Chuck Palumbo
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chuck" Palumbo (born June 15, 1971) is an American
professional wrestler
, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution (NWE). Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling
and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
. Throughout his career, he has become a six-time World Tag Team Champion
(four times in WCW and twice in WWF/E).
"The Dude". He made his debut appearance on World Championship Wrestling
(WCW)'s Nitro
on October 19, 1998 as a fan who accepted the challenge of Ernest "The Cat" Miller
. Six months later, he was offered a training contract by WCW in April 1999. Just prior to the hiring of Vince Russo
and Ed Ferrera
as bookers for WCW, many of the Power Plant
wrestlers debuted on Saturday Night
and WorldWide
. Palumbo's initial WCW run was under the name Jungle Jim, his gimmick being a man of the jungle. Palumbo was undefeated in matches on the lower-tier programs, which were mostly against other Power Plant graduates.
under his real name, losing to Scott Steiner
. After this match, Palumbo was chosen by Bischoff and Russo to be the New Blood's version of Lex Luger
in May 2000. He was given the nickname "The Main Event".
Palumbo feuded with Luger until late May 2000 when Palumbo formed a team called "The Perfect Event
" with Shawn Stasiak
and the pair won the WCW World Tag Team Championship
. Their main feud was against KroniK
(Brian Adams
and Bryan Clark
). In August, Stasiak and Palumbo helped form the Natural Born Thrillers
with Mike Sanders
, Sean O'Haire
, Mark Jindrak
, and Reno
. They were briefly "coached" by Kevin Nash
.
Palumbo and Stasiak won the WCW Tag Team Title two more times before splitting in early January 2001 when he and Stasiak won a tag team battle royal with O'Haire and Jindrak for a future tag team title shot. After the conclusion of the match Mike Sanders declared both teams victorious and that any combination of the four would face The Insiders
(Diamond Dallas Page
and Kevin Nash). Palumbo and O'Haire were the two members of the Natural Born Thrillers who would face and defeat Page and Nash for the tag titles at Sin
on January 14, 2001. Following the title victory, the Natural Born Thrillers broke up when the team of Jindrak and Stasiak became jealous of Palumbo and O'Haire. The teams faced each other at SuperBrawl Revenge on February 18, 2001 for the tag team title, which Palumbo and O'Haire retained. The duo also retained the title against Totally Buff
(Buff Bagwell
and Lex Luger) at Greed
in March, WCW's last pay-per-view
. On the final episode of Nitro, Palumbo and O'Haire defeated Team Canada
's Mike Awesome
and Lance Storm
in the final WCW World Tag Team Championship title defense on the program.
. O'Haire and Palumbo started feuding with the A.P.A.
in the following weeks, which ended at WWE Invasion
on July 22, 2001 when the APA defeated them. Subsequently, O'Haire and Palumbo defeated the Hardy Boyz on the August 2, 2001 edition of SmackDown!. O'Haire and Palumbo next dropped the WCW Tag Team title to the Brothers of Destruction
(The Undertaker and Kane) on the August 9, 2001 edition of SmackDown! and lost their rematch for the tag-team gold in a steel cage match the following week on Raw. O'Haire and Palumbo's last televised match together was on the August 26 edition of Heat defeating The Holly Cousins
(Hardcore
and Crash
).
O'Haire was sent to developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling
in early September 2001, and Palumbo was thrown out of The Alliance in late October by storyline co-owner of The Alliance, Stephanie McMahon. He joined the WWF in November.
. The pair started as a tag team working dark matches, but were later given a gimmick that saw the pair grow increasingly affectionate towards each other, showing evidence of a homosexual
relationship.The two turned had increased in becoming affectionate, it was spoken by fans that they were a homosexual couple but never confirmed by World Wrestling Entertainment itself. Palumbo became known simply as Chuck, and he bleached his hair blond to match Gunn's.
On the February 2, 2002 edition of SmackDown!, Billy and Chuck defeated Tazz
and Spike Dudley
to win the World Tag Team Championship. They lost the tag team gold to Rikishi
and their stylist Rico Constantino
, who was forced to team with Rikishi on May 19, 2002 at Judgment Day
. Less than a month later Rico helped Billy and Chuck recapture the title, but they later lost it to Edge
and Hulk Hogan
.
