Charles Shane Robinson (July 2, 1964) is an American professional wrestling referee currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Career[]
Beginnings and World Championship Wrestling (1993-2001)[]
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 1993, supplementing his income by working as a salesman. After being used as a special guest referee, he later became a full-time referee for the PWF.
Robinson repeatedly petitioned World Championship Wrestling (WCW) professional wrestling promotion for a job. In 1997, after working with Dan Hedman as a professional sales representative, he was given a tryout match, refereeing a dark match between Chris Taylor and a jobber. Following the match, Robinson was signed to a contract by WCW.
In 1999, Robinson became the heel referee of the Four Horsemen, aligning himself with Flair. 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. The match, which marked Robinson's wrestling debut, took place at Slamboree 1999 on May 9, 1999. 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. 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. In the course of the match, Savage delivered a botched diving elbow drop to Robinson, cracking several of his vertebrae and collapsing his lung. 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".
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2001-present)[]
When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in March 2001, Robinson was hired by the WWF. He debuted in the WWF as a member of The Alliance, bickering with WWF loyalist referee Jack Doan and accompanying senior WCW official Nick Patrick to ringside for his match at WWF Invasion on July 22, 2001. He refereed his first WWF match on July 2, 2001.
In 2002, the WWF was renamed "World Wrestling Entertainment", and the roster was divided between two "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. The match, however, was quickly stopped by Charlie Haas. In 2005, Robinson called the final match of WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero against Ken Kennedy on an episode of Friday Night Smackdown. Guerrero died 2 days after the match aired.
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. Robinson also officiated the World Heavyweight Championship matches at WrestleMania 22, WrestleMania 23, as well as Ric Flair's final match and the last part of the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania XXIV.
In WrestleMania XXIV, Robinson ran up to the ring after Jimmy Korderas was knocked out. Despite his speed, the delay allowed Edge to kick out from the Undertaker's pin, although he eventually lost. He was also involved in later PPV decisions where Undertaker was victorious against Edge. This earned him Edge and his wife's ire.
On the June 21, 2008, episode of SmackDown, Robinson was placed in a match by General Manager Vickie Guerrero after ejecting Chavo Guerrero from ringside during Bam Neely's match with Matt Hardy. He lost to The Great Khali in a squash match. After the match he was carried out by medical officials. He returned in a match between Edge and The Big Show, where he stopped Big Show from giving a con-chair-to to Edge. In November 2008 referees were made no longer exclusive to certain brands.
Charles is also part of the WWE Production and Ring Crews along with referee Chad Patton and has been doing this since 2002. This job means that Charles gets to the arena hours before any of the Superstars show and helps in setting up the ring, lights and backstage area. After the show, long after the fans and Superstars have departed, Charles then disassembles the set and loads it into one of the WWE semi-trucks.
A likeness of Charles featured in WWE '12 and WWE '13 as the referee although there is no name mention of him anywhere in the game.
Charles worked the last match of Eddie Guerrero and Ric Flair's retirement match at WrestleMania 24 in Orlando (although Flair did come out of retirement later for TNA).
Personal life[]
On October 11, 2000, Robinson married a woman named Amy. Amy was diagnosed with melanoma of the lung in January 2001 and died on April 7, 2002. He has a daughter from a previous relationship, Jessica, who is 19 years old.
He once had his elbow knocked out of its socket while refereeing a match in the PWF in Gastonia, NC. Fire Breaker Chip accidentally kicked Charles' elbow during a pin attempt. Charles rolled right out of the ring and straight to the hospital. He was out of action for 4 months.
Wrestling facts[]
- Nicknames
- "Little Nature Boy"
