Chris Kanyon
Posted by Steve Urena
on 10/01/2004
Interviewer's Note:
Kanyon is a truly ruthless competitor who has won many championships in most notably WCW and WWF. He was one of WCWs brightest stars in the Monday Night wars who will be missed in the wrestling ring. He had his retirement match at CSWF's Cybercade against former partner Diamond Dallas Page. If you want to see his last match look for the Cybercade DVD coming soon. you can purchase it at www.cswfol.com
Steve Urena: How did you get involved in wrestling?
Chris Kanyon: My father was watching it and I was watching it with him. Once I saw it, I fell in love with it. I was six years old at the time. By the age of 14, I went to the garden the night Hogan won the belt. At that moment, I pretty much decided that’s what I wanted to do.
Steve Urena: What was your favorite match that you have competed in and why?
Chris Kanyon: It would be so hard to single it out, but overall technically my favorite wasn’t on a PPV, it was on a televised Thunder taping against "The Crippler" Chris Benoit. I enjoyed it and the fans really did too. Another favorite was when I was Mortis and went up against Glacier and Ernest Miller while I teamed with Wrath. I am real proud of those matches.
Steve Urena: Who would you rather compete as Mortis or Kanyon?
Chris Kanyon: It depends on the situation. I never felt like we used Mortis to his true potential. He could have been marketed because he is such a different character than Kanyon. But then again, it depends on the situation. I enjoyed doing both.
Steve Urena: What are your opinions on The Monday Night Wars?
Chris Kanyon: I think its one of the best things to happen to wrestling. The amount of people who were watching wrestling at that time was absolutely incredible. competition is the best thing for any sport. Most people say wrestling is not real competition, but those Monday Night wars were absolute competition. The boys felt it between themselves and it was just a tremendous time for us and that was such a great feeling to be apart of that. It was fun to win and horrible when we started losing.
Steve Urena: What was the title that meant most to you?
Chris Kanyon: Wow. Holding the U.S title was great because it was a singles title. I would have liked to win it in a match, but then again every title is pretty much given to you. It was such an honor to hold that belt and the company was behind me enough to let me run with it. Also both WWF and WCW tag titles simultaneously at the same time was also great because me and Page are about 1 of 8 tag teams I think to hold both those titles, so that was pretty important. Making history is just a great feeling.
Steve Urena: What do you rather like doing singles or tag team wrestling?
Chris Kanyon: Two different styles. If you are working with a good partner that you get along with and teams that you click with, Tag Team competition is more fun. There is just so much more you can do with another person. It can be difficult because singles wrestling you have more control over what's going on than in tag team wrestling.
Steve Urena: Do you have any advice to someone who wants to become a wrestler?
Chris Kanyon: Well, the key is to really want it. If you want to do it for any other motive than just loving it, you shouldn’t be in wrestling. It’s a cliche, but it's true. Money can't buy happiness. If it's something you're going to be happy with, do it and if it isn't, find something you love and have a passion for.
Steve Urena: Can you tell me your thoughts on the Triad group in WCW?
Chris Kanyon: Just a fun time. A really fun time and very unique and different. I loved it because I was getting a really big rub from WCW and working with Bam Bam Bigelow, who wrestled Lawrence Taylor in a Wrestlemania, and DDP was an established person on the roster who I enjoyed working with as a partner, and it was an honor working against the likes of the Horsemen and Harlem Heat. Just a fun time in my career.
Steve Urena: What do you think of the Hardcore/Backyard wrestling in today's generation.
Chris Kanyon: No matter what activity there is, someone will always imitate it. Whether its football, baseball, basketball or hockey, sports will always be imitated. Wrestling is just like everything else. I just don’t want kids to go overboard and hurt themselves badly. My advice is to have fun with it, and don’t cripple yourself because it's not worth being crippled for.
Steve Urena: Who do you think has the brightest future in wrestling?
Chris Kanyon: First time I saw Randy Orton, I said he would be the future of wrestling and I pretty much hit the nail on the head with that one. There is a young kid named Johnny Jeter in OVW and a friend of mine named Bryan Page, who I think will make a huge impact in wrestling.
Steve Urena: What do you think of Macho Man's Rapping?
Chris Kanyon: [Laughs] Macho Man is a great Wrestler. I haven't listened to it enough to comment, but he is a great guy who is fun to be around.
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