Chris wrestler gay

By Thomas Golianopoulos

Chris Klucsarits' evening commenced on a difficult footing. In the backstage area of the New York Wrestling Connection Sportatorium, situated in Deer Park, Long Island, Klucsarits engaged in a discussion that could exclusively transpire at a professional wrestling affair: he found himself in a dispute with a promoter regarding the incorporation of an immense towing chain into his contest. Furthermore, he remained adamant about carrying a crystal-skull goblet filled with crimson Kool-Aid to the squared circle. During the earlier part of the day, he had been meticulously arranging arbitrary items—photographs, lumber—repeatedly, and to top it all off, he encountered challenges in affixing his wig. Simply stated, Klucsarits was experiencing a manic episode (a period of abnormally elevated mood).

"He was quite beside himself," stated Jim Mitchell, Klucsarits' one-time wrestling manager. "He was literally bouncing off the walls. If you were unaware, one might assume he was under the influence of methamphetamine (a powerful stimulant drug)."

On this specific night, Klucsarits would compete masked as "Mortis," which was his persona from his rise to prominence during the latter part of the 1990s. During that era, Klucsarits—professionally recognized as Chris Kanyon—was an emerging talent within the currently defunct World Championship Wrestling, a promotion formerly owned by Ted Turner. He was considered an inventive performer and the organization's preferred choice for instructing celebrity carpetbaggers, for instance, Karl Malone and Jay Leno, for their singular cash-in Pay Per View appearances. Klucsarits had also been actively attempting to gain a foothold in Hollywood, working as a stunt coordinator for the David Arquette wrestling production, Ready to Rumble. "I hold Chris Kanyon in high regard. He was an exceptional instructor," Arquette remarked. "He imparted to me the limited knowledge I possess regarding professional wrestling—encompassing how to absorb an impact, convincingly sell a maneuver, and conduct an interview. He stood as a true trailblazer in his particular world."

Currently, Klucsarits was hustling on the independent circuit, desperately trying to reclaim his previous position. World Wrestling Entertainment had terminated his employment in 2004, and now, six years later, he found himself in the minor leagues of professional wrestling. It resembled a scene directly extracted from The Wrestler, where the performers comprised a mix of locals, inexperienced individuals, and former stars. Klucsarits also sported short hair nowadays (a recent change). Which created a bit of a predicament.

Inside the locker room, Klucsarits earnestly pleaded for assistance; he was under the impression that his attire would appear utterly ludicrous devoid of the wig. He ultimately fastened the hairpiece and pulled his red mask over it. The massive towing chain was left behind, but Kanyon bore the crystal-skull goblet containing Kool-Aid with him as he proceeded toward the wrestling ring.

Where a complete unraveling ensued—commencing with the aforementioned wig.

Scarcely a few minutes into the match, Klucsarits delivered a punch, and concurrently, his wig drooped, covering his eyes and making him resemble Cousin It. The assembled spectators roared with laughter.

The waves of laughter threw him off balance, resulting in a poorly executed match. Klucsarits secured victory in the bout; however, the bizarre conduct persisted unabated. He partook of the liquid from the goblet and struck dramatic poses alongside enthusiasts. Subsequently, he deviated from his character and vociferously implored the sound personnel to play "The Lonely Man," the concluding theme music from "The Incredible Hulk." The wrestlers present backstage were rendered speechless. "Nobody had any desire to express anything," Mitchell stated. "Everyone regarded this individual as someone undergoing a profound mental breakdown."

Later at the lodging, Klucsarits conveyed his intention to end his own life. It was not the initial instance. Going back to 2003, he had consumed an entire bottle of sleeping medication. At that moment, his manager endeavored to offer solace. "I engaged him in conversation, guiding him through the situation," Mitchell recounted. "He retorted, 'No, each of you are behaving selfishly. My parents convey to me that they shall be heartbroken. My brother informs me that he shall be heartbroken. What considerations are being extended toward me? What about my personal damn sentiments?'"

"That particular evening, he disclosed to me that it was an issue of 'When,' as opposed to 'If.'"

Chris Klucsarits spiraled into one of the more unfortunate and remarkable downfalls within the chronicles of an industry replete with unfortunate and remarkable downfalls, and on the second of April, 2010, he took his own life at his residence in Sunnyside, Queens. Associates indicated that an empty container of the bipolar medication Seroquel lay in close proximity to him. He was forty years of age.

