By Wade Keller, Torch editor

Chris Candido, 1993 (photo by Wade Keller, PWTorch)

-Chris Candido's brother Johnny Candito posted a message about the death of his brother on the USAProWrestling.net message board. He wrote: "I find it only fitting you hear the truth from me about the death of my best friend, brother, and soulmate. Chris died tonight due to a blood clot brought on by complications with his surgery. I just want to tell everyone that in their sorrow, find a way to be happy that he went out the way he wanted to... on top of the world, blonde, tan, and loving life up until the last minute. Every ounce of my brother loved this sport, and for him to go out 2 or 3 years ago wouldn't have been a fitting end to the life of such a determined, passionate, and benevolent human being. I truly view my brother as an angel as will all who knew him. Thanks to everyone for all your positive press, Chris went out a happy man and will forever live on as the (one of) greatest of all time. He would have had it no other way."

-One wrestler who cannot have his name attached to his comments did want me to post the following about Chris on the website: "He was so good, so generous, so giving. Why him? Why take him away? He made mistakes, but only mistakes that hurt him, not anybody else. It's absolutely tragedy to lose someone like him. Chris never wrestled for the payoffs. He did it because he loves the sport. It's who he was. He touched people's lives. He made you a better person just to know him and be around him."

-C.M. Punk wrote on his website: "I f**king quit. Nothing f**king matters. Not all the hard work, not all the miles and sleepless nights. Nothing. God f**king damnit. It's not right. f**k. It's so not f**king right. I miss you Chris. I really f**king miss you. f**k. XpunkX ."

-Candido was at ringside for a match scheduled to air this afternoon on TNA Impact on Fox Sports Net. He managed The Naturals from a wheelchair at ringside as they defeated America's Most Wanted for the NWA Tag Team Titles.

-Reminder: You can always quickly and easily catch up on the latest TNA News updates you might have missed by scanning down about two inches on this page to the listing of the links to the latest 12 "TNA News" updates. For the most comprehensive insider coverage of TNA, subscribe to the Torch Newsletter.

Chris Candido mid-'90s (photo by L. Brand, PWTorch)

Chris Candido, 1993 (photo by Wade Keller, PWTorch)

Chris Candido with girlfriend Tammy Sytch (photo by Mike Lano, PWTorch)

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