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Daniel Christopher Covell (born December 24, 1971) is an American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name in the United States, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels. He also wrestles as Curry Man, a masked persona who he portrays principally in Japan.

Daniels is currently performing mainly for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) where he is the current TNA X Division Champion, and also works regularly for independent promotions, such as Ring of Honor. Daniels is under contract with TNA, with the current contract lasting until 2008.

Career

Christopher Daniels got his start in pro wrestling at Windy City Pro Wrestling in Chicago during the early 1990's. Prior to joining TNA, he frequently tagged in the World Wrestling Federation with Aaron Aguilera as "Dos" one half of the Los Conquistadores. He also challenged TAKA Michinoku for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship in a losing effort in his Fallen Angel gimmick on WWF Shotgun Saturday Night. On January 23 2001, he appeared on World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s flagship program, Monday Nitro, wrestling Michael Modest in a match interrupted by Scott Steiner. Covell was also given the title King of Indies for his work with independent promotions all over the world; including Ring of Honor and Frontier Wrestling Alliance.

Covell wrestles frequently in Japan as his masked alter-ego Curry Man.

World Championship Wrestling

On January 23, 2001 during an episode of World Championship Wrestlings Nitro Daniels had a match against Michael Modest. During the match Daniels attempted a springboard moonsault, but his left foot went over the rope as his other foot connected. This lack of momentum left him unable to complete the rotation thus he botched the move and landed on his head with his legs towards the ropes, nearly breaking his neck. Despite this however Daniels managed to continue the match to its finish. After the match, both Daniels and Modest were offered 90-day contracts, but due to the purchase of WCW by the World Wrestling Federation meant neither would wrestle another match in WCW. He continued to wrestle on the independent circuit and in Japan.

Ring of Honor

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Christopher Daniels is known as one of the "Founding Fathers" of Ring of Honor. He wrestled in the main event of the first show, The Era of Honor Begins, in a triple threat match against Low Ki and American Dragon. Daniels lost the match, but refused to shake hands with his opponents, thus breaking the Code of Honor, which states that all wrestlers must shake hands before and after the match. Directly following his decision not to shake hands, Daniels got on the mic and challenged both Low Ki and American Dragon to a Round Robin match, which took place at ROH's second show, the Round Robin Challenge. Daniels won the first match, defeating American Dragon. However, this time, because Daniels won, he forced Dragon to shake his hand. In the next match of the series, Daniels faced Low Ki. Daniels tapped out to the Dragon Clutch, but, just like the first show, Daniels refused to shake hands and stated that he could have beaten Low Ki if he hadn't already wrestled that night. He also said he would not step into the ring again with Low Ki unless the ROH Title was on the line. Daniels made it clear that he was trying to break down Ring of Honor by not following its code. To help him do this, he created The Prophecy.

At Ring of Honor's third show, A Night of Appreciation for Eddie Guerrero, Daniels faced fellow California resident Donovan Morgan. Many people thought Morgan would beat some respect into Daniels, but instead, they showed a mutual respect for each other, and Morgan agreed to join The Prophecy. The show ended with a backstage brawl between The Prophecy and some ROH wrestlers. The next show, Road to the Title, would feature a series of matches to determine who would fight to become the first ROH Champion. Daniels earned the right to compete at the next show, Crowning a Champion, in a 60 Minute Iron Man Match, along with Spanky, Doug Williams, and Daniels' enemy Low Ki. Daniels defeated Scoot Andrews and AJ Styles to earn his spot in the Iron Man match. It was a brutal match, in a building where the temperature was dangerously high. During the match, Daniels managed to pin Low Ki, but due to Iron Man Match rules, Low Ki was still able to win the match. This did not sit well with Daniels, since he did pin Low Ki.

Two months later at the show Unscripted, Low Ki would defend his title against Xavier. During the match, Christopher Daniels, who was also competing in a one night tournament to crown the first ROH Tag Team Champions with his partner Donovan Morgan, came to the ring. Because of ROH rules, Daniels couldn't touch Low Ki, but he did distract his attention, allowing Xavier to attack Low Ki with a chair. Low Ki was badly beaten, but managed to get back in the ring, only to be pinned by Xavier. It was soon known that Xavier was the newest member of The Prophecy. Later that night, Daniels and Morgan would go on to win the Tag Team Titles, meaning that The Prophecy now held all the titles in ROH.

