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Rick Rude

Rick Rude

Nickname: Ravishing, Smooth Operator, Sensational, Broadway

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 251 lbs

From: Robbinsdale, MN

Birthday: Dec 7th

Pro Debut: June 1983

Aliases: Rick Rood, Ricky Rood, Ron Rood, The WCW Halloween Phantom

Feds Worked For: MSW, NWA, WWF, WCW, ECW, Mid-Southern (TN), New Japan (Japan), Continental Wrestling Association (TN)

Finisher: Rude Awakening

Signature Moves: Piledriver, Top-rope kneedrop, delayed backbreaker, figure-four leglock

 

Career Highlights: -Mid-Southern Champion
-Mid-Southern Tag Team Champion (w/ King Kong Bundy)
-NWA Florida Southern Champion (2x)
-NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Jesse Barr)
-NWA American Champion
-NWA World Tag Team Champion (w/ Manny Fernandez)
-WCCW Television Champion
-WCCW World Champion
-WCW International Champion (3x)
-WCW United States Champion (2x)
-WWF Intercontinental Champion

Affiliates: Curt Hennig, Jimmy Hart, King Kong Bundy, Manny Fernandez, Percival Pringle III, Bobby Heenan, D-Generation X, nWo, The Dingo Warrior, Paul Jones 2nd, Raven Rood, Madusa, Paul E. Dangerously, Mr. Perfect, Jesse Barr, Triple Threat, The Dangerous Alliance

Notable Feuds: Austin Idol, Jerry Lawler, Bruiser Brody, The Von Erichs, The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), Chris Adams, Wahoo McDaniel, Paul Orndorff, The Big Bossman, Jake Roberts, Paul Orndorff, Ultimate Warrior, Sting, Roddy Piper, Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes, Rock-N-Roll Express, Billy Jack Haynes, King Kong Bundy, Nikita Koloff

Other Facts: -Born Richard Erwin Rood, but legally changed his name to "Ravishing Rick Rude" sometime in the 1990s so he could use that name in whatever promotion he went to.
-Brother of wrestling manager Raven Rood
-Childhood friend of Curt Hennig
-Attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, MN with future pro wrestlers Tom Zenk, Brady Boone, Nikita Koloff, Curt Hennig, John Nord, and Barry Darsow
-Worked as a bouncer at a club in Minneapolis with future pro wrestlers Barry Darsow and The Road Warriors when they were discovered
-Sometimes billed from Beverly Hills, CA
-Competed as an international arm wrestler, placing 6th at the World Arm Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas in 1983.
-Was part of a talent trade between Jerry Jarrett and Bill Watts in 1983. Jarrett received Rude, Jim Neidhart, Masao Ito, and Hacksaw Higgins. Watts received The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson), Terry Taylor, Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey, and Jim Cornette.
-Left the NWA while still 1/2 of the NWA World Tag Team Champions. To cover this up, a non-title match with Manny Fernandez vs. The Rock-N-Roll Express was shown on the NWA Saturday night show where the Express win. This was announced to the fans as a title change and Rude was said to have been injured in that match. In truth, he had signed with the WWF.
-At a 1989 WWF house show in Greensboro, NC, a fan sued Rood for slander, based on Rude's traditional entrance of calling the crowd "fat", "out of shape" and various other insults on their appearance. The fan (who describes himself as overweight) was so offended by the comments, that he started to cry and then left to use the restroom and stayed there during the rest of the show. The case was settled out of court, and in future appearances in Greensboro, Rude promised to tone down his introduction to the crowd.
-Got Paul Bearer his interview for a job in WWF. Paul was out of a job in wrestling and was planning on going back to working in the funeral business and told Rude that in a phone call. Rude told him not to make any hasty decisions and a couple of hours later called back with Vince McMahon's personal phone number and told him to make a call. This was a few days before Christmas
-Came up with the name “Rhythm and Blues” for the tag team of The Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine because, according to Rude, “Honky Tonk Man had all the rhythm and Valentine always looked like had the blues because he’s upset all the time.”
-Suffered a neck and back injury in 1994 and stayed out of wrestling until resurfacing in ECW in 1996 as an announcer.
-Left ECW for WWF as an "insurance policy" for Shawn Michaels.
-On November 17, 1997 Rude appeared on WWF's "Monday Night Raw" with a beard, and WCW's "Monday Nitro" with just a mustache. This was possible because "Raw" had been taped 6 days earlier and "Nitro" was live. There is now a standard clause in WWE contracts (unofficially referred to as the "Rick Rude Clause") that prevents this from ever happening again.
-Was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1998, but this was determined to be non-life threatening.
-Former member of The First Family
-Former member of Neidhart's Raiders
-Former member of the Heenan Family (WWF version)
-Former member of the Dangerous Alliance
-Former member of Degeneration X
-Former member of the nWo
-Voted Most Hated Wrestler by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1992
-Ranked # 26 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 4 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked # 8 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked # 13 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Passed away on April 20, 1999 at the age of 41 due to a heart attack. Rude was training for a comeback at the time of his death. The cause of the heart failure may have been an overdose of GHB.
-Buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, GA
-Posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017

Supplemental Information

Upcoming Events

Complete Calendar

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Spotlight in History

  • 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
  • 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title

Week of Sun 06-07 to Sat: 06-13

  • 06-07 1969 Jose Lothario def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2008 Ky-ote Johammed def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-07 2008 Mo'Body Gillespie def. Ky-ote Johammed for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-07 2013 Bobby Starr def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-07 2013 Ignition def. Super Skunk Ape, Jr. for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-07 2013 The Canadian Red Devil def. Michael York for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2014 Steven Sterling def. Sam Stackhouse for the ComPro Showtime Title
  • 06-07 2014 Jake O'Brien def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Montana def. Ignition for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-07 2014 Havoc def. Buster Cherry for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 06-07 2014 Rick Russo def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Kareem Sadat def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-07 2014 Terry Pantera became the BPPW Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-07 2025 Frankie Lee def. K. J. Gold for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 06-08 1959 Frankie Kovacs & Jerry Miller def. Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 06-08 2013 L. J. McDaniels became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-08 2013 Hurricane Ross def. Billy Ray for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2019 Michael Duplanti def. Anarchy [2nd] for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 06-08 2019 Big Smooth def. Hurricane Ross for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2024 Billie the Kiid became the NAW Indigenous Land Champion
  • 06-08 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-08 2024 Eddie LeVaughn def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 06-08 2024 Michael Duplanti became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 06-08 2024 Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) def. The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Manico) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Title
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Title
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Title
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Title
  • 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Title
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
06-09
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th Today!
  • Jamie Jun 9th Today!
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th Today!
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th Today!
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th Today!
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th Today!
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Alex Shepard Jun 13th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Leslie Lorenzo Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
  • Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Phantom Star Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st

More Look Back In History

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