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Grappling With Tragedy: Russ Haas

Posted: Dec 20th 2024 By: Brian Damage - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com

Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.

Russ Haas

Thomas Russell Haas followed in his older brother Charlie Haas’ footsteps and attended Seton Hall University in New Jersey and like his older brother, competed as an amateur wrestler. Upon graduating, Haas pursued a career in professional wrestling like his brother Charlie two years earlier. Russ was trained by the legendary ‘Iron’ Mike Sharpe in New Jersey. After completing training in 1998, Russ Haas formed a tag team with brother Charlie known as ‘The Haas of Pain.’

The Haas brothers wrestled for various independent groups on the east coast including, East Coast Championship Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling and Jersey All Pro Wrestling winning tag team titles everywhere they competed. In August of 2000, the Haas brothers received a WWF dark match tryout and received an offer to sign a developmental contract. Charlie stated a few years later in an interview that he and Russ were ecstatic and just happy to be able to pursue their dreams.

After a year in developmental, the Haas brothers were being prepped to be called up to the main roster. Charlie said that they were going to form the ‘Team Angle’ faction with Kurt Angle and Shelton Benjamin. Before the brothers were called up, in the early morning hours of December 15th, 2001, Charlie and Russ were studying wrestling tapes getting ready for their WWE debuts. Russ went home around 3 in the morning to get some sleep. Later that morning, Russ’s wife couldn’t wake Russ up. He was pronounced dead at his home.

An autopsy was performed and it was determined that Russ had died of heart failure. He had previously suffered a minor heart attack in September of 2001. Former developmental wrestler/manager Jason Sensation stated that Russ died at an early age due to abusing steroids to get himself bigger. Sensation claimed that Jim Ross would always critique the brothers and told them that they needed to “get bigger.” Regardless if that is true or not, Russ Haas was just 27 years old at the time of his death. Several independent promotions held Russ Haas memorial events and brother Charlie debuted in WWE under the moniker of R.C. Haas. The Team Angle faction that he and Russ were scheduled to join with Kurt Angle did in fact go through a year after Russ’s tragic passing.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

09-18

Titan Yin Sep 18th Today!
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th Today!
Angel Reed Sep 18th Today!
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th Today!
Billy Robinson Sep 18th Today!
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Ka$haNova Sep 26th
Lone Eagle Sep 26th
Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
Chris Matthews Sep 26th
Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
BB Sep 26th
Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
Ben Miller Sep 27th
Angel Camacho Sep 27th
Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
Scott Lee Sep 28th
Trey Count Sep 28th
Rip Tyler Sep 28th
Tommy Prince Sep 28th
Kamille Sep 28th
Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
Ann Casey Sep 29th
David Sammartino Sep 29th
Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
Raymon Downey Sep 30th
Lady Starwind Sep 30th
Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
Fred Urban Sep 30th
Seth Coburn Sep 30th
Hector Guerrero Oct 1st

1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title

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