Rick Rude first burst onto the national scene in Texas as the American Heavyweight champion.
When World Class Championship Wrestling Organization split with the NWA, World Class recognized Rude as their World Champion. Rude held that title for several months before dropping it to Chris Adams on July 4, 1986.
Rude was known for his colorful ring attire, and for his finishing move called the "Rude Awakening". Calling himself "Ravishing Rick Rude" he beat the Ultimate Warrior for the WWF Intercontinental Title on April 2, 1989, and held the belt until August 28, 1989 when Ultimate Warrior won the belt back.
In WCW, Rude captured the NWA World Heavyweight Title from Ric Flair on September 19, 1993 in Houston, TX. WCW withdrew from the NWA shortly after Rude won the belt, and the title was renamed the WCW International World Heavyweight Title. Hiroshi Hase beat Rude for the belt on March 16, 1994 but Rude regained the title March 24, 1994. Rude dropped the belt to Sting on April 17, 1994.
Rude suffered a serious neck injury in Japan that Paul E Dangerously later called the most serious injury he had ever seen. The injury led to Rude's early retirement from the ring.
Rude made his return to wrestling in ECW as a manager and commentator, and had a short stint in the WWF as a bodyguard for DX before returning to WCW as part of the nWo as an ally of longtime friend Curt Hennig.
More recently Rude has appeared on WCW's Backstage Blast programs on Direc TV providing color commentary.
Rude also held several othet titles including the WCW US for over a year and an NWA Tag Team title with Manny Fernanez. He will be greatly missed.
* Parts of this story courtesy of WCW.com |