Ray Mullan reporting for 1Wrestling.com. Each week I'll be bringing you the "Top 10 Of...", an essential viewing list of the best matches of some of Pro Wrestling's legends. Join me this week as we take a look at the Top 10 Of..."Ravishing" Rick Rude.
Growing up, there were few wrestlers I hated more than Rick Rude. That's not a slight on Rick, oh no, but rather a testament to just how good Rude was at his profession. Rick made me hate him, because quite frankly Rick Rude was one of the best Heels wrestling has ever seen.
You'd be forgiven if you're a younger fan reading this, knowing very little about Rude's storied career given that Rick died on the 12th April 1999, more than twelve years ago, and add to that his in ring career had ended five years prior to that. But what saddens me most is that in those twelve years since his death the WWE have done very little to honour him. No Hall of Fame induction, no Biographical DVD and his best matches are rarely included in those DVDs that are out there.
Sadly, I doubt this is going to change anytime soon. Much of the reasoning behind this has to do with the nature of Rude's passing. That he died at forty years old due to an accidental overdose of painkillers is not something WWE, with its current PG marketed product, would want to draw attention to. I guess it's bad for their image. But the nature of Rude's passing should take away nothing from this man's accomplishments in the squared circle. So join me now as i take on a journey through the top 10 matches of Rick Rude's career...
10. Rick Rude vs. Tito Santana - Boston Garden, Feb. 11/1989
9. Rick Rude vs. Road Warrior Hawk - WCW International Title, Clash Of The Champions XXV
8. Rick Rude vs. Hulk Hogan - WWF Championship, Boston Garden
7. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior - WWF Intercontinental Championship - WrestleMania V
6. Rick Rude vs. Ric Flair - WCW International Title, Halloween Havoc '93
5. Rick Rude vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper - Steel Cage Match, Madison Square Garden, Dec. 28/1989
4. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior - Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship, SummerSlam '90
3. Rick Rude vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
2. Rick Rude vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, Superbrawl 92
1. Rick Rude vs. Sting - WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, Clash Of The Champions XVII
An honourable mention must also go to Rude's Iron Man Match with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at WCW Beach Blast 92. I didn't include it in my top 10 as it was not uploaded to one of our trusted partner sites, but you can view the match in it's entirety here - http://dai.ly/ddJJjE . I urge you to check it out.
Leave your feedback and requests for who you wish to see covered next by commenting below, e-mailing me at raymullan@gmail.com or alternatively tweeting me @raymullan.
Well folks, that's it for this edition of the "Top 10 Of...", until next time, thanks for reading!
Ray Mullan
Growing up, there were few wrestlers I hated more than Rick Rude. That's not a slight on Rick, oh no, but rather a testament to just how good Rude was at his profession. Rick made me hate him, because quite frankly Rick Rude was one of the best Heels wrestling has ever seen.
You'd be forgiven if you're a younger fan reading this, knowing very little about Rude's storied career given that Rick died on the 12th April 1999, more than twelve years ago, and add to that his in ring career had ended five years prior to that. But what saddens me most is that in those twelve years since his death the WWE have done very little to honour him. No Hall of Fame induction, no Biographical DVD and his best matches are rarely included in those DVDs that are out there.
Sadly, I doubt this is going to change anytime soon. Much of the reasoning behind this has to do with the nature of Rude's passing. That he died at forty years old due to an accidental overdose of painkillers is not something WWE, with its current PG marketed product, would want to draw attention to. I guess it's bad for their image. But the nature of Rude's passing should take away nothing from this man's accomplishments in the squared circle. So join me now as i take on a journey through the top 10 matches of Rick Rude's career...
10. Rick Rude vs. Tito Santana - Boston Garden, Feb. 11/1989
9. Rick Rude vs. Road Warrior Hawk - WCW International Title, Clash Of The Champions XXV
8. Rick Rude vs. Hulk Hogan - WWF Championship, Boston Garden
7. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior - WWF Intercontinental Championship - WrestleMania V
6. Rick Rude vs. Ric Flair - WCW International Title, Halloween Havoc '93
5. Rick Rude vs. Rowdy Roddy Piper - Steel Cage Match, Madison Square Garden, Dec. 28/1989
4. Rick Rude vs. Ultimate Warrior - Steel Cage Match for the WWE Championship, SummerSlam '90
3. Rick Rude vs. Jake "The Snake" Roberts
2. Rick Rude vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat - WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, Superbrawl 92
1. Rick Rude vs. Sting - WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, Clash Of The Champions XVII
An honourable mention must also go to Rude's Iron Man Match with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat at WCW Beach Blast 92. I didn't include it in my top 10 as it was not uploaded to one of our trusted partner sites, but you can view the match in it's entirety here - http://dai.ly/ddJJjE . I urge you to check it out.
Leave your feedback and requests for who you wish to see covered next by commenting below, e-mailing me at raymullan@gmail.com or alternatively tweeting me @raymullan.
Well folks, that's it for this edition of the "Top 10 Of...", until next time, thanks for reading!
Ray Mullan
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