Chris Nelson (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Tipton is an American
professional wrestler
, better known as 'Casanova' Chris or 'Classy' Chris Nelson. He is half of a tag team called The New Heavenly Bodies with "Vivacious" Vito DeNucci
. Together, they have held the NWA World Tag Team Championship
three times and been ranked in the top 10 in the world in 2001-2002.
), World Championship Wrestling
, and the National Wrestling Alliance
, as well as numerous promotions on the independent circuit
. Chris was ranked as one of the top 5 "Jobbers" in the World in the mid 90's due to his over 300 television matches for the 2 big companies. Chris also worked over 3,000 matches in his 20 year career. Although Chris Nelson started out as a singles wrestler, he is best known for his tag team work. The New Heavenly Bodies were formed after a joke between then NWA President Howard Brody and veteran NWA official Frankie Reyes. They were working as Drunk and Disorderly for several years but Brody did not like that gimmick and smugly suggested calling them the New Heavenly Bodies. After a few laughs all involved thought that it might actually work. Jimmy Del Ray, a former member of The Heavenly Bodies in the WWE and Smokey Mountain Wrestling was on board as their manager. Jimmy did more than manage, teaching them the proper way to be a tag team and working them very hard to accomplish their goal. Chris Nelson and Vito Denucci became extremely close and tight nit as a tag team and also as friends and constant road companions. On April 24, 2001 the New Heavenly Bodies defeated Bad Attitude at the Fort Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles in the process. Over the next 2 years the Bodies would be on the road defending their NWA Tag Titles proudly. The belts were defended from Dallas to Boston and every point in between. The hard work and road time paid off for the NHB landing them in the top 10 in the world in the tag team rankings according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Chris Nelson was ranked #174 and Vito Denucci was ranked #176 in the PWI top 500 in 2002. The Bodies had a total of 3 World Title runs for the NWA dropping the titles to the Shane Twins in Lima, Peru after Nelson suffered a severe head injury that left his wrestling future in question. Against Doctor's orders Nelson continues to wrestle with Denucci whenever they get the itch. On April 3, 2010, Nelson and DeNucci defeated the Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis
and Kory Chavis
) to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
. On April 16 Nelson and DeNucci lost the titles back to the Dark City Fight Club. The Bodies have always loved the NWA and consider the NWA Tag Titles to be the most prestigious titles in the World. As for Chris and Vito, they remain the best of friends in and out of the ring. Both living in South Florida they enjoy golfing together or watching MMA. Chris works for the Department of Juvenile Justice and is married to wife Kristine. Chris has 2 kids and is working with his son Caleb, who is an excellent athlete, on developing his baseball and football career. Chris and Vito are currently writing their autobiography which will mostly be about their many wild road stories and how their friendship has endured the trials and tribulations of their 12 year partnership. Chris continues to help young wrestlers who need some advise on their careers or on life in general.
Lost titles to Glacier and Jason Sugarman on 12/28/01 in Deland, Florida.
Won the titles on 12/29/01 in Live Oak, Florida from Glacier and Jason Sugarman.
Lost titles to Disturbing Behavior on 1/26/02 in Columbia, Tennessee.
Won titles on 4/17/02 in Winter Haven, Florida from Disturbing Behavior.
Lost titles for the final time on 6/8/02 in Lima, Peru to the Shane Twins.
The New Heavenly Bodies are the third longest ranking NWA World Tag Team Champions ever with a total reign time of 328 days. Their longest single reign was 248 consecutive days, which is also the third longest reign as well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, better known as 'Casanova' Chris or 'Classy' Chris Nelson. He is half of a tag team called The New Heavenly Bodies with "Vivacious" Vito DeNucci
Vito DeNucci
Larry Lenz Brannon is a semi-active American professional wrestler, better known as Vito DeNucci or 'Vivacious' Vito. He is half of a tag team called The New Heavenly Bodies with "Casanova" Chris Nelson. Together, they have held the NWA World Tag Team Championship three times.-Career:Dr...
. Together, they have held the NWA World Tag Team Championship
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
three times and been ranked in the top 10 in the world in 2001-2002.
