Hubbry Logo
Charlie HaasCharlie HaasMain
Open search
Charlie Haas
Community hub
Charlie Haas
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Charles Doyle Haas II[4] (born March 27, 1972)[4] is an American professional and former amateur wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) from 2000 to 2009 and Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2010 to 2013.[2] In WWE he was a member of Team Angle, which later became a Tag team duo with Shelton Benjamin known as "The World's Greatest Tag Team".

Key Information

Haas was an amateur wrestler in high school, and attended Seton Hall University on a wrestling scholarship, before becoming a stockbroker. He became a professional wrestler in 1996, and regularly teamed with his brother, Russ, with the two winning numerous championships on the independent circuit, including the CZW World Tag Team Championship and the JAPW Tag Team Championship. After signing contracts with WWE, Haas Brothers were assigned to WWE's developmental territories, where they won the MCW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions. After Russ died in 2001 due to a heart attack, Haas began wrestling in singles competition, winning the HWA Heavyweight Championship once.

Haas formed a team with Shelton Benjamin and the two debuted on SmackDown in December 2002. They won the WWE Tag Team Championship twice, and dubbed themselves The World's Greatest Tag Team before they split in 2004.[5] Haas won the WWE Tag Team Championship once more with Rico, and gained Miss Jackie, whom he later married, as a valet. Haas then transferred into singles competition before being released from WWE in 2005. After a short stint in Jersey All Pro Wrestling (JAPW) and other independent promotions, Haas was re-signed to WWE in April 2006. He formed a short-lived team with Viscera, before reforming the World's Greatest Tag Team with Benjamin. After Benjamin transferred to the ECW brand, Haas began wrestling with a comical luchador persona, before developing a character where he imitated other wrestlers and WWE Hall of Famers. In addition, Haas won the last match on WWE Heat when the show ended on May 30, 2008.[6]

Haas was released from WWE in February 2010. He soon returned to the independent circuit, including returning to JAPW and appearing for Ring of Honor. In September 2010, he won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship. On April 1, 2011, Haas and Benjamin won the ROH World Tag Team Championship and held it until December 2011. Haas announced his retirement from professional wrestling in March 2013, but returned to competition in August that same year. Aside from wrestling, Haas and his then-wife Jackie ran a nutritional store, Custom Muscle Nutrition and Smoothie Shop, in Frisco, Texas, which they opened in October 2008 but has since closed.[7]

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (1996–2000)

[edit]
Main article: Haas Brothers

After debuting in 1996 as a professional wrestler, Haas regularly teamed with his brother Russ for numerous independent promotions.[1] On July 22, 1998, The Haas Brothers won the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship by defeating The Skin Head Express.[8] They lost it to The Nation of Immigration just over a month later on August 25.[8] They won the championship for the second time on May 21, 1999, by defeating The Big Unit (Rick Silver and Dave Desire), and held the championship until February 25, 2000 when they were defeated by Da Hit Squad.[8] During 2000 they also held the Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship and the ECWA Tag Team Championship in the East Coast Wrestling Association promotion, which they won by defeating The Backseat Boyz (Trent Acid and Johnny Kashmere).[1]

The Haas brothers began competing for Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW) in November 1999, losing to The King Pinz at The War Begins on November 20, 1999.[9] They competed regularly for CZW throughout early 2000, and won the CZW World Tag Team Championship on February 12 at Climbing The Ladder by defeating The Kashmerino Brothers and The Thrill Kill Kult in a three-way match.[10][11] On July 10, they lost the championship to The Backseat Boyz at Caged To The End, when Johnny Kashmere defeated Russ in a singles match and was awarded the championship.[10][12]

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (2000–2005)

[edit]
See also: World's Greatest Tag Team

After a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) tryout match at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2000, they signed a developmental contract with WWF.[1] The two worked their way through the tag ranks in the WWF's developmental territories, Memphis Championship Wrestling (MCW) and the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA).[1] Also competed in dark matches and house shows for WWF. The brothers won the MCW Southern Tag Team Championship three times during early 2001, defeating The Dupps the first time and The Island Boyz and Joey Matthews and Christian York in a three-way match on both the second and third occasions.[1] Russ died from a heart attack due to a pre-existing heart condition, on December 15, 2001 at age 27. The brothers fought in house shows and dark matches in the WWF up until Russ died. After Russ' death, Charlie continue to fight in dark matches.[13] After Russ' death as a tribute to him, Haas wrote Russ' name on his wrist tape, and used the name "R.C. Haas" (standing for Russ–Charlie) before being called up to the main WWE roster.[1][14] On January 2, 2002, Haas won the HWA Heavyweight Championship, his first singles championship, by defeating Val Venis.[1][15] He was later stripped of the title on January 29 due to a scripted contract loophole.[16] After World Wrestling Entertainment (renamed from the WWF) ended its affiliation with the HWA, Haas was moved to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) where he competed until December 2002.[1]

Haas debuted on WWE's main roster on the December 26, 2002 episode of SmackDown! as a heel (villainous character) along with Shelton Benjamin as Team Angle.[2] The tag team was the "contingency plan" of Paul Heyman, and were intended to help WWE Champion Kurt Angle retain his title, attacking Chris Benoit and Brock Lesnar in an attempt to soften them up. They quickly won the WWE Tag Team Championship on February 6, 2003, by defeating Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero Jr.).[17] They held the championship for three months, including a successful title defense at WrestleMania XIX against Los Guerreros and the team of Chris Benoit and Rhyno, before losing the championship to Eddie Guerrero and his new partner Tajiri in a ladder match on May 18 at Judgment Day.[18][19] On the June 12 episode of SmackDown!, Angle fired Haas and Benjamin after they blamed him for losing the Tag Team Championship and began to question his leadership.[20] The duo then dubbed themselves The World's Greatest Tag Team, although announcers made sure to add "Self Proclaimed" to the name. Haas and Benjamin regained the championship from Guerrero and Tajiri on the July 3 episode of SmackDown!, but lost it to the reformed Los Guerreros on September 18.[21] The team was separated when Benjamin was moved to the Raw brand as part of the 2004 Draft Lottery.[22]

Haas (left) with Rico (center) and Miss Jackie (right).

