Tamara Lynn Sytch (born December 7, 1972) is an American former professional wrestling personality. She is best known for her time at the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) under the ring name Sunny between 1995 and 1998.
Sytch was introduced to the professional industry by her longtime boyfriend Chris Candido, and debuted in the Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW) territory in the early 1990s. During the later half of the 1990s, Sytch gained mainstream fame within the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) as Sunny, becoming one of the most popular figures in the company during the New Generation Era and early Attitude Era. WWE widely considers Sunny as their first Diva, and America Online named her the most downloaded celebrity on the internet in 1996. After departing the WWF in 1998, she appeared alongside Candido in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). After Candido's 2005 death, Sytch was active on the independent circuit until she retired in 2018. Lauded as one of the greatest managers in WWE history, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
Since 2012, Sytch has been arrested and incarcerated several times, including multiple arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). In November 2023, she was sentenced to seventeen and a half years in prison on DUI and manslaughter-related charges stemming from a fatal March 2022 crash. Although lauded as having "redefined the role of women in WWE", various commentators have noted how her personal controversies have impacted her legacy.
Early life Tamara Lynn Sytch was born on December 7, 1972, to parents of American and Russian origin. Sytch grew up in a strict family, with a father retired from the United States Navy. Raised in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, Sytch graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 1990.Clark, Adam. "N.J. pro wrestling legend faces up to 25 years in prison after no contest plea" , NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, August 16, 2023, updated January 9, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2024. "An Old Bridge native, Sytch graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in 1990." Upon entering Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1993, her fictional "in-character" storyline presented her as having come from studying pre-law at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She then switched to pre-med at the University of Tennessee, with the ambition to be a plastic or orthopedic surgeon. During her first year of college, she worked as a freelance photographer.
Professional wrestling career
Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1992–1995) Sytch started out traveling with her boyfriend Chris Candido to make some extra money. In late 1992, she signed a six-month deal with Smoky Mountain Wrestling. She first appeared onscreen as Tammy Fytch in 1993. She played a villain, who idolized Hillary Clinton. In her first storyline with the company, she threatened to file a sexual discrimination lawsuit due to the lack of prominent positions offered to females. In June 1993, an unnamed Sytch made a cameo appearance at Eastern Championship Wrestling's Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular event. By this time, she had already dropped out of college to pursue her full-time wrestling career.
Sytch managed Brian Lee to the SMW Heavyweight Championship and also began accompanying Candido in his matches. In March 1994, she and Lee faced Dirty White Boy and Dirty White Girl in a series of mixed tag team matches, culminating in a street fight between the two teams at Bluegrass Brawl II in April 1994. In May 1994, she began managing Lee and Candido as a tag team, which won the SMW Tag Team Championship from the Rock 'n' Roll Express. In July 1994, she, Candido, and Lee faced the Rock 'n' Roll Express and Bambi in a series of six-man tag team matches.
Both Sytch and Candido left SMW in early 1995 for jobs with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
World Wrestling Federation (1994–1998)
In late-1994, Sytch was contacted by the WWF, and she began appearing as Tamara Murphy, a commentator for "Live Event News" segments on the WWF Action Zone television show beginning on December 21, 1994. One month later, Candido joined the WWF, and the duo began appearing as Team Spirit (Tammy Spirit and Chris Spirit) and booked as babyfaces, debuting in February 1995 on a WWF Wrestling Challenge taping. They were heavily booed by the crowd after they were recognized for their characters in Smokey Mountain Wrestling, thus turning villainous fitness fanatics. Soon after debuting, they were renamed Sunny and Skip, known collectively as the Bodydonnas. Zip (portrayed by Tom Prichard) later joined the team, and Sunny was in their corner when they won the Tag Team Championship over The Godwinns at WrestleMania XII.
By early-1996, Sunny had turned into a sex symbol and was being heavily pushed in this context by the WWF. On March 10, 1996, Sunny hosted a WWF show called “The Sunny Show” wherein she discussed the upcoming matches at Wrestlemania XII. In that same year, she won Pro Wrestling Illustrateds Manager of the Year Award.
On May 19, 1996, the Godwinns regained the championship, and Sunny turned on the Bodydonnas in favor of the new champions. Later that month at In Your House 8: Beware of Dog, Sunny turned on the Godwinns and helped the Smoking Gunns defeat them for the WWF Tag Team Championship. After the Smoking Gunns lost the title at In Your House 10: Mind Games in September 1996, she fired them in the middle of the ring.
Sytch spent a short time as the manager of Faarooq Asaad, aiding him in his feud over the WWF Intercontinental Championship with Marc Mero and his valet Sable.
