2 Cold Scorpio
Charles Bernard Scaggs (born October 25, 1965)[1] is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name 2 Cold Scorpio (sometimes spelled Too Cold Scorpio). He is best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling, Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation (as Flash Funk) throughout the 1990s, along with his appearances in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah.[1]
2 Cold Scorpio | |
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2 Cold Scorpio in March 2013 | |
Birth name | Charles Bernard Scaggs[1] |
Born | Denver, Colorado, United States[1] | October 25, 1965
Residence | Celebration, Florida, United States |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | 2 Cold Scorpio/Too Cold Scorpio[1] 2 Gold Scorpio Black Wazuma[1] Flash Funk[1] Flyin' Scorpio Flying Wazuma[1] Scorpio |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[1] |
Billed weight | 229 lb (104 kg)[1] |
Billed from | Denver, Colorado |
Trained by | New Japan Pro Wrestling |
Debut | 1985[1] |
Championships held by 2 Cold Scorpio over the course of his career include the ECW World Tag Team Championship, ECW World Television Championship, GHC Tag Team Championship and WCW World Tag Team Championship.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1985–1992)
Scaggs made his professional wrestling debut in 1985, adopting the ring name 2 Cold Scorpio. He wrestled in various independent promotions in the United States, until, on the recommendation of Big Van Vader, he decided to go to New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he trained in the NJPW Dojo. He also wrestled in Europe and Mexico.
World Championship Wrestling (1992–1994)
2 Cold Scorpio debuted in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) on November 18, 1992, as Ron Simmons' mystery partner at Clash of the Champions XXI. He had a brief reign as World Tag Team Champion with Marcus Alexander Bagwell in October 1993.[2] Although he was released in 1994, 2 Cold Scorpio competed on the WCW-promoted pay-per-view When Worlds Collide later that year and the WCW/New Japan produced pay-per-view Collision in Korea in 1995.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1994–1996)
2 Cold Scorpio debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1994, where he had four reigns as World Television Champion and one reign as World Tag Team Champion with The Sandman.[2] He had feuds with wrestlers such as Taz, Shane Douglas, Sabu, and Mikey Whipwreck.
Following his departure for the WWF, 2 Cold Scorpio returned to ECW for one night at House Party in 1998 as a mystery opponent for Taz.
In 1996, he would return to Japan to wrestle for Tokyo Pro Wrestling, under the masked alter-ego, Black Wazuma.
World Wrestling Federation (1996–1999)
2 Cold Scorpio made his WWF debut on November 17, 1996, at Survivor Series, under the name Flash Funk. His gimmick involved dancing, wearing a zoot suit, and being accompanied to the ring by his "Fly Girls" or "Funkettes".[3] Towards the end of his first WWF run, Funk reverted to his 2 Cold Scorpio name, later shortening it to "Scorpio", and began teaming with former WCW teammate and friend Ron Simmons, as well as Terry Funk through most of 1998. He soon after became a member of Al Snow's J.O.B. Squad. In mid-1998, he competed in the WWF's Brawl for All tournament, replacing Ken Shamrock. He lost in the quarterfinals to The Godfather. In early 1999, 2 Cold Scorpio requested time off due to personal problems, but was instead released from the WWF.[3]
Pro Wrestling Noah (2000–2006)
2 Cold Scorpio next made sporadic appearances for ECW, which included a challenge against then-champion Mike Awesome for the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on the December 10, 1999, edition of ECW on TNN. 2 Cold Scorpio competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling until native members of its roster defected to form Pro Wrestling Noah in 2000, and both Scorpio and Vader followed. During his tenure in Noah, he won the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship, as well as the GHC Tag Team Championship with both Vader and Doug Williams.[2]
Return to WWE (2006–2007)
In 2006, 2 Cold Scorpio signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Upon joining the promotion, he returned to using his Flash Funk character in the WWE developmental promotion Deep South Wrestling until he was released on May 11, 2007, without ever appearing on WWE television.[4] On the 15th anniversary of WWE Raw on December 10, 2007, 2 Cold Scorpio participated in a battle royal as "Flash Funk", eliminating Steve Blackman while eliminating himself in the process.
Independent circuit (2005–present)
On June 10, 2005, 2 Cold Scorpio wrestled at the ECW reunion event Hardcore Homecoming, defeating Kid Kash.[5][6]
In late 2007, 2 Cold Scorpio joined Booker T's Pro Wrestling Alliance promotion, based in Houston, Texas. He wrestled occasionally in Pasadena, Texas, at the city's convention center, and he participated in a feud with heel wrestler and student Gustavo Mendoza. His last PWA match was in February 2008 at Texas Tapout against Mendoza.
On August 8, 2010, 2 Cold Scorpio wrestled at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's ECW reunion show, Hardcore Justice, defeating C.W. Anderson.[7] On April 28, 2012, 2 Cold Scorpio wrestled Shane Douglas in the main event of Extreme Reunion (a wrestling event promoted by Douglas) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the match, two masked men got involved. One was Kevin Sullivan, who attacked Douglas. The other was former ECW owner Tod Gordon, who hugged 2 Cold Scorpio. Douglas pinned 2 Cold Scorpio with a twisting sunset flip.