At the next ROH show, the biggest ROH show to date, Glory By Honor, Daniels did not allow any of the titles to be on the line. Instead, he faced Doug Williams, and Xavier faced Jay Briscoe, as suggested by his brother Mark. The Prophecy also had plans for Low Ki that night, as they hired Samoa Joe, who made his ROH debut that night, to take out Low Ki in the first ever Fight Without Honor. Low Ki would win the match, and shake Joe's hand, which is not what The Prophecy had in mind.

Daniels would recruit new members to The Prophecy, such as Dan Maff and B.J. Whitmer, while other members, Xavier and Donovan Morgan, would leave. The new Prophecy would engage in a bitter feud with the Second City Saints, which would see the temporary end to Daniels' ROH career. In a match with the Saints, Daniels was given the Pepsi Plunge through a table by CM Punk. Daniels would stay away from ROH after this, and concentrate on TNA, where he saw much success.

At Death Before Dishonor III, Christopher Daniels would make his ROH return, challenging CM Punk for his newly won ROH Title, who was determined to take it to WWE with him. However, Punk refused the challenge. The next show, Sign of Dishonor, saw Daniels defeat Punk's stablemate Colt Cabana, despite interference by Punk, who attempted to hit Daniels with a steel chain (he instead hit Cabana, behind Daniels' back). At Fate of an Angel, Daniels would lose thanks to Punk, against the debuting Matt Hardy. Even with this loss, Daniels was granted a title shot at The Homecoming. Daniels and Punk fought back and forth, eventually ending in a one hour time limit draw, just as Daniels hit the Angel's Wings. Redemption, the next ROH show, featured Christopher Daniels, James Gibson, and Samoa Joe challenging CM Punk in a 4 Way Elimination Match for the ROH Title. During the match, Christopher Daniels was covered by Joe. Daniels got his foot on the rope, but Punk knocked it off before the referee could see, and Daniels was eliminated. Daniels tried to get revenge, but ended up accidentally eliminating Samoa Joe.

After this, Daniels would remain a permanent member of the ROH roster, competing against the likes of Samoa Joe, Jimmy Yang, Homicide, and Colt Cabana. He also made some appearances as Curry Man. Curry Man would make his first American appearance in a match in Buffalo, New York at Dragon Gate Invasion against Dragon Gate's Shingo Takagi.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Daniels joined TNA shortly after the company was founded in 2002. In December 2002 he formed a stable with Low-Ki and Elix Skipper known as Triple X. XXX competed in the tag division, winning the NWA World Tag Team Championships and taking turns to defend the titles, and also joined Vince Russo's Sports Entertainment Xtreme faction. The stable disbanded in June 2003 after Low-Ki began wrestling primarily in Japan and the remaining two members decisively lost a cage match to America's Most Wanted. After XXX disbanded, Daniels competed in the X Division until reviving XXX as a tag team with Skipper in July 2004. They were forced to disband once more after losing to America's Most Wanted on December 5 at TNA Turning Point 2004.

In 2005, Daniels engaged in a lengthy feud with A.J. Styles over the TNA X Division Championship. He won the title at Destination X 2005 under dubious circumstances at the end of an Ultimate X Challenge. Styles had taken down the belt, but the referee was unconscious. Daniels put Styles in the Angel's Wings and took the belt when the ref came to. Daniels went on to become the longest reigning X-Division champion in TNA history, holding the belt for over 150 days. During the run Daniels successfully defended the X-Division title against Elix Skipper, Shocker, Petey Williams, Michael Shane, Chris Sabin, and Austin Aries. Later, on September 11 at Unbreakable, Styles won back the title in a three-way dance with Daniels and Samoa Joe. Daniels lost to Styles once again in a thirty minute Iron Man match for the X-Division Championship at Bound For Glory on October 23.

