Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels, Los Angeles, CA on October 1, 2011.
Birth name	Daniel Christopher Covell[1]
Ring name(s)	Chris Daniels[1] Christopher Daniels[1] Conquistador Dos[2] Curry Man[1] Daniels[1] Suicide[1] Fallen Angel
Billed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[3] 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) as Curry Man[4] 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) as Suicide[5]
Billed weight	224 lb (102 kg)[3] 232 lb (105 kg) as Curry Man[4] 240 lb (110 kg) as Suicide[5]
Born	(1970-03-24) March 24, 1970 (age 43)[6] Kalamazoo, Michigan[7]
Billed from	The City of Angels [1][3] India (as Curry Man) Los Angeles, California (TNA)[8] Parts Unknown (as Suicide)[5] Sin City[1][9] Tokyo, Japan (as Curry Man)[4]
Trained by	Sam DeCero[1] Windy City Wrestling School[1] Mike Anthony[1] Kevin Quinn[1]
Debut	April 1993[1]

Daniel Christopher Covell^[1] (born March 24, 1970)^[6] is an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name Christopher Daniels, and also well known as Curry Man. He is currently under contract to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and also works for several independent promotions. He has also worked with Ring of Honor (ROH), and has won fifteen TNA or ROH championships, including ten tag team titles (eight in TNA, two in ROH).

He is known as "The King of Indies" for his work with independent promotions across the world, including Frontier Wrestling Alliance (FWA), International Wrestling Cartel (IWC), and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).^[1]

Early life [edit]

Covell was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 24, 1970. When Covell was three, his family relocated to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he became an avid fan of Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. After he graduated from Methodist College with a degree in theater, Covell and his wife moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he planned to become an actor.^[10][11]

Professional wrestling career [edit]

Early career (1993-2002) [edit]

After being trained by Sam DeCero, Mike Anthony and Kevin Quinn, Daniels made his April 1993 debut for Windy City Wrestling, losing a tag match with Titan to The Manson Brothers (Ripper and Skull). A month later, he defeated Trevor Blanchard for the WCPW Light Heavyweight Championship. He later won the WCPW Tag Team Championship with Kevin Quinn.^[12] He traveled to Puerto Rico to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council and, on October 22, 1995, teamed with Kevin Quinn to defeat Huracán Castillo, Jr. and Invader I for the WWC Tag Team Championship. They lost the title a month later to The Canadian Glamour Boys.^[13] Back in Windy City, Daniels defeated Bret Sanders for the WCPW Middleweight Championship, and lost it to Brandon Bishop 17 days later.^[14] Around this time, he also wrestled for the Empire Wrestling Federation, where he won the EWF Heavyweight Championship.^[14]

In 1998, Daniels signed a developmental deal with the World Wrestling Federation and trained at Dory Funk, Jr.'s Funkin' Dojo.^[12] He made his WWF debut as a jobber on January 19, 1998, losing a dark match to Mick Tierney before WWF Shotgun Saturday Night.^[15] In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he wrestled on the B-shows, WWF Sunday Night Heat and WWF Shotgun Saturday Night. In 2000, he donned a mask and teamed (as Dos) with Aaron Aguilera (Uno) as Los Conquistadores, as part of The Hardy Boyz' feud with Edge and Christian.^[2]

Back on the independent circuit, Daniels teamed with Kevin Quinn at the NWA's 50th Anniversary show in October 1998, defeating Danny Dominion and Ace Steele to become the first NWA Midwest Tag Team Champions.^[16] He participated in the 3rd Annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament, reaching the final where he lost to Steve Bradley. After a short stint in ECW, he traveled to Japan, where developed his masked persona, Curry Man, and competed in the Masked Man League, finishing third.^[12] On December 19th, 1999, he defeated Minoru Fujita in Michinoku Pro Wrestling for the British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship.^[14] Back in the US, he defeated Michael Modest for the APW Worldwide Internet Championship in All Pro Wrestling and won the 4th Annual ECWA Super 8 Tournament.^[14] On January 14, 2000, Daniels received a tryout match with World Championship Wrestling, defeating Mikey Henderson. The original idea was for Daniels to portray Vampiro's dark master, Syndrome, but his debut was continually postponed, and he eventually returned to the independent scene.^[12] He then won APW's King of the Indies tournament, the WCPW League Championship and the UPW Heavyweight Championship.^[12]

On the January 23, 2001 episode of WCW Monday Nitro, Daniels wrestled Michael Modest. During the match, he attempted a springboard moonsault, but his left foot missed the ring rope. Unable to sufficiently push off to complete the rotation, he botched the move and landed on his head, damaging his neck.^[1] Though he was able to finish the match, his left arm was impaired throughout it.^[1] Afterwards, Daniels and Modest signed 90-day contracts, but Daniels was released before he had another match.^[1]

He made several appearances on WWE Jakked during the spring of 2001, losing to Jerry Lynn and, with Scoot Andrews as his partner, to Kaientai in a tag match. Throughout 2001 and 2002, he continued wrestling on the independent circuit, winning multiple titles and tournaments and debuting in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Ring of Honor [edit]

The Prophecy (2002–2004) [edit]

On February 23, 2002, Daniels wrestled in the triple threat main event of Ring of Honor's first show, The Era of Honor Begins, against Low Ki and Bryan Danielson. He lost the match, then refused to shake hands with his opponents, breaking ROH's "Code of Honor", which mandated that all wrestlers shake hands before and after a match.^[17] He then took the mic and challenged Low Ki and Danielson to a round robin tournament at ROH's second show, Round Robin Challenge. Daniels defeated Danielson in the first match, then forced him to shake his hand.^[17] He next submitted to Low Ki's Dragon Clutch, but again refused to shake hands and said he would have won if he had not already wrestled that night.^[17] He vowed to not wrestle Low Ki again unless the ROH Title was on the line.

