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Chris Klucsarits

Chris Klucsarits

Christopher Morgan Klucsarits was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation under the ring names Chris Kanyon (or simply Kanyon) and Mortis. As a youth, Kanyon played roller hockey, basketball, and baseball at school. He attended Archbishop Molloy High School, located in Queens NY, graduating in 1988. In 1992 he graduated from the University at Buffalo with a bachelor's degree in physical therapy. During his time there, he was a member of the Mad Turtles, the University of Buffalo Rugby Football Club. Kanyon worked full-time as a physical therapist for three years before becoming a wrestler. Kanyon debuted in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a jobber. After several months he was placed with Mark Starr in a tag team called "Men at Work". Their gimmick was that they were two construction workers turned wrestlers who wore jeans to the ring, and that Kanyon would cause the team to suffer losses by taking measurements with his tape measure at inopportune times. Kanyon was replaced with Mike Winner before the team disbanded altogether.

Kanyon appeared on the CNN special Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling, in November 2007 following the aftermath of the Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide. On the program, Kanyon stated that on September 14, 2003 he had taken 50 sleeping pills in a suicide attempt.

In the early hours of October 16, 2004, he was arrested in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida for "disorderly conduct and resisting arrest without violence" after attempting to break up a fight. He was released that same day after fellow wrestler Altar Boy Luke provided a US$750 cash bond. Kanyon publicly stated he did nothing wrong, and the case was thrown out of court.

Kanyon, along with Raven and Michael Sanders, attempted to sue WWE for "cheating them out of health care and other benefits" but a federal judge in Stamford, Connecticut dismissed the case.

In 2004, after Kanyon's release from WWE, he began a gimmick in which he was an openly gay wrestler. This included a publicity stunt wherein he stated that WWE released him from his contract because of his sexuality. Kanyon later told reporters and radio personalities that this was just a publicity stunt.[6] He later retracted these statements and acknowledged that he was in fact gay. Before his death Kanyon was working on a book, Wrestling Reality, with Ryan Clark. The book was released November 1, 2011, and it details Kanyon's struggles as a closeted gay man.

Kanyon had been suffering from bipolar disorder, and he threatened suicide in the weeks prior to his death. On April 2, 2010, his brother Ken Klucsarits found him dead in his Sunnyside, Queens, New York apartment with an empty bottle of antidepressants. He left behind a note of apology for his family. His death was acknowledged by WWE

Out in the Ring

2022

You Cannot Kill David Arquette

2020

as Self (archive footage)

Dark Side of the Ring

2019

as Self (Archive Footage)

The Very Best of WCW Monday Nitro Vol.3

2015

as Kanyon

The Very Best of Monday Nitro: Volume 2

2013

as Kanyon

Death Grip: Inside Pro Wrestling

2007

as Self

WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

2006

as Mortis

PWG: Astonishing X-Mas

2005

as Chris Kanyon

TNA Turning Point 2005

2005

as Chris K

TNA iMPACT!

2004

WWE WrestleMania XX

2004

as Kanyon

WWE No Mercy 2001

2001

as Chris Kanyon (Heat)

4th Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show

2001

as Kanyon

WWE SummerSlam 2001

2001

as Chris Kanyon

WWE InVasion

2001

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Greed

2001

as Kanyon

WCW SuperBrawl Revenge

2001

as Kanyon

WCW New Blood Rising

2000

as Kanyon

WCW Bash at the Beach 2000

2000

as Kanyon

WCW Slamboree 2000

2000

as Chris Kanyon

Ready to Rumble

2000

as Stunt Double

WCW Road Wild 1999

1999

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Bash at the Beach 1999

1999

as Chris Kanyon

WCW The Great American Bash 1999

1999

as Chris Kanyon

The Jesse Ventura Story

1999

as Kanyon / Mortis

WCW World War 3 1998

1998

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Fall Brawl 1998

1998

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Road Wild 1998

1998

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Bash at the Beach '98

1998

as Chris Kanyon (Appearance)

WCW The Great American Bash 1998

1998

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Thunder

1998

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Thunder

1998

as Mortis

WCW World War 3 1997

1997

as Mortis

WCW Fall Brawl 1997

1997

as Mortis

WCW Bash at The Beach 1997

1997

as Mortis

WCW The Great American Bash 1997

1997

as Mortis (Cornerman)

WCW Slamboree 1997

1997

as Mortis

WCW Uncensored 1997

1997

as Mortis

WXW Rage TV

1996

WCW World War 3 1995

1995

as Chris Kanyon

WCW Monday Nitro

1995

WWE Raw

1993

as Chris Kanyon