“Ravishing” Rick Rude to be Inducted into the 2017 WWE Hall of Fame
The girls loved him and the guys wanted to look like him. The WWE Hall of Fame will now be “Simply Ravishing.” Rick Rude never strayed away from being the ultimate bad guy. He had a great physique, arrogant attitude and a ton of charisma. For 15 years he was one of the best in ring performers and managers you could ask for. He grew in Robbinsdale, Minnesota and went to school with Barry Darsow(Demolition Smash), John Nord(The Berzerker), Nikita Koloff, and Curt Hennig. Rude and Hennig remained close over the years when they were both in the same company. When I think of Rick Rude I think of the colorful attire with different images whether it be a title, or a certain wrestlers wife. Sometimes his attire started a feud especially the feud he had with the Jake the Snake Roberts. Rude kept flirting with Jake’s wife and eventually put her face on his tights which led to him getting pants pulled down on national television.
Rick Rude’s hard work paid off in WWE as he eventually won the Intercontinental Championship by defeating the Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania 5. In my personal opinion Rick Rude’s best work didn’t come until after he left WWE and headed to WCW. He was a 3 time WCW International Heavyweight Champion and a United States Champion. During those feuds he had some great matches with Ricky Steamboat, Sting, Dustin Rhodes and Ric Flair. He was also apart of The Dangerous Alliance which was led by Paul Heyman. Rick Rude’s career ended after he suffered a serious back injury. After disappearing for three years Rick Rude showed up in ECW as a commentator and also as someone who was constantly harassing Shane Douglas to the point of The Franchise losing the ECW Title.
In late 1997, he came in as the “insurance policy” for DX which unfortunately did not last long. Rude left the WWE in support of his friend Bret Hart after the Montreal Screwjob. He made history by appearing on Raw and Nitro in the same due to Raw being on a taped ahead of time. He aligned himself with the n.W.o and his childhood best friend Curt Hennig. He stayed in WCW until early 1999. Rick Rude will now take is rightful place into the WWE Hall of Fame. He will be inducted by longtime WCW rival Ricky Steamboat who he had many great matches with. Congratulations to Rick Rude’s family on this incredible honor.
