Nowinski Update

[The Mandarin 0]

A head injury can be so much more complicated than a broken bone. If you break your ankle, for example, a doctor can take an X-ray, identify the problem and fix it.

 

But four and a half months after his concussion, Christopher Nowinski still doesn’t fully know why he’s suffering from headaches or what, exactly, is causing them. Therefore, the only remedy has been patience, and there’s no timetable on when he can return to WWE television.

 

“I’ve been cleared to work out and to do any non-head-impact type activities,” he told WWE.com in a phone interview this morning. “I’m working out twice a day to try to get back in shape because I got somewhat out of it. I got in the ring the other day and tried to do a little chain wrestling and ran the ropes and stuff. It was OK. I wouldn’t say I felt as good as I wanted to, but we’ll see as we go on.”

 

He added, “Sometimes I feel pretty crappy after I work out.”

 

Nowinski has been frustrated for the past few days because the post-concussion-syndrome-type problems have returned. “Who knows what it means?” he said. “(Prior to the last few days) I was feeling amazing for a week and a half – totally fine, energetic and everything.”

 

One unusual side effect from the concussion is that, for the first time in his life, he’s taken to sleepwalking, apparently because his brain chemistry has been altered. There are two kinds of sleepwalking, Nowinski explained: one where you walk around in a hypnotic state, but your brain knows where you are, and you’re not really in any danger; and the other, much more dangerous, is akin to walking in a dark room. Nowinski is suffering from the latter.

 

Recently, he jumped off his bed and into a wall, and fell six feet. Several other times, he’s woken up in places with no idea how he got there. He’s been forced to take pills to help him sleep deeper, but even taking those, he still has the occasional bout of sleepwalking, which is not a good sign.

 

“Sometimes it’s kind of scary to go to sleep at night,” he said. “The whole thing is just a troubling ball of wax.”

 

On the plus side, headaches he gets these days are manageable; they’re no longer on the “knock-me-on-my-ass” variety, as he describes them. And his recent head pain may just be because he’s finally back in the gym, pushing himself.

 

The absolute best-case scenario for a WWE return would be December, Nowinski said.

 

Doctors have now come to think that, since the headaches have changed, that they may be due to whiplash he suffered during the same incident that led to his concussion. That was during a live event in Hartford, Conn., on June 21. He took a stiff kick to the head that he didn’t see coming, and because he didn’t get a chance to tighten his muscles in preparation, he may have torn ligaments that connect to his skull, which can take months to heal.

“But there’s no surefire way to tell” if that’s what’s causing the headaches, Nowinski said.

 

“I’ve only been really working out for 10 days, so it could just be ... my neck getting back into high levels of stress,” he said. “In that case, in theory, in a week or two, once my neck gets stronger, the headaches could go away. Then I’ll know it’s just my neck.

 

“I wouldn’t say I’m incredibly enthusiastic about a quick comeback, but it could just be an adjustment period that I’m going through.”

 

Nowinski returns to the doctors in two weeks.

 

“It’s a question of, have I taken enough time yet or not?” he said. “That’s up to them.”

 

Nowinski has been attending WWE events “left and right” – any within a three to four hour drive from his apartment in Boston -- trying to stay involved. He’s also been used periodically for other WWE functions; for instance, he flew to Canada on Monday for various appearances. This Monday, he’ll be at RAW in Boston, attending the show and taking part in a Smackdown Your Vote! rally at Boston University.

 

“I have a lot of time to keep up with politics now, so I’m motivated to care,” he said with a chuckle.

 

Written by Phil Speer at WWE.com, of course.

 

This is great news, I'm a *huge* Nowinski fan, I can't wait to see him back. Hopefully this time they won't team him with Rodney Mack, or even Teddy Long. While I do like the team of Teddy and Nowinski, they both are ment to have speaking roles. I think Nowinski would be better off on his own where he can do his own stuff on the stick.

 

In the mean time, he's a big star in my Fantasy Booking federation, Wrestling: 2K4, which you can check out by clicking the link.

 

Or not.

[MooreMark 0]

Great news. I'm another Nowinski fan. That is slicked back Nowinski not permed Nowinski

[DerangedHermit 0]

How about when Nowinski comes back, pair him with Jericho and Xtian?

[Guest StevieNightHeat]

Awesome news. I hope Nowinski joins Evolution when he returns.