In the late summer of 2002, Billy and Chuck were the source of controversy when Chuck apparently proposed to Billy on September 5, 2002 edition of SmackDown! asking him to be his "partner for life". They had a marriage ceremony on the 2002 season premiere of SmackDown!. Just before they tied the knot, however, they revealed that the entire ordeal was a publicity stunt
, and both characters disavowed their on-screen homosexuality. When Billy and Chuck decided not to go through with the marriage, Rico turned on them by helping Eric Bischoff and 3-Minute Warning attack the duo. Rico subsequently jumped to Raw
as the manager of 3-Minute Warning, who beat Billy and Chuck at Unforgiven
. Billy was injured in early October 2002, and Chuck worked on Velocity
for a few months using his original ring name Chuck Palumbo once again.
(F.B.I.) in WWE, a faction which had previously been seen in Extreme Championship Wrestling
. After a beating at the hands of Rikishi, Nunzio threatened to bring in his "family" in order to gain revenge. The next week, Chuck Palumbo and Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli
joined Nunzio to form the F.B.I. and attacked Rikishi. This version initially gained little success, but would go on to have brief feuds with Los Guerreros, Chris Benoit
, Rhyno
, Brian Kendrick
, Nathan Jones
, the APA, and The Undertaker.
Palumbo was traded to the Raw brand on March 22, 2004 along with A-Train in exchange for Rico and Jackie Gayda
. After Palumbo was traded to the Raw brand, he was kept off television until July 2004, when he debuted as Custom Chucky P with a new look and entrance music. His new image resembled a cross between an auto mechanic
and a greaser. It was not long before Palumbo was a regular on Sunday Night Heat
. His new gimmick started off as a jobber but began to rise on Heat, defeating the likes of The Hurricane
, Rosey, Val Venis
, Ollie Young, and Stevie Richards
. Palumbo was later released by WWE on November 4, 2004.
of All Japan Pro Wrestling
(AJPW) and feuded against Roughly Obsess and Destroy
. Palumbo teamed with former FBI partner Stamboli to challenge for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
on March 20, 2005, but were defeated by Jamal and Taiyo Kea of RO&D.
Stamboli and Palumbo's next stop would be with the Nu-Wrestling Evolution
promotion in Italy
, where the pair reformed the FBI. The duo also made appearances in a World Wrestling Council
show where they challenged Último Dragón, Místico
, and Negro Casas
, in a tag team match which they would win by securing both the first and third falls.
During March 2006, Palumbo began working dark matches for both brands of WWE. He continued to wrestle very sporadically at house show
s and in dark matches over the next year. On April 30, 2007, Palumbo defeated Kenny Dykstra in a dark match on Raw and debuted a new biker
gimmick based on his real life love for motorcycles.
Palumbo officially returned on the May 25, 2007 edition of Heat (retaining the biker gimmick, as well as growing his hair out). Chuck would be heavily criticised for 'stealing the Undertaker's former gimmick' where he also rode a bike during his entrance and both donning a biker gimmick. He defeating Charlie Haas
. He would then make appearances on Heat, defeating jobbers. On July 6, 2007, Palumbo made his return to SmackDown!, defeating Kenny Dykstra. In an interview
with WWE.com Palumbo claimed that the biker character was not a gimmick and that he works on bikes two or three times a week. A Palumbo-made motorcycle was featured in the April edition of American Iron Magazine
.
Palumbo began a storyline with Michelle McCool
, which led to a scripted rivalry with Jamie Noble
, after Noble made advances towards Palumbo's "girlfriend" McCool, with Noble winning two consecutive matches. In their third encounter, Noble won a date with McCool, after her inadvertent distraction led to Noble winning the match. Afterward, Palumbo blamed McCool for the loss. On the January 4, 2008, episode of SmackDown!, McCool was pinned by Victoria
in a mixed tag match, also featuring Palumbo and Dykstra. This loss gave Palumbo his fourth loss in a row and Palumbo again blamed McCool for the loss. The following week on SmackDown!, Palumbo again faced Noble, this time in a Royal Rumble
qualifying match. Noble again beat Palumbo, giving him his fifth loss in a row. After Noble left the ring, Palumbo attempted to take his anger and frustration out on McCool, which brought Noble back out, and he distracted Palumbo long enough for McCool to get out of the ring. On January 26, a double turn started as Noble checked on an injured McCool and Palumbo attacked him, become a villain
, while Noble would turn into a face character. On the next SmackDown!, Palumbo apologized to McCool, but she slapped him, leading to him vowing to get revenge on Noble. He defeated him the following week, before the storyline abruptly ended.