Chris Klucsarits, an individual hailing from New York City's Sunnyside neighborhood, experienced his life molded by his internal battle regarding his sexuality as well as his fixation on the world of professional wrestling. He wasn't particularly athletic during his formative years, but he frequented the gymnasium consistently, augmenting his slender 6'4" physique and harboring aspirations of replicating the achievements of his childhood idols, "Nature Boy" Ric Flair and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

He successfully secured a position on the rugby squad at SUNY-Buffalo and successfully obtained a degree in physical therapy; however, he was incapable of shaking off the irresistible allure of wrestling. "As a matter of fact, I attempted to dissuade Chris. I suggested, 'Would it not be a more advantageous course of action for you to remain solely as a physical therapist?'" inquired Robert "Bobby Bold Eagle" Cortes of the Lower East Side Wrestling Gym. Reportedly, Klucsarits gained $65,000 annually in his capacity as a physical therapist. "He directed a disapproving gaze at me and proclaimed, 'Are you insane, Bobby? I am extremely passionate about wrestling.'"

Subsequently, he relocated southward, participating in wrestling engagements in South Carolina and Memphis, ultimately attaining his significant breakthrough subsequent to signing an agreement with Atlanta-headquartered WCW. Klucsarits might not have possessed the most captivating charisma; nonetheless, he dedicated countless hours engrossed in viewing wrestling footage hailing from various corners of the globe, striving to unearth any unconventional and visually striking wrestling hold. The strenuous endeavor yielded positive results. In 1997, Klucsarits debuted as "Mortis"—a character that bore a strong resemblance to the immensely popular Mortal Kombat video game franchise. While the premise may have been somewhat absurd, and Mortis failed to establish a connection with the fan base, his in-ring performance was nothing short of exceptional. "Despite how ludicrous the gimmick appeared," remarked Jody Hamilton, his WCW trainer, "Chris came exceptionally near to popularizing the character merely on account of executing novel maneuvers that individuals had not formerly witnessed."

Once unmasked, he adopted the moniker "Chris Kanyon" and performed admirably within the mid-card spectrum—although his distinct lisp and the recurring procession of uninspired gimmicks impeded his prospects of attaining a main event position. "It was unlikely that he would ascend to the role of top contender; however, he remained one of my preferred individuals with whom to collaborate," professed Page "Diamond Dallas Page" Faulkenberg, who held the WCW Heavyweight Championship on three occasions. "One of the inherent drawbacks of possessing exceptional in-ring aptitude lies in the propensity to be paired alongside other competitors with the intention of enhancing their reputation."

That matter did not seem to disquiet Klucsarits. According to his friends, he exhibited pride regarding the trajectory of his career. Nevertheless, his foremost concern revolved around concealing his true sexual orientation. Klucsarits came to the realization that he was gay subsequent to an attempt at kissing a girl at the age of eleven. "There was no spark," he expressed later on. "I [then comprehended] that my sexual identity would remain constant throughout my existence and that my journey would not be devoid of complications."

He initially engaged in a physical encounter with another male—an unfamiliar adolescent he encountered in a recreational area—at the age of seventeen. However, following a brief interlude by the jungle gym equipment, Klucsarits explicitly instructed him to refrain from approaching him ever again. Subsequently, the internet streamlined the procedure of arranging encounters, but Klucsarits never sustained a committed romantic affiliation or attained a sense of ease within the LGBTQ+ community. "He did not harbor particularly favorable sentiments toward individuals identifying as gay," stated Robert McLearren, his associate. "He displayed a preference for 'straight-acting' homosexuals."

Klucsarits seamlessly assimilated into the profoundly macho realm of professional wrestling. He would routinely engage in drinking sessions alongside his male counterparts subsequent to occasions, and at times he even engaged in coquetry with women. "He did, in actuality, engage in sexual relations with women," disclosed Mike Passariello, his friend.

Jim Mitchell was amongst the vanguard of individuals to whom he disclosed his true sexual orientation. "It solely transpired on account of his cousins having caught him in possession of gay pornography. While they were assisting him during a relocation, some gay adult material fell from one of his pieces of luggage. He succumbed to panic, consequently enlisting me to contact his cousins and falsely assert that I had 'inadvertently left one of my belongings in his custody.'"

Klucsarits eventually disclosed his true sexual orientation to his family approximately ten years in the past. He initially confided in his elder brother, Ken, who subsequently relayed the information to their parents. He proceeded to inform the preponderance of his associates by means of AOL Instant Messenger.

During this temporal frame, Klucsarits was engaged in wrestling for WWE subsequent to their acquisition of WCW in March of 2001. He encountered some preliminary triumphs, securing the United States title and the Tag Team title; nonetheless, it was allegedly professed that WWE executives did not favor his innovative sequence of maneuvers as well as his comprehensive wrestling approach. Then came the spate of injuries. During October of 2001, he sustained a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament, and he was subsequently subjected to hospitalization owing to a staph infection localized within his left bicep. One evening, his lungs became saturated with fluid, necessitating a life-saving emergency surgical intervention. He remained hospitalized for a span of two weeks, during which he shed a total of thirty pounds.

