Chris Nowinski

Last updated: March 25, 2025

CN

[Chris Nowinski GALLERY]

[Tough Enough Kids]

Website: Sports Illustrated Article

Title History

  • WWE Hardcore title defeating Crash Holly (July 6, 2002);
  • WWE Hardcore title defeating Crash Holly (July 7, 2002);

Career Highlights

In the Beginning:

  • Chris Nowinski holds a B.A. in Sociology from Harvard University.
  • Chris Nowinski (going by Chris Harvard) was a contestant on the first season of WWF/MTV Tough Enough.
  • ~~~Chris Harvard was one of three males to make it to the final round, but lost out to fellow trainee, Maven.
  • Chris Harvard turned this setback into motivation and was determined to eventually make it to the WWE anyway.
  • Chris Harvard began taking bookings from Independant Wrestling federations all over the world.
  • Chris Harvard (not under contract) participated in the Wrestlemania X-8 fan Axxess event.
  • Chris Harvard signed a developmental contract with the WWF and wrestled at live events and in dark matches.

World Wrestling Entertainment – Harvard Graduate:

  • Chris Nowinski was saddled with the a heel “Hardvard Snob” gimmick, looking down on people for being dumber than he is.
  • June 10, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski debuted in the WWE helping William Regal beat Bradshaw in a European title match!
  • June 17, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Spike Dudley in his WWE in-ring Television debut.
  • June 24, 2002 – RAW: William Regal and Christopher Nowinski defeated Bradshaw and Spike Dudley.
  • July 1, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Hardcore champion Bradshaw in a non-title match.
  • July 6, 2002: Chris Nowinski defeated Crash Holly to become the youngest person to win the WWE Hardcore title.
  • ~~~ Chris Nowsinki lost the WWE Hardcore title to Bradshaw during the same match due to the 24/7 Rule.
  • July 7, 2002: Chris Nowinski defeated Crash Holly to win the WWE Hardcore title once again..
  • ~~~Chris Nowsinki lost the WWE Hardcore title to Bradshaw during the same match due to the 24/7 Rule.
  • July 8, 2002 – RAW: Bradshaw and Trish Stratus defeated Christopher Nowinski and Jackie Gayda.
  • July 22, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski got into a fight with the Undertaker, who delivered a big power bomb to Nowinski.
  • July 29, 2002 – RAW: The Undertaker defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • August 5, 2002 – RAW: Booker T and Goldust defeated Christopher Nowinski and William Regal.
  • August 12, 2002 – RAW: Christopher Nowinski and Molly Holly defeated Spike Dudley and Trish Stratus.
  • August 26, 2002 – RAW: Bubba Dudley and Spike Dudley defeated Christopher Nowinski and William Regal w/Molly Holly.
  • ~~~Chris Nowinski heroicly rescued Molly Holly, as she was about to be put through a table by Bubba Dudley.
  • September 2, 2002 – RAW: Bubba Dudley and Trish Stratus defeated Chris Nowinski and Molly Holly in a Tables match!
  • September 4, 2002 – OVW “Fall Brawl”: Charlie Haas defeated Chris Nowinski.
  • September 9, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Tommy Dreamer.
  • September 23, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinksi was beaten up by Tommy Dreamer inside a Harvard Classroom.
  • ~~~Dreamer whacked Nowinski in the face with kendo stick! (consider yourself written out of WWE storylines)
  • September 2002: Chris Nowinski will be out of action after having surgery to remove a marble-sized benign tumor on his left jaw.
  • October 2002: Chris Nowinski’s jaw surgery was successful, and he is progressing well. Out of action for 6 weeks.

World Wrestling Entertainment – Trainer vs Student:

  • October 14, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski insulted his former trainer Al Snow for not picking him in the Tough Enough finals.
  • ~~~Later that night, Chris Nowinski defeated Tommy Dreamer with perculiar help from Al Snow.
  • October 21, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Jeff Hardy with help from Al Snow.
  • October 28, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Booker T by DQ when Al Snow jumped up and interfered.
  • ~~~Before the match, Chris Nowinski told Al Snow that he would have been a WWE Superstar with OR without Tough Enough.
  • November 11, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Al Snow with his feet up on the ropes!
  • November 18, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated Al Snow in a “School of Hard Knocks” match.
  • November 23, 2002 – House Show: Christopher Nowinski defeated Goldust.
  • November 25, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski claimed Maven only won Tough Enough because of his ‘sick’ mother.
  • ~~~Maven jumped on Chris Nowinski, who beat on Maven before their match even began — leaving him laying unconscious.
  • December 9, 2002 – RAW: D-Lo Brown and Chris Nowinski defeated Maven and Al Snow.
  • December 16, 2002 – RAW: Chris Nowinski defeated the Tough Enough Champion, Maven!
  • December 23, 2002 – RAW: The Hurricane defeated Chris Nowinski with help from Maven.
  • January 6, 2003 – RAW: Test defeated Christopher Nowinski but was attacked by DLo Brown after the match.
  • January 13, 2003 – RAW: Maven and Test defeated D-Lo Brown and Christopher Nowinski.

