Disabled Pro Wrestler Has World Première of Award-Winning Film!

By Heidi Waters
Award winning film on Disabilities “Covid Karma” World première

“Covid Karma '' https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22036900/ Directed by International award-winning Indian filmmaker Biju Viswanath www.bijuviswanath.com is an experimental comedy based on actual events. The film is about an Indian film maker Biju Viswanath stuck in the USA for five months with a former firefighter turned pro wrestler Christopher Annino who suffers from PTSD, during a global pandemic. While in quarantine During this, Biju repeatedly attempts to make films, to maintain his sanity. The filmmaking process during Covid was a journey to hell, which teaches the filmmaker about his own disabilities and the screwed-up ways karma works. Winner of 29 International film awards including 9 best actor awards for Christopher Annino. The purpose of this film is to raise mental health awareness and promote the suicide Crisis lifeline https://988lifeline.org/ and to remind those who suffer from anxiety and depression that they are not alone. The showing will be at the world-famous Mystic Luxury Cinema’s www.mysticluxurycinemas.com at 6pm on 9/11/2023.

Christopher Annino grew up in Westerly, Rhode Island but later moved to Mystic, Connecticut.

At a young age Annino was diagnosed with several neurological disabilities including Asperger's syndrome. Asperger’s syndrome is a developmental disorder that is part of the autism spectrum disorder. It is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests1. Young people with Asperger’s Syndrome have a difficult time relating to others socially and their behavior and thinking patterns can be rigid and repetitive2.

He became a scholar athlete at Fitch Senior High School lettering in football, drama, choir, and track and field. He became a member of the national honor society. He later was a NCAA scholar athlete at Mitchell College. After college he attended the fire academy where he graduated.

As a firefighter he suffered a career ending accident and as a result was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.

Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they usually get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, you may have PTSD.
Getting effective treatment after PTSD symptoms develop can be critical to reduce symptoms and improve function.
In his 30’s he had a massive nervous breakdown and had ended up homeless. He became a client of Sound Community Services https://soundcommunityservices.org/ and through their mental health programs he learned how to harness his challenges. Sound Community Services helps people with various disabilities on their website it reads " We believe in the endless possibilities that can be harnessed simply by access to hope – hope in recovery, hope in progress, and hope in the future. At Sound Community Services, we dedicate our days to providing a culture of compassion and human connection that fosters hope through support, education, and opportunity. And while the statistics inspire our mission, they do not define it. Ours is a mission defined by passion, intention, inclusion, diversity an enriched connection to our community, those we serve and a belief that any statistic can be overcome when you dare greatly from the heart."

Also, with support and guidance from his childhood heroes who happen to be WWE, ECW, and NWA pro wrestling legends B. Brian Blair, Pitbull 1 Gary Wolf, Chris Black Heart, NWA legend Broadway Joe Malcolm, Susan Tex Green (NWA Hall of Fame inductee), and Angel Orsini. Christopher Annino wrestled as Rescue 911 and is currently wrestling as Pitbull 3 the intimidator. He had a career that spanned 8 years however was cut short due to injury however is making a comeback in the ring. Christopher Annino was the last NWA New England Brass Knuckles Champion.

He later volunteered at Southeastern Connecticut Television Studios in Groton, Ct Contact - SEC-TV | Southeastern Connecticut Television Studios a nonprofit educational access station. There he fine-tuned his editing skills and to this day has a show on a regular basis.

In 2010 he was trained by WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Jimmy Valiant, NWA Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee Susan Tex Green ECW original Gary Wolf, and Chris Blackheart. Since 2010 he wrestled under the persona of Rescue 911 Chris Valiant, Tank Blackheart, Manimal the Maniac of Moscow, and the intimidator Pitbull #3. He debuted as the new Pitbull's for Battleground Pro Wrestling at the ECW Arena. Some Championships he earned in pro wrestling were the Ox Baker Memorial Cub, VPW tag team champion, Costa Rican Six-man Tag Champion, NWA New England Brass Knuckle Champion.

