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...
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...