As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Palumbo was drafted to the Raw brand. He never made his return to the brand however, as he was released from his WWE contract on November 7, 2008.
service in Afghanistan
. Palumbo also has two younger sisters, Kelly and Liz. Palumbo has a daughter Charli and now resides in an eastern suburb of San Diego, California
.
Outside of wrestling, Palumbo runs a custom motorcycle
shop, which has produced numerous custom bikes for other WWE employees. The name of the company is "CP Kustoms".
Palumbo also plays guitar in the band "3 Spoke Wheel". The band mainly plays at biker rallies and other similar events.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution (NWE). Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. Throughout his career, he has become a six-time World Tag Team Champion
World Tag Team Championship
The World Tag Team Championship was the original professional wrestling world tag team championship contested for in World Wrestling Entertainment . It served as the premier title for tag teams in WWE from 1971 until 2002 when a second WWE Tag Team Championship was established...
(four times in WCW and twice in WWF/E).
Training and undercard (1998–1999)
Palumbo began his career in 1998 on the independent circuit, using a surfer gimmick and the ring nameRing name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
"The Dude". He made his debut appearance on World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW)'s Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro
WCW Monday Nitro was a weekly professional wrestling telecast produced by World Championship Wrestling, created by Ted Turner and Eric Bischoff. The show aired Monday nights on TNT, going head-to-head with the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Raw from September 4, 1995 to March 26, 2001...
on October 19, 1998 as a fan who accepted the challenge of Ernest "The Cat" Miller
Ernest Miller
Ernest Clifford Miller is an American actor and former professional wrestler who worked for World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment better known by his ring name, Ernest "The Cat" Miller....
. Six months later, he was offered a training contract by WCW in April 1999. Just prior to the hiring of Vince Russo
Vince Russo
Vincent James "Vince" Russo is an American creative writer and author, well known for his work in the professional wrestling industry. He is notable for his tenure with World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
and Ed Ferrera
Ed Ferrera
Edward Ferrara is a professional wrestling storyline writer, most notably for the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, often alongside Vince Russo. Ed Ferrara began his work in television production and writing, contributing to shows such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV...
as bookers for WCW, many of the Power Plant
WCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school located in Atlanta, Georgia and owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling. The Power Plant, which was developed from a school operated by Jody Hamilton, was in operation throughout the 1990s...
wrestlers debuted on Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
and WorldWide
WCW WorldWide
WCW WorldWide was a syndicated TV show produced by World Championship Wrestling.-Wide World Wrestling:The show began in 1975 , a syndicated one-hour program produced by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Jim Crockett Promotions...
. Palumbo's initial WCW run was under the name Jungle Jim, his gimmick being a man of the jungle. Palumbo was undefeated in matches on the lower-tier programs, which were mostly against other Power Plant graduates.
Perfect Event; Natural Born Thrillers (2000–2001)
In 2000, Palumbo made his debut on the March 22, 2000 edition of ThunderWCW Thunder
WCW Thunder was a professional wrestling show produced by World Championship Wrestling which aired on TBS from January 8, 1998 to March 21, 2001...
under his real name, losing to Scott Steiner
Scott Steiner
Scott Carl Rechsteiner is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Scott Steiner. Steiner is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling alongside his older brother Rick as the Steiner Brothers and as a member of the New World Order...
. After this match, Palumbo was chosen by Bischoff and Russo to be the New Blood's version of Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
in May 2000. He was given the nickname "The Main Event".
Palumbo feuded with Luger until late May 2000 when Palumbo formed a team called "The Perfect Event
Perfect Event
Perfect Event was a heel tag team in World Championship Wrestling in 2000. The team consisted of Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo. They are former WCW World Tag Team Champions. Stasiak feuded with and "stole" Curt Hennig's "Perfect" gimmick while Palumbo feuded with and "stole" Lex Luger's "Total...