Daniels formed The Prophecy stable around this time.

Christopher Daniels at an event in Quincy, Massachusetts in 2004

At Ring of Honor's third show, A Night of Appreciation, Daniels lost to Donovan Morgan.^[17] They showed mutual respect, and formed a partnership.^[17] Daniels defeated AJ Styles on June 22, to qualify for the first ROH World Championship match, a one-hour Iron Man match against Spanky, Doug Williams, and Low Ki.^[17] In this title match, Daniels scored a pin on the eventual winner, Low Ki, and was the only wrestler to not to lose a fall by pin or submission.^[17]

Two months later, Low Ki defended the title against Xavier. During the match, Daniels came to the ring to distract Low Ki, allowing Xavier to attack him with a chair and pin him. The new champion was announced as the newest member of The Prophecy.^[17] Later that night, Daniels and Morgan defeated Danielson and Michael Modest to become the inaugural ROH Tag Team Champions; The Prophecy now held all ROH titles.^[18]

At Glory By Honor, Daniels defeated Doug Williams, who was consequently banned from shaking hands in ROH.^[17] The Prophecy recruited Samoa Joe, making his ROH debut that night, to take out Low Ki in the first ever Fight Without Honor (a match that doesn't follow ROH's Code of Honor rules).^[17] Low Ki won the match and shook Joe's hand.^[17]

On March 13, 2003, A.J. Styles and Amazing Red defeated Daniels and Xavier (substituting for Morgan) for the ROH Tag Team Championship.^[17] At the next show, The Prophecy also lost the ROH Championship, when former member Samoa Joe defeated Xavier.^[17]

On April 26, Daniels won the second Round Robin Challenge by defeating Amazing Red and Paul London in singles matches.^[17]

On June 14, The Prophecy put their existence in ROH on the line in a six-man tag team match against The Group (Samoa Joe, C.W. Anderson and Michael Shane). The Prophecy won, and The Group was forced to disband.^[17]

Daniels defeated the returning Xavier on August 16 to become number one contender for the ROH World Championship. He was defeated by the champion, Samoa Joe, on September 20.^[17]

After CM Punk declined an offer to join The Prophecy, someone assaulted his girlfriend Lucy backstage, forcing her out of ROH.^[17] On December 23, 2003, Daniels revealed that B.J. Whitmer, the newest member of The Prophecy, had attacked Lucy, starting a rivalry between The Prophecy and Punk's stable, The Second City Saints.^[17] On January 10, 2004, at Battle Lines are Drawn, The Prophecy (Daniels, Whitmer and Dan Maff) faced The Second City Saints (Punk, Colt Cabana and Ace Steel) in a six-man tag team main event. The Prophecy was disqualified when Whitmer accidentally hit the referee with a chair. After the match, Punk dropped Daniels from the ropes through a table with the Pepsi Plunge, putting him out of ROH.^[17] (Daniels' exit was a result of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) not allowing their contracted wrestlers to work ROH shows, in light of a scandal surrounding ROH promoter Rob Feinstein.)

Return to ROH (2005–2007) [edit]

In the summer of 2005, Ring of Honor announced that, after a sixteen-month absence, Daniels would return on July 8.^[19] However, on June 18, at Death Before Dishonor III, he made a surprise early return, confronting and challenging the new ROH World Champion, CM Punk, who had threatened to leave for World Wrestling Entertainment with the title. Punk refused the challenge and fled the arena.^[19] At the next show, Sign of Dishonor, Daniels defeated Punk's stablemate, Colt Cabana, when Punk attempted to hit Daniels with a steel chain, but instead hit Cabana.^[17] At Fate of an Angel, Daniels lost to the debuting Matt Hardy after Punk interfered. Later that night, after Punk's successful defense against James Gibson, Daniels stole the belt and was granted a title shot.^[17]

On July 23, at The Homecoming, Daniels wrestled Punk to a one-hour time limit draw; the time expired just as Daniels hit his Angel's Wings finisher.^[17] At the next show on August 12, Redemption, Daniels, Gibson and Samoa Joe challenged CM Punk for the title in a Four-Way Elimination match. While Joe had Daniels in a submission move, Daniels put his foot on the rope to force a break. Punk knocked it off before the referee noticed, and Daniels submitted.^[20] Daniels tried to get revenge, but inadvertently helped Punk eliminate Joe.^[20]

Daniels remained a regular member of the ROH roster, while also working other promotions. He made his U.S. debut as Curry Man on August 27, against Shingo Takagi at Dragon Gate Invasion^[17]

