Synopses & Reviews
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 Kanyons 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 Kanyons last words about his experience rising through the ranks to the top of the professional wrestling world while keeping his sexuality hidden.
Review
"Kanyon is brutally honest about the wrestlers he meets, his decision to take steroids, and exploring his sexuality." —www.unshelved.com (December 2011)
Review
"[I]n-depth, honest and touching. It is not only the best biography that I have read on a wrestler, it is one of the best biographies I had read ever . . . period." —www.BookLegionDotCom.blogspot.com (December 2011)
Review
"[T]he book is fascinating, both as a look at Kanyon personally and a trip through his wrestling career." —www.BleacherReport.com (November 2011)
About the Author
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 Its 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