After Benjamin's draft, Haas turned into a fan favorite and gained Miss Jackie as a valet. He teamed with Rico to win the WWE Tag Team Championship on April 22, 2004.[23] The pair lost the championship to the Dudley Boyz on June 17, and shortly afterwards, Haas became a singles wrestler, although he retained Miss Jackie as his valet. Haas lost a match to Luther Reigns at the Great American Bash.[24]

Haas was later involved in an angle in which he was in a love triangle with Miss Jackie, who was acknowledged on-screen as his fiancée, and Dawn Marie.[25] The storyline culminated when Haas served as the special-guest referee in a match at Armageddon between the two women.[26] After the match, Haas left both women in storyline, although he continued his relationship with Miss Jackie off-screen. In early 2005, he formed a tag team with Hardcore Holly.[27][28] They were involved in a feud (scripted rivalry) with MNM for the WWE Tag Team Championship, but never won the championship.[29][30]

On July 8, 2005, Haas was released by World Wrestling Entertainment along with his real-life wife Jackie Gayda.[31][32]

Independent circuit (2005–2006)

[edit]

He returned to JAPW later in July 2005,[33] and began a feud for the JAPW Heavyweight Championship with Jay Lethal. On September 10 at JAPW Haas of Pain, Lethal defeated Haas to retain his title.[33] In JAPW, on October 27, 2007, Haas was inducted along with his late brother Russ into the first class of the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.[34]

He won the New Legacy Championship at Ballpark Brawl V on August 13, 2005, defeating then-champion Christopher Daniels and Chris Sabin in a triple threat match.[35] He successfully defended the title the next night at Ballpark Brawl VI against Harry Smith with Mick Foley as a referee.[36][37]

During his time back in the independent circuit, Haas competed in the East Coast Wrestling Association's (ECWA) Super 8 Tournament in 2006, where he advanced all the way to the finals before losing to Davey Richards.[38][39]

Return to WWE (2006–2010)

[edit]
See also: World's Greatest Tag Team
Haas calls to the crowd following a hot tag from long-time partner Shelton Benjamin in late 2007.

Haas returned to WWE in 2006, appearing on the April 17, 2006, episode of Raw as Rob Van Dam's handpicked opponent for his former partner, Shelton Benjamin. Haas defeated Benjamin in the ensuing match.[40] Haas continued to wrestle on the lower midcard spot, becoming a regular fixture on Heat.[1]

On the June 5, 2006 episode of Raw, Haas inadvertently knocked Lilian Garcia off the ring apron as he was entering the ring.[41][42] It was announced on WWE's official website that as a result, Garcia suffered a sprained wrist.[41] As a result of the legitimate accident, Haas began a feud with Garcia's onetime storyline love interest Viscera.[43][44] Haas made advances towards Garcia, at one point forcefully kissing her and then dropping her to the ground.[45][46] Haas and Viscera continued to fight for Garcia's affection in the ring, until she told them both that she wanted to be "just friends".[47] Haas gave Viscera an eye rake in anger, and a blinded Viscera accidentally gave Garcia a Samoan drop.[47] Though it was unintentional, when both Haas and Viscera had seen what had happened to their now former love interest, they simply had a laugh about it, thus making Haas a villain.[47] After that, Viscera and Haas became a tag team, competing on both Raw and Heat until splitting in December 2006.[1][48][49]

After Shelton Benjamin won a match against Super Crazy on the December 4, 2006, edition of Raw, Haas came out to celebrate his win with a bewildered Benjamin.[50] Haas and Benjamin announced the return of the World's Greatest Tag Team on the December 11, 2006 edition of Raw, and they defeated The Highlanders in their return match.[51][52] They then started a feud with Cryme Tyme.[53][54] They continued to compete on Raw through the start of 2007, facing teams including John Cena and Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair and Carlito.[55][56] In mid-2007, The World's Greatest Tag Team feuded briefly with The Hardys in storyline;[57][58] at the One Night Stand pay-per-view on June 3, 2007, they challenged The Hardys for the World Tag Team Championship in a ladder match but were unsuccessful.[59] The team broke up once again when Benjamin moved to the ECW brand on November 20, 2007.[60]

Early in 2008, Haas developed a gimmick in which he would go under the ring in the middle of his matches and re-emerge wearing a mask.[61] In this "alter-ego", Haas would sometimes perform luchador-esque maneuvers in a comical fashion (such as attempting a diving splash, but instead landing on his feet and hitting a standing splash).[62] The opponent would often unmask Haas mid-match, returning him to his normal demeanor.[61] During this persona, Haas usually competed in dark matches before the live broadcast of Raw or on Heat.[1]

Haas in November 2008 as Haas Hogan, a parody of Hulk Hogan.

Beginning in late August, Haas turned into a face and began a storyline in which he began to impersonate other wrestlers, a concept created by John Laurinaitis, a WWE executive.[63] His first match on August 25, 2008 under this gimmick was a loss to Carlito's real-life brother Primo Colón, while Haas was parodying Carlito with the name "Charlito".[64] He has portrayed such superstars as John Cena, John "Bradshaw" Layfield, Jim Ross, The Great Khali, Montel Vontavious Porter, legends such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, Bret Hart, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, Rowdy Roddy Piper, the Undertaker, Hulk Hogan and even WWE Diva Beth Phoenix for which he won a Slammy Award.[63][65]

On April 15, 2009, Haas was drafted to the SmackDown brand as part of the 2009 Supplemental Draft.[66] On the May 8, 2009 episode of SmackDown, Haas made his in-ring return to the brand as a heel, abandoning his persona of imitating other wrestlers, and losing to John Morrison in a match where he was accompanied by his former World's Greatest Tag Team partner, Shelton Benjamin.[67] The following week on the May 15, 2009 episode of SmackDown, Benjamin and Haas unofficially reunited and competed against John Morrison and CM Punk in a losing effort, but Benjamin was traded to the ECW brand in June.[68][69]