Klucsarits did not make his re-emergence on WWE television broadcasts until February 13, 2003. Throughout the course of a surreal segment, Klucsarits emerged from within a sizable container (or, quite possibly, a closet), outfitted in attire reminiscent of Boy George, and sang "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" as a taunt directed toward his erstwhile adversary, The Undertaker, prior to launching an assault. The Undertaker gained the upper hand and eviscerated Klucsarits by means of a steel chair; the ultimate chair strike, in reality, rendered him unconscious. Klucsarits later conveyed that he had received directives from a WWE employee to "sing in the manner of a faggot."

During the weeks preceding this event, Klucsarits floated the prospect of publicly declaring his homosexuality, thereby becoming the pioneering openly gay professional wrestler. "I could not definitively ascertain whether this pronouncement originated as a tacit directive from [WWE Chairman] Vince [McMahon] intended to dissuade me from publicly revealing my sexual orientation," Klucsarits subsequently documented on his MySpace weblog. "Consequently, I sustained my pursuit of the concept, harboring hopes of eliciting a verbal affirmation from Vince." The Boy George episode constituted his concluding major appearance on WWE programming. He experienced a demotion to WWE's subordinate productions and was relieved of his duties in February of 2004.

Klucsarits consequently retired from the realm of wrestling and embraced life as an openly gay individual residing in Florida. He asserted in an interview facilitated by outsports.com that "my sexuality acted as the catalyst for my depressive state, the impetus behind my suicide attempt." During his subsequent treatment, he received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (a mental condition causing unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity, concentration, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks).

Throughout the course of the severe "lows," Klucsarits would frequently remain confined to his bed for extended durations. At certain junctures, he forfeited his connection with reality. "Chris maintained a conviction in the existence of parallel universes," McLearren revealed. "He was under the impression that he had perished in one such alternate reality. Subsequent to the evening in which his lungs became saturated with fluid, he experienced a forfeiture of his [wrestling] career, a circumstance that signified, according to his perception, that his existence had reached its culmination. I recall a phone conversation in which he queried, 'For what duration have I been deceased?' He was situated in proximity to a facility in New York, prepared to voluntarily commit himself owing to the overwhelming sense of being beyond his personal command at that juncture." As an undertaking designed to regain possession of command, Klucsarits orchestrated a resurgence.

Throughout the span of his vocation, Klucsarits embodied a masked Thai combatant, a disreputable cult adherent, in addition to an unhinged stalker. In actuality, Chris Klucsarits identified as a gay individual who labored under the conviction that his sexuality may have played a causative role in his involuntary termination. He resolved that Chris Kanyon ought to embody that very same persona (an openly gay wrestler).

During February of 2006, he publicly disclosed his sexual orientation at an independent wrestling exhibition situated in Sudbury, Ontario. The audience was taken aback, and so were the participating wrestlers. "Several individuals questioned whether it was a deliberate fabrication, as in, an element of the storyline," articulated Chris "Cody Deaner" Grey. "Wrestlers possess an inherent inclination to perceive all phenomena as premeditated fabrications."

Subsequent to coming out in Sudbury, Klucsarits composed a press release stating that "Chris Kanyon," the character, identified as gay. This maneuver intended to cultivate interest emanating from WWE as well as Total Nonstop Action, a nascent promotion headquartered in Orlando: The overarching strategy involved securing a new contractual agreement and making a public pronouncement on national television. Both promotional entities declined to extend offers.

"We invariably endeavor to grant previous talent secondary evaluations," affirmed Robert Zimmerman, the WWE spokesperson. "We reached the determination that his aptitude was limited at best with regard to the requisites of the position. Due to this assessment, we would not extend a re-employment offer."

Klucsarits revealed his authentic self at an independent Pay Per View occasion one month thereafter. He was of the opinion that WWE and TNA had forfeited a groundbreaking and potentially well-received narrative arc. "I harbor absolutely no reservations that one could successfully cultivate a positive gay role model within the domain of professional wrestling," proclaimed Barry Alvarez, the editor responsible for the wrestling newsletter referred to as Figure Four Weekly. "The undertaking would be fraught with complexities. I would refrain from characterizing wrestling enthusiasts as obstinately resistant to change; however, they do not invariably manifest a progressive mindset."

Professional wrestling has a questionable past regarding underrepresented groups. If a performer exhibits any trace of an accent, it is assumed that he or she is an inherently villainous foreigner. Gimmicks that capitalized on homosexual stereotypes catered to even more abhorrent prejudices. Previous acts, exemplified by Adrian Adonis, Billy and Chuck, the West Hollywood Blondes, as well as Orlando Jordan, an openly bisexual individual who is currently under the employ of TNA, employed makeup, donned pink ring apparel, and exploited their "sexuality" with the intention of procuring cheap notoriety from the spectators.

