Chris Harris (wrestler)

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Chris Harris
Chris Harris Rosemont IL 031108.jpg
Harris in March 2008
Birth nameChristopher Eric Harris
Born (1973-12-25) December 25, 1973 (age 48)
Bremerton, Washington, U.S.
ResidenceFort Wright, Kentucky, U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)Shannon L Harris; (m. 2019 - present)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Braden Walker
Chris Harris
Billed height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[2]
Billed weight232 lb (105 kg)[2]
Billed fromFort Wright, Kentucky[2]
Trained byCharlie Fulton
Kid Collins
Roger Ruffen
Larry Sharpe
DebutNovember 1994

Christopher Eric Harris (born December 25, 1973) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA).

In TNA, he was one-half of the tag team, America's Most Wanted (AMW), along with James Storm. AMW became one of the best tag teams in the promotion winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship six times. He also won the NWA World Tag Team Championship one more time with Elix Skipper.

Professional wrestling career[]

World Championship Wrestling (1999–2001)[]

Along with several other wrestlers, including future tag team partner James Storm, Harris was signed to a World Championship Wrestling (WCW) developmental deal in October 1999. Terry Taylor proposed a country singer gimmick for him, but it was rejected by management. He appeared as a fake version of Sting at Halloween Havoc in 2000.[3] He wrestled on the WCW B-shows WorldWide and Saturday Night against the likes of Elix Skipper, Curt Hennig, Shannon Moore, Shane Douglas and Booker T among others and he was also a part of R and B Security until the promotion was sold in early 2001.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling[]

America's Most Wanted (2002–2006)[]

Main article: America's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted – Harris (back), James Storm, and Gail Kim – at a TNA event

On June 1, 2002, Harris was given a tryout match against his long-time independent circuit rival James Storm with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) by Bert Prentice.[2] Both were subsequently signed to short-term contracts. He wrestled in the Gauntlet for the Gold match on the first TNA pay-per-view and was placed in a tag team with Storm on the second pay-per-view by Bob Ryder, the creative force behind the team. Storm came up with the name "America's Most Wanted" (AMW) for the team. They obtained their first success on September 18, 2002 by surviving a tag team Gauntlet for the Gold and defeating Ron Harris and Brian Lee to obtain the NWA World Tag Team Championship.[2]

Harris (right) and James Storm at a house show

In March and April 2003 the duo teased a split, with Storm and Harris facing off in a singles match on May 7, 2003. Storm won the match, but the partners shook hands afterward. Harris rejected Vince Russo's offer to join his stable of degenerates, Sports Entertainment Xtreme (S.E.X). When Storm was incapacitated by the recurrence of an old shoulder injury in early 2004, Harris received a NWA World Championship shot on March 17, 2004 and was defeated by champion Jeff Jarrett. He went on to compete in a "King of the Mountain" ladder match for the title on June 2, 2004, but was again bested by Jarrett.

America's Most Wanted resumed teaming together, but on August 25, 2004, James Storm was sidelined with neck and shoulder injuries, leaving Harris without a partner. Harris teamed with Elix Skipper to win an NWA Tag Team Title for a fifth time on September 8, 2004.[4] Harris and Storm later reunited. On January 16, 2005 Harris became a six time NWA Tag Team Champion (along with James Storm), winning the Tag Title from Bobby Roode and Eric Young. Harris won the title for a sixth and seventh time as part of AMW. In league with Jeff Jarrett, he would semi-reprise his role as a fake Sting when he played the Crow Sting in a Planet Jarrett retrospective of Sting's career on Impact! on January 7, 2006.

America's Most Wanted split as a team on the December 14, 2006 edition of Impact! during a tag team match with LAX in a Titles vs Team match. Storm effectively chose the outcome of the match by assaulting Harris with a beer bottle, temporarily blinding him in one eye. This allowed Harris to be pinned by Homicide, putting an end to AMW.

Singles career (2007–2008)[]

Harris in August 2007

On the January 11, 2007 episode of Impact! Harris did a (kayfabe) sit-down interview with Mike Tenay giving a strong impression his wrestling career could be over. Harris was not seen on television until the Against All Odds pay-per-view in which he (wearing an eye patch) went for Storm. For several weeks, he continued to attack Storm. On the March 1, 2007 episode of Impact! Harris claimed his vision was at 30% and vowed revenge on Storm. At Lockdown, Harris lost to Storm in Six Sides of Steel match, in which both men were blindfolded. It was revealed his vision had been restored, and Harris faced off against Storm at Sacrifice, in a Texas Death match, where Harris came out the victor. After this, Harris showed up two weeks straight to assist Rhino and Hector Guerrero with The Latin American Xchange (LAX). Harris entered into Slammiversary as the last contestant in the King of the Mountain Match, only to lose to Kurt Angle. Harris feuded with Christian Cage, losing to him by roll-up at Victory Road after Dustin Rhodes hit him in the back.

