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Rockin' Rebel

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For the band The Rockin' Rebels that recorded "Wild Weekend", see The Rebels (surf band).

Rockin' Rebel
Birth nameCharles Williams
BornJanuary 13, 1966
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
DiedJune 1, 2018(2018-06-01) (aged 52)
West Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of deathSuicide by gunshot
Spouse(s)Stephanie Williams (died 2018)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Chuck Williams
Rockin' Rebel
The Dark Ninja
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Billed fromThe Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the World (ECW)[1]
Montgomery, Alabama (WCW)
Trained byRicky Morton
Robert Gibson
DebutDecember 1988

Charles Williams (January 13, 1966 – June 1, 2018) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rockin' Rebel. He was best known for his appearances on the U.S. independent circuit with promotions such as Eastern Championship Wrestling, Combat Zone Wrestling, Atomic Championship Wrestling, Classic Championship Wrestling, 1CW (Delaware) and Valour Pro Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

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Tri-State Wrestling Alliance

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Williams trained as a professional wrestler under The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson), debuting in December 1988 as Rockin' Rebel. In 1989 , Williams made a few appearances in the World Wrestling Federation losing to The Honky Tonk Man and Brutus Beefcake. In 1990, Rockin' Rebel signed with the Philadelphia-based Tri-State Wrestling Alliance. While touring with the TWA, Rebel became the first Tri- State Champion and had memorable feuds with The Sandman, D. C. Drake, and C. N. Redd. He also teamed with Jimmy Jannetty to form The Confederacy. They became top contenders to the tag team titles and feuded with teams such as the Super Destroyers and The Blackharts. Despite its success, the TWA ceased operations abruptly in 1991.

Rebel returned to the promotion in early 1993 after it had been renamed Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW). He appeared at ECW's inaugural supercard, the Super Summer Sizzler Spectacular, in June 1993.

Independent circuit

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Rockin' Rebel hit the independent circuit after leaving ECW in 1995. He then had a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and numerous dark matches with the then called World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He had successful tours of Japan, Korea and Puerto Rico before returning to the U.S. in 1996. Throughout the mid-1990s, Rebel and fellow ECW alum Glen Osbourne formed a successful tag team known as Darkside. Together they won the Maryland-based Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation tag team titles five times, the Virginia-based International Pro Wrestling Association tag team titles twice, and appeared regularly for the NWA. On July 25, 2000, Rockin' Rebel debuted in Combat Zone Wrestling. He joined Lobo's Army and remained in the stable until it dissolved upon Lobo's retirement. He then formed a stable known as Rebel's Army with Derrick Frazier, Doomsday Danny Rose and former Tough Enough contestant Greg Matthews. Rebel and Matthews continued to team together in many promotions around the independent circuit such as PWF, 3PW, PWU, and World-1. Between 2003 and 2005, Rockin' Rebel made numerous appearances with Pro-Pain Pro Wrestling. He later wrestled for numerous independent federations, he wrestled his last match on May 10, 2014 for JCW in a losing effort against Q. T. Marshall.[2] He was inducted into the DWF and IWPF halls of fame in 2012, and the ACW, MWF, and 1CW halls in 2014.[citation needed]

Personal life and death

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In the 1990s, Williams was arrested for holding his wife Stephanie hostage in a closet with a firearm to her head, also threatening to kill himself.[3]

Williams died at home in West Chester in the early hours of June 1, 2018.[4] On June 2, the West Goshen Township Police Department said he shot and killed his wife before shooting himself. His 10-year-old children found their bodies the next morning.[5] On June 21, 2018, Kyros Law announced that Williams' family decided to donate his brain for CTE research.[6]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "Eastern Championship Wrestling (Episode 1) – Scotts Blog of Doom!". Blogofdoom.com. September 23, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  2. ^ "Rockin' Rebel: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD)". www.profightdb.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  3. ^ Kaye, Griffin (September 16, 2021). "Rockin' Rebel - The Shocking Case of Wrestling's Unspoken Murder". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "WGPD Press Release" (PDF). West Goshen Township Police Department. June 2, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 8, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "SAD CHUCK 'ROCKIN' REBEL' WILLIAMS INVESTIGATION UPDATE". Pwinsider.com. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  6. ^ "Former ECW, WCW, WWF Wrestler Charles Donnelly Williams (Rockin' Rebel) Murder-Suicide Brain Donated for CTE Research – WWE Concussion Lawsuit". Retrieved March 9, 2019.
  7. ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - October 2005". Onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  9. ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - October 2002". Onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  10. ^ a b "3PW Show". Onlineworldofwrestling.com. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
  11. ^ "Valour Pro Wrestling". Archived from the original on January 11, 2016.
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