" with Shawn Stasiak
Shawn Stasiak
Dr. Shawn Emile Stipich, DC, is an American chiropractor and former professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Shawn Stasiak and for his stints with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, where he is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion, and World Championship Wrestling, where he...
and the pair won the WCW World Tag Team Championship
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
. Their main feud was against KroniK
KroniK
KroniK was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Brian Adams and Bryan Clark. Their name was based on the word "chronic", a slang term for marijuana.-World Championship Wrestling :...
(Brian Adams
Brian Adams (wrestler)
Brian Keith Adams was an American professional wrestler. Adams gained fame in the 1990s while performing for the World Wrestling Federation , under the name Crush, and for World Championship Wrestling under his given name.Trained in Japan by Antonio Inoki, Adams was a two time WCW World Tag Team...
and Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark
Bryan Emmeth Clark, Jr. is a American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
). In August, Stasiak and Palumbo helped form the Natural Born Thrillers
Natural Born Thrillers
The Natural Born Thrillers was a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling in 2000. The name is a play on the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.-History:...
with Mike Sanders
Mike Sanders (wrestler)
For the former National Basketball Association player, see Mike Sanders .Michael Edwin Neil Sanders is an American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler...
, Sean O'Haire
Sean O'Haire
Sean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
, Mark Jindrak
Mark Jindrak
Mark Robert Jindrak is an American professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
, and Reno
Rick Cornell
Richard "Rick" Cornell is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his stint in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Reno, where he was a one time Hardcore Champion.-Before wrestling:...
. They were briefly "coached" by Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
.
Palumbo and Stasiak won the WCW Tag Team Title two more times before splitting in early January 2001 when he and Stasiak won a tag team battle royal with O'Haire and Jindrak for a future tag team title shot. After the conclusion of the match Mike Sanders declared both teams victorious and that any combination of the four would face The Insiders
The Insiders (professional wrestling)
The Insiders were a professional wrestling tag team in World Championship Wrestling composed of Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash.-Vegas Connection :...
(Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
and Kevin Nash). Palumbo and O'Haire were the two members of the Natural Born Thrillers who would face and defeat Page and Nash for the tag titles at Sin
WCW Sin
Sin was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Championship Wrestling that replaced WCW's January PPV event, Souled Out. Sin was the third to last WCW PPV before the company was bought by the World Wrestling Federation...
on January 14, 2001. Following the title victory, the Natural Born Thrillers broke up when the team of Jindrak and Stasiak became jealous of Palumbo and O'Haire. The teams faced each other at SuperBrawl Revenge on February 18, 2001 for the tag team title, which Palumbo and O'Haire retained. The duo also retained the title against Totally Buff
Totally Buff
Totally Buff was a professional wrestling tag team in World Championship Wrestling composed of Lex Luger and Buff Bagwell.-History:"Totally Buff" formed in late 2000 when Buff Bagwell and "The Total Package" Lex Luger joined forces after a short feud against each other to both take on Bill Goldberg...
(Buff Bagwell
Buff Bagwell
Marcus Alexander Bagwell is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling between 1991 and 2001, where he was a five time World Tag Team Champion.-Professional wrestling career: Bagwell...
and Lex Luger) at Greed
WCW Greed
Greed was the final pay-per-view event from World Championship Wrestling. It took place on March 18, 2001 from the Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville, Florida. The pay-per-view took place eight days before the final episode of WCW Monday Nitro....
in March, WCW's last pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
. On the final episode of Nitro, Palumbo and O'Haire defeated Team Canada
Team Canada (WCW)
Team Canada was a professional wrestling stable, active in World Championship Wrestling in 2000 and 2001. The team was composed of Canadian and American wrestlers who believed that Canada was superior to the United States of America.-History:...
's Mike Awesome
Mike Awesome
Michael Lee Alfonso , better known by his ring name Mike Awesome, was an American professional wrestler best known in America for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and in World Wrestling Federation and also in Japan for his work with Frontier Martial-Arts...
and Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
in the final WCW World Tag Team Championship title defense on the program.
The Alliance (2001)
Palumbo and O'Haire made their WWF debuts on the June 28, 2001, episode of SmackDown! as part of The Alliance, attacking the Hardy BoyzHardy Boyz
The Hardy Boyz are a professional wrestling tag team, consisting of real-life brothers Matt and Jeff Hardy...
. O'Haire and Palumbo started feuding with the A.P.A.
