10 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: Chris Candido & Sunny

3. Mick Foley Was Shocked By Drug Problems

Dark Side Of The Ring VICE Chris Candido Sunny
VICE

No, Mick wasn't shocked that drug or substance abuse issues existed/exist in pro wrestling generally. Instead, he was taken aback that his friend Chris Candido could go down that dark path. Candido lived a clean cut lifestyle, and was more likely to be in the gym than anywhere else.

Chris's problems didn't properly start until he'd suffered a broken neck during a 1996 match vs. The Smoking Gunns. Candido got hurt during the finish at MSG, and began taking pain pills to manage the after effects from that moment on. Then, he started taking pills to help him sleep, and to control his emotional state.

That last revelation was downright chilling.

Things spiralled from there, but didn't really kick into high gear until Candido reached ECW. By then, Sunny was taking drugs recreationally, and that became part of the couple's day-to-day lifestyle. Foley was surprised by that, because he didn't think they'd get sucked into drugs.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.