Charles Robinson (referee)

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Charles Robinson
Robinson in 2014
Birth nameCharles Shane Robinson
Born (1964-07-02) July 2, 1964 (age 59)
Mooresville, North Carolina, U.S.[1]
Spouse(s)
Amy Robinson
​
​
(m. 2000; died 2002)​
Children1
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Charles Robinson[2]
Little Naitch[2]
Billed height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Billed weight150 lb (68 kg)
Billed fromCharlotte, North Carolina[2]
Debut1995

Charles Shane Robinson (born July 2, 1964) is an American professional wrestling senior referee and former professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE on the SmackDown brand.

Professional wrestling career

Pro Wrestling Federation (1995–1997)

While growing up, Robinson idolized NWA superstar Ric Flair. He also studied NWA referee Tommy Young in order to hone his mannerisms as a referee. His professional wrestling career began when he joined the Pro Wrestling Federation (PWF) as a photographer in 1995. After being used as a special guest referee in 1995, he later became a full-time referee for the PWF.[2]

World Championship Wrestling (1997–2001)

Robinson working for WCW in 1998

Robinson repeatedly petitioned the

professional wrestling promotion for a job.[2] On September 15, 1997, he was given a tryout match, refereeing a dark match between Chris Adams and Kendall Windham
before WCW Monday Nitro at Independence Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. A few weeks following the match, Robinson was contacted by WCW and signed to a contract. His first appearance was during the WCW TV tapings at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.

In 1999, Robinson became the

Four Horsemen, aligning himself with Flair.[3] Robinson frequently favored the Horsemen in the matches he officiated, enraging Randy Savage. Savage, who had been suspended by Flair (then the WCW President), proposed a match between his girlfriend, Gorgeous George, and Robinson, with Savage to be reinstated if George defeated Robinson.[2] The match, which marked Robinson's wrestling debut, took place at Slamboree 1999 on May 9, 1999.[2][4] Robinson, dubbed "Little Naitch" (a reference to Flair's nickname, the "Nature Boy"), came to the ring in a robe similar to those worn by Flair, and mimicked Flair's mannerisms, signature strut and "wooo" catchphrase.[4][5] Robinson emulated Flair throughout the match, using Flair's customary illegal tactics, but was defeated by George, who pinned him following a diving elbow drop. Robinson wrestled his second match one week later, teaming with Flair to face Randy Savage and Madusa on an episode of WCW Monday Nitro.[2] In the course of the match, Savage delivered a botched diving elbow drop to Robinson, cracking several of his vertebrae and collapsing his lung.[2] After undergoing treatment, Robinson returned to WCW television several weeks later, and was appointed to President Flair's stable. Flair and Piper kayfabe ran WCW until they were unseated by Sting
, with Robinson returning to his refereeing duties.

Robinson would again turn heel in the Fall of 1999, this time siding with Sid Vicious and Rick Steiner. Robinson would get involved in matches he was refereeing for Vicious and Steiner. This would go on for a month before Robinson would go back to being an unbiased Referee. In 2000, Robinson appeared in the WCW-produced film Ready to Rumble. On March 26, 2001 on Nitro, Robinson refereed the last WCW match ever, where Sting defeated Ric Flair via submission.

World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment / WWE (2001–present)

When WCW's properties were purchased by the

SummerSlam, Robinson refereed Booker T's match against the Rock and called the match right down the middle as the Rock won the WCW Championship
.

In 2002, the WWF was renamed "

brands", Raw and SmackDown!. Robinson was initially assigned to Raw, but was later traded to SmackDown!, where he refereed many women's matches. On the July 1, 2004, episode of SmackDown!, Robinson was forced to wrestle Luther Reigns by General Manager Kurt Angle.[7] The match, however, was quickly stopped by Charlie Haas.[7]

Robinson in the ring in 2009

At No Mercy 2006, Robinson, who had refereed a match between Mr. Kennedy and The Undertaker, was on the receiving end of a Tombstone Piledriver from the Undertaker after he had called for him to be disqualified after hitting Mr. Kennedy with his WWE United States Championship belt.[8] Robinson also officiated the World Heavyweight Championship matches at WrestleMania 22, WrestleMania 23, as well as Ric Flair's final WWE match and the last part of the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XXIV.[9][10] Two years later he refereed the main event of WrestleMania XXVI, the retirement match of Shawn Michaels.