Christopher Annino https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0030399/ is now a successful actor, documentarian, pro wrestler, Disability advocate, and Philanthropist. Christopher Annino is the original co-founder of the New England Music Hall of Fame www.nemhof.com and co-founder of the Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame www.womenswrestlinghalloffame.com
Annino is also engaged to Vanessa Marchewka and will be overcoming his severe anxiety by co-hosting the 2023 New England Music Hall of Fame aka NEMHOF www.nemhof.com in Arlington, Mass at the Regent Theatre.
The 2023 NEMHOF East Coast induction Emmy Award Winning composer Randy Edelman, “The Atlantic's”, Cowboy Mach Bell (Joe Perry Project), “The Bentmen”, Hirsh Gardner (New England), Charlie Karp of Ct, Don Randi (Wrecking Crew), Carole Sylvan, “Sister Funk” of Ct , co-owner of “Red on Red Records” Justine Covault of Arlington, MA, Boston’s very own “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer , Robin Lane, Ann Hackler of Goshen, MA, “Sound Museum,” members of one of the first all-female bands signed with a major record label “Goldie and the Gingerbreads”, and Brad Delp and Sib Hashian formerly of the legendary band “Boston”. Also being honored that evening will be NEMHOF Broadcaster of the Year Carter Alan of Iheart Radio, NEMHOF Journalist of the Year Steve Morse of the Boston Globe, “The Denise Award” Radio personality Carmelita, and the NEMHOF historian award Henry Santoro. Special guests will be in attendance, including Emmy Award Winning composer Brian Keane, Chasen Hampton of the Mickey Mouse Club, future NEMHOF inductee Charlie Farren, Senator Heather Somers, Stormstress, and more to be announced.

New England Music Hall of Fame Inductee Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman

“Covid Karma” Westerly, Rhode Island, Toronto, Canada, India, and Test of Strength Wrestling School in East Hartford, CT. The film stars Comedian Rodney Norman, SNL lead singer Beehive Queen Christine Ohlman, Joe Cocker’s guitarist Cliff Goodwin, Chris Bickley, Kathy Steahle drummer of 2023 NEMHOF Inductee’s Sister Funk https://sisterfunk.com/band.php , New England Pro Wrestler’s Bobby Ocean, Dan Da'Man, Jordyn Rowe, Slyck Wagner Brown (WWE/ Impact), ROH referee Gina Monti, World Kickboxing champion Devon Cormack, Opera singer Jurate Waller https://jurate.com/repertoire.htm , writer/ actor Geoff Blanchette, Kay Bauer, Elena Bright, Opera Singer Jurate Waller, Kick Boxing Champion Devon Cormak, Sinthea Sinatra, John Waller, Joseph Greene, and Andrew Parrella.

Covid Karma recently won at the Reels International Film Festival Experience the Best Films at Reels International Film Festival | Reels International Film Festival (riff-reelsinternationalfilmfestival.com) including for best feature film, best Experimental film, best covid 19 film, and best actor Christopher Annino.

The amazing people from
Real Enough - YouTube will be doing red carpet interviews on the burgundy carpet at the cinema's that evening.
There will be a therapeutic q and a with Black Bear Karate Dojo Black Bear Dojo Home (blackbearkarate.com) in Pawcatuck, Ct on the benefits of martial arts helping with controlling anxiety and depression. Black Bear Traditional Martial Arts Center Okinawan Shorin-Ryu Reihokan is the region’s foremost center for the practice of traditional Okinawan martial arts and culture, serving Rhode Island and

Real Enough youtube channel will officially be covering this

southeastern Connecticut since 2008. With direct ties to Japan and Okinawa, we offer instruction of the highest quality in authentic martial traditions, most of which cannot be found anywhere else in our region. Christopher Annino has been training there for several years and it has assisted in his severe anxiety. Also shown will be the trailer "Holding Space for Each Other: New London's LGBTQ+ Community" Directed by Constance Kristofik. He also was involved with in the documentary Voices over the Water (2023) - IMDb directed by Jane Fergusson and Emmy Award Winning Guy Perotta. He provided production services which included archive photos and various other services including some minor consulting and scouting.