Tamara Lynn Sytch, widely known as Sunny in the professional wrestling world, is an American former professional wrestling personality. She came to fame in the early 1990s through Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW) after being introduced to the industry by her longtime boyfriend Chris Candido. Her fame soared in the later 1990s within the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE), where she became a prominent figure during the New Generation Era and early Attitude Era. In November 2023, she was sentenced to seventeen years in prison on DUI and manslaughter-related charges stemming from a March 2022 incident, underscoring the complex interplay between her professional achievements and personal controversies that have shaped her legacy in the wrestling world.
Early Life
Tammy Lynn Sytch, born with the real name of Tamara Lynn Sytch on December 7, 1972, in Matawan, New Jersey, U.S., celebrated her 50th birthday in 2022. As a Sagittarius, she possesses a dynamic and adventurous spirit. She holds American nationality and has a mixed ethnicity stemming from her American and Russian heritage. She grew up in a disciplined household, her father having retired from the United States Navy. Raised alongside her sister Denise Stone, she spent her formative years in Matawan, New Jersey, navigating the nuances of a strict family upbringing.
Tammy completed her high school education at Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, graduating in 1990. Her journey in the world of professional wrestling began with Smoky Mountain Wrestling in 1993, where her on-screen persona included a fictional background of having studied pre-law at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Transitioning her character's academic pursuits, she then shifted to pre-med at the University of Tennessee, aspiring to become a plastic or orthopedic surgeon. Balancing her academic ambitions, during her initial year of college, she also worked as a freelance photographer.
Career
- Tammy Lynn Sytch's wrestling journey began in the early '90s when she traveled with her boyfriend Chris Candido to make extra money.
- In late 1992, she signed a six-month deal with Smoky Mountain Wrestling, debuting as Tammy Fytch in 1993 and playing a villain with a unique twist, idolizing Hillary Clinton and threatening a sexual discrimination lawsuit.
- Transitioning to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1995, she and Candido became Sunny and Skip, known as The Bodydonnas.
- Sunny's popularity soared, earning her accolades like Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Manager of the Year Award in 1996.
- She managed various wrestlers and even hosted her show, "The Sunny Show."
- However, her WWF tenure ended in 1998 amid rumors of backstage issues and an alleged addiction to painkillers.
- Subsequently, she joined Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1998, continuing her wrestling journey alongside Candido.
- Their time in ECW, marked by rumored drug use and legal troubles, concluded in 1999.
- After a brief stint in Xtreme Pro Wrestling (XPW) in early 2000, Tammy Lynn Sytch and Chris Candido joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
- Sytch debuted at Spring Stampede in 2000, aiding Candido in winning the WCW Cruiserweight Championship.
- The couple engaged in a short-lived feud with The Artist Formerly Known as Prince Iaukea and his valet Paisley, which concluded at Slamboree with a controversial incident involving Sytch's dress being stripped off.
- Following Candido's title loss, Sytch's departure from WCW in 2000 was clouded by rumors of drug abuse.
- Subsequently, the duo embarked on the independent circuit, initially joining Xtreme Pro Wrestling where Sytch managed Candido to the XPW World Heavyweight Title.
- Their journey continued through various independent promotions, and in 2003, they briefly moved to Puerto Rico before returning to the States.
- After Candido's passing, Sytch remained active in the independent circuit, participating in events like NWS Wrestling and Hardcore Homecoming.
- She held the WSU Championship in 2007, turning heel at WSU's J-Cup Tournament in 2008.
- Despite her legal troubles and time spent in jail, Sytch continued making sporadic appearances until she announced her intention to retire in 2018.
- Sytch made an unexpected appearance during the 15th anniversary of Raw, participating in a segment alongside Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, Triple H, Hornswoggle, Melina, and WWE Hall of Famer Mae Young.
- It was during this moment that she received official recognition as WWE's original Diva. Sunny, once again featured among the returning legends, joined the fray at WrestleMania XXV on April 5, 2009, competing in the 25-Diva battle royal for the title of "Miss WrestleMania" but was ultimately eliminated by Beth Phoenix.
- Sytch returned to the scene on March 19, 2011, serving as the special guest referee at a house show held at Madison Square Garden, overseeing the match between The Bella Twins and the team of Kelly Kelly and the then-Divas Champion Eve Torres.