2 Cold Scorpio made his debut for Chikara in September 2012, when he, Jerry Lynn and Tommy Dreamer entered the 2012 King of Trios as "The Extreme Trio", defeating Team WWF (1-2-3 Kid, Aldo Montoya and Tatanka) in their first round match.[8][9] The following day, The Extreme Trio was eliminated from the tournament by Team ROH (Mike Bennett, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson).[8][10]
On February 2, 2013, 2 Cold Scorpio defeated ACH in the main event of the first ever National Pro Wrestling Day to become the 2013 Rey De Voladores.[11] On June 23, 2013, 2 Cold Scorpio was defeated by John Hennigan in a match for the FWE Heavyweight Championship at House of Hardcore 2.[12]
On September 2, 2017, 2 Cold Scorpio unsuccessfully challenged Hannibal for the Great North Wrestling Canadian Championship at the Hawkesbury Bike Fest 2017 in Hawkesbury, Ontario.[13]
On August 3, 2018, 2 Cold Scorpio competed in the 2018 Scenic City Invitational Tournament held in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, losing in the first round to AJ Gray. The following night Scorpio defeated Darius Lockhart in non-tournament action.[14]
As of July 2019, 2 Cold Scorpio has taken the role of head trainer at the Rocky Mountain Pro Wrestling Academy in Golden, Colorado. Within the Rocky Mountain Pro promotion, he also has a large role in producing the live television product they air on Right Now TV, Fight Network UK and Twitch.tv. 2 Cold Scorpio is also the current Rocky Mountain Pro tag team champion alongside tag team partner Airborne Alex Anthony after winning the championship at their Milestone 9 Pay Per View on June 30, 2019.[15]
Personal life
During a Ring of Honor's Straight Shootin interview in 2004, Scaggs admitted to hard drug use while he was in ECW and WWF, but it had been significantly accelerated during his stint in WWF due to the fact that he was simply making more money and thus had the opportunity to use more. Scaggs regretted his covert lifestyle at the time, and wondered that if he had admitted to WWF and himself that he had a problem, his career might have lasted longer in WWF. He also admitted to have kicked his hard drug use several years ago, although still actively using marijuana.[16]
Championships and accomplishments
- All Star Wrestling Alliance
- ASWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Big Time Wrestling
- BTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Chikara
- Rey de Voladores (2013)[11]
- Extreme Championship Wrestling
- German Wrestling Federation
- Hardcore Hall of Fame
- Class of 2014
- High Volume Pro Wrestling
- HVPW Hall of Fame (2015)[19]
- Pacific Championship Wrestling
- PCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Peach State Wrestling
- PSW Cordele City Heavyweight Championship (1 time, last)[20]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #201 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[21]
- Pro Wrestling Noah
- GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship (1 time)
- GHC Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Vader (1) and Doug Williams (1)
- GHC Tag Team Title Tournament (2001) - with Vader[22]
- Pro Wrestling Unplugged
- PWU World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- Rocky Mountain Pro
- RMP Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) - with "Airborne" Alex Anthony
- World Championship Wrestling
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Wrestling Maneuver (1992) 450° splash
- Most Underrated Wrestler (1997)
References
- "Too Cold Scorpio Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Archived from the original on March 10, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
- Tello, C. (September 21, 2006). "Too Cold for WWE". WWE. Archived from the original on June 24, 2007. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
- Molinaro, J. (May 19, 1999). "Scorpio to take flight in Japan". Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
- "Charles Scaggs released". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on November 13, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2007.
- Lacroix, C. (December 20, 2005). "Have a jolly Hardcore Homecoming Christmas". Canoe.ca. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
- Kapur, B. (June 11, 2005). "Hardcore Homecoming a memorable night". Canoe.ca. Retrieved May 16, 2007.
- Caldwell, James (August 8, 2010). "Caldwell's TNA Hardcore Justice PPV results 8/8: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of ECW-themed PPV headlined by RVD vs. Sabu". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- "Past results". Chikara. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
- Namako, Jason (September 15, 2012). "9/14 Chikara "King of Trios: Night 1" Results: Easton, PA". WrestleView. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
- Namako, Jason (September 15, 2012). "9/15 Chikara "King of Trios: Night 2" Results: Easton, PA". WrestleView. Archived from the original on September 19, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
- Johnson, Mike (February 2, 2013). "Former ECW Arena to reopen". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
- Gee Schoon Tong, Chris (June 23, 2013). "Show results - 6/22 HOH in Philadelphia, Pa.: MVP vs. Sami Callihan, Dreamer vs. Storm main event, Steiners, J-Mo, more". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on July 2, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
- "GNW Wrestling Bike Fest Full Event Video - 6 Matches!". Retrieved December 22, 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
- "Scenic City Invitational 2018 Results". August 5, 2018.
- "Rocky Mountain Pro - Pro Wrestling.....Elevated".
- Woodward, Buck. "LOOKING AT ROH'S 'STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' WITH 2 COLD SCORPIO'". PWInsider. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- "German Wrestling Federation Title Histories". titlehistories.com. Archived from the original on August 8, 2008. Retrieved July 11, 2008.
- "Matches « GWF Heavyweight Title Tournament « Tournaments Database « CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database".
- https://www.facebook.com/HighVolumeProWrestling/photos/a.258225271027501/762628243920532/?type=1&theater
- Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2008.
- "NOAH Navigation Tug of War 2001 - Tag 10 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - the Internet Wrestling Database".
External links
- 2 Cold Scorpio at the official Chikara website
- 2 Cold Scorpio at the official Dragon Gate USA website
- Charles Scaggs on IMDb