Daniels was viciously attacked by Samoa Joe after a match at Genesis on November 13 where they teamed together. Daniels received a Grade III Concussion from the assault. At Turning Point 2005, when Joe tried to similarly injure A.J. Styles after winning the X-Division Championship from him, Daniels made his return, attacking Joe and enabling members of TNA security to protect Styles and restrain Joe. Over the next few weeks Styles and Daniels would team together. At Final Resolution Daniels was defeated by Samoa Joe. After taking a tremendous beating Styles threw in the towel to prevent Daniels from being seriously injured. The next week Daniels turned on Styles claiming he did it to get the number 1 contendership for the X-Division Title. That same night he cost Styles a match against The "Prince of Punk" Shannon Moore. At Against All Odds Samoa Joe retained his title against Daniels and Styles. The following month at Destination X Daniels succeeded in winning an Ultimate X match to regain the X-Division Title. He lost his X-Division Title on April 13, 2006 to Samoa Joe after receiving a middle rope Island Driver.

After losing the X-Division title, Daniels was scheduled to face Jushin Liger in a Six Sides of Steel match at Lockdown. However, Liger was pulled out of the match. With no one to face, and Lockdown only a short time away, it was announced that Daniels would be facing a mystery opponent. The opponent turned out to be the returning Low Ki, Daniels' former tag parner who had now changed his ring name to Senshi, and the two competed in a back-and-forth match, which ultimately saw Senshi win, using his surroundings for assistance.

Daniels eventually turned face and would go on to continue teaming with AJ Styles. Within a short time, the pair would become #1 contenders for the NWA Tag Team Titles, then held by America's Most Wanted. Daniels and Styles won the titles from AMW at TNA Slammiversary 2006. While champions, the team would feud with LAX; trading the tag titles back and forth with the team of Homicide and Hernandez.

On November 16, 2006, Daniels competed in a triple threat match that also involved Chris Sabin, and then X-Division Champion A.J. Styles in the primetime debut of TNA Impact on Spike TV. Daniels pinned Chris Sabin via a crucifix hold, to capture his third TNA X Division Championship.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• As Christopher Daniels

• Angel's Wings (Spinning lifting sitout double underhook facebuster)
• B.M.E. - Best Moonsault Ever (Double springboard moonsault)
• Last Rites (Rolling cutter)
• Arabian Press (Slingshot split-legged moonsault)
• Blue Thunder Bomb (Spin-out powerbomb)
• Fall From Grace (Cross-arm Iconoclasm)
• Charging high knee on cornered opponent
• Death Valley driver
• Exploder suplex
• Enzuigiri
• Reverse STO, often into a Koji clutch
• Standing side slam
• STO
• Double knee gutbuster

• As Curry Man

• Spicy Drop (Argentine facebuster)
• Slingshot diving elbow drop
• Springboard flying back elbow

• Nicknames

• "The Fallen Angel"
• "God's Gift to Wrestling"
• "Wrestling Prophet"
• "The Lord of The Ring"
• "The Greatest Wrestler Ever"
• "Mr. TNA" (self-proclaimed)
• "Hot And Spicy" (as Curry Man)

• Famous quotes

• "And that's not just the truth . . . that is the gospel according to the 'Fallen Angel'"
• "Say . . . your . . . prayers!!!!"

Trivia

• On January 10, 2006, TNA released "Heaven Sent, Hell Bound: The Best of Christopher Daniels," a DVD highlighting Daniels's career.
• Daniel's TNA theme song is a version of Marilyn Manson's "Disposable Teens" produced by Dale Oliver in TNA. In Ring of Honor, he uses the actual song.
• Daniels was on two episodes of Distraction as Curry Man, along with fellow wrestlers Frankie Kazarian and Samoa Joe.
• Daniels is unbeaten at TNA's Destination X pay-per-views; notable because both of the matches Daniels competed in at Destination X were Ultimate X matches for the TNA X-Division Championship.
• At Lockdown he has only faced his former Triple X partners. In 2005 he faced Elix Skipper and in 2006 he faced Low-Ki(billed as Senshi)
• Daniels has a tattoo on his sternum of an ankh, the Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph signifying "life".
• The transition from real name to ring name is exactly the same for Daniel Christopher Covell (Christopher Daniels) as it is for Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (Shawn Michaels). Both men's last names are erased, first names have an "s" added to them, and first and middle names switch places.
• Daniels appeared in a Chef Boyardee commercial with Lita and the Hardy Boyz. You can see footage of this on Lita's DVD, It Just Feels Right.
• Early in her career, Lita was actually a manager for Daniels, under the name of Angelica.

