Rick Rude - Old School Profile

This weeks old school profile centers around a man from the legendary Robbinsdale, MN area. Known as the "The Sexiest Man Alive" Ravishing Rick Rude is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of 1980s and 90s. Probably best known for his time in the WWF where he was one of the more memorable Intercontinental Champions in the company's history. Rude has wrestled in many organizations around the world and has been successful at every stop. With a great look and solid microphone skills there were too many who measure up to Rick Rude.

The young Richard Erwin Rood was born in St. Peters, MN and attended Robbinsdale High School at the same time as 8 other young men whom would later become professional wrestlers. Names like Tom Zenk(Z-Man), Nikita Koloff, John Nord and Joseph Laurinitis(Road Warrior Animal). He also was there with his best friend and WWF Hall of Famer Curt Henning(Mr. Perfect). This list of men only rival teh West Texas State Football teams that had Stan Hansen and Tully Blanchard of places that produced wrestlers.

Rude began his career in the early 1980's touring various NWA territories as many wrestlers did at that time. He made a big impact in 1985 when he went to compete in the legendary World Class Championship Wrestling. Managed by veteran manager Percy Pringle(WWF Paul Bearer) he feuded with the likes of Chris Adams and Kevin Von Erich. While with World Class he became the NWA American Heavyweight Champion.

After capturing the title in World Class the promotion withdrew from the National Wrestling Alliance. The belt was renamed WCWA World Heavyweight Championship while Rude was holding it. This effectively made him the first World Champion of the Fritz Von Erich ran promotion.

After a run in Jim Crockett Promotions where he teamed with Manny Fernandez and won the NWA World Tag Team Championship he went to the WWF. In July of 1987 Rude began his career with the WWF. He first was managed by Jimmy Hart and Bobby Heenan. Due to his great physique and over the top persona "Ravishing" Rick Rude was created.

He quickly got the ball rolling with a legendary feud between him and Jake The Snake Roberts. The feud even got Roberts real life wife Cheryl Roberts involved as Rude would make passes at her. Rude even placed Mrs Roberts picture on his famous tights.

After his conflict with Roberts he had another notable rivalry with The Ultimate Warrior. Most of their battles centered around the Intercontinental Championship in which Rude was able to capture from Warrior at Wrestlemania V. After the Warrior became WWF Champion he and Rude competed for that title also. Rude was not able to capture the world belt from the Warrior but was strong competitor.

In 1991 Rude made his way back to World Championship Wrestling which was now owned by Ted Turner. He appeared at Halloween Havoc as the masked phantom and later revealed himself that evening. He became apart of one of wrestling's most underrated stables the Dangerous Alliance.

Headed by Paul E. Dangerously the Dangerous Alliance included Arn Anderson, Steve Austin and Larry Zybszko. He competed for the United States Heavyweight Championship and had issues with guys like Sting and Nikita Koloff. His most notable feud was iwth Ricky Steamboat and their matches are held in high regard among wrestlign historians.

Rick Rude vs Ricky Steamboat at Superbrawl 1992

Rude then began his focus on the highest prize the NWA Heavyweight Championship. He faced off against The Nature Boy Ric Flair whom he defeated at Fall Brawl in 1993. After WCW withdrew from the NWA the title was rebranded WCW International World Heavyweight Championship in which Rude defended internationally in Japan. He would then defend the belt against Sting and lose the title. He would also suffer a career ending back injury during that match doing a suicide dive.

After being retired for a few years he made his way back into the business. There was a brief stint in ECW in 1996 where he taunted Shane Douglas and then he moved on to the WWF. He was an original member of the revolutionary group DX in 1997. Known as the insurance policy. He would frequently interfere in matches using his trademark briefcase.

Rude was in the lockerroom after the controversial Montreal Screwjob incident. He witnessed the confrontation between Bret Hart and Vince McMahon. It is believed that he contacted Eric Bischoff at WCW that night to come over to WCW. He was on a pay per appearance contract which allowed him to leave the WWF so easily. In WCW he managed his best friend Curt Henning. Rude my be the only man to appear on Nitro and Raw on the same night. Raw was pre-taped and Nitro was live on November 17th, 1997. It was rumored that Rude was working himself back into shape for a full time comeback to the ring. Unfortunately Rude lost his life on April 20th, 1999. The cause of death was heart failure.

Top 10 WCW/NWA Tag Teams

With the WWE and other websites making their top 10 list the Ring Time crew decided to share one of ours. We decided to give love to the tag team division of WCW. One of the deepest and talented tag team divisions in wrestling history.

Criteria

The way we choose this list was first we judged these teams strictly on their time in NWA/ WCW. Unlike the WWF our selections do extend to the Jim Crockett era of the promotion. Our era extends from 1975 until the close of the company in 2001. So the Hardyz and Dudleyz will not be on the list. We factored in total title reigns, longevity of title reigns and overall contribution to the sport.

10. Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood

With a total of 6 title reigns we kick off our list.  This team was a staple of the Crockett territory of the early 1980s. Know for major feuds with legendary teams like The Brisco Brothers and the team of Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle.   This team is one of the vehicles that really launched the hall of fame career of Steamboat.  Major fan favorites in the Crockett territory were early stars as the company was getting larger on the TBS network.

9. Minnesota Wrecking Crew

From 1969 to 1981 Ole and Gene Anderson were known as the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. The original tag team champions of the promotion starting in 1975. Ole replaced Lars Anderson as a member of the legendary tag team. The combo of Ole and Gene won 8 tag team titles throughout their run. This team is significant because it is the forerunner to the Four Horsemen. Without the success of Ole and Gene there would have been no Ole and Arn. Also Ric Flair was billed as a cousin of the Andersons to help give him a push in territories that the Andersons were already popular.

8. The Outsider

Scott Hall and Kevin Nash were not only dominant but were start of a wrestling revolution. They were the catalyst that helped take the Monday Night Wars to the next level. With 6 tag team championships in WCW they are on of the most successful teams of all time.

7. The Hollywood Blondes

Only together for a short time the innovative team of Brian Pillman and Stunning Steve Austin made major waves in WCW. The name Hollywood Blondes has been used by several tag teams in the business like The original “Blonds” were Buddy Roberts and Jerry Brown in the 1970s or Ted Oates and Rip Rogers in the 1980s. The name is most associated with Pillman and Austin. They may have only had 2 title runs but their time as a team they made a big impact on WCW/NWA. Their feud with Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat was one of the best the company has ever had. They are also one of the few teams where both members went on to become stars after their time together.

6a. Midnight Express / 6b. Rock N Roll Express

We grouped these two teams together because without one you don't have the other. The Midnight Express and The Rock N Roll Express rivalry can be argued as one of the greatest tag team rivalries ever. No matter the organization or time both of these team were going after each other and the belts.

5. Doom

The team of Ron Simmons and Butch Reed was one of the staples of the late eighties and early 1990's tag team scene. Their feuds with the Steiners and Road Warriors were major in WCW. Doom was one of the few teams that were not physically intimidated by the Road Warriors. They hold the record for the longest title reign in company's history of 282 days.

4. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard

Arn and Tully maybe the most cerebral team on the list. Also known as the Horsemen these two made sure the tradition of the Horsemen holding tag team gold stayed alive. Having arguably one of the greatest tag team wrestlers of all time in Arn Anderson this team found a way to beat everybody. They didn't let their size disadvantage stop them against the Road Warriors and didn't get beat to death with the speed of the Rock N Roll Express. Their win at all cost attitude brought them pretty high up on this list.  

3. Road Warriors

We understand that the Road Warriors were probably a lot of fans number 1 pick but the committee at Ring Time Pro Wrestling saw them as a 3. We do understand that this team maybe the most identified with tag team wrestling of their era but they were mostly 3-5 minute guys. We respect their dominance and think that they are one greatest of all time.

2. The Steiners

Every possible tag team title a team can win these two brothers from Michigan had them. Rick and Scott has the rare combination of power and technical wrestling ability. They have beaten almost every team on this list. Winning 10 World Tag Team and United States championships. They even won the IWGP titles once while they were in WCW.

1. Harlem Heat

Can You Dig It Sucka 

What more can we say but 10 time WCW tag team champions. The most world title reigns of any tag team in the history of WCW. This team has taken on every team in their era and some from the previous era of tag team wrestling.  No matter who the manager was in the corner Booker and Stevie Ray handled business. They were the Pro Wrestling Illustrated tag team of the year both in 1995 and 1996.  

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Wrestlers who Dont Get Enough Credit

In this blog I decided to compile a short list of wrestlers who I think don't get enough credit for how good they really are. These performers have danced with some of best and most popular wrestlers in the business but do not get put in the same light. Most of these men have not won world titles but they have made many World Champions look good.

Christian

Known to most fans as the complaining ex champion on the Smackdown brand, Christian has been entertaining WWE and TNA fans for the better part of the last 15 years. Christian is the only World Champion on this list. His most recent work against Randy Orton has been great but its nothing new for Christian. Being one half of the team Edge and Christian he delivered some of the greatest moments in wrestling history during TLC matches.

Lance Storm

One of the greatest in ring performers from the great nation of Canada. Having memorable runs in WCW, WWE and ECW Storm has contributed a lot to the wrestling business. Trained at the Hart Brothers Wrestling Camp with the legendary Chris Jericho he has delivered great matches all over the world. Not seen as one of greatest microphone guys, Storm does not have many peers inside the ring.

X-Pac

When coming up with this list one of the first people who came to mind was X-Pac. A major player in two of wrestling's most legendary factions. One of the first members of the NWO after the main three players joined. Pac was one of the few guys who could deliver quality matches on a consistent basis. After showing WCW audiences what he could do he came back home to the WWE where he was 1/4 of the revamped DX. Through his partnership with Kane and feuds with Shane McMahon and D Low Brown he has been a big part of wrestling for a while.

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