On July 24, 2009 episode of SmackDown, Haas competed against R-Truth in a losing effort. The following week, on July 31, 2009 episode of SmackDown, he competed against The Great Khali, ending in a no-contest due to Kane being involved in the match by attacking Ranjin Singh at Khali's corner. After an absence of several months, Haas made his return to television by teaming with Mike Knox in a losing effort against Cryme Tyme on the December 31, 2009 episode of Superstars.[70] This marked Haas’ last match in WWE. On February 28, 2010, WWE announced that Haas had been released from his contract.[71]

Return to Independent circuit (2010)

[edit]

On March 20, 2010, Haas made a surprise return to Jersey All Pro Wrestling and defeated Devon Moore for the JAPW New Jersey State Championship.[72] On May 22 Haas and JAPW Heavyweight Champion Dan Maff put their titles on the line in a tag team match against the Hillbilly Wrecking Crew (Brodie Lee and Necro Butcher). In the end, Maff turned on Haas and hit him with a chair, after which Lee pinned him to win the JAPW New Jersey State Championship.[73]

On September 10, 2010, Haas won the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship by defeating Michael Faith in Amarillo.[74] In May 2011, Haas took part in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's first tour of the United States, the Invasion Tour 2011. In their opening show on May 13 in Rahway, New Jersey, Haas teamed with Rhyno in a tag team main event, where they defeated IWGP Heavyweight Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi and Togi Makabe.[75][76] The following day in New York City, Haas unsuccessfully challenged Tanahashi for his title.[77] On August 20, 2011, Haas became the inaugural Family Wrestling Entertainment (FWE) Heavyweight Champion by defeating Jay Lethal and Eric Young. He held the championship for four months before losing it to Young on December 17.[78]

Ring of Honor (2010–2013)

[edit]
See also: Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team
Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team as ROH World Tag Team Champions.

On September 11, 2010, Haas and Shelton Benjamin made their debut as Wrestling's Greatest Tag Team in Ring of Honor (ROH) losing to The Kings of Wrestling at the Glory By Honor IX pay-per-view.[79] They returned to ROH at the Ring of Honor Wrestling television tapings on December 9, where they defeated the Bravado Brothers (Harlem and Lance).[80] The following day, at the second set of television tapings, Haas and Benjamin defeated the All-Night Xpress of Kenny King and Rhett Titus, and participated in an eight-man tag team match, teaming with the Briscoe Brothers against the Kings of Wrestling and the All-Night Xpress, which ended in a no contest.[81] At the Final Battle 2010 pay-per-view on December 18, Haas and Benjamin announced they would be wrestling regularly for ROH in 2011.[82] At the following pay-per-view, 9th Anniversary Show, on February 26, 2011, Haas and Benjamin defeated the Briscoe Brothers in the main event of the evening to earn another shot at the Kings of Wrestling and the ROH World Tag Team Championship.[83][84] On April 1, at the first night of the Honor Takes Center Stage pay-per-view, Haas and Benjamin defeated the Kings of Wrestling to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship.[85] On June 26 at Best in the World 2011, Haas and Benjamin successfully defended the ROH World Tag Team Championship in a four-way match against the Briscoe Brothers, the Kings of Wrestling and the All-Night Express.[86] The following day ROH announced that both Haas and Benjamin had signed contracts with the promotion.[87] At Final Battle 2011, Haas and Benjamin lost the ROH World Tag Team Championship to the Briscoes despite severely attacking them before the match started, turning them into villainous characters.[88] On May 12, 2012, at Border Wars, Haas and Benjamin regained the ROH World Tag Team Championship from the Briscoe Brothers.[89] On June 24 at Best in the World 2012, Haas and Benjamin lost the title to Kenny King and Rhett Titus.[90] Shortly after their loss, Benjamin was suspended in storyline, to explain his absence while wrestling in Japan. Benjamin returned at the Death Before Dishonor X pay-per-view, accompanying Haas and Rhett Titus in a tag team championship match. Following Death Before Dishonor, Haas and Benjamin would continue to feud with Titus and his new tag team partner B. J. Whitmer defeating them at Glory By Honor XI. They defeated them again in a street fight at Final Battle, where Haas won the match after sent BJ against a table. On February 2, 2013, Haas turned on Benjamin during an ROH World Tag Team Championship match against the Briscoe Brothers.[91] He continued his feud with BJ, fighting in the 11th Anniversary Show in a No Holds Barred Match. BJ won the match when the referee stopped the match.

Late career (2013–present)

[edit]

On March 30, 2013, Haas announced his retirement from professional wrestling, which coincided with him leaving Ring of Honor. He returned to the ring several months later.[92][93]

At JAPW 18th Anniversary Show in November 2014, Haas, Benjamin, and Angle reunited, as Team Angle, for the first time in 11 years. In the main event, Benjamin and Haas defeated Chris Sabin and Teddy Hart.[94]

At NWA Parade Of Champions 2K16 in March 2016 Haas was defeated by the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jax Dane[95][96]

In 2020, after a two year retirement, Haas began to work with SWE Fury.[97] He would defeat Tim Storm for the SWE Heavyweight Championship on February 6, 2021 in Irving, Texas.[98]

Impact Wrestling (2022)

[edit]

On the January 13, 2022 episode of Impact!, Haas made his Impact Wrestling debut by challenging Josh Alexander to a match.[99][100][101] The following week on Impact!, Haas lost to Alexander, and after the match, they embraced in the middle of the ring.[102][103]

Personal life

[edit]

Haas married fellow professional wrestler Jackie Gayda in 2005. The couple have four children, born in 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012.[104][105][106][107] In December 2020, Haas announced that he and Gayda were divorced.[108][109]

