Christopher Nowinski's WWE career was merely a blip on the radar. Known for Tough Enough and his Harvard background he was forced to retire from pro wrestling after suffering from a debilitating bout of post concussion syndrome. Nowinski's career ending concussion wasn't during a main event match nor does it stand out as a memorable moment, it was just a random concussion in a random match. But while it may not be the most famous it might turn out to be the most important because what he did after has been crucial in changing the dialogue about concussions, not just in pro wrestling but in the entire sports world. After Nowinski retired he dedicated himself to becoming an expert in sports concussions. He helped found the Sports Legacy Institute, which then partnered with the Boston University School of Medicine to form the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, which has made giant strides in the research, treatment, awareness and prevention of concussions. A large part of Nowinski's work involves getting the family of deceased athletes who have been affected by or suspected of having been affected by concussions to donate their brains for research. At the end of the day Nowinski is one of the go-to experts and advocates of concussions and concussion-awareness and continues to help bring the dangers involved to the forefront of society.
