By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
In this spotlight, we’ll look into the wrestling career of Christopher Alan Pallies. He was commonly known as King Kong Bundy in his career.
He was born in Woodbury, New Jersey on Nov. 7, 1955. He also attended Washington Township High School, which is located in Sewell, New Jersey.
Pallies graduated there in 1973.
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As a young boy, he began training to wrestle at the “Monster Factory” in Bellmawr, New Jersey. He then made his wrestling debut on March 7, 1981 in the World Wrestling Federation as “Chris Canyon.”
He would use both “Chris Canyon” and “Chris Cannon” early on in his wrestling career. One year after being his wrestling journey, he moved to Texas to compete in the World Class Wrestling Association in 1982.
He worked with the famous Von Erich family, where he worked as “Big Daddy Bundy.” Following a dispute with the family, he then was recruited by “Playboy” Gary Hart, when he was re-introduced as “King Kong Bundy.”
He began wearing the black singlet and lost his hair, as he became bald. When Fritz Von Erich had his retirement match in 1982, King Kong Bundy was his opponent at Texas Stadium.
Besides competing in WCWA, he also competed in the American Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Alliance. When he was dominating opponents, he would ask the referee to count to five instead of the standard three count, which started during his tenure with Mid-South Wrestling.
He returned to the World Wrestling Federation in 1985. Pallies worked there up until his semi-retirement in 1988.
After several years away, he came back to the WWF in 1994, as part of Ted DiBiase’s stable, The Million Dollar Corporation. One year later, he left WWF again and competed for independent wrestling companies from 1995 through 2007.
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Besides being an in-ring competitor, he also was an actor. In 1986, he appeared in TV commercials and print advertisements for Vendex HeadStart personal computer.
In addition, he also had several spots with Married …. with Children. His character was named “Bundy.”
He first was Uncle Irwin, who was the brother of Peggy Bundy in 1987. Plus, he also served as his own character, King Kong Bundy, in 1995, as he teached Bud how to wrestle.
He also appeared in the 1988 movie “Moving” as Gorgo. His character was part of a trio of ex-cons, who were careless movers.
Pallies also was part of an episode of Weird Science. Plus, he also was on Boy Meets World.
He also was in the 2011 independent film, Fight the Panda Syndicate, which he played the character Otto Belmar. He also attempted a career in stand-up comedy outside of the ring.
Besides being known as Chris Canyon, Chris Cannon and King Kong Bundy, he also competed as Crippler Canyon, Big Daddy Bundy, Boom Boom Bundy, and Man Mountain Cannon Jr. His in-ring career began in 1981 and ended in 2007.
He was nicknamed the “Walking Condominium” as he was 6-foot-4 and 444 pounds.
One of the highlights of his wrestling career is competing against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2 in Los Angeles, California in 1986. He lost to Hogan in the steel cage match, as he retained his championship.
He also competed in the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985 when he defeated Special Delivery Jones in nine seconds.
He appeared in 1,179 matches in his career. He won 637 with 487 losses and 55 draws.
In his final year of competition, he won all six matches, as he competed in Big Time Wrestling, National Wrestling Superstars, Universyl Wrestling Enterprises, and Susquehanna Wrestling Organization.
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His final match came against Richard Byrne in a win at the Big Time Wrestling Event at The Boys & Girls Club in Springfield, Mass. on May 12, 2007.
He was the NWA America Tag Team Champion twice. He was first the Tag Team Champion with Bugsy McGraw and later Bill Irwin.
He also was a two-time NWA American Heavyweight Champion. Pallies also won the NWA National Tag Team Champion with The Masked Superstar.
In addition, he also was the AWA Southern Tag Team Champion with Rick Rude. Plus, he won the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship.
He also was the AWA World Heavyweight Champion. He was the IPW Heavyweight Champion and the NWA New York Heavyweight Champion.
He also was the MCW Heavyweight Champion and the MCW Champion.
After retiring from wrestling, he was part of a class action lawsuit against the World Wrestling Entertainment. The lawsuit alleged that wrestlers incurred “long-term neurological injuries” and the company “routinely failed to care for them.”
In addition, the lawsuit claimed the WWE “fraudulently misrepresented and concealed” the nature of their injuries. The case was later dismissed by US District Judge Vanessa Lynne Bryant in Sept. 2018.
On March 4, 2019, Pallies passed away in Glassboro, New Jersey. He was 63-years-old at the time of his death.
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