Scott Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Joseph James, Jr. is a retired American
professional wrestler
and referee
better known as Scott Armstrong. He is currently under contract to World Wrestling Entertainment
. He is the oldest son of Bob Armstrong
and has three brothers that wrestle, Brad, Steve
and Brian
.
and Alabama
areas but has wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance
's Jim Crockett Promotions
and World Championship Wrestling
(WCW), where he formed a tag team called "The James Boys" with brother Steve. He worked in WCW from 1992 until 2001, beginning as a wrestler and spending the last year as a referee. He also wrestled as Dixie Dy-no-mite in Smoky Mountain Wrestling
.
He was also a referee for World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
.
's SmackDown! refereeing the WWE United States Championship
match between Finlay
and William Regal
. In August 2006, Armstrong was hired as a full time WWE referee, in WWE's ECW brand. He became senior referee in February 2007 after Mickie Henson
was moved to SmackDown. He was also the only WWE referee for the ECW brand at WrestleMania XXIV
. At WWE's SummerSlam pay-per-view event on August 17, 2008, Armstrong refereed the Hell in a Cell match between Edge and The Undertaker. He then moved to the SmackDown brand becoming its senior official. In November 2008 referees were made no longer exclusive to certain brands. At WrestleMania XXV
on April 5, 2009, Armstrong refereed the main event WWE Championship match between Triple H and Randy Orton.
On September 13, 2009, at Breaking Point
, Armstrong was involved in a controversial call on the main event match between World Heavyweight Champion
CM Punk
and The Undertaker. Armstrong called for the bell and declared Punk the winner, even though The Undertaker never actually submitted defeat, thus making a reference to the Montreal Screwjob
(which was held in the same venue in 1997). On October 30, 2009, Armstrong faced CM Punk on SmackDown, but lost in a squash match. The next week, Armstrong fast-counted for R-Truth
in his match with Punk, costing Punk the match.
On February 26, 2010, Armstrong was released from his WWE contract.
match at Wrestlemania XXVII
as well as the John Cena
vs. CM Punk
match for the WWE Championship
at Money in the Bank (2011)
. Among current WWE referees, the speed at which he makes a three-count is noticeably the slowest. He returned to Friday Night Smackdown on August 5 2011, refereeing the match The Great Khali vs Sheamus. On September 18th 2011 at Night of Champions Armstrong officiated the main event between Triple H
and CM Punk
. During a run in, The Miz and R-Truth verbally abused him, to which Armstrong retaliated by punching The Miz in the face before being beaten down by the two.
.
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...
and referee
Referee (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling referee is the official figure that makes sure that wrestling matches move smoothly in an attempt to maintain kayfabe. The referee also has the ultimate power in the ring...
better known as Scott Armstrong. He is currently under contract to World Wrestling 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...
. He is the oldest son of Bob Armstrong
Bob Armstrong
Joseph Melton James is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships throughout the Southeastern United States...
and has three brothers that wrestle, Brad, Steve
Steve Armstrong
Steve Armstrong is a professional wrestler and is the son of the legendary "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. He has three brothers that also wrestle: Scott, Brad and Brian.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Brian
Brian Gerard James
Brian Gerard James is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to WWE as an agent and producer. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation as "The Road Dogg" Jesse James or simply Road Dogg...
.
Early career
James started wrestling in 1983 as "Scott Armstrong". He wrestled primarily in the GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
areas but has wrestled for the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
's Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
and 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), where he formed a tag team called "The James Boys" with brother Steve. He worked in WCW from 1992 until 2001, beginning as a wrestler and spending the last year as a referee. He also wrestled as Dixie Dy-no-mite in Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
.
He was also a referee for World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2006–2010)
Armstrong appeared on the July 28, 2006 episode of World Wrestling EntertainmentWorld 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...
's SmackDown! refereeing the WWE United States Championship
WWE United States Championship
The WWE United States Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It was originally a National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling championship, and is currently the secondary championship of the Raw brand....
match between Finlay
Dave Finlay
David John "Fit" Finlay Jr. is a Northern Irish professional wrestler and road agent. He is perhaps best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and WWE as an active wrestler and later as a road agent...
and William Regal
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
. In August 2006, Armstrong was hired as a full time WWE referee, in WWE's ECW brand. He became senior referee in February 2007 after Mickie Henson
Mickie Henson
Mickie Henson is an American professional wrestling referee. Before signing with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2005, Henson worked for World Championship Wrestling for nine years...
was moved to SmackDown. He was also the only WWE referee for the ECW brand at WrestleMania XXIV
WrestleMania XXIV
WrestleMania XXIV was the twenty-fourth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment . The event took place on March 30, 2008, at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida and was the first WrestleMania to be held in the state of Florida...
