How did it feel when you were told that you were going to be a part of the Smackdown roster with Charlie Haas as a part of Team Angle? Had you met Charlie before?
Yea, I had met Charlie and his brother (the late Russ) while they were in HWA and I had never worked with him before but they were both real cool guys. Charlie was still in HWA when I got the news so when I was told that I was going to be tagging with him I called him up and said look this is what ‘s going to be happening so get ready were going to have some fun with this and it turned out to be great. There was always the idea of me teaming up with Kurt because of the Amateur background, which made total sense. For me that was a match made in heaven for a few reasons. Kurt was the guy I had idolised for a long time before pro wrestling. As far as amateur wrestling goes, both of us were small heavyweights in college which also made me idolise him because he was a 210 lb guy throwing around 275 lb guys so as a heavyweight I did idolise that and in terms of amateur and pro wrestling goes he had accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish. So to be able to work with him and learn from him it was a match made in heaven.
Who came up with “The World’s Greatest Tag Team” as a name for the team of Charlie Haas and yourself?
We played with names for a bit, we almost called ourselves “the best damn tag team period” but there were copyright problems that just didn’t let that happen. I’m not exactly sure who came up with I, but once we were called the “worlds greatest tag team” we needed to be the worlds greatest tag team and I think for the time that we were together we were. It was kind of like the Brock situation, Charlie was the tank and I was the air force and we complemented each other so well that it just worked.
Whose idea were the velour team Angle suits?
That idea came from us and the seamstress; we wanted it to be cool, like the kind of track warm up suits that college teams used to wear. When we had the suits made we thought yeah these are nice. The only regret I have was that team Angle didn’t last as long as could have, you know we really could have marketed those tracksuits!
In February 2003 Charlie Hass and yourself beat Los Guerreros for the WWE Tag Titles – did you know that this was going to happen and what was your first taste of WWE gold like? (Greg Lewis)
We didn’t get any notice. We would turn up for work and be told this is what is going on, which was the way I liked it. It was a surprise though, I was thinking “what already!!!!” That was exciting!
Word Association:
Charlie Haas – Brother
Over the Top Rope, All about the Benjamin (11.14.04)| The Sun |
Do you miss your former Team Angle partner Charlie Haas now you're on Raw?
James
Oh yes. Me and Charlie really gelled as a team in the ring and were like brothers outside. We helped each other out a lot professionally and personally.
Charlie's still my best friend in the business and we look out for each other and talk a lot.
I'm actually going to be the best man at his wedding to Jackie.
I'm also very close to Kurt, Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Orlando Jordan, Johnny Stamboli, Rikishi, Arn Anderson - who helped teach me - Nidia, Randy Orton, Maven and my workout partner Chris Benoit.
Charlie and I were actually doing a tour in the UK when we heard the team might be splitting up.
We were dumbfounded as we were doing so well. Our initial reaction was "why?" and "what's going to happen now?"
What we really didn't want was one of us to get a push, with the other put on the backburner.
But Charlie had immediate success afterwards, winning the tag titles with Rico, and I've gone on to good things too.
And I think we have some great matches ahead of us - with or against each other - as we have the same philosophy, similar styles and enough differences to make things interesting.
Are you jealous of Charlie's current storyline where his real life fiancée Jackie and Dawn Marie are fighting over him?
Dave, Hull
No way! As far as the whole women thing goes, my philosophy is "two is bound to kill you".
Charlie and Jackie became a couple after he started working with her on Smackdown.
But he mentioned stuff about her long before then! He'd made it clear to me that he liked her and I was tickled to death when he first told me they had got together.
What has been your favourite match and angle to date?
Nick, Reading
Up until recently my favourite match was the first one with Triple H but now, because of everything that went into it, it's the bout with Chris Jericho at Taboo Tuesday.
Coming in with Charlie as Team Angle was a fun time for me, as everything was so new and fresh. Looking back that's probably been my favourite angle in the WWE, especially as we were working against Brock who is a good friend of mine.