On the June 20, 2008, episode of SmackDown, Robinson was placed in a match by

WWE Cruiserweight Classic
.

In 2016, Robinson has appeared as an uncredited cameo in the film Countdown.

Since 2002, Robinson has been a part of the WWE production and ring crew, helping assemble and disassemble the ring and set before and after shows.

In April 2020, Robinson became SmackDown`s senior official referee, after SmackDown's senior official referee Mike Chioda was released from his WWE contract as part of budget cuts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Injuries

He once had his elbow knocked out of its socket while refereeing a match in the PWF in Gastonia, North Carolina. Fire Breaker Chip accidentally kicked Charles's elbow during a pin attempt. He was out of action for 4 months.[14]

On April 18, 2014, while traveling with the WWE in Saudi Arabia, Robinson suffered a freak accident while helping assemble the wrestling ring, resulting in him nearly losing his thumb. The injury required six stitches.

On January 29, 2017 during the Royal Rumble PPV, Robinson was refereeing the WWE Championship Match between John Cena and AJ Styles when he tore the plantar fascia on his left foot seven minutes into the match. He completed the match, but was subsequently out of action for two months, during which he underwent successful surgery. He returned on March 25, 2017 during a WWE SmackDown Live house show in Johnson City. He made his television return on the March 28, 2017 episode of 205 Live.[15]

On July 11, 2017 episode of SmackDown, Robinson's left index finger was mildly fractured by Baron Corbin while he refereed Corbin's match against Shinsuke Nakamura.

Video games

Robinson's likeness appears as the referee in

2K Sports WWE 2K14, WWE 2K15, WWE 2K16, and WWE 2K24
.

Personal life

On October 11, 2000, Robinson married a woman named Amy, who was diagnosed with melanoma of the lung in January 2001 and died on April 7, 2002.[6] He has a daughter named Jessica from a previous relationship.[2] He is a Christian.[16]

Championships and accomplishments

  • WWE
    • Slammy Award (1 time)
      • Referee of the Year (2020)
    • Bumpy Award (1 time)
      • Referee of the Year (2021)

References

  1. ^ IMDb: Charles Robinson (IV)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Bio". WWE. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  3. ^ Waldman, Jon. "Reliving the InVasion, two years later". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 24, 2012. Retrieved 2009-04-20.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  5. ^ "Charles Robinson Image". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  6. ^ a b c "Charles Robinson Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  7. ^ a b "WWE SmackDown! Results – July 1, 2004". Online World Of Wrestling. 2004-07-01. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  8. ^ Jen Hunt (2006-10-08). "Undertaker shows No Mercy on Kennedy". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-02-10. Tombstoned referee Charles Robinson for disqualifying him
  9. ^ "Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 – Image". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Plummer, Dale (2008-03-31). "Mayweather, Orton survive Mania; Edge, Flair don't". SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved 2008-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-06-20). "Spear of influence". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  12. ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-07-11). "Endless Love". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  13. ^ Caldwell, James. "5/1 WWE Payback Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Live Report". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  14. ^ Campbell, Brandon (2008-09-24). "It's official: Life in the ring is "ref"". WWE. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  15. ^ "WWE Referee: DAMN NEAR LOST MY THUMB IN SAUDI ARABIA". TMZ. April 18, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  16. ^ "Charles Robinson (WWERobinson) on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2014-09-01.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Charles Robinson (referee).
Sporting positions
Preceded by WWE SmackDown Senior Referee
2020–present 		Succeeded by
None
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