Acolytes Protection Agency
The Acolytes Protection Agency , was a professional wrestling tag team that consisted of Bradshaw and Faarooq. They wrestled for the American promotion World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment between October 1998 and March 2004....
in the following weeks, which ended at WWE Invasion
WWF InVasion
Invasion was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on July 22, 2001 at the Gund Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
on July 22, 2001 when the APA defeated them. Subsequently, O'Haire and Palumbo defeated the Hardy Boyz on the August 2, 2001 edition of SmackDown!. O'Haire and Palumbo next dropped the WCW Tag Team title to the Brothers of Destruction
Brothers of Destruction
The Brothers of Destruction was a professional wrestling tag team consisting of The Undertaker and Kane, both currently wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown roster.-History:...
(The Undertaker and Kane) on the August 9, 2001 edition of SmackDown! and lost their rematch for the tag-team gold in a steel cage match the following week on Raw. O'Haire and Palumbo's last televised match together was on the August 26 edition of Heat defeating The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins
The Holly Cousins, also known as The Hollys, was a professional wrestling tag team and, later, stable in the World Wrestling Federation between 1999 and 2001...
(Hardcore
Bob Holly
Robert "Bob" Howard better known by his ring name Bob "Hardcore" Holly, is a American professional wrestler. He is best known for his 15-year stint with World Wrestling Entertainment ....
and Crash
Mike Lockwood
Michael John "Mike" Lockwood was an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment under the ring name Crash Holly....
).
O'Haire was sent to developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling
Ohio Valley Wrestling is an American independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky. OVW is run by owner Danny Davis and was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance from 1997 until 2000...
in early September 2001, and Palumbo was thrown out of The Alliance in late October by storyline co-owner of The Alliance, Stephanie McMahon. He joined the WWF in November.
Billy and Chuck (2002)
When he returned, Palumbo found a tag team partner in Billy GunnMonty Sopp
Monty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James...
. The pair started as a tag team working dark matches, but were later given a gimmick that saw the pair grow increasingly affectionate towards each other, showing evidence of a homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
relationship.The two turned had increased in becoming affectionate, it was spoken by fans that they were a homosexual couple but never confirmed by World Wrestling Entertainment itself. Palumbo became known simply as Chuck, and he bleached his hair blond to match Gunn's.
On the February 2, 2002 edition of SmackDown!, Billy and Chuck defeated Tazz
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
and Spike Dudley
Matt Hyson
Matthew "Matt" Hyson is a retired American professional wrestler, best known for his performances in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Spike Dudley and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Brother Runt.In ECW, he was a two-time...
to win the World Tag Team Championship. They lost the tag team gold to Rikishi
Solofa Fatu
Solofa F. Fatu, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Rikishi.-The Samoan Swat Team:...
and their stylist Rico Constantino
Rico Constantino
Americo Sebastiano Costantino is a retired American professional wrestler and wrestling manager of Italian origin. He is best known by his ring names Rico Costantino and Rico in World Wrestling Entertainment from 2001 to 2004...
, who was forced to team with Rikishi on May 19, 2002 at Judgment Day
Judgment Day (2002)
Judgment Day was the fourth annual Judgment Day professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Entertainment . It took place on May 19, 2002, at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee. It featured talent from the Raw and SmackDown! brands...
. Less than a month later Rico helped Billy and Chuck recapture the title, but they later lost it to Edge
Adam Copeland
Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract....
and Hulk Hogan
Hulk Hogan
Terrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
.
In the late summer of 2002, Billy and Chuck were the source of controversy when Chuck apparently proposed to Billy on September 5, 2002 edition of SmackDown! asking him to be his "partner for life". They had a marriage ceremony on the 2002 season premiere of SmackDown!. Just before they tied the knot, however, they revealed that the entire ordeal was a publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
, and both characters disavowed their on-screen homosexuality. When Billy and Chuck decided not to go through with the marriage, Rico turned on them by helping Eric Bischoff and 3-Minute Warning attack the duo. Rico subsequently jumped to Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
as the manager of 3-Minute Warning, who beat Billy and Chuck at Unforgiven
Unforgiven (2002)
Unforgiven was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment that took place on September 22, 2002, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California...
