The Passing of the “Ravishing” One, Rick Rude, 1958-1999

On the evening of the terrible shooting tragedy in Colorado, the wrestling community lost yet another superstar. Former WWF Intercontinental champion "Ravishing" Rick Rude, real name Richard Rood, 40, was found unconscious by a family member in his Alpharetta, Georgia home. The family called 911, but Rude went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance, and died in route to a nearby hospital.

Initial reports claimed Rude died of an apparent heart attack. Autopsy results will not be announced at least for another week, but empty prescription bottles were reportedly found on his bedside table. Rude admitted, during the 1994 steroid trial against Vince McMahon, to have used steroids during his in ring career.

Dave Meltzer reported that WCW friends of Rick Rude believe that the cause of death may have been an overdose of Gamma-Hydroxy Butyrate (GHB), also known as the date rape drug, Liquid X, and Liquid Ecstasy.

In terms of championships won, Rude was prolific. He won the Mid South tag team title with King Kong Bundy, the Florida Heavyweight title, and the Florida tag team title with Jesse Barr. In Texas, Rude captured the American Heavyweight championship.

When the now defunct Fritz Von Erich's World Class promotion broke ties with the NWA, a separate world title was created, and it was won by Rude. Manny Fernandez and Rude, managed by "number one" Paul Jones, captured the NWA World tag team title, coming to the ring to Queen's "We Will Work You" track.

While in the World Wrestling Federation, Rude was managed by current WCW announcer Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, embracing the nickname "Ravishing" Rick Rude, and using the "rude awakening" as his finishing move. He took the Intercontinental title from The Ultimate Warrior on April 2, 1989, at Wrestlemania V in Atlantic City.

On November 19, 1991, Rude won the WCW U.S. title from Sting, and held it for more than one year. He was eventually stripped of the title on January 11, 1993, when an injury precluded Rude from defending the championship in the required thirty-day window.

He captured the NWA World Heavyweight title from Ric Flair on September 19, 1993. WCW withdrew from the NWA shortly after Rude won the belt, and the title was renamed the WCW International World Heavyweight title.

Rude was forced to retire in 1994 after suffering a serious back injury in a match with Sting while on a tour of the orient. He sued WCW for $630,000 for an alleged breach of contract.

After an absence from the wrestling scene, Rude resurfaced as the mysterious "masked man" that was tormenting Shane Douglas in ECW. He moved back to the WWF, serving as a bodyguard for DX. Rude, without a WWF contract, arrived on Nitro the same night a taped Raw episode aired featuring him still with DX and a beard.

Rude associated himself with the New World Order, serving as Curt Hennig's manager. Most recently, Rude has appeared on WCW's “Backstage Blast” programs on DirecTV providing color commentary along with Chad Damiani. Ted DiBiase replaced Rude on the March 29th edition of the broadcast, claiming he was not feeling well.

Eddie Sharkey, who trained Rude in Minnesota, reported that in recent weeks Rude had been in training for a possible return to wrestling. The speculation was he wanted to return to the WWF as a heel, and even requested his release from WCW.

As news of Rude's passing spread, several of Rude's friends spoke out about the "Ravishing" one.

Five-time WWF champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart, was saddened by the news, "This one has come straight out of nowhere. With some wrestlers you can see it happening. He was a great family man. He loved his wife. He was one of those kind of guys who would never took his wedding ring off. He put a white piece of tape around it when he went into the ring. He was the kind of guy that when you need someone to back you up, he wouldn't flinch at all. Not for money. Not for anything."

Hart also dedicated his weekly Calgary Sun column to his deceased friend, entitling the piece “Rude Awakening.”

Jacque Rougeau commented, "Rude was a good guy in the dressing room. Never looked for trouble. Always did his own thing. I got along perfectly with him....I can't believe he passed away."

Jim Ross closed his weekly Ross Report by saying, "Rick Rude was a man's man. He certainly was a very ‘tell it like it is’ guy. He had strong convictions in his own beliefs. Again, we remember the lean, muscular, vibrant athlete that we saw bumping, grinding and bumping some more in rings around the world. Rick Rude will be missed."

WCW offered a statement sending condolences to Rude's family, and WCW joined ECW and the WWF in writing career retrospectives on Rude on their web sites.

Rude is Survived by wife, Mrs. Michelle Rood, Alpharetta; daughter, Merissa Rood, Alpharatta; Richard Ryan Rood and Colton Rood, Alpharetta; mother and father, Richard C. Rood and Penny Rood, Larry and Sally Chiaferi, sisters, Sherry and Nancy Rood, Robins Dale, MN; Cathy Carder, Las Vegas, NV; Marcy Wheeler, Las Vegas, NV; brother, Michael Rood, Minneapolis, MN; grandparents, Mrs. Ruby Wilson, and Mrs. Brenda Allred, Tampa, FL; sister-in-law, Bridget Brown, Tampa, FL; 10 nieces, 7 nephews.

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