The Harris/Rhodes feud continued for a few weeks with Rhodes attacking Harris during his matches on Impact! until a match was made at Hard Justice, when Harris defeated "Black Reign" Dustin Rhodes via disqualification and at No Surrender Harris defeated Black Reign in a No Disqualification match by pinning Reign. At Bound for Glory, Harris competed in the Fight for the Right Reverse Battle Royal which was won by Eric Young. At Turning Point, Harris competed in the Feast or Fired match but failed to win the match. on the December 13 episode of Impact, Harris lost to Booker T. On the January 3, 2008 episode of Impact, Harris competed in the TNA Heavyweight Gauntlet Match which was won by Christian Cage. On January 10 episode of Impact, Harris lost to Judas Mesias. On January 11, 2008, TNA announced on its website that Harris had been released from his TNA contract.

NWA Cyberspace (2005)[]

Harris also works regularly for NWA Cyberspace along with James Storm in the tag team division and as a singles competitor. On November 19, 2005, Harris was forced to fight against Jeff Jarrett for the NWA Cyberspace Heavyweight Championship (though Jarrett was also NWA World Heavyweight Champion, that title was not on the line). Jarrett let Harris beat him with a poke, but NWA CyberSpace Commissioner Jasmin St. Claire booked them for a three-way dance immediately afterward with fellow Cyberspace and TNA wrestler Abyss, who beat both and won the Cyberspace Heavyweight Championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2008)[]

On January 29, 2008, Harris announced on his official website that he had signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).[5] Harris pinned Shelton Benjamin in his WWE debut on March 11, 2008 in a dark match. On the July 8, 2008 episode of ECW, he made his WWE television debut under the ring name Braden Walker, defeating Armando Estrada.[6] It was during this feud that his catchphrase "I'm Braden Walker and I'm going to knock your brains out" was coined, following a knock-knock joke he had told Estrada. He wrestled one more match, a pinfall victory over James Curtis, before he was released from his WWE contract on August 7, 2008.[7]

Independent circuit (2008–present)[]

In early September 2008, Harris appeared at the Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF), challenging NWF Heavyweight Champion Ryan Stone.[8] On March 28, 2009, Harris wrestled a match for Ring of Honor's (ROH) former sister promotion Full Impact Pro (FIP), losing to Chris Hero.[9]

Return to TNA (2010–2011)[]

On the June 24, 2010 episode of Impact!, Harris made a one-night return to TNA, portraying a fake Sting character.[10] On the May 12, 2011 episode of Impact!, Harris made his return to TNA as a member of the heel stable Immortal, when he was introduced by Matt Hardy as his partner in their TNA World Tag Team Championship match against Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode).[11][12] Harris made his in-ring return on May 6 at a house show, teaming with Matt Hardy against Beer Money, Inc. in a losing effort.[13] On May 15 at Sacrifice, Harris and Hardy failed in their attempt to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship from Beer Money, when Storm pinned Harris.[14] After the event, it was reported that TNA had chosen not to use Harris again.[15]

Second return to Impact Wrestling (2021)[]

On the March 30, 2021 episode of Impact, Harris made his second return to TNA, now known as Impact Wrestling, appearing ringside for James Storm's 1000th match in the company and aiding him in defeating Eric Young.[16][17]

Other media[]

Harris's run in WWE as Braden Walker became part of an internet meme centered around the "Knock Knock" joke and his short run on ECW, with mockumentary-style videos such as "The Definitive Braden Walker 3 Disc DVD" amassing tens of thousands of views on YouTube.

He appeared in the music video for the Clay Davidson song "I Can't Lie to Me".[18]

Championships and accomplishments[]

  • American States Wrestling Alliance
    • ASWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Abyss[19]
  • Frontier Elite Wrestling
    • FEW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with James Storm
  • Mountain Wrestling Association
    • MWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)[20]
    • MWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)[20] – with Rated X
  • Music City Wrestling
  • NWA Shockwave
    • NWA Cyberspace Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[22]
    • NWA Cyberspace Tag Team Championship (1 time)[23] – with James Storm
  • Northern Wrestling Federation
    • NWF Heavyweight Championship (3 times)[20]
    • NWF Tag Team Championship (1 time)[20] – with Sean Casey
    • NWF Tri-State Championship (1 time)[20]
  • Peel's Championship Wrestling
    • PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sean Casey[24]
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • Ranked No. 44 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2004[25]
    • PWI Tag Team of the Year (2004)[26] – with James Storm
  • Purks International Championship Wrestling
    • PICW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[27]
  • World Wrestling Council
  • Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
    • NWA World Tag Team Championship (7 times)[29] – with James Storm (6) and Elix Skipper (1)
    • Gauntlet for the Gold (2002 – Tag Team) – with James Storm[30]
    • TNA Anarchy Alliance Tag Team Tournament (2003) – with James Storm
    • TNA Year End Awards (3 times)
      • Match of the Year (2004) – with James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels and Elix Skipper at Turning Point[31]
      • Tag Team of the Year (2003, 2004) – with James Storm[31]
  • USA Championship Wrestling
    • USA North American Heavyweight Championship (2 time)[32][33][34]
  • Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
    • Tag Team of the Year (2005) – with James Storm
    • Worst Worked Match of the Year (2007) – vs. James Storm in a Six Sides of Steel Blindfold match at Lockdown

