Christopher Nowinski Interview: Talks about concussion, & his new book
On Friday, October 20, 2006 at 2:04 PM EST Monday Night Mayhem sent in the following recap:
Member of Tough Enough: Season I, WWE Political Correspondent/Spokesperson, former WWE Hardcore Champion, & the author of "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis," Christopher Nowinski, was one of the special guests on this past week's live edition (10/9/06) of Monday Night Mayhem, which can be heard in streaming audio every week (and live from 9-11PM ET every Monday night) exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, www.AllWNYRadio.com, www.Dory-Funk.com, & www.AudioWrestling.com - your official home of "The Spring Break Incident" Video-On-Demand, featuring former WWE Diva, Stacy Keibler).
The interview with this Harvard graduate is now available to hear for FREE in Real Audio!
Here are some of the highlights from the interview, provided by The Mayhem's senior correspondent & host of Mark Out Radio, Dan Kriegbaum.
From a possible former candidate for the RAW General manager position to "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio" -- The Big Mosh & Blade welcomed Chris Nowinski to the show, in which he then thanked The Big Mosh & Blade for having him on. Mosh started off the interview by asking Chris what he's been doing since most fans saw him on WWE television on a full-time basis. Chris pointed out that the last time we saw him was in June 2003, and it was right around then at a house show that The Dudley Boyz put him out of wrestling with a concussion, which he then spent the next 18 months dealing with post-concussion syndromes. Chris added that he takes his fans day by day through what he had to deal with in his new book, "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis." More information can be found about his latest project at www.ConcussionCrisis.com.
Mosh then asked how the transition was from working in the WWE ring, to still working with World Wrestling Entertainment, but in out-of-ring roles within the company. Chris said that the WWE never pushed him into possibly returning to the squared circle, as they both found a way to still honor his contract, while still being productive in the company at the same time. He also said that while he knows he can still perform, he doesn't want to take the chance -- even though every time he watches RAW, SmackDown or ECW, he wants to be back in the ring.
Blade & The Big Mosh then got Chris's candid thoughts on Kurt Angle's jump to the six-sided ring of TNA, and if he thinks Angle is medically able to compete. Chris said that he is "terribly worried about Kurt possibly injuring himself because he will never quit, and somebody else needs to tell him no." He added that the WWE tried telling him no, and to take some time off, but he went to the pastures of Total Nonstop Action instead.
Mosh moved on, after talking about Angle, to the WWE's new Wellness Policy. Chris said that he thinks it's a great program, and it's already shown the results with guys getting treated properly for their problems, with an example being "The Masterpiece" Chris Masters. He did wish to go on record by saying that he is not backstage at most WWE televised events, so he cannot speak on individual cases -- but again, he implied again that overall it has been a program that has worked so far. Chris applauds World Wrestling Entertainment for having the program, as well as enforcing it the way they have done so far.
With new openings to fill in the roster with the new ECW, as well as other talent leaving and being released, Mosh & Blade asked Chris if he thinks it's easier now for young guys in Ohio Valley Wrestling, and even across the independents, to get into the WWE, than it was when Chris entered. Chris strongly believes that it is just as hard as it's ever been, because while they have the new ECW now, they don't have Heat & Velocity anymore, which allowed talent to get experience a few years ago. Chris added that he still keeps in touch with Chaotic Wrestling, where he got his start, and guys that have talent still do not have developmental deals -- simply because the competition to get a spot still exists.
The Big Mosh then asked Chris to share some old Tough Enough stories, and how the experience was for him. Nowinski did mention that there was a lot of hatred towards him from the rest of the WWE hopefuls on the show, who he says were mostly "all talk," but this came off well, because he was able to play the snobbish/jerk role as well as he did. Blade then asked how it felt to be welcomed & respected by the locker room. Chris said that it meant the world to be respected by his fellow peers, such as The Undertaker for one, and that his real fans noticed that in the process. He added that Al Snow told him after the show that if he were to join the rest right away, they would probably kill him, but "luckily six months passed," which allowed time for the heat to cool off.
