Weekly Report 6: "Arab-Americans"
Aaron Steven Haddad, better known as Damien Sandow in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) or Aron Rex in Total Nonstop Action (TNA), is a Lebanese-American professional wrestler. He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on August 3, 1982 and currently resides in Louisville Kentucky.
Aaron Haddad
His wrestling training under Killer Kowalski began at the age of 16; prior to his wrestling training, Haddad practiced Wah Lum Kung Fu from the ages of 5 to 16. Within three years, he began a career as a professional wrestler in 2001. Wrestling on the independent circuit (indies) until 2003, Haddad caught the eye of the WWE and was signed after a series of try-out matches, which included playing the Easter Bunny.
The Easter Bunny costume Haddad wore
Competing in the WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Haddad honed his craft until August 4, 2006 when he made his WWE main roster debut as Idol Stevens. Accompanied by his on-screen valet Michelle McCool, he had a short tag team feud against the then WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick; however, he could not win the gold. He was sent back to OVW to further hone his craft. It was this time around where he got his first taste of the gold, the OVW Heavyweight Championship. He wasn't successful enough to get his contract renewed and was officially released on August 6, 2007.
Haddad in OVW (2006)
Haddad (center) as Idol Stevens with Michelle McCool (left)
Beginning in 2008, Haddad returned to the indies. Wrestling for small companies, Haddad was given time to reflect on his first stint in the WWE and evolve as a wrestler and performer. His first matches were under the National Wrestling Alliance Banner. From there, he returned to OVW since it was no longer a WWE territory. He, once again, won the OVW Heavyweight Championship. In 2009, Haddad left OVW to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, becoming the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion and WWC World Tag Team Champion in his time there.
WWE was once again interested in Haddad, who had signed a new deal on July 14, 2010 and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). His ring name was changed to Damien Sandow, winning the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship and FCW 15 Championship in his time there.
Haddad with Titus O'Neil as FCW Florida Tag Team Champions
Making the debut to the main roster on April 6, 2012 as a heel, Haddad had various small feuds, one of which was against John Cena. His character was described as a "braggart, condescending intellectual heel." There were several championship feuds, including the WWE Tag Team Championship with his partner Cody Rhodes, the Intercontinental Championship, NXT Championship, and World Heavyweight Championship. Although he never won gold at this time, he won the prestigious Money in the Bank on July 14, 2013.
Haddad debuting in WWE as Damien Sandow
Sandow and the Money in the Bank briefcase
Haddad's popularity began to rise in Summer 2014, as he became a comedic impersonator. He impersonated characters such as Bruce Springsteen, Abraham Lincoln, Vince McMahon, and fellow WWE Superstar The Miz. The impersonation of The Miz led to the creation of Damien Mizdow, a tweaked Damien Sandow that only impersonates The Miz. Becoming a tag team, they won the WWE Tag Team Championship on November 23, 2014; this would be his first championship in the WWE and cemented him as one of the most popular wrestlers. A later tag team with Curtis Axel called The Meta Powers, where Haddad impersonated Randy Savage - dubbed Macho Mandow - and Axel mimicked Hulk Hogan, did not have much success.
Haddad impersonating Bruce Springsteen
The Miz (left) and Mizdow (right)
From July 2015 to May 2016, Haddad was lost in the shuffle of the circus known as WWE, eventually getting released on May 6, 2016. After a few matches in the indies, TNA signed him and packaged him as Aron Rex. This run ende3d in April 4, 2017, as Haddad turned away from wrestling to focus on acting.
Aron Rex cutting a promo
Aaron HaddadHis wrestling training under Killer Kowalski began at the age of 16; prior to his wrestling training, Haddad practiced Wah Lum Kung Fu from the ages of 5 to 16. Within three years, he began a career as a professional wrestler in 2001. Wrestling on the independent circuit (indies) until 2003, Haddad caught the eye of the WWE and was signed after a series of try-out matches, which included playing the Easter Bunny.
The Easter Bunny costume Haddad woreCompeting in the WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Haddad honed his craft until August 4, 2006 when he made his WWE main roster debut as Idol Stevens. Accompanied by his on-screen valet Michelle McCool, he had a short tag team feud against the then WWE Tag Team Champions Paul London and Brian Kendrick; however, he could not win the gold. He was sent back to OVW to further hone his craft. It was this time around where he got his first taste of the gold, the OVW Heavyweight Championship. He wasn't successful enough to get his contract renewed and was officially released on August 6, 2007.
Haddad in OVW (2006) Haddad (center) as Idol Stevens with Michelle McCool (left)Beginning in 2008, Haddad returned to the indies. Wrestling for small companies, Haddad was given time to reflect on his first stint in the WWE and evolve as a wrestler and performer. His first matches were under the National Wrestling Alliance Banner. From there, he returned to OVW since it was no longer a WWE territory. He, once again, won the OVW Heavyweight Championship. In 2009, Haddad left OVW to wrestle for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, becoming the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Champion and WWC World Tag Team Champion in his time there.
WWE was once again interested in Haddad, who had signed a new deal on July 14, 2010 and was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). His ring name was changed to Damien Sandow, winning the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship and FCW 15 Championship in his time there.
Haddad with Titus O'Neil as FCW Florida Tag Team ChampionsMaking the debut to the main roster on April 6, 2012 as a heel, Haddad had various small feuds, one of which was against John Cena. His character was described as a "braggart, condescending intellectual heel." There were several championship feuds, including the WWE Tag Team Championship with his partner Cody Rhodes, the Intercontinental Championship, NXT Championship, and World Heavyweight Championship. Although he never won gold at this time, he won the prestigious Money in the Bank on July 14, 2013.
Haddad debuting in WWE as Damien Sandow Sandow and the Money in the Bank briefcaseHaddad's popularity began to rise in Summer 2014, as he became a comedic impersonator. He impersonated characters such as Bruce Springsteen, Abraham Lincoln, Vince McMahon, and fellow WWE Superstar The Miz. The impersonation of The Miz led to the creation of Damien Mizdow, a tweaked Damien Sandow that only impersonates The Miz. Becoming a tag team, they won the WWE Tag Team Championship on November 23, 2014; this would be his first championship in the WWE and cemented him as one of the most popular wrestlers. A later tag team with Curtis Axel called The Meta Powers, where Haddad impersonated Randy Savage - dubbed Macho Mandow - and Axel mimicked Hulk Hogan, did not have much success.
Haddad impersonating Bruce Springsteen The Miz (left) and Mizdow (right)From July 2015 to May 2016, Haddad was lost in the shuffle of the circus known as WWE, eventually getting released on May 6, 2016. After a few matches in the indies, TNA signed him and packaged him as Aron Rex. This run ende3d in April 4, 2017, as Haddad turned away from wrestling to focus on acting.
Aron Rex cutting a promo
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