Klucsarits aspired to depict a formidable character who, by mere circumstance, identified as gay. And within this environment characterized by Proposition 8, Carl Paladino, the ghastly "Goonies" assaults that transpired in the Bronx, coupled with the suicide of Tyler Clementi, Klucsarits possessed the capacity to exert a favorable influence.

"He sought to function as a paragon for individuals concealing their true sexual orientation," Grey elucidated. "He yearned to furnish an illustration for adolescent males grappling with questions pertaining to their sexual identity, who furthermore were subjected to taunting."

Klucsarits undertook one final endeavor with the objective of securing re-employment. On the eighth of September, 2006, he attended a WWE spectacle in Tampa, Florida, where he raised signs directed at WWE luminaries Triple H and Shawn Michaels. The messages inscribed on the signs conveyed, "HHH, please inquire of Vince the authentic grounds for my termination," in addition to "Shawn, please offer a prayer for my gay soul." He was ultimately ejected from the premises.

"Chris stated that Stephanie had accorded him the green light to undertake any course of action he deemed suitable. I am of the opinion that she [reasoned], 'As you are not presently under our employment, you possess the liberty to pursue any action you deem suitable.' Conversely, he [reasoned], 'Let us [proceed to] construct the narrative arc.'"

That subsequent autumn, Klucsarits discovered a platform to unleash his criticism of WWE through an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show." He irrevocably severed his ties with the corporation when he united with former colleagues Mike Sanders and Scott "Raven" Levy during July of 2008, collectively initiating a lawsuit against WWE that challenged the entrenched convention of classifying wrestlers as independent contractors. "He appeared to harbor an accumulation of animosity residing within him pertaining to his portrayal in WWE," commented Mike Sanders. The lawsuit was promptly dismissed in light of the expiry of the applicable statute of limitations.

Isolated from the domain he held dear, Klucsarits was profoundly disheartened. He terminated his relationships with associates, only infrequently engaging in communication by means of text messaging. Nonetheless, he actively sought intervention. Klucsarits engaged in researching LSD treatment intended for addressing bipolar disorder, and he furthermore ingested anti-depressant pharmaceutical agents—albeit not with dependable consistency.

Furthermore, he established contact with Christopher Nowinski, a former professional wrestler who had since retired, currently acting as the co-director for the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy stationed at the Boston University School of Medicine. Klucsarits asserted that he had sustained no fewer than twelve concussions throughout the duration of his vocation and further posited that these traumatic injuries had played a contributory role in his depression.

"There is a disease referred to as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, wherein depression may manifest as a symptom," Nowinski elucidated. "We have, in fact, diagnosed [individuals] post mortem with CTE subsequent to their preliminary diagnosis of [bipolar disorder]. Taking into consideration the pace at which we are issuing diagnoses of CTE in athletes who have sustained comparable levels of brain trauma exposure, it would occasion no surprise were Chris to have been afflicted by CTE coincident with his demise."

"Chris metamorphosed from a cheerful, balanced individual to an individual who evidently endured brain damage," Passariello remarked. "Observing his progressive decline over those years induced profound anguish."

During his twilight years, Klucsarits occupied positions as an insurance agent, concurrently reverting to the field of physical therapy. His tenure at either of these engagements proved to be ephemeral. "He experienced a forfeiture of all confidence in his inherent capabilities due to the protracted duration elapsing since his most recent engagement in these vocations," McLearren explicated. "He was simply overwhelmed (feeling burdened and stressed)." He simultaneously entertained aspirations of inaugurating a wrestling academy in Sunnyside, but the realization of this ambition did not progress beyond the preparatory phases.

His friends are bereft of any comprehension of the catalyst that precipitated Klucsarits's crossing of the threshold—they alluded to predicaments pertaining to the IRS, imminent eviction proceedings, in addition to curtailments in Medicaid allocations.

On the seventh of April, 2010, within a funeral establishment situated along Queens Blvd, Chris Kanyon action figurines adorned a table. Bobby Bold Eagle was numbered among the expansive multitude of former and current professional wrestlers in attendance at the vigil. He engaged in hushed discourse with Klucsarits's parents.

"We collectively succumbed to an emotional outpouring," he recounted. "I avowed to the father, 'Look, sir, I extend my regrets concerning my provision of training to your offspring for participation within this vocation. Please refrain from harboring animosity toward myself, on account of the singular nature of his aspirations in life.'"

Thomas Golianopoulos is a writer residing in New York City, having had his work showcased in The New York Times, New York Observer, Spin, Vibe, alongside several other platforms. You may engage with him through on Twitter.

Photographs extracted from the collection belonging to Robert McLearren.