Charles Robinson Charles Shane Robinson ( July 2 , 1964 ) is an American professional wrestling referee currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment . History . Beginnings and World Championship Wrestling ( 1993 - 2001 ) . While growing up , Robinson idolized NWA superstar Ric Flair . He also studied NWA referee Tommy Young in order to hone his mannerisms as a referee . His professional wrestling career began when he joined the Pro Wrestling Federation ( PWF ) as a photographer in 1993 , supplementing his income by working as a salesman . After being used as a special guest referee , he later became a full - time referee for the PWF . Robinson repeatedly petitioned the World Championship Wrestling ( WCW ) professional wrestling promotion for a job . In 1997 , after working with Dan Hedman as a professional sales representative , he was given a tryout match , referreeing a dark match between Chris Taylor and a jobber . Following the match , Robinson was signed to a contract by WCW . In 1999 , Robinson became the heel referee of the Four Horsemen , aligning himself with Flair . Robinson frequently favored the Horsemen in the matches he officiated , enraging Randy Savage . Savage , who had been suspended by Flair ( then the WCW President ) , proposed a match between his girlfriend , Gorgeous George , and Robinson , with Savage to be reinstated if George defeated Robinson . The match , which marked Robinson ' s wrestling debut , took place at Slamboree 1999 on May 9 , 1999 . Robinson , dubbed " Little Naitch " ( a reference to Flair ' s nickname , the " Nature Boy " ) , came to the ring in a robe similar to those worn by Flair , and mimicked Flair ' s mannerisms , signature strut and " wooo " catchphrase . Robinson emulated Flair throughout the match , using Flair ' s customary illegal tactics , but was defeated by George , who pinned him following a diving elbow drop . Robinson wrestled his second match one week later , teaming with Flair to face Randy Savage and Madusa on an episode of " WCW Monday Nitro " . In the course of the match , Savage delivered a botched diving elbow drop to Robinson , cracking several of his vertebrae and collapsing his lung . After undergoing treatment , Robinson returned to WCW television several weeks later , and was appointed to President Flair ' s stable . Flair and Piper kayfabe ran WCW until they were unseated by Sting , with Robinson returning to his refereeing duties . Robinson would again turn heel in the Fall of 1999 , this time siding with Sid Vicious and Rick Steiner . Robinson would get involved in matches he was refereeing for Vicious and Steiner . This would go on for a month before Robinson would go back to being an unbiased Referee . In 2000 , Robinson appeared in the WCW - produced film " " Ready to Rumble " " . World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment ( 2001 - present ) . When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation in March 2001 , Robinson was hired by the WWF . He debuted in the WWF as a member of The Alliance , bickering with WWF loyalist referee Jack Doan and accompanying senior WCW official Nick Patrick to ringside for his match at WWF Invasion on July 22 , 2001 . He refereed his first WWF match on July 2 , 2001 . In 2002 , the WWF was renamed " World Wrestling Entertainment " , and the roster was divided between two " brands " , " Raw " and " SmackDown ! " . Robinson was initially assigned to " Raw " , but was later traded to " SmackDown ! " , where he refereed many women ' s matches . On the July 1 , 2004 , episode of " SmackDown ! " , Robinson was forced to wrestle Luther Reigns by General Manager Kurt Angle . The match , however , was quickly stopped by Charlie Haas . In 2005 , Robinson called the final match of WWE Hall of Fame r Eddie Guerrero against Ken Kennedy on an episode of " Friday Night Smackdown " . Guerrero died 2 days after the match aired . At No Mercy 2006 , Robinson , who had refereed a match between Mr . Kennedy and The Undertaker , was on the receiving end of a Tombstone Piledriver from the Undertaker after he had called for him to be disqualified after hitting Mr . Kennedy with his WWE United States Championship belt . Robinson also officiated the World Heavyweight Championship matches at " WrestleMania 22 " , " WrestleMania 23 " , as well as Ric Flair ' s final match and the last part of the World Heavyweight Championship match at " WrestleMania XXIV " . In WrestleMania XXIV , Robinson ran up to the ring after Jimmy Korderas was knocked out . Despite his speed , the delay allowed Edge to kick out from the Undertaker ' s pin , although he eventually lost . He was also involved in later PPV decisions where Undertaker was victorious against Edge . This earned him Edge and his wife ' s ire . On the June 21 , 2008 , episode of " SmackDown " , Robinson was placed in a match by General Manager Vickie Guerrero after ejecting Chavo Guerrero from ringside during Bam Neely ' s match with Matt Hardy . He lost to The Great Khali in a squash match . After the match he was carried out by medical officials . He returned in a match between Edge and The Big Show , where he stopped Big Show from giving a con - chair - to to Edge . In November 2008 referees were made no longer exclusive to certain brands . Charles is also part of the WWE Production and Ring Crews along with referee Chad Patton and has been doing this since 2002 . This job means that Charles gets to the arena hours before any of the Superstars show and helps in setting up the ring , lights and backstage area . After the show , long after the fans and Superstars have departed , Charles then disassembles the set and loads it into one of the WWE semi - trucks . A likeness of Charles featured in WWE ' 12 and WWE ' 13 as the referee although there is no name mention of him anywhere in the game . He has worked the last matches of Eddie Guerrero , Edge , Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair ' s retirement match at WrestleMania 24 in Orlando ( although Flair did come out of retirement later for TNA ) . Personal life . On October 11 , 2000 , Robinson married a woman named Amy . Amy was diagnosed with melanoma of the lung in January 2001 and died on April 7 , 2002 . He has a daughter from a previous relationship , Jessica , who is 19 years old . He once had his elbow knocked out of its socket while refereeing a match in the PWF in Gastonia , NC . Fire Breaker Chip accidentally kicked Charles ' elbow during a pin attempt . Charles rolled right out of the ring and straight to the hospital . He was out of action for 4 months .