On April 20th, 1999 one of the greatest mid-card wrestlers in the industry’s history tragically passed away, after heart failure due to an overdose of mixed medications.
“Ravishing” Rick Rude (real name: Richard Erwin Rood) broke into the wrestling business in grand fashion, having the opportunity to work the independents against legends such as Jerry “The King” Lawler, The Road Warriors, and King Kong Bundy, with iconic managers like Jimmy Hart and the late, great Percy Pringle.
Although Rude only worked short stints with WCW and WWE, he is widely loved by millions of wrestling fans. A former Intercontinental Champion and United States Champion, he took the “sexiest man alive” gimmick to the extreme, wearing his face (or occasionally that of his opponent’s) on his wrestling trunks. One of the greatest enhancement talents in the game, Rude had the opportunity to work with an all-star cast of personalities, including the Ultimate Warrior, Sting, and “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.
Rick Rude was briefly a part of the NWO Wolfpac, and sat ringside for Degeneration X before leaving the WWE after the Montreal Screwjob. According to Bret Hart – who told the story years later – Rude left for WCW because of the incident, and was in the room to witness the backstage confrontation between “The Hitman” and Vince McMahon.
He was forty-years-old when he passed away in 1999. To celebrate his career, check out the video below, featuring one of Rick Rude’s legendary encounters with the Ultimate Warrior.
