Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.
Chris Duffy
Chris Duffy was trained by the legendary Killer Kowalski and made his pro debut back in 1985. Like many other former Kowalski students, Duffy was used extensively by the WWF starting in 1986. Duffy was used by the WWF primarily as enhancement talent, to get over big name stars like Jake Roberts, Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, Saba Simba and Bret Hart. When Duffy wasn’t being used in the WWF, he was a mainstay of several independent groups in the New England area where he was known as ‘Gorgeous’ Chris Duffy. He won a number of regional titles and was considered a reliable hand everywhere he wrestled.
The WWF continued to use Duffy in various matches up until 1997, when the company started phasing out traditional TV squash matches. Duffy’s most memorable segment is when he dressed up as Santa Claus and was given a stunner by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Duffy also had a tryout in the WWF under hockey gimmick of ‘The Goon’ before it was given to Bill Irwin.
On August 24, 2000…Duffy suffered a brain aneurysm in his sleep and died. His organs and tissues were donated by his mother to help 47 patients in need. Christopher Thomas Duffy was just 35 years old at the time of his death.