Chris Gray

Chris Gray is a Canadian professional wrestler and motivational speaker, recognized by wrestling fans as Cody Deaner. Gray has established a career that bridges sports entertainment and public speaking. He trained under Derek Wylde and later with Eric Young, building a foundation for a career spanning more than two decades in professional wrestling.

Gray secured a tryout with WWE and appeared on WWE SmackDown, competing against Kurt Angle in the Kurt Angle Invitational tournament. By rebranding as Cody Deaner and portraying a character closer to his true self, he attracted the attention of the WWE creative team, leading to backstage promo opportunities.

This shift in character also drew the interest of management at TNA Impact Wrestling, resulting in a full-time contract. Gray wrestled weekly on TNA's Impact show on Spike TV, spending much of his tenure as the partner and later rival of ODB. He and ODB feuded for the vacated TNA Knockouts title after Gray pinned Velvet Sky for the championship at the Hardcore Justice pay-per-view, culminating in a singles contest that was noted as one of the more memorable matches on the card.

After his initial run with TNA, Gray returned to the independent wrestling circuit, where he developed a following known as the Deaner Dynasty and won multiple heavyweight championships, including titles for Border City Wrestling, Crossfire Wrestling, Rock Solid Wrestling, Magnificent Championship Wrestling, Classic Championship Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Eclipse. Gray later re-signed with Impact Wrestling, joining the tag team division as one half of The Deaners. He reinvented himself by joining Eric Young to form the faction Violent by Design in IMPACT Wrestling. Gray is a former two-time Impact World Tag Team Champion with Eric Young and Joe Doering, holding the titles under the Freebird rule.

Outside the ring, Gray has built a second career as a motivational speaker, addressing thousands of young people at community organizations, schools, conferences, and charities. His speaking topics include daring to dream big, overcoming adversity, and the power of positivity and influence. Gray shares his personal experiences, including being told by a high school guidance counselor that he was too small to become a professional wrestler, and openly discusses his challenging childhood marked by family alcohol abuse and mental health struggles. He also recounts his near-death experience in the wrestling ring to teach audiences about overcoming fear and embracing individual strengths.

Gray launched the fundraising campaign Giv'er for Charity, which raises money for a variety of Canadian charities. Each month, he selects a new charity connected to his fans and donates all proceeds from his merchandise sales, supporting causes such as Special Olympics, programs for children with autism, burn victim camps, and community living initiatives. The campaign has received endorsements from figures such as Mick Foley.

Gray also hosts the podcast "Wrestling is Life is Wrestling with Cody Deaner," where he interviews wrestlers and industry professionals to explore life lessons, featuring guests such as Josh Alexander, Crazzy Steve, Shawn Spears, and David Sahadi. Additionally, Gray serves as vice president of the fitness apparel line Rest When Dead Clothing. His career in professional wrestling, motivational speaking, and charitable initiatives positions him as a prominent figure in both the wrestling industry and the field of motivational speaking.