On July 9, 2022, Haas announced via Twitter that he is married to Jennifer Haas.[full citation needed]

Haas competed in amateur wrestling during high school, and for Seton Hall University, where he attended on a wrestling scholarship.[110] He also has various other awards for wrestling from high school.[110] Haas was a two-time Big East Champion at Seton Hall and graduated with a degree in economics and business.[110] He then became a stockbroker with Goldman Sachs.[2] According to Haas via the Q&A section on his website, he is a devout Christian.[111] Following the death of his brother, Haas has wrestled with Russ (his brother's name) written on his wrist tape as a tribute. Since 2002 he has maintained a close friendship with his longtime tag team partner Shelton Benjamin, who he often refers to as his "brother." Benjamin served as Haas's best man at his wedding to Gayda and is the godfather to Haas' oldest daughter.[citation needed]

His grandfather Hugh Devore, was an assistant with the Houston Oilers and a former head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.[112] Haas' brother Russ was also a professional wrestler, until his death in 2001 due to a heart attack.[13]

In 2008, Haas and Gayda opened the "Custom Muscle Nutrition and Smoothie Shop", a nutritional store, in Frisco, Texas.[7]

Haas applying the Haas of Pain, a submission hold he invented.
Haas holding Claudio Castagnoli in a rope hung position as Shelton Benjamin leapfrogs onto Castagnoli's back.

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]
Haas is a three-time WWE Tag Team Champion
Haas and Shelton Benjamin as the ROH World Tag Team Champions in April 2011.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Charlie Haas

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Charles Doyle Haas II (born March 27, 1972), better known by his ring name Charlie Haas, is an American professional wrestler, wrestling trainer, and high school wrestling coach, renowned for his accomplished career in major promotions including World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ring of Honor (ROH), where he achieved success as a tag team specialist and singles competitor. Haas was born in , and excelled in during his youth, winning an state high school championship before earning a full to , where he became a two-time champion and qualified for the 1995 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. After briefly working as a following college, Haas transitioned to , making his in-ring debut on January 1, 1996, initially teaming with his late brother as The Haas Brothers in independent promotions such as (JAPW), where they captured the JAPW Tag Team Championship twice, and (CZW), winning the in 2000. In December 2002, Haas signed with and quickly rose to prominence as part of Team Angle alongside under the leadership of , capturing the on February 4, 2003, in their debut title win; the duo later reformed as The World's Greatest Tag Team, securing a second reign on July 1, 2003, and earning Pro Wrestling Illustrated's of the Year award for 2003. Haas also won a third with Rico in 2004 and ventured into singles competition, claiming the (HWA) Heavyweight in 2002 and the Natural Heavyweight in 2005 during WWE's developmental territory stints. After a period of injury and release from in February 2010, Haas joined ROH, where he reunited with Benjamin to win the twice—first on April 1, 2011, for 266 days, and again on May 12, 2012—along with the in September 2010 and the Family Wrestling Entertainment (FWE) Heavyweight in 2011. Haas announced his retirement from full-time in 2013 but made sporadic appearances and returned to active competition on the independent circuit in August 2020, capturing titles such as the Texoma Pro Championship (twice), the South Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) Heavyweight Championship, and multiple accolades with partners including Dane Griffin. In addition to wrestling, he received a for Best Impersonation in 2008 for his comedic character vignettes parodying other superstars and later opened a custom suit business called Custom Muscle in 2008. Currently residing in , Haas serves as the head wrestling coach at Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, continuing his legacy in the sport after a 20-year professional career that spanned the , , and various independent territories.

Early life

Youth and family background

Charles Doyle Haas II was born on March 27, 1972, in . Growing up in a family with deep roots in athletics, Haas was exposed early to the world of competitive sports, which shaped his initial interests and pursuits; he grew up alongside his younger brother , who shared his passion for wrestling. His grandfather, , was a respected coach who played end for Notre Dame in the early 1930s before serving as line coach there from 1934 to 1941. Devore later became head coach at (1942–1944) and Notre Dame (1945), and worked as an assistant coach for the (1946–1955) and the . This familial connection to high-level coaching and fostered Haas's early enthusiasm for athletic competition, particularly wrestling. Following his education at , where he earned a degree in , Haas briefly pursued a career as a before dedicating himself to wrestling.

Amateur wrestling and education

Haas began his wrestling career at Edmond Memorial High School in , where he excelled in and also participated in football and track. He won the state wrestling during his high school tenure, establishing himself as a standout . Following high school, Haas earned an athletic scholarship to , a Division I program, where he competed for the Pirates wrestling team as a four-year starter. At Seton Hall, he achieved significant success, becoming a two-time champion and qualifying for the 1995 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. He graduated in 1996 with a degree in . Haas's amateur wrestling experience provided a strong technical foundation for his professional career, emphasizing mat-based skills like takedowns, reversals, and submissions that translated directly to the ring. Additionally, the discipline and instilled through years of rigorous and influenced his approach to , helping him maintain consistency and resilience throughout his career.

Professional wrestling career

Training and early professional matches (1996–2000)

Haas transitioned from his amateur wrestling background, which provided a strong foundation for his technical style, into professional training in the mid-1990s. He trained primarily under Jim Kettner at the Wrestle Tech wrestling school in , where Kettner emphasized fundamentals and ring psychology. Additionally, Haas received instruction from "Iron" Mike Sharpe, a veteran performer known for his contributions to the wrestling scene, further honing his in-ring skills. These early mentors helped Haas adapt his techniques to the professional environment. Haas made his professional debut in 1996 with the Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF), a New Jersey-based promotion focused on developing regional talent. His initial matches showcased a mat-based approach, drawing on his amateur roots, as he competed in singles and tag formats against local competitors. By 1997, Haas participated in the IWF Heavyweight Title tournament, marking an early highlight where he gained exposure in multi-man competition and established himself as a promising . Throughout 1998 and 1999, Haas frequently teamed with his younger brother as The Haas Brothers, a unit that emphasized synchronized amateur-style maneuvers and brotherly chemistry. The duo worked regular dates in the IWF, often facing established teams in non-title bouts that built their reputation on the Northeast . They expanded to NWA New Jersey, where they engaged in competitive tag matches against regional acts, contributing to the promotion's efforts to revive territorial wrestling. The Haas Brothers continued their momentum into 2000 across additional promotions, including Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling (PCW), where they captured the PCW Tag Team Championship in a representative example of their growing success. Their work in PCW highlighted precise double-team sequences and endurance in longer matches, solidifying their status as a reliable draw. Other outings in (ECWA) and similar groups further refined their partnership, with The Haas Brothers prioritizing cohesion over individual spotlight during this formative period.

