Russ Haas

Haas was a former collegiate wrestler at Seton Hall University. On July 22, 1998, The Haas Brothers won the Jersey All Pro Wrestling Tag Team Championship by defeating The Skin Head Express. They competed regularly for CZW throughout early 2000, and won the CZW World Tag Team Championship on February 12 at Climbing The Ladder by defeating The Kashmerino Brothers and The Thrill Kill Kult in a three-way match. On July 10, they lost the championship to The Backseat Boyz at Caged To The End, when Johnny Kashmere defeated Russ in a singles match and was awarded the championship. After a World Wrestling Federation (WWF) tryout match at Madison Square Garden on August 7, 2000, they signed a developmental contract with WWF the following day. The two worked their way through the tag ranks in the WWF's developmental territories, Memphis Championship Wrestling (MCW) and the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA). The brothers won the MCW Southern Tag Team Championship three times during early 2001, defeating The Dupps the first time and the Island Boyz and Joey Matthews and Christian York in a three-way match on both the second and third occasions. ==Personal life==

Haas' grandfather, Hugh Devore, was an assistant with the Houston Oilers and a former head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Haas was married to a woman named Deedra. ==Death and tributes==

On September 24, 2001, Haas had a heart attack. On December 15, 2001, CZW's Cage of Death 3 show had a ten bell salute for Haas, with some wrestlers wearing black armbands, and others taping "RH" on their wrestling boots. On December 17, 2001, on Raw, both Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler paid a small tribute to Haas in the middle of the show. On February 2, 2002, JAPW held the Russ Haas Memorial Show, with the JAPW roster donating their services for the event. There were eight teams in all, but in the end, the team of Bucci and Charlie won the tournament. Haas was part of the 2004 class of inductees into the ECWA Hall of Fame, with his brother Charlie. On October 27, 2007, Haas posthumously was inducted into the JAPW Hall of Fame. ==Championships and accomplishments==

• Combat Zone Wrestling • CZW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Charlie Haas • East Coast Wrestling Association • ECWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Charlie Haas • Jersey All Pro Wrestling • JAPW Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Charlie Haas • JAPW Hall of Fame (Class of 2007) • Memphis Championship Wrestling • MCW Southern Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Charlie Haas ==See also==