- Her contributions to the wrestling industry were further acknowledged when she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2, 2011, with the entire roster of WWE Divas present for the ceremony.
- Sytch's relationship with nudity and the adult industry has been a subject of contention.
- In 1997, she asserted that Playboy had offered her a substantial sum for a nude photoshoot, a proposition she claimed to have turned down due to emotional unreadiness.
- This assertion, however, faced contradiction from Rena "Sable" Mero, with whom Sytch had real-life animosity.
- Contrary to her initial refusal, Sytch, between 2001 and 2003, regularly posed nude for Missy Hyatt's adult website Wrestling Vixxxens.
- In hindsight, Sytch expressed regret over her involvement, citing unpaid money and the explicit content of other models' shoots. In 2016, Vivid Entertainment released a pornographic film featuring Sytch titled "Sunny Side Up: In Through the Backdoor."
- Following her release from prison in 2020, Sytch ventured into adult content creation, establishing an OnlyFans account to share adult-oriented material.
- She released an autobiography, A Star Shattered: The Rise & Fall & Rise of Wrestling Diva Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, on February 4, 2016.
Awards and Achievements
Cauliflower Alley Club
- Other honoree (1996)
New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2013
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Manager of the Year (1996)
Women Superstars Uncensored
- WSU Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Federation / WWE
- Slammy Award (2 times)
- Best Buns (1996)
- "Minds Behind the Mayhem" for Manager of the Year (1996)
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2011)
Net Worth
Tammy Lynn Sytch, a former professional wrestler, has an estimated net worth of $11 million. Initially accumulating wealth through her wrestling career, Sytch diversified her roles within the industry, transitioning into a wrestling manager, host, announcer, and model. Venturing into the mature content industry proved lucrative for her, contributing significantly to her financial success, with reported annual earnings exceeding $1 million. Sytch currently enjoys a comfortable lifestyle.
Personal Life
Tammy Lynn Sytch is presently in a relationship with her boyfriend, James Pente. Their bond is characterized by mutual support, and the couple appears to be savoring their current chapter in life together. The connection between Tammy and James is not only romantic but also marked by a shared enthusiasm for each other's pursuits. As they navigate life side by side, the duo seems to be genuinely enjoying the present and creating meaningful experiences together.
Lynn Sytch's romantic history in the wrestling world traced back to her teenage years, as her first relationship with a professional wrestler commenced when she was just 17. Her initial love interest was former WWE Superstar Chris Candido, also known as Skip, whom she met during high school. Their relationship experienced ups and downs until Candido's passing in 2005. In the mid-1990s, she briefly dated WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, and during her time in WWE, she had a short-lived romance with The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith. Sunny also had flings with other wrestling personalities, including Chris Masters (Chris Adonis) and, approximately 12 years ago, WWE Superstar Dolph Ziggler. In January 2013, she was briefly engaged to Damien Darling, whom she had started dating in 2012, but the engagement eventually ended in a split.
Tammy has faced a series of legal troubles over the years. In 2012, she experienced multiple arrests, including charges of disorderly conduct, burglary, and violating protective orders. Serving time in a Connecticut jail, she was released in May 2013. Subsequently, Sytch encountered further legal issues, with DUI arrests in Pennsylvania in 2015 and parole violations leading to imprisonment until February 2017. Her legal challenges continued with additional DUI incidents in New Jersey in 2018, resulting in extradition to Pennsylvania and subsequent parole.
In 2019, she faced more legal woes, leading to her arrest on DUI charges in New Jersey. The situation escalated in 2020 when she was arrested for eluding police and violating a domestic violence restraining order. In January 2022, she was charged with unlawfully possessing a weapon and making terroristic threats. Tragically, in March 2022, Sytch was involved in a fatal car crash in Florida, leading to her arrest on DUI and manslaughter-related charges in May 2022. Despite being initially released on bond, she was later deemed a danger to the community, and in August 2023, she pleaded no contest and was sentenced to seventeen and a half years in prison with eight years of probation on November 27, 2023.
Measurements
Tammy Lynn Sytch is a beautiful wrestler with a tall standing height of 5 feet 4 inches and she has bodyweight of 54 Kg. She has an athletic body with a pair of dark brown eyes and she has a blonde hair color. She has got a healthy body at present.
