Joe King
Charles Scaggs, known to wrestling fans as 2 Cold Scorpio, is one of the most influential high-flyers of the late 1980s and 1990s. While he rarely received sustained main-event attention, Scorpio’s athleticism and creativity helped introduce a faster, more aerial style to American audiences long before it became the norm.
Early Career
Scorpio debuted in 1986, quickly standing out due to his agility, power, and gymnastic ability. Rather than being tied to a single famous trainer, Scorpio developed his craft across multiple territories, sharpening a style that blended power moves with aerial innovation. On the recommendation of Big Van Vader, he decided to join New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he trained in the NJPW Dojo.
Scorpio built much of his reputation in Japan, where his athletic approach was more widely appreciated. Competing for NJPW, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and Pro Wrestling Noah, he earned a reputation as a dependable, high-level performer capable of working long, competitive matches against elite opponents. His time in Japan helped refine the offense that would later influence cruiserweights and junior heavyweights worldwide.
WCW
In 1992, he was signed by World Championship Wrestling. Scorpio finally got the chance to show mainstream American audiences what he could do. At Clash of the Champions XXIII, he challenged Barry Windham for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In 1993, 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell formed a tag-team and would go on to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship from The Nasty Boys. The pairing represented WCW’s early attempt to modernize its tag division with more athletic, high-energy performers.
Scorpio was among the earliest wrestlers on U.S. television to regularly perform advanced aerial maneuvers, including variations of the 450 Splash, helping normalize high-risk offense years before it became commonplace.
Feud With Benoit
2 Cold Scorpio would feud with Chris Benoit for many years in many promotions. They would have intense, high-profile matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling, ECW, WCW, and AAA. The two would wrestle each other at WCW’s Collision in Korea in front of 150,000 fans. They would have such great matches that he wrestled against him as Wild Pegasus, Pegasus Kid, and Chris Benoit.
ECW
Scorpio found his strongest U.S. platform in Extreme Championship Wrestling, where his blend of athleticism and physical toughness fit perfectly. In ECW, he became a four-time World Television Champion, having standout matches with the likes of Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, Dean Malenko, Chris Benoit, Shane Douglas, and Taz. Scorpio also had a memorable tag team run with The Sandman, winning the ECW Tag Team titles. Scorpio proved in ECW that he could thrive in an environment known as much for brutality as for innovation.
Tokyo Pro Wrestling
Throughout 1996, he would wrestle in a mask as Black Wazuma for Tokyo Pro Wrestling. He would feud with such stars as Sabu, The Great Kabuki, and Abdullah The Butcher.
WWF/Flash Funk
In 1997, Scorpio signed with the WWF and was repackaged as Flash Funk. While his in-ring talent remained evident, the gimmick limited his momentum, and he was never positioned as a serious singles contender. Towards the end of his first WWF run, Funk reverted to his 2 Cold Scorpio name, later shortening it to simply “Scorpio”, and began teaming up with former WCW teammate and friend Ron Simmons, as well as Terry Funk, through most of 1998. In the summer of 1998, Scorpio competed in the WWF’s Brawl for All tournament, a legitimate fighting tournament, where he lost in the quarterfinal round to The Godfather by judges’ decision.
Later Career & Legacy
After leaving WWF, Scaggs competed for All Japan Pro Wrestling until native members of its roster defected to form Pro Wrestling Noah in 2000 and both Scorpio and Vader followed. They would become the inaugural GHC Tag Team Champions. Scorpio would also win the GHC Openweight Hardcore Championship. When Vader left, Scorpio formed tag teams with both Richard Slinger and Doug Williams. He and William won the titles in 2005. He signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment. Upon joining the promotion, he returned to using his Flash Funk character in the WWE developmental promotion Deep South Wrestling until being released in 2007. Scorpio continued wrestling internationally and on the independent scene for many years working for TNA, JCW, IWA, CHIKARA, and most recently Game Changer Wrestling in 2025.
2 Cold Scorpio is remembered as a trailblazer of modern high-flying wrestling who was way ahead of his time. He may not always get his due in mainstream histories, but among knowledgeable fans and wrestlers, 2 Cold Scorpio is recognized as a true innovator.