World Wrestling Entertainment – Part Time OVW:

  • January 15, 2003 – OVW Taping: Charlie Haas and Rob Conway defeated Lance Cade and Chris Nowinski w/Kenny Bolin in a dark match.
  • January 19, 2003 – Royal Rumble: Christopher Nowinski was in the Royal Rumble match won by Brock Lesnar.
  • January 27, 2003 – RAW: Chris Nowinski tries to spoil the debuts of Tough Enough winners John and Matt but is chased off.
  • February 5, 2003 – OVW Taping: Nova and Rhyno defeated Chris Nowinski and Doug Basham.
  • February 9, 2003 – Heat: Tommy Dreamer defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • February 12, 2003 – OVW Taping: Nova defeated Chris Nowinski by DQ.
  • February 16, 2003 – Heat: Spike Dudley defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • February 17, 2003 – RAW: The Hurricane defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • February 24, 2003 – RAW: Christopher Nowinski defeated Jeff Hardy by DQ.
  • February 26, 2003 – OVW Taping: Chris Nowinksi w/Crash Holly defeated Nova.
  • March 30, 2003 – Heat: Christopher Nowinski defeated Al Snow.
  • March 31, 2003 – RAW: Scott Steiner defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • April 11, 2003 – OVW Spring Breakout: Nova defeated Chris Nowinski.
  • April 27, 2003 – Heat: Christopher Nowinski defeated Shark Boy.
  • April 28, 2003 – RAW: Scott Steiner and Test defeated Christopher Nowinski and Rico.
  • May 11, 2003 – Heat: Christopher Nowinski defeated Mark Bartolucci.
  • May 12, 2003 – RAW: Goldust, Test and Scott Steiner defeated La Resistance and Christopher Nowinski.
  • May 23-24, 2003 – House Show: Christopher Nowinski & Rodney Mack defeated Jon Heidenreich & Lance Cade.
  • May 25, 2003 – Heat: The Hurricane defeated Christopher Nowinski.
  • June 1, 2003 – Heat: Christopher Nowinski defeated Spike Dudley.
  • June 8, 2003 – Heat: Spike Dudley and Tommy Dreamer defeated Rodney Mack and Christopher Nowinski.
  • June 15, 2003 – Heat: Christopher Nowinski defeated Maven.
  • June 15, 2003 – Bad Blood: Chris Nowinski and Rodney Mack beat The Dudleyz when Nowinski used his facemask as a weapon.
  • June 16, 2003 – RAW: The Dudley Boyz and Ivory defeated Rodney Mack, Christopher Nowinski and Jazz.
  • June 23, 2003 – RAW: Maven pinned Chris Nowinski (now managed by Theodore Long) in less than 20 seconds!
  • July 11, 2003 – House Show: Rosey & Tommy Dreamer defeated Christopher Nowinski & Rodney Mack.
  • July 12, 2003 – House Show: Christopher Nowinski & Rodney Mack defeated Rosey & Tommy Dreamer.
  • Chris Nowinski was taken off television after suffering from post concussion syndrome.

World Wrestling Entertainment:

  • May 24, 2004: Chris Nowinski is finished as an in ring performer but may be offered a P.P. or business role with the company.
  • July 2004: Chris Nowinski will be representing the WWE as a “political correspondent” at the Democratic National Convention.
  • December 9, 2005: Chris Nowinski hosted a local improv group in Boston’s theater performance on Christmas at the Tribe Theater.
  • December 12, 2005 – RAW: Chris Nowinski pitched an idea to Mr. McMahon about making a Harvard Graduate the GM of RAW.
  • October 2006: Chris Nowinski released a book about head injuries entitled, “Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis”
  • June 2007: Chris Nowinski co-founded the Sports Legacy Institute to increase the safety of contact and collision sports.
  • ~~~An organization dedicated to furthering awareness of and research on sports-related head injuries.
birthday: September 24, 1978
hometown: Born in Arlington Heights, IL
Lives in Watertown, Mass
height: 6'5
weight: 270lbs
trained by: WWE Tough Enough,
Al Snow
& Tazz
debut: 2001
previous names: Chris Harvard,
Chris Harvey,
Chris Nowinski,
Harvard Chris
finishing move(s): The Honour Roll
(Twisting Underhook Suplex)
favorite move(s): Harvard Buster (Full Nelson Face Buster)
notable feuds: Bradshaw,
Undertaker,
Tommy Dreamer,
Al Snow,
Scott Steiner
images: http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/gallery/chris.html
gender: Male
status: Retired
type: Single
current promotion: Inactive