References[]

  1. ^ "Chris Harris on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e "'Wildcat' Chris Harris' Biography". The Official Wildcat Website. Archived from the original on January 19, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2008.
  3. ^ "Braden Walker officially released by WWE". SLAM! Wrestling. August 8, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved April 10, 2005.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - Wrestling Information Archive
  5. ^ "Chris Harris to WWE". The Official Chris Harris Website. January 29, 2008. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
  6. ^ Medalis, Kara, A. "World's Strongest scam". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
  7. ^ "Braden Walker released". World Wrestling Entertainment. August 7, 2008. Retrieved August 7, 2008.
  8. ^ "Wildcat Chris Harris Returns!". Northern Wrestling Federation. Archived from the original on May 2, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  9. ^ "2009 FIP results". Full Impact Pro. Archived from the original on August 26, 2010. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  10. ^ Caldwell, James (June 15, 2010). "TNA News: Several SPOILER notes from Tuesday's TNA Impact taping for next week's show & July PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  11. ^ Caldwell, James (May 3, 2011). "TNA News: Impact spoilers from Tuesday's Impact taping - big re-branding, debut, two returns, Sacrifice matches". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  12. ^ Caldwell, James (May 12, 2011). "Caldwell's TNA Impact report 5/12: Ongoing "virtual-time" coverage of big reveals, final PPV hype, battle royal main event". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
  13. ^ McKown, Jason (May 6, 2011). "5/6 TNA results in Fort Smith, Ark.: Jarrett vs. Anderson, Hardy's mystery tag partner, Ray & Dreamer". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  14. ^ Caldwell, James (May 15, 2011). "Caldwell's TNA Sacrifice PPV results 5/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - Sting vs. RVD, four title matches, Chyna PPV return". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  15. ^ Martin, Adam (June 5, 2011). "Chris Harris not expected to be back in TNA". WrestleView. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
  16. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (March 30, 2021). "Chris Harris Returns To IMPACT Wrestling To Support James Storm In His 1000th IMPACT Match". Fightful. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  17. ^ Moore, John (March 30, 2021). "3/30 Impact Wrestling TV Results: Moore's review of AEW Champion Kenny Omega's appearance, James Storm vs. Eric Young, Knockouts Tag Champions Kiera Hogan and Tasha Steelz vs. Havok and Nevaeh in a non-title match, Ace Austin and Madman Fulton vs. Josh Alexander and TJP, Suicide vs. Brian Myers". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "While wrestling in Nashville in July, Harris made a country music video with rising star Clay Davidson, titled "I Can't Lie to Me."". Archived from the original on September 20, 2007. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "ASWA Tag Team Championship « Titles Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d e "Chris Harris profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  21. ^ Duncan, Royal. "NWA - National Wrestling Alliance NWA - North American Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  22. ^ Westcott, Brian. "Cyberspace Wrestling Federation/NWA Cyberspace Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  23. ^ Westcott, Brian. "Cyberspace Wrestling Federation/NWA Cyberspace Tag Team Title History". Solie. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  24. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  25. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2004". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on February 9, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2008.
  26. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Tag Team of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on April 15, 2008. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  27. ^ "PICW". Cagematch. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
  28. ^ "WWC World Tag Team Title (Puerto Rico)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  29. ^ Duncan, Royal. "NWA National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Tag Team Titles History". Solie. Retrieved June 24, 2008.
  30. ^ "Online World of Wrestling". www.onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  31. ^ a b Martin, Adam (November 28, 2005). "TNA announces plans for 2005 Year-End Awards after Turning Point PPV". WrestleView. Retrieved July 15, 2011.
  32. ^ "USA North American Heavyweight Championship History".
  33. ^ Goodman, Larry (February 2, 2012). "USA Wrestling 10 yrs. ago (02-02-02): Lawler vs. D. Flair, James Storm, Chris Harris, Stevens". Pro Wrestling Torch. TDH Communications. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  34. ^ Westcott, Brian. "NWA - National Wrestling Alliance/USA Championship Wrestling NWA/USACW United States/USACW Wrestling North American USACW Heavyweight Title History". Solie. Retrieved June 24, 2008.

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