Wrestling Reality The Life and Mind of Chris Kanyon, Wrestling's Gay Superstar

by Kanyon, Chris; Clark, Ryan

• ISBN13: 9781770410282
• ISBN10: 1770410287
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-11-01
• Publisher: Ecw Press

Summary

A rare glimpse not only into the life of a professional wrestler, but the life of a gay man in a straight world, this tragic memoir is told in Chris Kanyon's own words, with the help of journalist Ryan Clark. One of the most popular wrestlers of the late 1990s, Kanyon kept his personal life private from his fans until finally revealing his biggest secret in 2004: he was gay. Going through the various roles that Kanyon played, both in the ring and out of it, as well as his battle with manic depression, this book explores the factors that led to his suicide in 2010. In his voice and the way he wanted it told, these are Kanyon's last words about his experience rising through the ranks to the top of the professional wrestling world while keeping his sexuality hidden.

Author Biography

Chris Kanyon (1970–2010), born Christopher Klucsarits, was an American professional wrestler best known for his work in World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation. Ryan Clark is an editor, an instructor at Northern Kentucky University, and a writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He lives in Burlington, Kentucky.

Table of Contents

Preface / ix Introduction, by Jim Mitchell / xii Prologue: September 14, 2003 / 1 I The Rise of Kanyon 1 Growing Up in Sunnyside / 09 2 Waiting for Fireworks / 16 3 The Long Skate Home / 21 4 Culture Shock / 25 5 It’s So Fake / 30 6 Redemption / 35 7 Roman Candles / 38 8 The Turnbuckle of My Dreams / 43 9 My College Education / 47 10 Chasing My Dream / 52 11 Secrets and Steven Tyler / 58 12 Pete and the Lower East Side Wrestling Gym / 65 13 The Debut of Chris Morgan / 73 14 My “Faggy” Wrestling Costume / 78 15 The Land of Trailers and Freaks / 83 16 Mistakes / 95 17 Awe and Disgust in the Mirror / 103 18 Smoky Mountain High / 108 19 Screwed but Moving On / 116 20 Say Hello to Afa / 127 21 Relationships, Personality and My Gimmick / 138 22 Party in Memphis / 144 23 Out of a Job, on to the Power Plant / 154 II The Fall o f Chris 24 Diamond Dallas Page / 165 25 The Strange Life of a Single Gay Wrestler / 170 26 California Dreaming and Making My Name / 177 27 Success as Mortis, Overshadowed by nWo / 184 28 The Online Dating Scene / 193 29 Negotiations / 201 30 Death on the Autobahn? / 206 31 The Return of Kidman, the Debut of Blood Runs Cold / 211 32 Heels, Sullivan and the Bucket / 216 33 Frustrations / 223 34 Injecting the Needle / 232 35 From Mortis to Kanyon / 238 36 To Hollywood and Toronto — and Back / 245 37 The ww f and the Effect of 9/11 / 271 38 Did Vince Really Want to Hurt Me? / 288 III The Batt le for Chris Kanyon 39 Fighting Back Outside the Ring / 295 40 Kanyon Vs. Flair / 300 41 Enjoy the Journey, Enjoy Your Life / 303 Epilogue: April 2, 2010 / 307 Acknowledgments / 311