Braden Walker's "Knock Knock" promo (lost original pre-tapes of WWE backstage segment; 2008)

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The infamous Knock Knock backstage segment.

Status: Lost

Chris Harris is a professional wrestler who competed in WWE in 2008 for its ECW brand under the moniker Braden Walker. Walker's brief time in the organisation was universally panned by professional wrestling critics, including for an infamous backstage segment where he confronted Armando Estrada. Notably, this segment was recorded multiple times prior to the show, with Harris being given multiple names before settling on the Walker moniker during a live take.

Background

Chris Harris is best known for his time in Total Nonstop Action (TNA) from 2002 to 2008, including teaming with James Storm to form America's Most Wanted. During his time with the company, he and Storm became six-time NWA World Tag Team Champions.[1] In January 2008, Harris was released from his contract,[2] and on the 29th that same month, had signed a contract with WWE.[3]

Harris debuted for WWE's ECW brand on 8th July, where he faced and beat Armando Estrada.[4] Prior to the match, a backstage segment was televised, where Estrada requested ECW General Manager Teddy Long give him another chance to earn an ECW contract. Long ultimately agreed to this by introducing Estrada to his opponent, announced as ECW's latest signing. Here the opponent introduced himself as Braden Walker, and made a now infamous Knock Knock joke where the punchline was "Braden Walker and I'm gonna knock your brains out."[5] In a 2017 Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast interview, Estrada revealed that many pre-tapes for this segment were recorded, containing different dialogue for Harris, including giving him different names. However, a decision was made that instead of inserting one of the pre-tapes into the final broadcast, the segment would instead be performed live, with the name Braden Walker settled upon.[6]

Walker would wrestle one more match on 5th August, defeating James Curtis,[7] before being released from his contract two days later.[8] Walker's run was universally panned by professional wrestling critics for a multitude of reasons, including for an unremarkable moniker; generic music and ring gear; underwhelming matches and segments; and for Harris gaining 20-25 pounds which allegedly put him on bad terms with WWE management for seemingly showing a lack of motivation.[9]

Availability

WWE typically keeps its media within its video library.[10] Therefore, there is a possibility that the pre-tapes of Braden Walker's introduction may still be available. However, because neither Harris nor Estrada have worked for WWE since 2008, combined with Walker's poor brief run with the organisation, it is unlikely WWE will publicly release the tapes.

Videos

Braden Walker's entire WWE run.

Two Man Power Trip of Wrestling Podcast segment where Estrada discusses Braden Walker and the backstage segment pre-tapes.

See Also

References