After defeating Matt Sydal in two singles matches and losing to him in a third, they became tag team partners in the summer of 2006.^[17] On August 26, they failed in their first shot at the ROH World Tag Team Championship, against Austin Aries and Roderick Strong. On November 25, they defeated Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli for the title, making Daniels a two-time champion.^[18] After defending against CIMA and Shingo, Austin Aries and Roderick Strong and Jack Evans and Shingo, Daniels and Sydal lost the title to The Briscoe Brothers on February 24, 2007.^[17]

At Good Times, Great Memories on April 28, Daniels wrestled a fifteen-minute time-limit draw with Erick Stevens. Following the match, Daniels turned heel and quit ROH.^[17]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling [edit]

X Division and Tag Team Division (2002–2007) [edit]

Christopher Daniels at a Pro Wrestling Guerrilla event in 2007

Daniels joined the newly founded NWA-TNA in 2002. He was part of a stable called Triple X, with Low-Ki and Elix Skipper, which won the NWA World Tag Team Championship.^[21] He also joined Vince Russo's Sports Entertainment Xtreme stable. Triple X disbanded in June 2003, after Low-Ki began wrestling primarily in Japan and Daniels and Skipper lost a cage match to America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm).

Daniels briefly feuded with Jeff Jarrett in August/September 2003. He then regularly wrestled singles matches in the X Division, before rejoining with Skipper in July 2004. They were forced to disband after losing to America's Most Wanted again, on December 5 at Turning Point.^[22]

In 2005, Daniels had a long feud with A.J. Styles over the TNA X Division Championship. He won the title at Destination X in an Ultimate X Challenge with a screwjob ending. Styles had retrieved the belt, but the referee was unconscious. Daniels hit Styles with his Angel's Wings finisher and took the belt when the ref woke.^[23] He became the longest-reigning X Division champion, holding the belt for over 150 days. During this run, he defended against Elix Skipper, Shocker, Petey Williams, Matt Bentley, Chris Sabin, and Austin Aries. On September 11, at Unbreakable, he lost the title to Styles in a three-way dance (with Samoa Joe), when Styles reversed an Angels Wings attempt into a pin;^[24] This match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.^[25]

On November 13, 2005, at Genesis, Daniels sustained a (storyline) concussion after being attacked by Samoa Joe and taking a Muscle Buster onto a chair, following a tag match together.^[26] At Turning Point, when Joe tried to similarly injure A.J. Styles after winning the X Division Championship from him, Daniels returned and attacked Joe, enabling security guards to protect Styles and restrain Joe.^[27] At Final Resolution, Daniels lost to Joe when Styles threw in the towel to protect Daniels, badly beaten and defenseless, from further damage.^[28] The next week, Daniels accused Styles of doing this to get the number one contendership for the X Division Title. That night, he cost Styles a match against Shannon Moore by throwing in the towel. At Against All Odds, Joe retained the title in a three-way match against Daniels and Styles.^[29] Daniels won the title in an Ultimate X match the next month,^[30] and lost it back to Joe on April 13, after taking a second rope Island Driver.^[31]

Daniels was then scheduled to face Jushin Liger in a cage match at Lockdown, but Liger pulled out of the match. Instead, he faced a mystery opponent, who turned out to be the returning Low Ki (now named Senshi), who defeated him.^[32]

Daniels turned face by teaming with A.J. Styles and becoming the number one contender for the NWA Tag Team Championship, held by America's Most Wanted. Daniels and Styles won the title at Slammiversary.^[21][33] They then feuded with The Latin American Xchange (LAX), trading the title back and forth with Homicide and Hernandez.

On November 16, Daniels defeated Styles and Chris Sabin in a three-way match on the primetime debut of TNA Impact! on Spike TV, by pinning Sabin, to win his third TNA X Division Championship.^[34] He lost it to Sabin in a three-way bout at Final Resolution, also involving Jerry Lynn.^[35]

Daniels then took time off from TNA. He made his return, as a heel, at Destination X,^[36] distracting Lynn during his match with Sabin.^[36] After the match, the newly bearded Daniels, sporting tribal-styled paint on one side of his face, hit Sabin with the Angel's Wings and Lynn with the X Division title belt.^[36] At Lockdown, Daniels pinned Jerry Lynn in a cage match.^[37] At Sacrifice, Daniels pinned Rhino after hitting him with a baseball bat.^[38]

Daniels then feuded with Sting, costing him a King of the Mountain match qualifier by hitting him with a baseball bat. Sting attacked him the next week on Impact!. On June 17, 2007, at Slammiversary, Sting pinned him after the Scorpion Death Drop.^[39]

At Victory Road, Daniels won a 10-Man Ultimate X Gauntlet Match to become the number one contender for the X Division Championship.^[40] Senshi and Elix Skipper helped Daniels to win the match, resulting in the reunion of Triple X.^[40] At Bound for Glory on October 14, Daniels unsuccessfully challenged for Jay Lethal's X Division Championship.^[41] On the December 6 episode of Impact!, Daniels beat Senshi in a match for his "Feast or Fired" briefcase, refereed by Elix Skipper.^[1] The next week, the briefcase was revealed to contain a pink slip, meaning Daniels was fired from TNA.^[1]

Curry Man and Suicide (2008–2009) [edit]