. Billy was injured in early October 2002, and Chuck worked on Velocity
WWE Velocity
WWE Velocity was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . It replaced two syndicated WWE shows, Jakked/Metal. Once a weekly Saturday night show on Spike TV and on Sky Sports 2 in the UK on Sunday mornings, Velocity became a webcast from 2005 to 2006...
for a few months using his original ring name Chuck Palumbo once again.
Full Blooded Italians; release (2003–2004)
In February 2003, Palumbo formed the Full Blooded ItaliansFull Blooded Italians
The Full Blooded Italians is a professional wrestling stable and tag team that wrestled for Extreme Championship Wrestling in the late 1990s and for World Wrestling Entertainment during the mid-2000s.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
(F.B.I.) in WWE, a faction which had previously been seen in Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
. After a beating at the hands of Rikishi, Nunzio threatened to bring in his "family" in order to gain revenge. The next week, Chuck Palumbo and Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli
John Hugger
John Hugger is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with World Championship Wrestling as Johnny the Bull, World Wrestling Entertainment as Johnny "The Bull" Stamboli...
joined Nunzio to form the F.B.I. and attacked Rikishi. This version initially gained little success, but would go on to have brief feuds with Los Guerreros, Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
, Rhyno
Terry Gerin
Terrance "Terry" Gerin is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by the ring name Rhino . He is best known for his career in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick
Brian David Kendrick is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under his real name. Before joining TNA he spent several years wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled under his name, as Spanky, and finally as "The" Brian Kendrick...
, Nathan Jones
Nathan Jones (wrestler)
Nathan Boyce Jones is an Australian actor, powerlifting champion, strongman, and retired professional wrestler...
, the APA, and The Undertaker.
Palumbo was traded to the Raw brand on March 22, 2004 along with A-Train in exchange for Rico and Jackie Gayda
Jackie Gayda
Jacquelyn Gayda-Haas is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and valet, best known for her work on World Wrestling Entertainment 's Raw and SmackDown! brands and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a TNA Knockout...
. After Palumbo was traded to the Raw brand, he was kept off television until July 2004, when he debuted as Custom Chucky P with a new look and entrance music. His new image resembled a cross between an auto mechanic
Auto mechanic
An auto mechanic is a mechanic with a variety of car makes or either in a specific area or in a specific make of car. In repairing cars, their main role is to diagnose the problem accurately and quickly...
and a greaser. It was not long before Palumbo was a regular on Sunday Night Heat
WWE HEAT
WWE Heat was a professional wrestling television program produced by World Wrestling Entertainment...
. His new gimmick started off as a jobber but began to rise on Heat, defeating the likes of The Hurricane
Gregory Helms
Gregory Shane Helms is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment where he wrestled as The Hurricane and Gregory Helms. He is also known for his time with World Championship Wrestling where he wrestled as "Sugar" Shane Helms...
, Rosey, Val Venis
Sean Morley
Sean Allen Morley is a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name Val Venis, during his time with World Wrestling Federation, later known as World Wrestling Entertainment...
, Ollie Young, and Stevie Richards
Stevie Richards
Michael Manna is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Stevie Richards. Also known by his ring names, Steven Richards and Dr...
. Palumbo was later released by WWE on November 4, 2004.
Overseas
Palumbo, along with Johnny Stamboli, went on to become a member of Voodoo MurdersVoodoo Murders
VOODOO-MURDERS was the main heel group in All Japan Pro Wrestling. They are famous for their violent actions and lack of respect for their opponents...
of All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...
(AJPW) and feuded against Roughly Obsess and Destroy
Roughly Obsess and Destroy
Roughly Obsess & Destroy is a professional wrestling stable founded in 2003 in All Japan Pro Wrestling by Taka Michinoku, and later reformed in Pro Wrestling Noah...
. Palumbo teamed with former FBI partner Stamboli to challenge for the AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
AJPW Unified World Tag Team Championship
The All Japan Pro Wrestling Unified World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team title in Japanese promotion All Japan Pro Wrestling...
on March 20, 2005, but were defeated by Jamal and Taiyo Kea of RO&D.
Stamboli and Palumbo's next stop would be with the Nu-Wrestling Evolution
Nu-Wrestling Evolution
Nu-Wrestling Evolution is an Italian professional wrestling promotion, owned by MAGNUMGROUP srl. The promotion's slogan is "Nu-Wrestling Evolution/NWE the place to be!"-History:...
promotion in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where the pair reformed the FBI. The duo also made appearances in a World Wrestling Council
World Wrestling Council
The World Wrestling Council is one of Puerto Rico's two main professional wrestling promotions, the other one being the International Wrestling Association....
show where they challenged Último Dragón, Místico
Místico
Luis Ignascio Urive Alvirde is a Mexican luchador enmascarado, or masked professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE, working on its SmackDown brand under the name Sin Cara...