WWE debut and Team Angle era (2000–2005)

Haas signed a developmental contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in August 2000 following a tryout match at , where he and his brother performed against The Dupps. After Russ's death in 2001, Haas continued working in 's developmental territories and appeared in dark matches on WWF programming, including bouts on Jakked and house shows, honing his technical wrestling style. These appearances kept him active on the roster periphery until his main roster breakthrough. In late 2002, Haas was paired with , another standout from WWE's developmental system, and the duo debuted on the December 26 episode of SmackDown as Team Angle, introduced by as his "contingency plan" to protect his interests. Portrayed as arrogant, gold medal-claiming in the vein of their mentor Angle, Team Angle emphasized suplexes, submissions, and superior athleticism to belittle opponents, quickly establishing themselves as heels in the tag division with a gimmick rooted in collegiate and Olympic-style bravado. Their chemistry as technical masters led to rapid success, positioning them as top contenders on SmackDown. Team Angle engaged in high-profile feuds that highlighted their dominance, starting with challenges against the WWE Tag Team Champions Edge and Rey Mysterio, whom they targeted for lacking "real wrestling credentials" in a series of intense matches emphasizing aerial versus ground-based styles. The rivalry extended to Los Guerreros (Eddie and Chavo Guerrero), culminating in a triple threat title match at Survivor Series 2002 where Team Angle's amateur precision clashed with the Guerreros' cunning lucha tactics. Later, Haas and Benjamin feuded directly with Eddie Guerrero, including a WWE Tag Team Championship defense against Guerrero and Tajiri on the May 29, 2003, episode of SmackDown, showcasing Haas's mat-based offense against Guerrero's innovative counters. By mid-2005, amid WWE's roster reductions, Haas was released from his contract on July 7, alongside his wife Jackie Gayda and several others, ending his initial five-year stint with the company.

Independent circuit transition (2005–2006)

Following his release from WWE on July 6, 2005, alongside his wife Jackie Gayda, Charlie Haas transitioned to the independent circuit to maintain his in-ring momentum and capitalize on his established reputation from the Team Angle era. This period marked a brief but active phase where Haas competed in several regional promotions, showcasing his technical wrestling prowess in singles and multi-man matches while rebuilding his profile ahead of a potential major return. Haas made his most prominent independent appearances in (JAPW) throughout 2005, returning to the promotion where he had early career experience. On July 16, 2005, at JAPW Family Crisis in , Haas teamed with and Lethal's father to defeat , Ricky Landell, and Rick Silver in a six-man match, setting the stage for a heated rivalry. This feud escalated into a direct challenge for the JAPW Heavyweight Championship, with Haas positioning himself as a top contender based on his pedigree. On September 10, 2005, at JAPW Haas of Pain in , champion defeated Haas via pinfall to retain the title in a hard-fought singles bout, highlighting Haas's background through submission attempts and chain wrestling sequences. Later that year, on December 3, 2005, at the Neil Sullivan Jr. Fundraiser event, Haas secured a victory over , further solidifying his status as a draw in the Northeast indie scene. Extending into early 2006, Haas continued his independent run across various promotions, including international and tournament-style events. In January 2006, he competed for (1PW) in the , losing to on January 7 at No Turning Back - Day 2 after a competitive singles match, and falling in a fatal four-way to A.J. Styles the previous night. Returning stateside, Haas revisited JAPW on February 18, 2006, at the Brotherly Love Fundraiser, where he defeated in a singles match, and on March 25, 2006, at Spring Massacre, he bested once more. His final notable indie outing came on April 8, 2006, at the East Coast Wrestling Association's Super 8 Tournament, where Haas advanced by defeating and Xavier in qualifying matches before being eliminated by in the finals, demonstrating his versatility in a high-stakes format. These independent bookings, often leveraging Haas's prior WWE success, culminated in his WWE re-signing in April 2006. On the April 17 episode of Raw, Haas made a surprise return, defeating former tag team partner Shelton Benjamin in a singles match handpicked by Rob Van Dam, signaling the end of his brief indie stint and paving the way for renewed mainstream exposure.

Return to WWE and various gimmicks (2006–2010)

Haas returned to WWE on the April 17, 2006, episode of Raw, defeating his former tag team partner Shelton Benjamin in a match selected by Intercontinental Champion Rob Van Dam as a non-title contest. This victory initiated a heated feud between Haas and Benjamin, marked by competitive singles matches that highlighted their shared history as the World's Greatest Tag Team, though they did not immediately reunite. By late 2006, following several months of tension, Haas and Benjamin reformed their tag team partnership on Raw, dubbing themselves the World's Greatest Tag Team once again and competing in midcard tag division bouts against teams like the Highlanders and Cryme Tyme. The duo's reunion proved short-lived, as WWE shifted Haas toward singles competition in 2007, where he engaged in rivalries including a series of matches against Mr. Kennedy, culminating in tag team encounters such as the January 7, 2008, Raw bout where Haas and Trevor Murdoch lost to Kennedy and Shawn Michaels in a "Strange Bedfellows" stipulation. Haas also participated in high-stakes multi-man matches, notably entering a battle royal on the March 10, 2009, episode of ECW on Sci-Fi to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 25, though he did not advance to the pay-per-view event. These opportunities underscored Haas's role as a reliable midcard performer capable of elevating undercard storylines. In August 2008, Haas debuted a new singles dubbed "Haas of All Trades," in which he would impersonate prominent wrestlers during entrances and promos, portraying figures like , , , and even non-wrestlers such as . Created by executive and intended to showcase Haas's versatility, the character often led to comedic losses in matches, such as his debut under the against on the August 25, 2008, Raw, but it received mixed fan reactions for its humorous yet inconsistent booking. Haas's second WWE tenure ended abruptly on February 28, 2010, when he was released by the company amid budget cuts affecting several midcard talents. His final televised match occurred earlier that month on ECW, reflecting WWE's streamlining of the roster during a period of financial adjustments.