Sytch served as a special guest commentator during Rocky Maivia's WWF debut at Survivor Series 1996. Later that year, the internet company AOL announced that Sytch was the most downloaded woman on their website, surpassing various megastar celebrities such as Pamela Anderson, Jennifer Aniston, Mariah Carey and Cindy Margolis. During this time, she was heavily featured on numerous television programs such as MTV's Singled Out and Entertainment Tonight, becoming one of the preeminent figures in the company. On February 24, 1997, Sunny faced Marlena on Monday Night Raw at Manhattan Center in an arm wrestling match that ended in no contest after Sunny threw a powder on Marlena's face. She later managed Savio Vega in his match against Goldust that same night. Sunny would spend the rest of 1997 acting as a host, ring announcer, special guest referee, commentator and timekeeper for several WWF television shows, including WWF LiveWire and Shotgun Saturday Night. Meanwhile, Candido left the WWF for Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and it was not long before she began making guest appearances with him in the promotion. In August 1997, she appeared at ECW's Hardcore Heaven 1997 pay-per-view.
In 1998, Sunny returned from a brief hiatus and became the manager for Legion of Doom 2000, leading them to a win in a Tag Team Championship number one contender battle royal at WrestleMania XIV, turning face for the first time in her career. Sunny would continue to manage them until her final appearance on June 15, 1998. She was released in July 1998 amid rumors of backstage problems with Sable and an addiction to painkillers, as well as no-showing several appearances.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1998–1999) After being released by the WWF in July 1998, Sytch joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). She made her debut at Heat Wave four days after her WWF release. Now billed as Tammy Lynn Sytch, she assisted Candido in his win over Lance Storm and their subsequent feud. By September, Storm introduced his own valet, a parody of Sytch, Tammy Lynn Bytch; at UltraClash that month, Sytch and Candido defeated Bytch and Storm. Later that year, amid more rumors of drug use, Sytch and Candido took some time off of television.
When the duo returned, Candido re-aligned with Shane Douglas' Triple Threat, and Sytch began a feud with Douglas' manager Francine. The feud was cut short when Sytch was arrested after violating a restraining order filed by her mother. After a brief tour of Australia, she returned in October 1999 on an episode of ECW on TNN, where she talked openly about her past drug issues and reformation. Candido and Sytch left the promotion in December 1999.
World Championship Wrestling (2000) In early 2000, both Sytch and Candido signed on with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Candido debuted in March of that year and Sytch debuted one month later at Spring Stampede, helping him win the WCW Cruiserweight Championship in a match against The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea. She then feuded with Iaukea's valet Paisley, with Paisley defeating her in a bout on WCW Thunder. The short-lived feud came to a conclusion at Slamboree in May 2000, when The Artist and Paisley stripped Sytch's dress off to reveal her undergarments after Candido defeated The Artist in a singles match.
Sytch and Candido then briefly feuded with Crowbar and Daffney. On the May 15 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, Sytch and Candido faced Crowbar and Daffney in a mixed tag team match with Candido's title on the line, with Daffney pinning Sytch to become the new Cruiserweight Champion. The following day, on WCW WorldWide, Sytch and Candido defeated Mona and Shawn Stasiak. The couple left WCW in June 2000. As in the past, Sytch's departure was surrounded by rumors of drug abuse.
Independent circuit (2000–2018) After being released from WCW, the duo landed in Xtreme Pro Wrestling where she managed Candido to a title (the XPW World Heavyweight Title) once again. Candido and Sytch parted ways with XPW and started touring other independent wrestling promotions. In the spring of 2003, Sytch and Candido moved to Puerto Rico and were set to work for Victor Quinones' International Wrestling Association promotion. Sabu convinced them to work for Carlos Colón's rival World Wrestling Council (WWC) promotion instead. After six months, the couple quit the promotion and headed back to the States. Upon their return to the States, both Sytch and Candido briefly lived with former ECW wrestler Hack Myers in his home in Florida.
After the death of Candido, Sytch became regularly involved in the independent circuit again. Sytch made appearances as a referee for NWS Wrestling in May 2005 and attended a Chris Candido Memorial show on June 4, 2005. Also, Sytch was a part of Hardcore Homecoming on June 10, 2005. She first came out with Johnny Grunge and Pitbull #1 to do a tribute to former ECW wrestlers who had recently died. Among those honored were Candido, Pitbull #2, and Rocco Rock. They were interrupted by Danny Doring and Roadkill, but 911 cleared them out of the ring.
During this time period, Sytch appeared at the New Jersey–based NWA Cyberspace promotion. Soon after Sytch's departure from NWA Cyberspace, the New Jersey–based National Wrestling Superstars (NWS) became her new primary wrestling promotion. She appeared on a handful the promotion's shows in the summer, and on June 3, 2006, she managed Lex Luger to victory over Johnny Candido. Prior to the bout, a presentation was held from The Manasquan Elks Lodge to the Chris Candido Memorial Fund. The Elks Lodge donated $500 to the fund, with the money being used towards a scholarship for a Manasquan High School student. Sytch returned to NWA Shockwave (formerly NWA Cyberspace) in 2006 as a featured headliner. On December 1, 2006, Sytch was appointed the new commissioner of NWA Shockwave. Immediately following this announcement, Sytch declared all Shockwave championship titles vacant and informed fans that new Heavyweight and Internet Champions would be crowned on January 13.