on april 24, 2005 at lockdown, candido suffered a fractured tibia and fibula as well as a dislocated ankle during a steel cage match with lance hoyt against apolo and sonny siaki. he would undergo surgery the next day and would have titanium plates and screws inserted into his leg. candido would be at the following "impact!" tapings and managed the naturals when they defeated america's most wanted to win the nwa world tag team championship. on april 28, 2005, candido felt ill and his condition had worsened during the day. candido collapsed during the evening and he was rushed to the robert wood johnson university hospital in new brunswick, new jersey. he was diagnosed with pneumonia. the doctors drained his lungs, but he died shortly afterwards. his brother johnny said that candido had died because of a blood clot, a complication from surgery.