Former multitime WWE tag team champion Charlie Haas announced his retirement following a Ring of Honor show in Asheville, North Carolina last night. Haas was scheduled to face his former partner Shelton Benjamin in a one-on-one match this Saturday in New York City. Haas after a losing effort to a local talent had the following to say on Twitter:
Officially retired. No match against @Sheltyb803 nxt week NYC. Time to be a full time dad and husband. Ive turned my spandex in for scrubs.Thanks to all the fans throughout the years. I love you all. Stay safe and God bless. WGTT will always be a top Tag Team, forever.
Haas began his career in the late 90s on the Northeast independent scene with his late brother Russ in such companies as CZW, ECWA and Jersey All-Pro before the duo was signed to the WWE developmental territory Heartland Wrestling Association in 2000. After his brother's death 2001, Charlie became known as RC Haas in remembrance. Even when he changed his name back to Charlie when being called up to the Smackdown brand in 2002 he would always wear Russ on this wrist tape in honor of his brother. In 2003, Charlie would meet his brother from another mother Shelton Benjamin and with the guidance of Paul Heyman they would become part of Team Angle and later the World's Greatest Tag Team. Haas and Benjamin would go on to win the tag team titles on numerous occasions before the pair was split up in early 2004 and Charlie was left to team with Rico which also garnered him tag team gold as he along with his now wife and former Tough Enough Winner Jackie Gayda would show off his eclectic side with the always flamboyant stylist. Haas would be let go by the WWE in 2005 heading back to Jersey All-Pro to win their Heavyweight Championship. A year later being brought back to the WWE thanks to Gerald Brisco and led to a short reunion of he and Shelton Benjamin before Charlie would show off more his personality in 2008 by doing impersonations of people like Jim Ross, Hulk Hogan, JBL, Steve Austin and many others. Charlie soon disappeared from television again WWE in 2010. Charlie would return to his roots and capture the Jersey All-Pro championship once again. On September 11, 2010 he and his tag team partner Shelton Benjamin would enter Ring of Honor where they would win another three championships together before Benjamin would go off New Japan Pro Wrestling leaving Haas to develop a new character a Steve Austin like version of himself better-known as the Haashole. One things for sure, Charlie will definitely be missed Thanks Charlie for all the memories.