Daniels while playing the Curry Man character

One month after Daniels was fired, Covell returned to TNA as the colourful, masked Curry Man, who soon became allied with Shark Boy.^[1][42] Unlike the brooding serious nature of his "Fallen Angel" persona, Curry Man was a dancing, cartoonish comedy act. He and Shark Boy feuded with Team 3D, and won a "Fish Market Street Fight" against them at Destination X.^[1] On the March 13, 2008 Impact!, Curry Man beat Petey Williams to qualify for the Xscape match for the X Division Title at Lockdown,^[1] along with Jay Lethal, Sonjay Dutt, Shark Boy, Consequences Creed, and Johnny Devine.^[43] He eliminated Creed from the match after hitting his Spice Rack finisher, and was eliminated by Devine after the Devine Intervention.^[43]

In June, Curry Man represented Team TNA in the 2008 World X Cup. After losing to Team International's Alex Koslov in a preview match, he lost to Team Japan's Milano Collection A.T. in the tournament.^[1] At Victory Road, Curry Man wrestled in a four-team, twelve-man elimination tag match; he was eliminated by Team Mexico's Último Guerrero.^[44]

Curry Man and Shark Boy then allied with Super Eric to form a comedic superhero-themed stable called The Prince Justice Brotherhood.^[1] At Final Resolution, Curry Man was one of the four participants in the "Feast or Fired" match (along with Jay Lethal, Homicide and Hernandez) to retrieve a briefcase. His contained a pink slip, meaning he was fired.^[45]

In early 2009, Covell began playing the role of the masked Suicide, while Frankie Kazarian (the original Suicide) recovered from injury. As Suicide, he won the X Division Championship in an Ultimate X match at Destination X.^[46]

Return of Daniels (2009–2010) [edit]

Daniels wrestling Shane Douglas at Slammiversary 2009.

Christopher Daniels returned to TNA TV as a face, under his "Fallen Angel" gimmick (his name shortened to just Daniels afterwards) on the April 16 episode of TNA Impact!. He defeated Kurt Angle to give Jeff Jarrett's team the first-man advantage in Lethal Lockdown, at Lockdown. He was then announced as a member of Team Jarrett. The win was overturned by Jeff Jarrett, after he noticed Angle's shoulder was up during the pinfall and Daniels' shoulders were down.^[1] At Lockdown, Team Jarrett defeated Team Angle.^[1]

Daniels then feuded with Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin (The Motor City Machine Guns), who, on the April 30 episode of Impact!, accused him of being Suicide.^[1] On the May 7 Impact!, Jay Lethal and Consequences Creed echoed the accusations.^[1] On the May 14 Impact!, Daniels helped Suicide clear the ring of Shelley, Sabin, Lethal, and Creed after they attempted to unmask him.^[1] At Sacrifice, Daniels defeated Suicide to win the TNA X Division Championship. After the match, Daniels saw a replay of the finish, involving Alex Shelley's interference. He said he didn't want to win the belt like that and asked for five extra minutes. The five minutes expired ina draw, and Suicide kept the title.^[47]

At Slammiversary, Daniels pinned Shane Douglas in a match with Daniels' job on the line, after hitting the Best Moonsault Ever.^[48]

At Victory Road, Daniels lost to Matt Morgan.^[49]

At Hard Justice, Daniels won the Steel Asylum match to become the number one contender for the X Division Championship, reigniting his feud with champion Samoa Joe.^[50] Daniels lost to Joe at No Surrender, then lost a three-way match (also involving Homicide) to him on the following Impact.^[1][51]

At Bound for Glory, Daniels wrestled a six-man Ultimate X match for the X Division Championship, also featuring Alex Shelley, Chris Sabin, Suicide, Homicide and successfully defending champion, Amazing Red.^[52]

Daniels in TNA in January 2010.

On the November 5 episode of Impact!, Daniels started turning heel by confronting the TNA World Heavyweight Champion, A.J. Styles, and claiming he was just as good a wrestler as Styles, but was not given the same breaks by TNA, which he said was pampering, coddling and spoiling Styles.^[53] At Turning Point, Styles retained his title in a three-way match against Daniels and Samoa Joe by pinning Joe.^[54] On the November 19 episode of Impact!, Daniels completed his heel turn and teamed with Desmond Wolfe against Styles and Kurt Angle, pinning Styles.^[55] At Final Resolution, Daniels unsuccessfully challenged Styles for the World Heavyweight Championship.^[56]

The following month at Genesis, Daniels lost to Sean Morley in Morley's TNA debut.^[57]

On the March 8 episode of Impact!, Daniels vowed to re-ignite the flame of the X Division. That night, he was pinned by X Division Champion Doug Williams in a three-way title match, also involving Kazarian.^[58]

At Destination X, Daniels competed in a four-way ladder match for the number one contendership for the X Division title, and was defeated by Kazarian.^[59] Two days later, Daniels defeated Kazuchika Okada in a dark match at the Impact! taping.^[60]

Covell was released from his TNA contract on March 31, 2010, after nearly eight years with the company.^[61][62][63]

Return to Ring of Honor (2010–2011) [edit]