Ring of Honor tenure (2010–2013)

In 2010, Charlie Haas signed with (ROH) and reunited with former partner to reform the World's Greatest Tag Team, debuting on September 11 in , where they lost to the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions, The Kings of Wrestling ( and ). Their previous success as a in added immediate credibility to their arrival in ROH's more wrestling-oriented promotion. The duo quickly entered a high-profile with The Kings of Wrestling, culminating in a victory on April 1, 2011, at Supercard of Honor VI, when Haas and Benjamin defeated and Castagnoli to capture the in their first reign as champions. They defended the titles successfully against teams like the in a no-disqualification match at 2011 before dropping them to the Briscoes on December 17, 2011. This rivalry with the (Jay and Mark) became a of Haas and Benjamin's ROH run, marked by intense, hard-hitting matches that highlighted their technical prowess and the brothers' brawling style, with the teams trading the tag titles multiple times. Haas and Benjamin regained the ROH World Tag Team Championship from the Briscoe Brothers on May 12, 2012, at Border Wars in , , in a two-out-of-three falls match. Their second reign ended on June 24, 2012, at Best in the World, when they lost to the All Night Express (Kenny King and ). Later that year, Haas partnered with in the tournament for the vacant ROH World Tag Team Championship, but they lost the final to S.C.U.M. ( and ) on September 15, 2012, at X. At 2012 on December 16 in , Haas and Benjamin teamed up for a non-title Street Fight victory over and , showcasing their veteran teamwork in a brutal match. On March 30, 2013, during an ROH live event in , Haas announced his retirement from prior to a scheduled match against Jeff Louis Neal, effectively marking his departure from the promotion. This decision was reportedly accelerated by a backstage altercation with fellow ROH wrestler Grizzly Redwood earlier that evening. Following his ROH exit, Haas transitioned to a part-time wrestling schedule, focusing on select independent appearances while stepping away from full-time competition.

Sporadic appearances and semi-retirement (2013–2022)

Following his abrupt retirement announcement in March 2013 after a event in , Charlie Haas shifted focus away from full-time , marking the beginning of a semi-retirement phase characterized by limited in-ring activity and no long-term contracts with major promotions. During this period, Haas prioritized his family life; he and his wife, fellow former wrestler , whom he married in 2005, raised four children born between 2006 and 2012, though the couple divorced in December 2020, a development Haas described as particularly challenging for their family. Haas occasionally returned for isolated independent circuit matches starting in late 2013, but his schedule remained sparse through 2014, with no regular bookings. By 2015 and 2016, he participated in select one-off bouts across smaller promotions, including a count-out victory over in Canadian Wrestling's Elite on December 2, 2015, and a loss to Rhino in on April 30, 2016. In August 2020, Haas returned to the , debuting under the ring name "" and winning his second Unified Texoma Pro World Heavyweight Championship on August 21, 2020. He later captured the SWE Heavyweight Championship on February 6, 2021, holding it for 411 days until March 24, 2022, and teamed with Dane Griffin to win the NWA Texoma Tag Team Championship on December 17, 2021, for a 91-day reign. These appearances highlighted his continued technical prowess without committing to ongoing storylines or tours, allowing time for personal pursuits. In early 2022, Haas made a notable television return with Impact Wrestling, debuting on the episode by confronting world champion and challenging him to a match, which he lost via submission the following week on January 20. This brief stint, his first major exposure in nearly a decade, underscored his semi-retired status, as he expressed openness to occasional national bookings while emphasizing family responsibilities and avoiding full-time commitments. Throughout 2013 to 2022, Haas supplemented his limited wrestling with coaching efforts, including operating a training school where he mentored aspiring wrestlers, further solidifying his transition to a behind-the-scenes role.

Recent indie matches and coaching role (2023–present)

Following a period of semi-retirement, Charlie Haas resumed selective appearances on the independent wrestling circuit in 2023, including a four-way loss to Darius Carter for the WOW Championship on July 8, where and TJ Marconi also competed. In , Haas continued his indie schedule with multiple bouts across promotions such as 360 Pro Wrestling and WARZONE, achieving an average match rating of 6.50 on Cagematch.net based on fan and critic votes. Representative matches included a title defense challenge against Brent McKenzie on and a singles contest against on June 26. Haas's 2025 activity featured a victory over at OWA Live Pro Wrestling on March 20, showcasing his technical prowess in a high-profile indie matchup. He also competed in events like WildKat/Only Wrestlers' Bayou Beatdown on July 12, partnering with in a post-match angle involving Hawx. On November 6, 2025, at OnlyWrestlers Association's Legacy In The Lone Star in , , Haas teamed with Vin Parker in a loss to Casey Blackrose and Jesse Funaki. In November 2024, Haas transitioned into a coaching role as the head wrestling coach at Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, Florida, leveraging his amateur and professional background to mentor young athletes. Expanding his involvement in wrestling media, Haas joined OnlyWrestlers.com in August 2025 as an announcer, introducing their SLAMEO feature with impersonations of notable wrestlers to engage fans.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Haas married fellow professional wrestler and former WWE Diva on June 10, 2005, shortly before their mutual release from later that year. The couple's real-life relationship intersected with their on-screen storylines, where Gayda portrayed "Miss Jackie" as Haas's manager and , including an engagement angle that mirrored their personal engagement. Together, they had four children: daughters Kayla Jacquelyn, born in December 2006, and Taylor Suzanne, born in September 2008; and sons Thomas Russell, born in 2010, and , born in 2012. Haas and Gayda divorced in 2020, an experience Haas later described as deeply difficult for both him and their children, comparable in emotional toll to the earlier loss of his brother . In 2008, while still signed to WWE, Haas and his wife relocated to , and established Custom Muscle Nutrition, a and supplement shop, to build a more private life away from the wrestling spotlight.

