels is editor emeritus of Pulse Wrestling, and has been since the site launched.