Daniels returned to Ring of Honor on April 3, 2010, at its second live pay-per-view, The Big Bang!, challenging Davey Richards to a match.^[64] On May 7, at Civil Warfare, Daniels defeated Kevin Steen in his return match and so took his #2 spot in the Pick 6 standings.^[65] The following day, at Supercard Of Honor V, Daniels defeated ROH World Television Champion and Richards' tag team partner, Eddie Edwards, in a non-title match.^[66] On May 21, Daniels participated in his first Ring of Honor Wrestling taping, teaming with Roderick Strong in a losing effort against The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards).^[67]

On June 19, Daniels made his ROH pay-per-view wrestling debut at Death Before Dishonor VIII, successfully defending his #2 Pick 6 spot against Kenny Omega and rupturing an eardrum in the process.^[68][69] At the next PPV, Glory By Honor IX, Daniels defeated Austin Aries.^[70] On October 16, Daniels finally received his match with Davey Richards, but lost via submission.^[71] Three days later Ring of Honor announced that Daniels had officially signed a contract with the promotion.^[72] On November 13, Daniels received a shot at the ROH World Championship, but lost to the champion, Roderick Strong.^[73]

At the December 10 taping of Ring of Honor Wrestling in Louisville, Kentucky, Daniels beat Eddie Edwards for the ROH World Television Championship.^[74] Eight days later, at Final Battle 2010, Daniels lost to Homicide in a non–title number one contender's match.^[75] At the net pay-per-view, 9th Anniversary Show, on February 26, 2011, Daniels wrestled Eddie Edwards to a thirty-minute time limit draw in a Two Out of Three Falls rematch for the Television title.^[76] Afterwards, it was announced that Daniels would challenge for the ROH World Championship at the following pay-per-view on April 1.^[77] On March 18, Daniels successfully defended the Television title against Mike Bennett.^[78]

In preparation for his World Championship match against Roderick Strong, Daniels stole "The Book of Truth" from Strong's manager, Truth Martini, to learn his match strategy. He was forced to shift his focus when, on March 19, Strong lost the title to Eddie Edwards.^[79] On April 1, at Honor Takes Center Stage, Daniels unsuccessfully challenged Edwards for the World Championship, and afterwards teased a heel turn by refusing to shake his hand.^[80] The next day (the second of the Honor Takes Center Stage weekend), Daniels completed his heel turn by attacking El Generico with "The Book of Truth" and aligning himself with Truth Martini, Roderick Strong and Michael Elgin, a stable called The House of Truth.^[81]

On June 26, at Best in the World 2011, Daniels lost the Television title to El Generico.^[82] This was his last appearance in ROH before rejoining TNA full-time.^[83]

Chikara (2010) [edit]

Curry Man replaced the injured Cassandro to team with Los Ice Creams (El Hijo del Ice Cream and Ice Cream, Jr.) in Chikara's 2010 King of Trios tournament, which started on April 23, 2010.^[84] The trio lost in the first round to Team Perros del Mal (El Alebrije, Cuije and El Oriental).^[85] The following day, Christopher Daniels defeated Hallowicked in a singles match.^[86] On the third night of the event, Daniels lost to Eddie Kingston.^[87]

Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (2010) [edit]

On April 30, 2010, Christopher Daniels debuted for the major Mexican promotion, Asistencia Asesoría y Administración (AAA), as a surprise member of the rudo La Legión Extranjera (Foreign Legion) stable. In a six-man tag match, he, Alex Koslov and Joe Lider defeated Extreme Tiger, Jack Evans and Rocky Romero when Daniels pinned the AAA Cruiserweight Champion, Extreme Tiger.^[88]

On June 6, at Triplemanía XVIII, Daniels lost to Jack Evans in a four-way elimination match for the Cruiserweight Championship, along with Extreme Tiger and Nosawa.^[89]

Return to TNA [edit]

Fortune (2011) [edit]

Covell returned to TNA at the January 31, 2011, taping of Xplosion, as Suicide.^[90] Still contracted to Ring of Honor, he received the promotion's blessing for the return, provided he not work as Christopher Daniels until the contract expired.^[91] On February 10, Suicide returned to Impact!, losing a three–way X Division number one contender's tournament match, also involving Brian Kendrick, to Robbie E.^[92]

On March 16, at the taping of the March 31 of Impact!, Christopher Daniels returned to TNA, saving Fortune members James Storm, Kazarian and Robert Roode from a four–on–three beatdown from Immortal in a steel cage, establishing himself as a face. Daniels had specifically targeted Bully Ray, who had injured Fortune leader A.J. Styles two weeks earlier.^[93][94][95] On the April 7 episode of Impact!, Daniels proclaimed loyalty to Styles and announced he would take his place alongside Kazarian, Roode and Storm in the Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown, facing Immortal's Abyss, Bully Ray, Matt Hardy and Ric Flair. Later that night, Daniels wrestled his first match back, losing to Bully Ray in a Lumberjack match, with Fortune and Immortal as lumberjacks, after Immortal leader Hulk Hogan interfered and hit him with a chain.^[96] Covell also wrestled as Suicide on that same night, teaming with Brian Kendrick and Chris Sabin to defeat Generation Me and Robbie E in a six-man tag match.^[96][97] Soon after, Suicide's profile was removed from TNA's website. On April 17 at Lockdown, Team Fortune defeated Team Immortal in a Lethal Lockdown match.^[98] On the following episode of Impact!, Daniels was officially named a member of Fortune.^[99] On the May 26 episode of Impact Wrestling, Daniels and Styles defeated Bully Ray and his new partner Tommy Dreamer in a Street Fight.^[100]

