[2] He did not reach a prominent position on the independent circuit until the death of his brother in April 2005, at which point he competed in several tribute matches.
[3] He appeared at Unbreakable on September 11, 2005, to watch the four-way elimination match for the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
The winners of the Chris Candido Memorial Tag Team Tournament, Alex Shelley and Sean Waltman, were scheduled to face incumbent champions The Naturals, Team Canada, and America's Most Wanted.
When Waltman no-showed the event, Candido left the audience, climbed onto the ring apron and assumed the role of Shelley's tag team partner.
[4][5] On September 17, 2005, Candido won a tournament to win the NWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship, which had been vacated upon his brother's Chris' death.