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Chris Gray          

Speaker, Wrestler, Philanthropist, Podcaster, VP of RWD Clothing & Father

At the age of 5, Chris Gray had one goal… to one day wrestle in the same ring as his childhood heroes and become a professional wrestler. Despite living in a small, secluded, rural town, his smaller size, and a high school guidance counsellor who told him not to pursue a career in professional wrestling, Chris achieved his dream and eventually became a professional wrestling champion who has travelled the world living out his childhood passion.

Gray now shares his story across North America. He creates moments of IMPACT with the people he speaks to and teaches powerful lessons that they carry with them as they move forward in their goals. He does all of this while still following his dream as a professional wrestler. Today, Gray is seen on television in 150 million homes in 120 countries worldwide weekly on TNA - IMPACT Wrestling performing as "Cody Deaner". He is the host of a top-ranking podcast entitled “Wrestling is Life is Wrestling.” Additionally, Gray is the Vice-President of a top-selling fitness apparel line “Rest When Dead Clothing.”

Gray also gives back to his community. He is the leader of the "Giv’er for Charity" campaign, a fundraising initiative that has raised thousands of dollars for various children's charities across North America. Gray' story is one of overcoming extreme adversity and the physical and mental hardships involved in making it in a world of giants, all while those around you tell you your goals are impossible.

Speech Topics

Dare to Dream BIG

In this keynote presentation, Chris will tell stories of his humble beginnings in a very small rural town where he had the dream to one day wrestle in the same ring as his childhood heroes. He will teach listeners a lesson he learned as a youth aspiring to achieve this dream ... the saying "You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be" is a lie. Chris learned that the truth is "You can be whatever you want to be ... if you put in the work".

Chris tells the story of his grueling initiation into professional wrestling and the lessons of perseverance, grit, and overcoming obstacles that he learned along the way.

He goes on to explain that you don't have to be in the "big time" to make a "big difference". We can all make a difference in this world if we decide to set a positive example of those around us. He teaches learning many lessons about the power of a positive mindset when he finally realized his childhood dream and wrestled in the same ring as his childhood heroes.

Viewers take away the realization that the size of their dreams should not be limited to the size of their town or other people's expectations. Viewers learn that their circumstances don't have to dictate their actions. We all have the power to persevere if we put enough passion and drive into achieving our dreams.

The Power of Influence

In this keynote presentation, Chris talks about the cycle of influence. Whether we are influenced by positive or negative forces, we can choose to continue that cycle or change it.

Chris tells stories of the negative influences on his life at a very young age and a chance meeting in the 9th grade that changed the trajectory of his life forever.

He tells engaging tales from his wrestling career that have influenced his life as a father and a man. Chris tells personal stories of special connections he's made with his wrestling fans as he travelled the world performing as "Cody Deaner" and his decision to be a positive influence in his community through his charity campaign - "Giv'er for Charity".

Viewers take away the realization that they all have the power to influence those around them. It's up to them whether they want to be a positive or negative influence in the world. Chris encourages all youth to choose the power of positive influence.

Giv'er with Grit: How to Overcome Obstacles & Persevere Through Hardship

In this keynote presentation, Chris focuses on the power of persevering through hardship. He tells stories of his childhood, which was riddled with alcohol abuse and psychological disorders. Despite these hardships, Chris displayed grit and still dared to dream big.

Chris was told by his high school guidance counselor that he shouldn’t pursue his big dream of being a professional wrestler because he was too small and it would be too hard to achieve this goal. Chris quickly learned that it would be very hard work, and he would need to maintain a positive mindset in order to achieve his goals despite the negative forces working against him.

Chris teaches listeners practical life lessons on how to move forward in their goals by creating a vision for their future. Chris teaches the simple yet valuable lesson he learned in following his vision... the power to JUST GIV'ER! We learn through our hardships that at each step in our journey we can either JUST GIVE UP... or we can JUST GIV'ER!

Viewers take away the realization that their circumstances don’t have to dictate their actions. We all have the power to persevere if we put enough passion, drive, and grit into achieving our dreams.

Be Different: Turning Your Perceived Weakness into your SuperPower

In this keynote presentation, Chris encourages viewers to not only accept their unique differences, but to embrace them and use them for good.

Since a very young age, Chris knew he was different because of his unique goals and dreams. And since a young age, he was always encouraged to change his dreams and goals because he was too small, too skinny, and very different looking compared to the professional wrestlers Chris dreamed of being like. Despite his dreams of a career that required him to take center stage... later in life, Chris learned he was actually an introvert. With this knowledge, he learned how to become a true leader based on the unique skills he developed as an introvert in an entertainment world full of extroverts.

Chris focuses on teaching viewers lessons about overcoming their fears, branching out, and getting involved. He teaches listeners that the saying "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" is true... and that he knows this because he almost died in the wrestling ring! He tells the intense and engaging tale of the day he almost died in the ring, and how that experience led to him learning how to overcome his fears, embrace his unique character traits (which he previously perceived as weaknesses), and be a positive force in his community through his charity work.

Viewers take away the realization that they are a special & unique person of value. We all have different gifts, so we all have different ways of telling the world who we are. Viewers will learn how to embrace these gifts and share them with the world to help make this world a better place.

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