The Big Mosh then plugged Chris Nowinski's new book "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis," and then asked what response he has received already towards the book. Chris said that the response itself has been amazing, even with the top doctors in their fields recommending it. He said it boggled his mind when he found out that nobody had ever compiled this information before, when he was being treated, being asked the wrong questions and being given the wrong answers. Nowinski said that that the purpose of the book is to help parents prevent long term injuries in their child athletes, when it can be easily stopped.
Other topics discussed in this 40+ minute interview included: talk on pro boxer (and Western New York native) "Baby" Joe Mesi's nagging injuries, who he really keeps in contact with from Tough Enough, some of his in-ring memories w/The Dudley Boyz, Scott Steiner, & many others), what it was like to work with such big stars early in his career (and if there was any heat from the boys in the backstage), a preview of WWE's upcoming fall "SmackDown Your Vote!" campaign, & much more! Nowinski's first radio interview since in-ring retirement is a must download for any wrestling fan!
Check out Chris' official website at www.ChrisHarvard.net or his official MySpace at www.MySpace.com/ChrisNowinski.
*The October 9th edition of Monday Night Mayhem also featured an in-depth interview with former WWE Cruiserweight Champion & the brother of the late "Latino Heat," Chavo Guerrero, Sr. to promote this upcoming weekend's Memorial Golf Tournament in Tampa, FL to benefit the children of his late brother & also The Boyz & Girls Club. The man known to wrestling fans throughout the world as "Classic" shot hard on his son's feud w/Rey Mysterio, the use of the Guerrero name in storylines, Vickie Guerrero on WWE television, the real story behind his departure from World Wrestling Entertainment, & the controversial Kerwin White angle -- in addition to a stellar opening segment with Pro Wrestling Unplugged's Johnny "Angel" Kashmere co-hosting...and not holding anything back! Check out www.MondayNightMayhem.com & www.ProWrestlingUnplugged.com for all of Kashmere's thoughts on the future of PWU, the big Public Enemy/Pitbulls Memorial Cup event at the former ECW Arena, and even some shoot comments on the PWI 500.
*Even though there was no Mayhem this past Monday night, due to the freak storm that hit Western New York, rest assured that we are returning -- better & bigger than ever! Join The Big Mosh & Blade this upcoming Monday night, as "Your Home Of Wrestling Radio" hits the airwaves at 8PM ET/7PM CT (special start time). The current, reigning, & defending Ring Of Honor World Heavyweight Champion, "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson, will join the program to preview next weekend's stacked ROH lineup, break down his run w/the gold as the lead star in the company, & answer the question that everyone wants to know: does he see himself headed to TNA or WWE in the near future?
And The Mayhem's national TNA PPV Correspondent & former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Dory Funk, Jr., along with the former World Champ of The Funkin' Conservatory, Johnny Magnum, will feel The Mayhem, with a special TNA Bound For Glory "Fallout" edition of the program -- as Mosh & Blade will run through the entire weekend's festivities, the PPV, & much more. Head on over to www.TNAWrestling.com for all of the last-minute news going into Total Nonstop Action's biggest Pay-Per-View ever, Bound For Glory!
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We'll see all of you fans this Monday night, October 23rd, as we return LIVE for a special three-hour program -- beginning at 8PM ET/7PM CT.
*The Mayhem also encourages all new & old listeners to check out some of the archived interviews now available on www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, & www.AudioWrestling.com -- including: Y2J himself...Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko (in his first interview since leaving the World Wrestling Entertainment), Charlie Haas, WWE Hall Of Famers Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, Christy Hemme, Lance Storm, The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques "The Mountie" Rougeau & Raymond Rougeau), former NWA World Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, Tito Santana, Jeff Jarrett, Paul Roma, & many more.
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