Chris Harris Talks Failed WWE Run, WWE Pushing Former TNA Stars, If He Regrets Leaving TNA, More
On the latest episode of Main Event Radio, "Wildcat" Chris Harris steps into the Main Event for a 1-on-1 interview with Ryan Rider. They discuss memories of his legendary tag team America's Most Wanted, his classic feuds, the brief WWE run as Braden Walker and the change in the past year of how the company views stars from other companies, wanting to come back in the business as an agent, and more. You can download and listen to the full interview by clicking here, they sent us these highlights:
His health issues and if he would like to return to wrestling:
"Thanks for having me back. I appreciate it. My health is fair. I've had some health issues in the past which is why I've kind of been away from wrestling. But I'm alive man. I've had some internal issues without being specific. I'm a diabetic now so that's weighing heavily on my health. Plus the 'normal' wrestling injuries... I've got some messed up disks in my spine. That's why I've been away from the ring. I do it every so often but I've gotta be careful. Actually I need to have some surgery on my neck but I'm having some trouble with insurance right now so I need to see what happens with that. My passion overwhelms that. If I could get healthy, and the right time right place I'd love to do something again. I love wrestling, I love the business. If there was an opportunity to get back in. I'd love to be an agent, or anything in the back room. Be a part of the business, contribute something to the young guys."
Favorite memories of America's Most Wanted:
"I have to say the Six Sides of Steel. We had a cage match with Daniels and Elix [Skipper] in Nashville and then a rematch in Orlando. I wasn't fearful for Elix Skipper, I was fearful for me! I kept kicking [Christopher] Daniels and telling him let's go to Plan B! I didn't know Elix was going to make it and it happens in seconds. When I took that hit I thought I broke a rib. And let's not forget that leg drop I did with him the first time [the Death Sentence]. Actually the first Six Sides of Steel with the Naturals and that's a big memory for me too. We loved working with those guys. We did a reunion just a couple of months ago with the Naturals and America's Most Wanted, the first time all of us were together in years."
His Texas Death Match with James Storm:
"At that point people were worried about us being on us own in singles matches. We had a lot to prove. I felt confident about me, confident about Storm. We went out there and tore it down. It meant so much to us. There was a lot of brutality about that. We went out and made it work. The crowd wanted to see Storm and Harris kill each other."
Does he keep in touch with the Cowboy:
"Absolutely. He's doing great. I think he deserves more than what he's getting now and I think he'll be TNA World Champion soon."
How does he feel Beer Money compares to AMW:
"I was actually one of their biggest fans. I thought they did awesome. But nobody compares to America's Most Wanted."
Does he regret leaving TNA:
"That's hard to say. At the time I thought I did the right thing. If I had to look back, seeing the success that [James] Storm, Bobby Roode, and Eric Young those guys that I was really good friends with had, I kind of wish that I had stayed. It was more of a fraternity. At the time I was doing what was good for my family; what was good for me. At the time they really weren't doing anything with me. I was a bit frustrated and the other side was giving me a big offer and I decided maybe it's time for a jump. It had nothing to do with TNA. I loved TNA. Kurt [Angle] and I were supposed to do a program together which would have been awesome. I looked at it the other way, it was a big jump but I decided to move.
WWE run as Braden Walker and the change in the past year of how the company views stars from other companies:
"For the first few months, I wasn't on TV at all but they treated me great. Once they started me on TV, I had a meeting with the producers and the writers. We had something really good planned. I pulled out a gimmick that was very similar to the Shield. I was going to debut like a Bounty Hunter gimmick. Next thing I know they shut it out and put me out there as Braden Walker and it pretty much flopped. It was flat. How could the people care.
"Ron Killings [R-Truth] and I came at the same time. We both left TNA and went to WWE. They did some promos with him in South Carolina where he's from with the ghetto thing and it made people care. When he came out, they knew who he was. When I came out, they know me from America's Most Wanted, but there were no promos hyping me up. I talked to a few people but there was no help whatsoever. Johnny Ace [Laurinitis] called me and said they were going to let me go. I didn't fight him at all. When he said that, I was like great. I was so unhappy, there were so many problems. I wanted to get out of there. If you had a previous run in WWE, there was a little favoritism.
"Before the past year, anybody that's gone over there had got crushed. I think they're finally learning that there's life before WWE. AJ [Styles] is proving that. Gallows and Anderson are proving that. It's gonna happen. Bobby [Roode]'s gonna be a big star, Eric [Young]'s gonna be a big star. They finally realize that you've gotta push the guys who have been somewhere been. When guys debut, listen to the response. The crowd goes crazy because they have access to the internet and all that. It would have been so good. I would have had so much fun. I really think that we could have done something, I really do."