Otto Schwanz

While resembling a throwback to the archetypical foreign villains of the 1960s and 70s, his unique and Bizarre in-ring behavior made him a stand out on the independent circuit.

He was also introduced by sexual innuendos in the form of various fictitious locations in Germany such as "Blasmireinen" or "Grobe-Muschie".

In IPWA, his ring introduction was spoken in the German language.

Without notice, he would switch from speaking stereotypical German to his native North Carolina accent during in-ring interviews.

Happer would often perform "struts, chicken walks, dances, prances, and pounces" during wrestling matches and was later described by one writer as the "clown prince of the ropes".

Happer spent much of his early career wrestling for numerous regional promotions in the Southeastern United States.

William Murray Happer (born October 4, 1972 ) is an American professional wrestler and trainer, best known by his ring name Otto Schwanz.

William Murray Happer was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 4, 1972.

Happer was a mainstay in Matt and Jeff Hardy's OMEGA throughout the late-1990s.

He was a four-year letterman and co-captain of the Georgetown Hoyas football team, along with Steve Colello and Jim Klessel, while attending Georgetown University and received the George L. Murtagh Award in 1994.

He pursued an athletic career following his graduation the next year – specifically as a professional wrestler.

He trained under Cueball Carmichael and Steve Corino at the IPWA training facility during the first half of 1997, with additional training with Matt and Jeff Hardy, and made his pro debut on July 18, 1997.

Prior to this, Happer wrote a guest column for the Insight from the Squared Circle website entitled "Bull from the Baron".

This served as an online journal, which was unique for the time, chronicling his training and early career.

Though initially using the name "Baron von Happer" as a student, Happer wrestled as Otto Schwanz upon making his debut.

He also had a brief stint in Southern States Wrestling where, on September 1, 1997, he was pinned by Johnny Thunder in a tag team match for the vacant SSW Heavyweight Championship in Fall Branch, Tennessee.

That same year Happer began wrestling for Count Grog's Southern Championship Wrestling based in his hometown of Raleigh.

One of his earliest matches with the promotion was against Surge in Sanford, North Carolina, on November 8, 1997.

He also did battle against regulars such as Bobby Burnette, Harold Bison, and Toad.

It was in OMEGA that he formed an alliance with future tag team partner Cham Pain against Happer's archrival Venom.

From 1998 to 2003, Happer was also a member of The Dupps, along with kayfabe "cousins" Jack and Puck Dupp, wrestling as Bo Dupp in Extreme Championship Wrestling, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.

On May 2, 1998, he beat Boris Dragoff for the SCW North Carolina Championship, his first singles title, in Durham, North Carolina.

On June 27, while champion, he lost to Boris Dragoff in a three-way match with Chris Stephenson for the vacant heavyweight championship.

He held the North Carolina title for seven months before dropping the belt to C. W. Anderson in Raleigh on December 3, 1998.

Throughout his time in SCW, Happer was associated with its top "heel" stable, The Brotherhood, led by Count Grog.

Grog later listed Happer as his second favorite wrestler to manage, after Major DeBeers, commenting "this big German has the most potential of anyone I've ever managed. He's big, mean, and insane, all qualities I look for in a wrestler".

Happer feuded with Venom during this time which saw Count Grog betraying him and siding with Venom.

At OMEGA's "Livin' La Vida Lucha" on July 24, 1998, he and Cham Pain wrestled Venom in a handicap match.

By the end of OMEGA's three-year run, Happer was among the promotion's stars that went on to join the "mainstream" wrestling organizations including Venom, C. W. Anderson, Steve Corino, Shane Helms, Kid Dynamo, Amy, and The Bad Street Boys (Joey Matthews and Christian York).

With the help of his former House of Pain tag team partner Cham Pain, Happer defeated Venom to win the SCW Heavyweight Championship in Raleigh on February 25, 1999.

Shortly after his title victory, Happer was voted by fans as "SCW Wrestler of the Year".

Coincidentally Happer's former trainer, Cueball Carmichael, had been the previous SCW champion before being forced to vacate the title.

Happer, having been trained at Carmichael's IPWA Training Center, continued wrestling for the promotion up until the spring of 1999 at which time he was interviewed by the Washington City Paper.

He won the heavyweight title two more times before leaving SCW near the end of 1999.

He competed primarily in the Carolinas since the mid-2000s, and has wrestled for many promotions including CWF Mid-Atlantic, Cueball Carmichael's Independent Pro Wrestling Alliance, OMEGA, and Southern Championship Wrestling.

These included the Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance, Live Action Wrestling, NWA 2000, New Dimension Wrestling, and Southern Championship Wrestling.

While under a developmental contract with WWE, Happer also competed under his real name until being released in 2001.

Outside of pro wrestling, Happer is an educator and instructor in high school athletics.

He was a co-captain of the Georgetown Hoyas football team while attending Georgetown University and, in 2003, became head coach of South Johnston High School's Trojans wrestling team in addition to teaching civics and history.

Happer was featured in the 2009 documentary "OMEGA: Uncommon Passion" and several former OMEGA alumni, including former co-owner Thomas Simpson, spoke highly of him.