The roar of a wrestling crowd isn’t the only audience Chris Gray knows how to command.
Known to wrestling fans around the world as Cody Deaner, Gray is returning to Peterborough next month not to body slam opponents, but to stand in front of students, sharing a message about perseverance, purpose, and daring to dream big.
The visit is made possible through the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club of Peterborough, which is supporting Gray’s sixth tour of local schools, continuing a partnership that has already reached thousands of students in the community.
Gray has spent more than 25 years wrestling professionally, often in front of thousands of fans, while also building a parallel career as a high school English teacher. He says blending those two worlds is what makes his school presentations both engaging and relatable for students.
Gray says his background in professional wrestling and education has made speaking to large groups of students feel natural.
After earning degrees in English language and literature, as well as social sciences and psychology, Gray began a career as a high school teacher. During that time, he was asked to return to his former school to talk about his unconventional career path and how he chased a dream that didn’t come with a clear roadmap.
What started as a one-off presentation quickly turned into something bigger, leading to an entirely new career for Gray.
Today, he travels across North America, balancing his wrestling schedule with school assemblies, youth events, and leadership programs. Gray currently wrestles with TNA Wrestling, which airs on AMC in the United States and Sportsnet 360 in Canada, while also maintaining a full slate of speaking engagements.
At the core of his presentations are three simple themes: following your dream, pushing through adversity, and using success to make a positive impact on others.
Gray says every program he delivers comes back to perseverance, purpose, and making a positive difference.
That message has resonated with students across the country, including those from smaller communities who may not always see a clear path forward. Gray says he often hears from students after his visits, many of whom reach out on social media to share how his story changed their perspective.
Gray says students often reach out after his talks, saying his story helped them believe bigger goals were possible.
One of those moments stands out. Gray recalls a student who told him she wanted to become a professional wrestler after hearing his presentation. Within a couple of years, she was competing in the ring herself, eventually sharing events with Gray.
Beyond speaking, giving back has become a major part of Gray’s career. Through his “Giv’er for Charity” initiative, he has worked alongside young wrestling fans to raise more than $20,000 for children’s charities across Canada.
As both a father of four and a lifelong wrestling fan himself, Gray says he never forgets what it felt like to look up to larger-than-life heroes as a child, and that’s why he takes his influence on kids so seriously.
Gray will visit four schools during his stop in Peterborough. He is scheduled to speak at St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School and Kawartha Montessori School on February 2, followed by St. Catherine Catholic Elementary School and Keith Wightman Public School on February 3.
The tour is once again sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Peterborough, which is celebrating 100 years of service to the community. Gray says the partnership with Kiwanis has been instrumental in bringing his message back to Peterborough year after year, and he hopes it will continue to open doors for students who may be hearing, for the first time, that where they start does not have to limit where they end.
You can reach out to Gray for bookings and questions on Instagram, Facebook, or at ChrisGraySpeaks.com.
(Written by: Scott Arnold)