On July 10, in the main event of Destination X, Daniels was defeated by fellow Fortune member A.J. Styles. Earlier that night, Covell briefly appeared as Curry Man, in a segment in which Eric Young sought a tag team partner to face Generation Me.^[101] After weeks of Daniels asking for a rematch, Styles finally granted him one on the September 1 episode of Impact Wrestling, which Daniels won. After the match, Daniels refused to shake hands with Styles.^[102] On the September 22 episode, Daniels refused to return the favor and give Styles a rematch, which led to them brawling. When they were separated by Kazarian, Daniels kicked Styles in the groin, completing his heel turn and signifying his departure from Fourtune.^[103] At Daniels' request, he faced Styles at Bound for Glory on October 16 in an "I Quit" match;^[104] Daniels lost the match after being threatened with a screwdriver, but continued the feud by attacking Styles after the match.^[105]

On the October 27 episode of Impact Wrestling, Daniels was defeated by Rob Van Dam via disqualification after hitting him with a toolbox.^[106] On the November 10 episode of Impact Wrestling, Daniels was defeated by A.J. Styles, after Van Dam prevented Daniels from using a screwdriver.^[107] On November 13 at Turning Point, Daniels lost to Van Dam in a No Disqualification match.^[108] In retaliation, Daniels interfered and cost Van Dam his match for the TNA Television Championship on the December 1 episode of Impact Wrestling.^[109] This led to a singles match on December 11 at Final Resolution on December 11, where Van Dam was victorious.^[110]

Teaming with Kazarian (2012–present) [edit]

Daniels making his entrance at Bound for Glory.

Daniels then returned to feuding with Styles, convincing Kazarian to turn on him on the January 5, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling.^[111] On the February 9 episode, Daniels defeated Styles with help from Kazarian, whose demeanor suggested that Daniels had blackmailed him to turn on Styles against his will.^[112] On March 18, at Victory Road, Daniels and Kazarian lost a tag team match to Styles and Mr. Anderson.^[113] On April 15, at Lockdown, those two teams were on opposing sides in the Lethal Lockdown match. Styles and Anderson's team, led by Garett Bischoff defeated Daniels and Kazarian's team, led by Eric Bischoff.^[114]

While Styles was on hiatus from Impact Wrestling, Daniels and Kazarian pursued the World Tag Team Championship, attacking champions Magnus and Samoa Joe on the April 26 episode.^[115] On the May 10 episode, Kazarian revealed he had originally allied with Daniels to keep him from revealing a secret about Styles, but had genuinely sided against Styles after learning the details of the secret. Daniels then revealed the secret via a series of photographs insinuating a relationship between Styles and TNA president Dixie Carter.^[116] Three days later, at Sacrifice, Daniels and Kazarian defeated Magnus and Samoa Joe for their first TNA World Tag Team Championship.^[117] Later that night, they cost A.J. Styles his match with Kurt Angle, who saved Styles from a post-match beatdown.^[117] On May 31, Daniels lost a main event grudge match to Styles on a live episode of Impact Wrestling. Afterward, Daniels and Kazarian attacked Styles and Angle, who had attempted to again save Styles. They then began to play a recorded private phone conversation between Styles and Carter. This was interrupted when the show was abruptly pulled off-air by Carter.^[118] On June 10 at Slammiversary, Daniels and Kazarian lost the TNA World Tag Team Championship to Styles and Angle.^[119] On the next episode of Impact Wrestling, Daniels entered the 2012 Bound for Glory Series, wrestling in the opening gauntlet match, from which he eliminated Styles and Angle, before being eliminated by James Storm.^[120]

On the June 21 episode, Styles and Carter proved Daniels and Kazarian had been lying about their relationship, by producing a pregnant woman named Claire, whom they had been helping overcome her addictions.^[121] The following week, Kazarian indicated tension with his partner, claiming Daniels had lied to him. However, in the main event of the evening, they defeated Styles and Angle to regain the TNA World Tag Team Championship, after Kazarian hit Styles with a chair. After the match, Daniels admitted Styles and Carter had told the truth about Claire, but claimed they had left out the part about Styles being the father of her unborn baby.^[122] On July 8, at Destination X, Daniels lost to Styles in a Last Man Standing match.^[123] On the August 8 episode, Daniels and Kazarian, calling themselves "The World Tag Team Champions of the World",^[124] made their first televised title defense, defeating Devon and Garett Bischoff.^[125] Daniels was eliminated from the 2012 Bound for Glory Series on the following episode, after losing a match to Styles.^[126] As a result of this win, Styles also earned the right to take a paternity test, which revealed Claire was not pregnant at all. Claire, through her attorney, revealed Daniels and Kazarian had invented the pregnancy as part of a plot to blackmail Styles.^[127]

