A concussive string of jump-cuts: radiation poisoning, house fire, hypnotism, gigantism, coward punch, police brutality, mystery hole, unshaven sideburns, and finally Mr. Burns's decision to bench Strawberry even though he's hit nine home runs.
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As a former police officer, Matt King has campaigned against "king hit" (or "coward punch" assaults). Following the defeat of his Crimes (Coward Punch Causing Death) Amendment Bill, King announced that he would be launching a "One Punch Can Kill campaign" to promote "one punch" legislation based on New South Wales legislation. This campaign has gain the support of professional boxer Joseph Parker and his trainer Kevin Barry.
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In September 2014, Chris was the focus of a coward punch storyline. During Kyle and Georgia's joint bucks and hen night, Chris was forced to eject a drunk Josh Willis (Harley Bonner) from The Waterhole when he caused a scene. Shortly after, Josh returned and hit Chris with a coward punch, causing him to fall and hit his head on a rock. Kyle and Georgia found Chris unconscious and he was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
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King was selected to contest the Northland electorate for the National Party. He defeated incumbent Winston Peters in the 2017 general election held on 23 September 2017. In mid-June 2020, King submitted his Crimes (Coward Punch Causing Death) Amendment Bill, which would have created a new offense for the crime of throwing a "king hit" or "coward punch" with a 20-year prison term. However, the bill was defeated on its first reading held on 17 June due to opposition from the governing Labour-led coalition government.
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Josh became central to a storyline focusing on the consequences of a coward punch. Evie turned to Josh when her new boyfriend Tank Snelgrove (Reece Milne) held her hostage. After receiving a distressed message from her, Josh immediately raced to her location to rescue her. Gallagher said that Josh was worried, as he knew what type of guy Tank was, as he had grown up with people just like him.
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The character was given a love interest in nurse Aidan Foster (Bobby Morley), and they formed Neighbours' first gay couple. Chris was central to a coward punch storyline in 2014, which was a topical issue in Australia at the time. Producers also established a relationship between him and Nate Kinski (Meyne Wyatt), and he fathered a child with his friend Lucy Robinson (Melissa Bell), shortly before his exit which aired on 27 March 2015. He made a cameo appearance on 6 November 2015.
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For his portrayal of Chris, Mason was nominated for the Most Popular New Male Talent accolade at the 2012 Logie Awards. In 2014, Mason won the Soap Extra Award for Most Topical Storyline for Chris' coward punch storyline with Josh Willis. The character's inclusion in Neighbours and his storyline has received a positive reaction from the public, television critics and LGBT websites. Chris's coming out episode, which was broadcast on 10 August 2010, was seen by 679,000 viewers in Australia.
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In 2014, Bonner won the Soap Extra Award for Most Topical Storyline for his character Josh's coward punch storyline with Chris Pappas. Peter Dyke and Katie Begley from the Daily Star cited Bonner and his character as one of the reasons extra female viewers were tuning into Neighbours. While Laura Morgan from All About Soap branded Josh a "hunky newcomer". Morgan later observed that Josh was "secretly pleased" when Imogen broke up with Mason, but thought he should "wise up to the fact Amber's been crushing on him for weeks", before interfering in his sister's love life.
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