, and Negro Casas
Negro Casas
José Casas Ruiz is a Mexican professional wrestler and trainer currently working for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre under the ring name Negro Casas. He is the son of former wrestler, turned referee Pepe Casas and brother of professeional wrestlers El Felino and Heavy Metal...
, in a tag team match which they would win by securing both the first and third falls.
Return to WWE (2006–2008)
House show
A house show is a professional wrestling show run by a major promotion that is not televised, though they can be recorded. Promotions use house shows mainly to cash in on the exposure that they and their wrestlers receive during televised events, as well as test reactions to matches, wrestlers, and...
s and in dark matches over the next year. On April 30, 2007, Palumbo defeated Kenny Dykstra in a dark match on Raw and debuted a new biker
Motorcycling
Motorcycling is the act of riding a motorcycle. A variety of subcultures and lifestyles have been built up around motorcycling.-Benefits:Robert M. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance was a paean celebrating motorcycling...
gimmick based on his real life love for motorcycles.
Palumbo officially returned on the May 25, 2007 edition of Heat (retaining the biker gimmick, as well as growing his hair out). Chuck would be heavily criticised for 'stealing the Undertaker's former gimmick' where he also rode a bike during his entrance and both donning a biker gimmick. He defeating Charlie Haas
Charlie Haas
Charles "Charlie" Doyle Haas II is an American professional wrestler and former collegiate amateur wrestler. He competes on the independent circuit, and is signed to Ring of Honor , where he is one-half of the reigning ROH World Tag Team Champions with Shelton Benjamin...
. He would then make appearances on Heat, defeating jobbers. On July 6, 2007, Palumbo made his return to SmackDown!, defeating Kenny Dykstra. In an interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
with WWE.com Palumbo claimed that the biker character was not a gimmick and that he works on bikes two or three times a week. A Palumbo-made motorcycle was featured in the April edition of American Iron Magazine
American Iron Magazine
American Iron Magazine is a Stamford, Connecticut based American motorcycle magazine specializing in the coverage of American-made motorcycles including Harley-Davidson, Indian and Big Dog Motorcycles...
.
Palumbo began a storyline with Michelle McCool
Michelle McCool
Michelle Leigh McCool , is a retired American professional wrestler who is best known for her time in WWE.McCool originally worked as a middle school teacher in Palatka, Florida. She joined WWE in 2004 after participating in the 2004 WWE Diva Search. In her initial on-screen role, she acted...
, which led to a scripted rivalry with Jamie Noble
Jamie Noble
James Howard Gibson better known by his WWE ring name Jamie Noble, is an American former professional wrestler currently working for WWE as a trainer. He is best known for his work from 2002 to 2009 when a severe back injury forced him to retire from competition...
, after Noble made advances towards Palumbo's "girlfriend" McCool, with Noble winning two consecutive matches. In their third encounter, Noble won a date with McCool, after her inadvertent distraction led to Noble winning the match. Afterward, Palumbo blamed McCool for the loss. On the January 4, 2008, episode of SmackDown!, McCool was pinned by Victoria
Lisa Marie Varon
Lisa Marie Varon , is an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and fitness competitor of Puerto Rican and Turkish descent...
in a mixed tag match, also featuring Palumbo and Dykstra. This loss gave Palumbo his fourth loss in a row and Palumbo again blamed McCool for the loss. The following week on SmackDown!, Palumbo again faced Noble, this time in a Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble
The Royal Rumble is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced every January by WWE, a professional wrestling promotion based in Connecticut. The event was created in 1988, with its inaugural event taking place on January 24, 1988 at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario...
qualifying match. Noble again beat Palumbo, giving him his fifth loss in a row. After Noble left the ring, Palumbo attempted to take his anger and frustration out on McCool, which brought Noble back out, and he distracted Palumbo long enough for McCool to get out of the ring. On January 26, a double turn started as Noble checked on an injured McCool and Palumbo attacked him, become a villain
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
, while Noble would turn into a face character. On the next SmackDown!, Palumbo apologized to McCool, but she slapped him, leading to him vowing to get revenge on Noble. He defeated him the following week, before the storyline abruptly ended.