On September 6, during the special "Championship Thursday" episode of Impact Wrestling, Daniels and Kazarian successfully defended the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Chavo Guerrero, Jr. and Hernandez.^[128] Three days later, at No Surrender, they successfully defended against the previous champions, A.J. Styles and Kurt Angle.^[129] On October 14, at Bound for Glory, they lost the title to Guerrero and Hernandez in a three-way match, also including Styles and Angle.^[130] On November 11, at Turning Point, Daniels and Kazarian failed to regain the title, losing to Guerrero and Hernandez.^[131]

On December 9 at Final Resolution, Daniels defeated A.J. Styles in what was billed as their "final match", after hitting Styles with his own Styles Clash finishing move.^[132] Following this, Daniels and Kazarian dubbed their tag team Bad Influence, and Daniels tweaked his "Fallen Angel" character into that of a vice-ridden heel to fit the team's new name. Bad Influence then began a rivalry with James Storm after he defeated Kazarian at Final Resolution,^[132] and again on the January 3, 2013 episode of Impact Wrestling.^[133] On January 13 at Genesis, Daniels defeated Storm in a number one contenders match for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.^[134] Daniels received his title shot on the January 24 episode of Impact Wrestling, but was defeated by defending champion Jeff Hardy.^[135] On March 10 at Lockdown, Bad Influence unsuccessfully challenged Austin Aries and Bobby Roode for the TNA World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match, also involving Chavo Guerrero, Jr. and Hernandez.^[136]

Television and film appearances [edit]

Covell appeared in two episodes of Distraction as Curry Man, with fellow wrestlers Frankie Kazarian and Samoa Joe. He made a Chef Boyardee commercial with Matt and Jeff Hardy^[137] and a guest appearance on Numb3rs with mixed martial artist Tito Ortiz.

He competed on the January 18, 2008, episode of Merv Griffin's Crosswords, coming in at the beginning of the second round as a "Spoiler". He made it to the front row once, temporarily winning a trip to Reno, Nevada, but ended the show back as a Spoiler, therefore leaving with only the consolation prize.

He appears uncredited in the 1999 documentary film, Beyond the Mat.^[138]

He also appeared uncredited in the 2013 parody film, 30 Nights of Paranormal Activity with the Devil Inside the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo as Bane.^[139]

Personal life [edit]

Covell is married to Lisa and has two children. His daughter, Jerica Ellen, was born September 26, 2003, and his son, Joshua Allen, was born October 21, 2005. Joshua's middle name is derived from the first name of Covell's best friend, Allen Jones, who wrestles as A.J. Styles.^[7][140]

Covell is a comic book fan. His favorite Marvel Comics creation is The X-Men, and his favorite X-Men character is Wolverine. He trades comics with other wrestlers, including Samoa Joe and Homicide.^[7]

Covell earned a degree in theater from Methodist College in Fayetteville, North Carolina.^[1][141]

On August 28, 2009, Covell was arrested for driving under the influence.^[142]

In wrestling [edit]

Daniels fighting in an Ultimate X match

Daniels performing a crossbody

Daniels performing a Best Moonsault Ever on Chris Sabin

Daniels performing a Best Moonsault Ever on Shane Douglas

Daniels during his ring entrance

• Finishing moves
  • As Christopher Daniels
    • Angel's Wings (Spinning lifting sitout double underhook facebuster, sometimes from the second rope)^[1][8]
    • BME – Best Moonsault Ever (Double jump moonsault)^[1][3][9]
    • Last Rites (Rolling cutter)^[1][8][9]
    • Reverse STO followed by a Koji Clutch^[1]
  • As Curry Man
    • Spicy Drop (Independent circuit) / Spice Rack (TNA) (Backbreaker rack dropped into either a facebuster or a DDT)^[1][4]
  • As Suicide
    • Suicide Solution^[5][143] (Overhead flipping leg hook belly to back suplex)
• Signature moves
  • As Christopher Daniels
    • Arabian Press, sometimes to a standing opponent on the outside^[1]
    • Crossface^[1]
    • Death Valley driver^[1]
    • Enzuigiri^[1]
    • Fall From Grace (Modified cross-armed iconoclasm)^[1]
    • Gannosuke clutch^[144]
    • High knee to a cornered opponent^[145]
    • Reverse STO,^[1] sometimes into the turnbuckles or from the second rope
    • Running neckbreaker^[1]
    • Sidewalk slam, sometimes from the top rope^[1]
    • Spin-out powerbomb^[1]
    • Springboard plancha^[1]
    • Standing side slam^[1]
    • STO^[1]
  • As Curry Man
    • Curry Bottom (Standing side slam)^[1]
    • Curry Cradle (Gannosuke clutch)^[1]
    • Domo Lariato (Lariat)^[146]
    • Hi-C (Diving crossbody)^[147]
    • Springboard back elbow^[148]
    • Tokyo Dangerous (Belly to back suplex backbreaker)^[149]
  • As Suicide
    • Headbutt^[143]
    • Running front dropkick^[143]
    • Running snapmare driver into the turnbuckles^[150]

• Managers
  • Simply Luscious^[151]
  • Allison Danger^[1]
  • Jim Cornette^[1]
  • Prince Nana^[152]
  • Truth Martini

• Nicknames
  • "The Fallen Angel"^[1]
  • "(Self-proclaimed) Mr. TNA"^[153]
  • "Hot and Spicy" (as Curry Man)^[154]
  • "King of Spice" (as Curry Man)^[155]
  • "Tastes Great"
  • "The (self-proclaimed) Face of Impact Wrestling"^[124]
  • "The Ring General"