Philanthropy and other interests

Following his from full-time in 2013, Charlie Haas has focused on community involvement through youth wrestling initiatives. In 2020, he established and ran a youth wrestling program in , where he actively participated daily, training young wrestlers in amateur styles reminiscent of his own college background and dropping his weight to 215 pounds to compete alongside them. By 2024, Haas relocated to and became the of the wrestling program at Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, drawing on his experience as a two-time Big East Conference champion at to mentor high school athletes and promote the sport's growth in the region. Haas has also contributed to tributes honoring his brother , who died in December 2001 at age 27 from heart complications. In the wrestling community, (JAPW) organized the Russ Haas Memorial Show on February 2, 2002, at Charity Hall in , with the roster donating their services to support the event in Russ's memory. Additionally, Phoenix Championship Wrestling held a Russ Haas Memorial Tag Team Tournament in August 2002 as another gesture of respect. Personally, Haas honored his brother during his tenure by writing "Russ" on his wrist tape for matches and briefly adopting the ring name "R.C. Haas" to incorporate his sibling's initials. Beyond community work, Haas pursues interests in media and education through wrestling. He co-hosts Wrestling's Greatest Podcast, launched in 2021 with Aaron Presley and SuperTex Brent McKenzie, where episodes discuss professional wrestling history, amateur techniques, and career transitions, often drawing from Haas's experiences as a high school state champion and collegiate All-American to share lessons on discipline and fundamentals. The podcast features interviews with figures from both pro and amateur scenes, emphasizing the sport's foundational elements. Earlier in life, Haas worked as a stockbroker at Goldman Sachs after graduating with a degree in economics and business, reflecting a professional interest in finance before fully committing to wrestling.

Championships and accomplishments

WWE achievements

During his tenure in WWE, Charlie Haas primarily excelled in the tag team division, forming a highly technical and successful partnership with under the Team Angle and gimmicks, which enabled multiple title opportunities and defenses. The duo captured the twice, first on the February 4, 2003, episode of SmackDown by defeating ( and Chavo Guerrero) in a match that highlighted their background and precision teamwork. Their second reign came on the July 1, 2003, episode of SmackDown, where they overcame and Tajiri to reclaim the titles, solidifying their status as dominant SmackDown brand competitors. These reigns included notable defenses that showcased Haas and Benjamin's ability to outwrestle established teams. Another key defense occurred at on March 30, 2003, where they retained against ( and ) and in a triple threat match, demonstrating resilience in high-stakes multi-team bouts. The partnership's success extended beyond the ring, earning them the (PWI) Tag Team of the Year award in 2003 for their consistent excellence and impact on the division. Haas later won the WWE Tag Team Championship a third time, partnering with Rico from April 22, 2004, to June 17, 2004, though this reign was shorter and less emphasized compared to his runs with Benjamin. In WWE's developmental territories, Haas captured the (HWA) Heavyweight Championship in 2002. He also won the Natural Heavyweight Championship in 2005.

ROH and major indie titles

During his tenure in Ring of Honor (ROH) from 2010 to 2013, Charlie Haas achieved significant success in the tag team division, reuniting with longtime partner Shelton Benjamin as The World's Greatest Tag Team. On April 1, 2011, at the ROH Honor Takes Center Stage event in Atlanta, Georgia, Haas and Benjamin defeated the Kings of Wrestling (Chris Hero and Claudio Castagnoli) to win the ROH World Tag Team Championship for the first time, beginning a reign that lasted 266 days until they lost the titles to the Briscoe Brothers on December 23, 2011. They recaptured the championship on May 12, 2012, at the Border Wars pay-per-view, holding it for 43 days before dropping it to the Forever Hooligans (Rocky Romero and Ricky Reyes) on June 24, 2012. These accomplishments highlighted Haas's technical prowess and established the duo as one of ROH's premier tag teams during this period. Haas also won the in September 2010 and the Family Wrestling Entertainment (FWE) Championship in 2011. Prior to his ROH run, Haas built a foundation of success on the independent circuit, often partnering with his brother as The Haas Brothers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In (JAPW), they won the JAPW Championship twice: first on July 22, 1998, by defeating and Kane D alongside Zieg and Flash Wheeler in a three-way match for the vacant titles, holding them for 34 days; and again on May 21, 1999, in a that extended 280 days until February 25, 2000. They also secured the (CZW) World Championship on February 12, 2000, in a four-way match defeating the champions The Kashmerino Brothers ( and Robby Mireno) along with other teams, holding the belts for 121 days until June 12, 2000. Haas continued his indie title pursuits in singles and tag formats after his brother's passing in 2001. In (MCW), he and Russ had claimed the MCW Southern Tag Team Championship three times in 2001: from February 21 to May 25 (93 days), May 25 to June 1 (7 days), and June 1 to June 13 (12 days). Later, in 2010, Haas won the JAPW State Championship on March 20 by defeating Devon Moore, reigning for 63 days until May 22.

Recent independent titles (2020–present)

Haas returned to active competition on the independent circuit in 2020, capturing the Texoma Pro Championship twice, the South Wrestling Entertainment (SWE) Heavyweight Championship, and multiple titles with partners including Dane Griffin.

Other accomplishments

Haas received a for Best Impersonation in 2008 for his comedic character vignettes parodying other superstars.