Career
Chris Nelson started his career in 1991, and has been wrestling ever since. Chris was trained by veteran NWA and WCW Jobber, Randy Hogan. Buddy Valentine taught Chris how to work a match, work the crowd and how to survive in the wrestling business. Buddy taught Chris how to carry a match and how to be an excellent heel. Chris has worked for the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
), World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, and the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, as well as numerous promotions on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
. Chris was ranked as one of the top 5 "Jobbers" in the World in the mid 90's due to his over 300 television matches for the 2 big companies. Chris also worked over 3,000 matches in his 20 year career. Although Chris Nelson started out as a singles wrestler, he is best known for his tag team work. The New Heavenly Bodies were formed after a joke between then NWA President Howard Brody and veteran NWA official Frankie Reyes. They were working as Drunk and Disorderly for several years but Brody did not like that gimmick and smugly suggested calling them the New Heavenly Bodies. After a few laughs all involved thought that it might actually work. Jimmy Del Ray, a former member of The Heavenly Bodies in the WWE and Smokey Mountain Wrestling was on board as their manager. Jimmy did more than manage, teaching them the proper way to be a tag team and working them very hard to accomplish their goal. Chris Nelson and Vito Denucci became extremely close and tight nit as a tag team and also as friends and constant road companions. On April 24, 2001 the New Heavenly Bodies defeated Bad Attitude at the Fort Hesterly Armory in Tampa, Florida winning the NWA World Tag Team Titles in the process. Over the next 2 years the Bodies would be on the road defending their NWA Tag Titles proudly. The belts were defended from Dallas to Boston and every point in between. The hard work and road time paid off for the NHB landing them in the top 10 in the world in the tag team rankings according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Chris Nelson was ranked #174 and Vito Denucci was ranked #176 in the PWI top 500 in 2002. The Bodies had a total of 3 World Title runs for the NWA dropping the titles to the Shane Twins in Lima, Peru after Nelson suffered a severe head injury that left his wrestling future in question. Against Doctor's orders Nelson continues to wrestle with Denucci whenever they get the itch. On April 3, 2010, Nelson and DeNucci defeated the Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis
Jon Davis (wrestler)
Jon Davis is an American professional wrestler, working for independent promotions including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve.- Professional wrestling career :...
and Kory Chavis
Kory Chavis
Kory Chavis is a professional wrestler, also known by the ring name Rainman. He currently works for several independent promotions, including Dragon Gate USA, Full Impact Pro, and Evolve.- Professional wrestling career :...
) to win the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
NWA Florida Tag Team Championship
The NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
. On April 16 Nelson and DeNucci lost the titles back to the Dark City Fight Club. The Bodies have always loved the NWA and consider the NWA Tag Titles to be the most prestigious titles in the World. As for Chris and Vito, they remain the best of friends in and out of the ring. Both living in South Florida they enjoy golfing together or watching MMA. Chris works for the Department of Juvenile Justice and is married to wife Kristine. Chris has 2 kids and is working with his son Caleb, who is an excellent athlete, on developing his baseball and football career. Chris and Vito are currently writing their autobiography which will mostly be about their many wild road stories and how their friendship has endured the trials and tribulations of their 12 year partnership. Chris continues to help young wrestlers who need some advise on their careers or on life in general.
In wrestling
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- "Gigolo" Jimmy Del RayJimmy Del RayDavid Ferrier is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray. Del Ray is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation as one half of the Heavenly Bodies with his tag team partner, Tom Prichard...
- CCN Security Fish
- "Gigolo" Jimmy Del Ray
- Nicknames
- "Casanova"
- "Classy"
- "Tip"
Championships and accomplishments
Won the NWA World Tag Team Titles on 4/24/01 in Tampa, Florida from Bad Attitude.Lost titles to Glacier and Jason Sugarman on 12/28/01 in Deland, Florida.
Won the titles on 12/29/01 in Live Oak, Florida from Glacier and Jason Sugarman.
Lost titles to Disturbing Behavior on 1/26/02 in Columbia, Tennessee.
Won titles on 4/17/02 in Winter Haven, Florida from Disturbing Behavior.
Lost titles for the final time on 6/8/02 in Lima, Peru to the Shane Twins.
The New Heavenly Bodies are the third longest ranking NWA World Tag Team Champions ever with a total reign time of 328 days. Their longest single reign was 248 consecutive days, which is also the third longest reign as well.
- Coastal Championship Wrestling
- CCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Vito DeNucciVito DeNucciLarry Lenz Brannon is a semi-active American professional wrestler, better known as Vito DeNucci or 'Vivacious' Vito. He is half of a tag team called The New Heavenly Bodies with "Casanova" Chris Nelson. Together, they have held the NWA World Tag Team Championship three times.-Career:Dr...
- IPW Hardcore Wrestling
- IPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Vito DeNucci
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA World Tag Team ChampionshipNWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Championship is the professional wrestling world tag team championship within the NWA framework.-History:...
(3 times) – with Vito DeNucci - Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI Ranked The New Heavenly BodiesThe Heavenly BodiesThe Heavenly Bodies was a professional wrestling tag team famous for having worked in Smoky Mountain Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation, and various independent promotions...
#10 Best Tag Team in the World – with Vito DeNucci - Pro Wrestling Fusion
- NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(1 time) – with Vito DeNucci - Southern Championship Wrestling
- Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Vito DeNucci (1) and Michael Cade (1)
- Other Titles
- FWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- FWF Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- FWF Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- FPWF United States Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- IPWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- FWA Tag Team Championship (3 times)
- ICWA Tag Team Championship (2 times)