• Entrance themes
  • "Head Like a Hole (Slate Remix)" by Nine Inch Nails (ECW)^[156]
  • "Disposable Teens" by Marilyn Manson (Independent circuit)^[157]
  • "Manson" by Dale Oliver (TNA, ROH)^[156]
  • "Guerrilla Radio" by Rage Against the Machine (ROH) – as Curry Man^[156]
  • "Wings of a Fallen Angel" by Dale Oliver (TNA)^[158]
  • "Spicy Hot" by Dale Oliver (TNA; as Curry Man)^[159]
  • "Coming Alive" by Dale Oliver (TNA; as Suicide)^[160]
  • "Fortune 4" by Dale Oliver (TNA)^[161]
  • "Wings of a Fallen Angel (Christopher Daniels '11 Remix)" by Dale Oliver^[162]
  • "Devious" by Dale Oliver^[163] (TNA; Used while teaming with Kazarian)

Championships and accomplishments [edit]

Daniels as the TNA X Division Champion in 2007.

Covell as Curry Man in the "Feast or Fired" match.

Daniels with AJ Styles at Destination X in 2006, after winning the X Division Championship.

• All Pro Wrestling
  • APW Worldwide Internet Championship (1 time)^[164]
  • King of the Indies (2000)^[1]

• All Action Wrestling Australia
  • AAW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[165]

• Ballpark Brawl
  • Natural Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[166]

• East Coast Wrestling Association
  • ECWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[167][168]
  • Super 8 Tournament (2000, 2004)^[169]
  • ECWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)^[170]

• Empire Wrestling Federation
  • EWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[171][12]

• Frontier Wrestling Alliance
  • FWA British Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[172]

• German Stampede Wrestling
  • Battlefield (2008)^[173]

• Impact Championship Wrestling
  • ICW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Xavier^[174]
  • Impact Cup (2010) – with Xavier^[175]

• Michinoku Pro Wrestling
  • British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[176]
  • Futaritabi Tag Team League (2002)^[1] – with Super Rice Boy

• Midwest Championship Wrestling
  • MCW Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[12] – with Reign

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[177] – with American Dragon

• NWA Florida
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[178]

• NWA Midwest
  • NWA Midwest Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[179] – with Kevin Quinn

• New Age Wrestling Federation
  • CT Cup (1 time)^1[180]

• Premier Wrestling Federation
  • PWF United States Championship (1 time)^[181]

• Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling
  • 3PW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[182]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year (2006)^[183] with A.J. Styles
  • PWI ranked him #15 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 2006^[184]

• Pro Wrestling Report
  • Tag Team of the Year (2006) with A.J. Styles

• Pro Wrestling Zero1-Max
  • Zero1-Max United States Openweight Championship (1 time)^[185]

• Ring of Honor
  • ROH World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Donovan Morgan (1) and Matt Sydal (1)^[9][18]
  • ROH World Television Championship (1 time)^[9][74]

• SoCal Uncensored
  • Match of the Year (2000) vs. Kurt Angle, September 13, 2000, Ultimate Pro Wrestling^[186]
  • Wrestler of the Year (2000)^[186]

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA X Division Championship (3 times)^[187]
  • TNA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kazarian^[117][122]
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (6 times)^[21] – with Low Ki and Elix Skipper as Triple X (3), James Storm (1) and A.J. Styles (2)
  • Feast or Fired (2007) Pink Slip Briefcase²
  • Feast or Fired (2008) Pink Slip Briefcase (as Curry Man)
  • World X Cup (2004)^[1] – with Jerry Lynn, Chris Sabin, and Elix Skipper
  • Feud of the Year (2005) vs. A.J. Styles^[188]
  • Match of the Year (2004) with Elix Skipper vs. Chris Harris and James Storm at Turning Point, December 5, 2004^[189]
  • Match of the Year (2006)^[1] with A.J. Styles vs. Homicide and Hernandez at No Surrender, September 24, 2006^[190]
  • Tag Team of the Year (2006)^[1] with A.J. Styles^[190]

• Ultimate Pro Wrestling
  • UPW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[191]

• Windy City Pro Wrestling
  • WCPW League Championship (1 time)^[12]
  • WCPW Lightweight Championship (1 time)^[12]
  • WCPW Middleweight Championship (1 time)^[12]
  • WCPW Tag Team Championship (2 times)^[12] – with Kevin Quinn (1), Mike Anthony (1)

• World Power Wrestling
  • WPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[12]

• World Wrestling Council
  • WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[192] – with Kevin Quinn

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • 5 Star Match (2005) vs. Samoa Joe and A.J. Styles at TNA Unbreakable^[25]
  • Tag Team of the Year (2012) with Kazarian^[193]
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (2006) TNA Reverse Battle Royal on TNA Impact!^[194]

¹Daniels held the title jointly with John Brooks.

²on the December 6, 2007 episode of Impact!, Daniels defeated Senshi with Elix Skipper as Special Guest Referee to win his briefcase

References [edit]

External links [edit]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Christopher Daniels

• FallenAngelChristopherDaniels.com (Official Website)
• TNA Impact Wrestling Profile