Championships and accomplishments

• All Pro Wrestling

• 1-time APW Worldwide Internet Championship
• APW King of the Indies (2000)

• Ballpark Brawl

• 1-time Natural Heavyweight Champion

• East Coast Wrestling Association

• 2-time ECWA Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time ECWA Super 8 Tournament winner (2000, 2004; is the only wrestler to win the tournament twice)
• ECWA Hall of Fame member (2001)

• Empire Wrestling Federation

• 1-time EWF Heavyweight Champion

• Frontier Wrestling Alliance

• 1-time FWA Heavyweight Champion

• Michinoku Pro Wrestling

• 1-time MPW British Commonwealth Junior Heavyweight Championship
• MPW Futaritabi Tag Team League Tournament winner (2002)

• Midwest Championship Wrestling

• 1-time MCW Tag Team Champion (with Jayson Reign)

• New Japan Pro Wrestling

• 1-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion(with American Dragon)

• NWA Florida

• 1-time NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion

• NWA Midwest

• 1-time NWA Midwest Tag Team Champion (with Kevin Quinn)

• Premier Wrestling Federation

• 1-time PWF United States Champion

• Pro-Pain-Pro-Wrestling

• 1-time 3PW Heavyweight Champion

• Ring of Honor

• 1-time ROH Tag Team Champion (with Donovan Morgan)

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)

• 3-time TNA X Division Champion (current)
• 6-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (3-time Low Ki and Elix Skipper as XXX, 1-time with James Storm, 2-time with A.J. Styles)
  • NOTE: XXX, as a three-man tandem, held the NWA Tag titles twice. He actually won the title with Low-Ki the second time. However, Low-Ki and Elix Skipper won it the first time. As a result, some sources only note him as holding it once with XXX. Christopher Daniels also became the first man to win the Tag Team Championships single-handedly on May 7, 2003, in a handicap match, but did not defend it with XXX's help.
• TNA World X Cup Winner (with Jerry Lynn, Chris Sabin and Elix Skipper as Team USA in 2004)

• Ultimate Pro Wrestling

• 2-time UPW Heavyweight Champion

• Windy City Pro Wrestling

• 1-time WCPW League Champion
• 1-time WCPW Lightweight Champion
• 1-time WCPW Middleweight Champion
• 2-time WCPW Tag Team Champion (1-time with Kevin Quinn, 1-time with Mike Anthony)

• World Power Wrestling

• 1-time WPW Heavyweight Champion

• World Wrestling Council

• 1-time WWC Tag Team Championship (with Kevin Quinn)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• 5 Star Match: vs Samoa Joe vs AJ Styles (TNA Unbreakable, September 11, 2005)

Personal life

Daniels is married to Lisa, and has two children, the later of which, a son, was born on October 21, 2005. He is a Roman Catholic.

References

• An interview with Christopher Daniels, conducted by Robby Deming
• An interview with Christopher Daniels, conducted by Genickbruch.com
• An interview with Christopher Daniels, conducted by Jonathan Barber
• Christopher Daniels at Accelerator3359.com
• Christopher Daniels at Bodyslamming.com
• Christopher Daniels at Gerweck.net
• Christopher Daniels at ObsessedWithWrestling.com
• Christopher Daniels finally on top
• Fallen Angel an X-cellent champ

External links

• ChristopherDaniels.Com (Official Website)
• TNA Profile
• SpikeTV Profile
• Christopher Daniels at IMDb
• Christopher-Daniels.com (fansite)

• 1971 births
• American professional wrestlers
• Extreme Canadian Championship Wrestling alumni
• Living people
• People from Fayetteville, North Carolina
• Roman Catholic entertainers
• Stampede Wrestling roster
• World Championship Wrestling alumni
• World Wrestling Entertainment alumni