Ric Flair Issues Statement Ahead Of Chris Kanyon Dark Side Of The Ring Episode

Ric Flair issued a statement ahead of last night's Dark Side Of The Ring episode on the life and career of Chris Kanyon.

Kanyon performed in WCW before joining WWE in 2001 after Vince McMahon bought the promotion. Kanyon would wrestle in WWE until he was released in 2004.

Kanyon claimed in several interviews following his release that he was let go by WWE because he was an openly homosexual wrestler, including on The Howard Stern Show in 2006. Flair called into the show to dispute Kanyon's claims, though, and Flair said Kanyon was released by WWE because he wasn't good enough.

Kanyon, who struggled with depression and bipolar disorder during his life, told RF Video that he considered suicide after the 2006 show because he idolised Flair and considered him a hero.

The incident on The Howard Stern Show was referenced on Kanyon's Dark Side Of The Ring episode and Flair issued the following statement ahead of the episode:

"Breaks my heart to hear later on that he took this so hard. Calling into guests that were seen as 'hostile' to WWE was part of the job then. I should not have said that nobody had 'ever' been released; there's no way I could have known that for sure.

"I was holding the company line. Love is love is love is love and everyone should be able to love whoever and however they choose without fear of reprisal. I wasn't a huge Kanyon fan as a worker; but Chris Klucsarits was a hell of a good guy."

Following struggles with depression and bipolar disorder, Chris Kanyon took his own life in 2010.