. At WWE's SummerSlam pay-per-view event on August 17, 2008, Armstrong refereed the Hell in a Cell match between Edge and The Undertaker. He then moved to the SmackDown brand becoming its senior official. In November 2008 referees were made no longer exclusive to certain brands. At WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXV
WrestleMania XXV was the twenty-fifth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on April 5, 2009 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas...
on April 5, 2009, Armstrong refereed the main event WWE Championship match between Triple H and Randy Orton.
On September 13, 2009, at Breaking Point
WWE Breaking Point
Breaking Point was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , which took place on September 13, 2009 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It featured talent from the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands. The name of the event was voted by fans via...
, Armstrong was involved in a controversial call on the main event match between World Heavyweight Champion
World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)
The World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the SmackDown brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the WWE Championship of the Raw brand...
CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
and The Undertaker. Armstrong called for the bell and declared Punk the winner, even though The Undertaker never actually submitted defeat, thus making a reference to the Montreal Screwjob
Montreal Screwjob
The Montreal Screwjob was a controversial, purportedly real life professional wrestling event in which the owner of the World Wrestling Federation, Vince McMahon, double-crossed the defending WWF Champion, Bret Hart, during the main event match of the professional wrestling pay-per-view event...
(which was held in the same venue in 1997). On October 30, 2009, Armstrong faced CM Punk on SmackDown, but lost in a squash match. The next week, Armstrong fast-counted for R-Truth
Ron Killings
Ronald Aaron "Ron" Killings is an American professional wrestler and rapper. He is currently signed to WWE working on its Raw brand. Since working for the company, he has been a one time United States Champion under the ring name R-Truth and a two time Hardcore Champion under the ring name K-Kwik...
in his match with Punk, costing Punk the match.
On February 26, 2010, Armstrong was released from his WWE contract.
Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2011-present)
On February 20, 2011, Armstrong reappeared on WWE programming as the referee for the main event during the Elimination Chamber PPV. He officiated the Undertaker vs. Triple HTriple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
match at Wrestlemania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVII
WrestleMania XXVII was the twenty-seventh annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment , held on April 3, 2011 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
as well as the John Cena
John Cena
John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand....
vs. CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
match for the WWE Championship
WWE Championship
The WWE Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in WWE. It is the world title of the Raw brand and one of two in WWE, complementing the World Heavyweight Championship of the SmackDown brand. It was established under the then WWWF in 1963...
at Money in the Bank (2011)
Money in the Bank (2011)
Money in the Bank was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by WWE, which took place on July 17, 2011 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. It was the second annual Money in the Bank pay-per-view...
. Among current WWE referees, the speed at which he makes a three-count is noticeably the slowest. He returned to Friday Night Smackdown on August 5 2011, refereeing the match The Great Khali vs Sheamus. On September 18th 2011 at Night of Champions Armstrong officiated the main event between Triple H
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling authority figure, WWE Executive Vice President of Talent and actor, better known by his ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of the ring name, Hunter Hearst Helmsley...
and CM Punk
CM Punk
Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion....
. During a run in, The Miz and R-Truth verbally abused him, to which Armstrong retaliated by punching The Miz in the face before being beaten down by the two.
Personal life
James is married to Michelle and has two children. In 2008, he helped raise money for The Zoo Northwest Florida (now Gulf Breeze Zoo) after it suffered damage from Hurricane IvanHurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Superkick
- Signature moves
- Diving reverse crossbody
- DropkickDropkickA dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...
- Roll-up
Championships and accomplishments
- Dixieland Championship Wrestling
- DCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Georgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship WrestlingGeorgia Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion whose self-titled TV program aired in the 1970s and 1980s on Atlanta, U.S., superstation WTBS. Though based in Atlanta, the company also ran live wrestling shows throughout its geographic "territory" of Georgia Georgia...
- NWA National Tag Team ChampionshipNWA National Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA National Tag Team Championship was the major tag team title in the NWA-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980 until 1986.The championship was introduced in November 1980 when Georgia Tag Team Champions the Fabulous Freebirds won a tournament to determine the first champions,...
(1 time) – with Bob ArmstrongBob ArmstrongJoseph Melton James is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, "Bullet" Bob Armstrong. In the course of his career, which spanned five decades, Armstrong held numerous championships throughout the Southeastern United States...
- NWA National Tag Team Championship
- North Georgia Wrestling Association
- NGWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- NWA Wrestle BirminghamNational Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA Wrestle Birmingham Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Armstrong
- Peach State Wrestling
- PSW United States Tag Team Championship (1 time, last) - with Mad Jack
- Pensacola Wrestling Alliance
- PWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Southeastern Championship WrestlingContinental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
- NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brad Armstrong
- NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Southeastern Junior Heavyweight Championship was a secondary title for wrestlers considered "Junior Heavyweights", that is weighing under 230 lbs...
(5 times)
- Southeastern Xtreme Wrestling
- SXW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- SXW Impact Championship (1 time)
- Tennessee Mountain Wrestling
- TMW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brad Armstrong
- United Championship Wrestling
- UCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bob Armstrong
- USA Wrestling
- USA Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)