As part of the 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft, Palumbo was drafted to the Raw brand. He never made his return to the brand however, as he was released from his WWE contract on November 7, 2008.
Independent circuit
In November 2009, Palumbo won the HEW Championship from Brett Meadows in Braintree, England. He, however, lost the championship back to Meadows two days later in Colchester, England.Personal life
Palumbo's brother, Chris, is a war hero, often mentioned in commentary during Palumbo's televised matches. Chris was awarded several medals for his militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
service in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Palumbo also has two younger sisters, Kelly and Liz. Palumbo has a daughter Charli and now resides in an eastern suburb of San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Outside of wrestling, Palumbo runs a custom motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
shop, which has produced numerous custom bikes for other WWE employees. The name of the company is "CP Kustoms".
Palumbo also plays guitar in the band "3 Spoke Wheel". The band mainly plays at biker rallies and other similar events.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Backbreaker rack – 2000, 2005; parodied from Lex LugerLex LugerLawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
- Full Throttle (Gutwrench backbreaker rack flipped into a cutter) – 2006–present
- Italian Drop (Scoop lift thrown into a Samoan drop) – 2003–2004; used as a regular move from 2005–present
- Jungle Kick (WCWWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
) / Superkick (WWF/EWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
) – 1998–2005
- Backbreaker rack – 2000, 2005; parodied from Lex Luger
- Signature moves
-
- Chuck Deluxe (Overhead belly to belly suplex)
- Diving shoulder block
- Padlock (Inverted Boston crab)
- Roaring elbow
- Running big boot
- Springboard dropkick
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Kevin NashKevin NashKevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
- Torrie WilsonTorrie WilsonTorrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness...
- RicoRico ConstantinoAmerico Sebastiano Costantino is a retired American professional wrestler and wrestling manager of Italian origin. He is best known by his ring names Rico Costantino and Rico in World Wrestling Entertainment from 2001 to 2004...
- Michelle McCoolMichelle McCoolMichelle Leigh McCool , is a retired American professional wrestler who is best known for her time in WWE.McCool originally worked as a middle school teacher in Palatka, Florida. She joined WWE in 2004 after participating in the 2004 WWE Diva Search. In her initial on-screen role, she acted...
- Kevin Nash
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "The Main Event"
- "Chucky"
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "You Will Remember Me" by Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(WWE; 2006–2008) - "You Look So Good To Me" by Jim JohnstonJim Johnston (composer)James Alan "Jim" Johnston is an American music composer who has been working for WWE since 1985. His work is often accredited to the names Jim Johnston, James A...
(WWE; 2002;Used while teaming withBilly and ChuckBilly and Chuck was the professional wrestling tag team of Billy Gunn and Chuck Palumbo seen in World Wrestling Entertainment.-History:Near the end of the Invasion storyline, Chuck Palumbo was kicked out of the WCW/ECW coalition. In response, he defected to the WWF, where he began teaming with Gunn...
BillyBilly- People :* A given name and a common nickname for William* Jacques de Billy, French mathematician* Jacques de Billy , French patristic scholar, theologian, jurist, linguist, and Benedictine abbot...
)
- "You Will Remember Me" by Jim Johnston
Championships and accomplishments
- Herts and Essex Wrestling
- HEW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI Tag Team of the Year (2002) – with BillyMonty SoppMonty Kip Sopp is an American professional wrestler, best known as Billy Gunn during his tenure for World Wrestling Entertainment. He is probably best known as one of the members of the New Age Outlaws. He also worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Kip James...
- PWI ranked him #37 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002
- PWI Tag Team of the Year (2002) – with Billy
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipWCW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
(4 times) – with Shawn StasiakShawn StasiakDr. Shawn Emile Stipich, DC, is an American chiropractor and former professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Shawn Stasiak and for his stints with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, where he is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion, and World Championship Wrestling, where he...
(3), and Sean O'HaireSean O'HaireSean Christopher Haire is an American mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sean O'Haire.-World Championship Wrestling:...
(1)
- WCW World Tag Team Championship
- World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling EntertainmentWorld Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
- WWF/E Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Billy