Chris Melendez Chris Melendez ( June 13 , 1987 ) is an American professional wrestler . He is best known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling . He is the second one - legged athlete in professional wrestling following WWE alumni Zach Gowen . Early life . Melendez grew up in Spanish Harlem . His grandmother introduced him to professional wrestling at a young age and , ever since , he has been hooked . Melendez is a second - generation military veteran . His father is a veteran of Vietnam . Compelled by the events of September 11 , 2001 , Chris joined the U . S . Army at the young age of 17 . At age 19 , and with only 23 days of his Iraq deployment remaining , he sustained horrifying life - threatening injuries from an IED . Professional wrestling career . Total Nonstop Wrestling ( 2014 - 2016 ) . In 2012 , Melendez entered Team 3D Academy of Professional Wrestling in Florida where he trained day - in and day - out under the tutelage of Bully Ray and Devon . During the September 10 edition of " Impact Wrestling " , Melendez wrestled and defeated BroMans ally DJ Z . He also earned a victory against Kenny King . Since joining the roster , Melendez teamed with Mr . Anderson , and joined the pursuit for the TNA Tag Team titles . Melendez & Anderson were knocked out of the Tag Team Championship tournament in the first round , losing to Kenny King & MVP , during the September 17th edition of Impact Wrestling . Afterwards , Melendez and Anderson continued to wrestle as a team , defeating The BroMans ( Jessie Godderz & Robbie E ) during the September 18th edition of TNA Xplosion . Melendez avenged his team ' s loss to Kenny King and MVP on September 19 , by defeating King in a singles match . On January 29 , 2015 , during Impact , Melendez joined a 20 - Man TNA World Heavyweight Title Number 1 Contendership Gauntlet match , that ended with MVP emerging as the victor . On January 30 , Melendez teamed with Brooke in an intergender tag team match won by their opponents Angelina Love & Robbie E . On February 13 , at , Melendez was part of a Weapons Gauntlet Battle Royal won by James Storm . On February 14 at , Melendez teamed with Bram in the first round of the 2015 Joker ' s Wild tournament , won by Gunner & James Storm . On the March 16th edition of TNA Xplosion , Melendez defeated Samuel Shaw . Two months later , Melendez returned to Impact on May 8 as part of Team Angle ( with Kurt Angle , Drew Galloway , Lashley & Micah ) in a Hardcore War match won by Team Young ( Eric Young , Bram , Kenny King , Low Ki & MVP ) . On the June 24th edition of iMPACT ! Wrestling Melendez lost to Eric Young . Two days later on the June 26th edition of iMPACT ! , Melendez joined a Number 1 Contender Battle Royal for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship , ending with Drew Galloway as the winner . On the June 27th edition of iMPACT ! , Eric Young repeated his success , by defeating Melendez in a singles match . During the July 22nd iMPACT ! Wrestling taping , Melendez lost to Tyrus in a dark match . He avenged his loss three days later during the next taping , winning a singles match against Manik . During the July 28th edition of iMPACT ! Melendez endured another defeat by Eric Young in singles competition . Two days later on the July 30th edition of iMPACT ! , Melendez made a comeback by winning a lumberjack match against Eric Young , breaking Young ' s winning streak against Melendez . After July , Melendez would not be seen in a TNA ring for three months . He returned on October 4 , just in time to join Bound for Glory XI . Melendez was part of a " Bound For Gold " Gauntlet Battle Royal won by Tyrus . After this event , Melendez has been absent from in - ring action . On June 15 , 2016 , Melendez announced his departure from TNA . Independent circuit ( 2016 - present ) . After departing from TNA , Melendez debuted for Conquer Pro Wrestling on June 4 at CPW We Don ' t Play Fight where he won his match against Irish Jack . Melendez won his debut match on July 9 at Tried - N - True Pro Wrestling ' s TNT United We Stand event , defeating Mahabali Shera and Tony Kozina in a Three Way match . On November 19 at TNT / GFW Road To The Gold , Melendez was eliminated by fellow TNA alumni Samuel Shaw in a Tried - N - True Title Tournament Quarter Final match fellow TNA alumni Samuel Shaw . On December 9 , Melendez returned to CPW where he defeated Jack Hurley to win the CPW Heavyweight Championship for the first time . This marked the first championship Melendez won in his career .