References

  1. https://www.si.com/high-school/florida/wwe-superstar-ufc-hall-of-famer-now-coach-high-school-wrestling-in-florida-01jd8nbf8pyg
  2. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=534&page=11
  3. https://pwi-online.com/awards/
  4. https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/haasreleased
  5. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/wrestlers/charlie-haas
  6. https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2004/04/29/smackdown-star-recalls-youth-in-edmond/61991955007/
  7. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/charlie-haas/
  8. https://archives.nd.edu/NDM/ND_16_3_1963_FAL.pdf
  9. https://www.ewrestlingnews.com/profiles/charlie-haas
  10. http://beautyinwrestling.freeservers.com/diamonds.html
  11. https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/07/08/wwe-dor-profile-charlie-haas
  12. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05072007/articles/backtoschool
  13. https://wrestlingbabylon.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/treatment-of-wwe-performer-charlie-haas-is-a-study-of-linda-mcmahons-character/
  14. https://www.wrestlingnewssource.com/news/75735/How-Charlie-Haas-and-Shelton-Benjamin-Became-A-Team/
  15. https://dailyddt.com/2022/02/01/charlie-haas-talks-his-time-with-wwe-roh-and-working-with-impact/
  16. https://www.allaxxessentertainment.com/single-post/2016/04/04/jim-kettner
  17. https://www.wrestlingdata.com/index.php?befehl=bios&wrestler=323
  18. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=534
  19. http://pwbts.com/columns/b012302.html
  20. https://www.nyprowrestling.com/results/1990s/1998.html
  21. http://pwbts.com/columns/b011602.html
  22. https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-wrestlers-shockingly-wrestled-2000-daniel-bryan-shelton-benjamin/
  23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV7tgnJ5sQw
  24. https://www.wwe.com/classics/top-50-tag-teams-in-wwe-history
  25. https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-worlds-greatest-tag-team-shelton-benjamin-charlie-haas/
  26. https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/features/eddie-guerrero-s-top-10-best-wwe-matches-ranked
  27. https://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/15-greatest-matches
  28. https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/8334621
  29. http://www.oklafan.com/news/view/31/
  30. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/charlie-haas-360.html?year=2005
  31. https://www.japw.net/history/results/japw-family-crisis-2005-71605-rahway-nj/
  32. https://www.japw.net/history/results/japw-haas-pain-91005-rahway-nj/
  33. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/charlie-haas-360.html?year=2006
  34. http://www.profightdb.com/cards/ecwa/super-8-tournament-3906-3662.html
  35. https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/haasgetssecondchance
  36. https://www.wwe.com/videos/charlie-haas-vs-shelton-benjamin-raw-april-17-2006
  37. https://insidepulse.com/2007/02/21/65045/
  38. https://411mania.com/wrestling/411s-live-raw-coverage-01-07-2008-strange-bedfellows-match/
  39. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2732360-dolph-ziggler-and-5-wwe-stars-who-have-tried-the-parody-gimmick
  40. https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/199975-charlie-haas-reveals-the-creator-of-his-impersonator-gimmick
  41. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/charlie-haas-not-proud-his-impersonation-gimmick-wwe-shares-who-he-regrets-impersonating/
  42. https://whatculture.com/wwe/8-wwe-tag-team-stars-who-couldnt-cut-it-as-singles?page=4
  43. https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/12/charlie-haas-on-his-wwe-release-in-2010/
  44. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/750541-charlie-haas-shelton-benjamin-the-return-of-the-worlds-greatest-tag-team
  45. https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/mark-briscoe-matches-charlie-haas-shelton-benjamin-roh/
  46. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1624313-wrestling-gold-the-history-of-the-roh-world-tag-team-championship
  47. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Wrestling/TheWorldsGreatestTagTeam
  48. https://www.thesmackdownhotel.com/events-results/roh/roh-wrestling-2012
  49. https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/zen-arcade-reviews-roh-final-battle-2012-doomsday/
  50. https://www.wrestlezone.com/news/270211-former-wwe-and-roh-star-officially-retires-reportedly-gives-drunkenbizarre-speech-prior-to-retirement-at-roh-show
  51. https://www.cagesideseats.com/2013/4/3/4180232/charlie-haas-sudden-retirement-sped-up-by-roh-backstage-fight
  52. https://www.whatculture.com/wwe/charlie-haas-retires
  53. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1296075/bio/
  54. https://www.cagesideseats.com/impact-wrestling/2022/1/20/22894419/charlie-haas-impact-debut-josh-alexander-open-bookings
  55. http://www.profightdb.com/wrestlers/charlie-haas-360.html
  56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zAlVUkE7VU
  57. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=534&page=4
  58. https://onlywrestlers.com/charliehaas
  59. https://whatculture.com/wwe/10-marriages-wwe-acknowledged-turned-storylines
  60. https://people.com/parents/jackie_gayda_an/
  61. https://www.diva-dirt.com/jackie-gayda-gives-birth/
  62. https://www.whosdatedwho.com/dating/jackie-gayda-and-charlie-haas
  63. https://www.ringsidenews.com/charlie-haas-opens-about-his-hard-divorce-jackie-gayda/
  64. https://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/news/CustomCharlie
  65. https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/charlie-haas-running-youth-wrestling-program-texas-not-done-pro-wrestling
  66. https://dead-wrestler-database.fandom.com/wiki/Russ_Haas
  67. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/Charlie_Haas
  68. https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com/charlie-haas-on-his-new-look-team-angle-returning-to-wrestling/
  69. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf_WIG0A-ne76YTVaVwU6WA
  70. https://wwetitles.weebly.com/wwe-tag-team.html
  71. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb4qugrTMNA
  72. https://www.wwe.com/titlehistory/raw-tag-team-championship
  73. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=122&page=5&reign=30
  74. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=122&page=5&reign=32
  75. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=209&page=5&reign=9
  76. http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/titles/czwtag.html
  77. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=43&page=5&reign=14
  78. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=5&nr=509&page=5&reign=16
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.