[razazteca 0]

Can't wait to see Nowinski back on Raw, I just hope WWE gives him a chance to shine.

 

Nowinski > Orton and OVW

[claydude14 0]

Nowinski's in ring was nothing I could ever get into, but I enjoyed his heel charisma and mic skills.

[Lil' Bitch 0]

I look forward to seeing Nowinski getting heat from the crowd when he cuts promos again.

[Guest JMA]

Nowinski would be much better for Evolution than Maven. Plus, he was trained by Killer Kowalski like Triple H.

[razazteca 0]

I do not want to see Nowinski vs Maven again!

[haVoc 0]

He took a stiff kick to the head that he didn’t see coming, and because he didn’t get a chance to tighten his muscles in preparation, he may have torn ligaments that connect to his skull, which can take months to heal.

“But there’s no surefire way to tell” if that’s what’s causing the headaches, Nowinski said.

 

Same thing as Bret Hart. Bret said he has a hole in one of his muscles that lead up to his head/brain.

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

If he had any respect for his body, he'd retire. Thats scary shit.

[Guest Just Looking]

I wonder who injured him?

[The Mandarin 0]

I wonder who injured him?

Match #5 - Womens Championship

Jazz w/ Teddy Long, Rodney Mack and Chris Nowinsky v. Victoria w/ Steven Richards

-The crowd was looking forward to this match. Teddy Long cut a promo at the start and this prompted the challenger to come out. A shove match occured and then Victoria was shoved out of the ring. A few blows back and forth and then Mack and Nowinsky came in and beat on Victoria. The match lasted 2 minutes.

Winner - No Contest

 

That damn Victoria, she's such a hoss.

[Der Kommissar 0]

Well, that's awesome that he may be able to return. He was easily one of my favourite wrestlers in the WWE. Though, I'd rather he just return as a manager because his wrestling was never that great, but he was gold on the mic.

[Highland 0]

Isn't it ironic or somehow fitting that Nowinski lost to Maven on TE, but is widely considered to be the more talented of the two.

I hope he comes back soon, I've always been a Nowinski mark, and yes he'd do good with Evolution, but wwe will stick him in a useless fued with Maven. Again.

[Cuban Linx 0]

I'd certainly like to see Nowinski back in the WWE, but not at further risk to his health. Hopefully he doesn't come back before he's fully healthy like many others seem to.

[AndrewTS 0]

I'd certainly like to see Nowinski back in the WWE, but not at further risk to his health. Hopefully he doesn't come back before he's fully healthy like many others seem to.

Right. He's got a long way to go with his ring skills, but he's awesome on the mic.

 

Best of luck, Chris...

[The Mandarin 0]

If he was no longer able to wrestle, I would LOVE to see him announce RAW with someone else.

 

A fresh new face instead of the stale combo of JR/Lawler.

[Matt Young 0]

This is great news. I am a Tough Enough mark. I watched every episode of all 3 seasons, and I even watched the reruns every time I was home. Thus, I feel a special attachment to all the show's alumni (yes, even Matt Morgan). Here's to hoping Nowinski makes a full recovery and is able to come back to Raw very soon.

[Guest JMA]

If he was no longer able to wrestle, I would LOVE to see him announce RAW with someone else.

 

A fresh new face instead of the stale combo of JR/Lawler.

That's actually a great idea. He could do that for awhile before getting back in the ring. But I doubt he'd get the chance. Well, maybe on Heat. That could lead to a Snow vs. Nowinski match.

[Vyce 0]

While I'd love to see him come back, I have no clue where this boundless optimism the rest of you are having comes from.

 

So far all he's been able to do is work out - and he even admits that sometimes makes him feel awful aftewards. How the hell is he going to make it through a WWE schedule? December return my ass.

 

Plus there are other problems, like the sleepwalking.

 

I like the guy, I want him to return, but that article didn't give us anything but a FAINT glimmer that he may return. It's way too early to be getting excited, because it's still 50/50 (or even worse odds) that he's ever coming back.

[The Czech Republic 0]

Chris Nowinski should come back with a Phineas Gage gimmick, but then he might have to start hanging with Goldust.

[Guest JacK]

Yeah, he's cool, but that sucks AND blows though. Hopefully his health problems will fix up, but if not; evil manager/heel announcer would be great. Especially announcer, he'd be like a smart heel announcer instead of a drooling maniac rambling aboot puppies.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

So... surprise return or Desire vignettes?