Personal Information
Full Name | Joseph Ruby |
Date of Birth | August 8, 1987 |
Nationality | American |
Height | 6 ft 0 in |
Current Team(s) |
Joe Gacy: A Brief Biography
Joe Gacy is an American Professional Wrestler who currently performs in WWE on the NXT brand. There, he is the leader of the villainous faction called Schiscm. He is a former three-time CZW Heavyweight and CZW Wired Champion. He has also worked for Evolve.
Name | Joseph Ruby |
Born | August 8, 1987 |
Nationality | American |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 249 lb (113 kg) |
Family | Aimee Benozich (m. 2019) |
Birth Place | Franklinville, New Jersey, U.S. |
Debut | 2006 |
Early Life
Joe Gacy's real name is Joseph Ruby. He was born on the 8th of August, 1987 in Franklinville, New Jersey, USA. Before making his way to the ring of WWE, Gacy had made his name in some of the biggest independent promotions in the world.
Professional Wrestling Career
CZW and Evolve
At an August 2017 CZW event, Gacy's disrupted the Lio Rush vs. Joey Janela match. He attacked the announcer, criticized the company's direction, and sent the crowd reeling. This outburst led to his kayfabe firing, but Gacy soon returned with masked goons, igniting a rivalry with Matt Tremont. Through a series of deceptions and attacks, Gacy formed the villainous F.E.A.R. faction, leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. Gacy soon won the CZW World title. In a November brawl, he toppled Strickland, but R.S. Page crashed the party, reclaiming the belt from under Gacy's mask. Their feud raged into Cage of Death, where Gangone's shocking debut sent Gacy crashing (literally) down, ending his short reign and igniting new CZW rivalries.
On February 10, 2018, at CZW's Nineteen event, Gacy, alongside his goons Reynolds and Barry, faced newcomer Anthony Gangone in his debut match. The bout was a brutal affair, with Gangone ultimately emerging victorious after hitting a bicycle kick and a modified Go 2 Sleep on Gacy. However, the celebration was short-lived, as a masked man ambushed Gangone, revealing himself to be Eddy Blackwater.The animosity between Gacy and Gangone continued later that night during the CZW World Heavyweight Title #1 contendership 30-man rumble match. Although Gacy was eliminated by Gangone, the rivalry wasn't over. On February 23, at Greetings from Asbury Park, F.E.A.R. (Gacy, Barry, and Blackwater) interfered in a match between John Silver and Reynolds, helping Reynolds secure the win. However, their gloating was cut short when they were defeated by The House of Gangone, with Gangone pinning Blackwater.
On March 10, Jonathan Gresham defeated Gacy at Proving Grounds. Gacy was saved by his stable F.E.A.R. and Barry offered his spot in the Best of the Best to Gacy to stay in his good graces. Gacy accepted but then kicked Barry out of the stable. On April 14, Gacy defeated Brandon Kirk, Joey Janela and Rich Swann in a four-way quarter-final match at Best of the Best, but lost to Zachary Wentz in the semi-final due to interference from Blackwater. On June 26, Gacy lost to Maxwell Jacob Friedman for the World Heavyweight Championship due to interference from Gangone.
In the ring, Gacy and Gangone's heated feud boiled over at New Heights. Gacy unleashed a vicious Alabama slam onto thumbtacks, followed by a punishing buckle bomb into a Falcon arrow – all atop the agonizing bed of tacks. This brutal display secured Gacy the win, finally putting an end to their bitter conflict. With championship aspirations in his sights, Gacy locked horns with Rickey Shane Page in a technical showdown for a coveted title shot. Page, however, proved too cunning, outmaneuvering Gacy with two decisive chokebreakers, dashing Gacy's immediate championship dreams. The tides turned when Reynolds, flanked by masked goons, ambushed Gacy, igniting a new chapter of treachery. Gacy faced relentless attacks and interference, struggling to overcome Reynolds' cunning tactics and masked allies.
A glimmer of hope emerged at Night of Infamy, where Gacy teamed with Pratt against Reynolds and Donst. Despite chaos and betrayal, Gacy's resilience shone through as he secured victory over Donst. However, the night ended on a sour note as Reynolds, fueled by his twisted motives, injured Gacy's loyal associate, Blackwater. Determined to settle the score, Gacy and Reynolds clashed in a brutal Cage of Death match. The fight was a whirlwind of fury, with both sides employing ruthless tactics and masked goons adding to the mayhem. Just as victory seemed within reach for Reynolds, Blackwater, in a shocking twist, delivered a treacherous blow to his former ally, allowing Gacy to capitalize and claim victory. With the feud finally over, Gacy laid his signature mask to rest, symbolizing the disbandment of F.E.A.R. and marking a new chapter in his wrestling journey.
WWE NXT
Joe Gacy's journey in WWE began in August 2020 when he signed a contract following the company's acquisition of Evolve. After reporting for training at the Performance Center, he made his television debut on 205 Live in July 2021, defeating Desmond Troy to qualify for the NXT Breakout Tournament. However, his run in the tournament was short-lived, as he was eliminated in the first round by Trey Baxter in August. September 2021 marked a turning point for Gacy as he adopted a new gimmick - a politically correct spokesperson determined to make NXT his "safe space." This persona established him as a heel, and he soon found himself feuding with Cameron Grimes, whom he was ultimately defeated by. Despite his villainous character, Gacy occasionally displayed unexpected kindness, such as hugging Ikemen Jiro after defeating him in October.
Gacy's association with Harland, a hulking wrestler who served as his bodyguard, further solidified his heel status. Together, they became a dominant force in NXT. Gacy's ambition led him to convince Cruiserweight Champion Roderick Strong to grant him a non-regulation title match at NXT WarGames in November. Although Gacy outweighed the Cruiserweight division's 205-pound limit, Strong agreed to the challenge. Despite his best efforts, Gacy was unable to capture the Cruiserweight Championship at WarGames.
In July 2022, Gacy's dark character fully embraced a cult leader persona with the reveal of "Schism," a druid-worshipping faction featuring Gacy, The Dyad (formerly Grizzled Young Veterans), and later, Ava Raine. They feuded with Cameron Grimes before slowly unraveling through 2023 with The Dyad's departure and Gacy declaring Schism's demise. On Halloween night 2023, Gacy hinted at a potential character metamorphosis, leaving fans curious about his next chapter in NXT.
Championship and Accomplishment
Promotion | Title | Times won |
Combat Zone Wrestling | CZW World Heavyweight Championship | 3 |
Combat Zone Wrestling | CZW Wired Championship | 3 |
Evolve | Evolve Tag Team Championship | 1 |
Joe Gacy Wife
Since 2019, Joe Gacy has been married to Aimee Benozich. She was born in 1989 in the United States. Her exact birth date and the place of birth is not known to the public. The couple currently lives in Maple Shade, New Jersey, US. She is an animal lover and runs a business named "Miss Emily's Bed and Biscuit".
Joe Gacy Net Worth
As per reports, Joe Gacy is worth around at least $1 Million in 2024. Click here to learn more about the net worth of the leader of the Schism.
FAQs
Joe Gacy is booked at 6 ft in WWE.
Ava Raine, real name Simeone Johnson, is a professional wrestler currently working with WWE. She is the daughter of WWE legend Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
Joe Gacy's real name is Joseph Ruby.
Born on August 8, 1987, Joe Gacy is currently 36 years old.
Joe Gacy started wrestling in somewhere around 2006.