#66 – Rick Rude v Tommy Rich, July 16, 1984
We head down to Memphis for a match with young Rick Rude and the former NWA World Champion Tommy Rich. We also read a TREMENDOUS story about drywalling with Abdullah the Butcher.
This episode has been archived in the Season 2 digital box set available for $9.99 at the OSWP Merch Store!
This may be the funniest episode of the Old School Wrestling Podcast ever. Although, I was a little creeped out by Dre’s Jim Barnett impression.
Fantastic work, as per the usual, gentlemen.
Have to agree with David. “Wear me around your neck, boy” and Black Cat’s subsequent coffee(?)-in-the-mount laugh had me in hysterics. Of all the pearls in the OSWP Hall of Fame my favourite joke has always been when Warrior’s WM6 was described as his wedding, but I think I’m gonna have to rate this even higher. Both of you were EN FUEGO the whole episode. And streak is now 66-0 🙂
Great go-home show before the big announcement next time. Can’t wait to hear what it is.
I don’t even remember the Warrior thing…hmmm…where is that episode.
And, yes, coffee. Or if you want to get specific, espresso from our $100 espresso machine.
The Warrior wedding was part of the WM6 show, with the best part being when Warrior’s new tassles arrived and he said “Don’t let Hulk Hogan see these new tassles. it would be bad luck” 🙂
I can tell that that I felt equally as creeped out in the moment as we were recording. It was a OSWP moment that I will never forget.
“He’s simply ravishing, babbling, he knows how to move. The girls go crazy, they don’t know what to do. He’ll steal your girl, break her heart, leave you a fool. He’s simply ravishing, babbling, Ravishing Rude!”
I was assigned an homework assignment on the Mania X8 episode and it wasn’t acknowledged on this episode if I got it right or not? How sad! 🙁 I had a sad day at work because of this fact. 🙁 **Tear**
“He’s bold and he’s cocky! He struts on down! There he goes, there he goes, taking off his robe!”
Triple D, you did a fine job with your homework, thank you, sir. If it’s any solace, I forget something else that was a major deal, so it’s not just you. I’m suspecting the Alzheimer’s that I’ve been waiting for is finally starting to set in.
Sir Cat, first thought came to mind is: ‘Did Black Cat take too many chair shots to the head, which lead to the forgetful mind?’ It’s understandable, I wanted to give you and the Lovely Dre a hard time (kinda like the Big Boss Man, served up Cobb Co. style).
One debate I wanna hear: what’s the difference between Ravishing Rick Rude’s ‘Rude Awakening’ and the Honky Tonk Man’s ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll’?
The Rude Awakening actually looked like it hurt.
Upon listening to the podcast, I jumped over to YouTube to watch this match and a few things stood out to me:
1. Rick Rude should’ve used the side headlock as his submission-style finisher. The man could’ve twisted a gorilla in half!
2. If a “low-blow” is an illegal move, why was the inverted atomic drop legal? You’re basically dropping your opponent nads-first onto your knee. I’m all for suspension of disbelief and logic in wrestling, but that one seems iffy.
3. He didn’t really do it in this match, but NO ONE could sell an atomic drop (inverted or otherwise) like Rick Rude. His grimaced face followed by bowing his legs and/or patting his own posterior is just amazing for that move.
4. The idea of Jerry Lawler being ubiquitous in Memphis wrestling is more true than it should be. Dude was everywhere. I remember first getting into wrestling and watching USWA on ESPN for a short while, and he was probably the first or second face I saw every week.
5. Rick Rude was the first heel in my exposure to wrestling. I am roughly the same age you guys but got into the sport later, when I was 11. My first major show to watch was a Clash of Champions in Nov. 91, where Sting was “injured” in a sneak attack by Lex Luger, and had to rush back from the hospital (the man STOLE an ambulance?!?! WTF?!?) to defend his U.S. title against Rude. Of course, Rude won and I had my first face to cheer and heel to boo.
Over the years, I grew to really appreciate Rude’s work for what it was and was disappointed he never really fulfilled his potential, due to injuries and, sadly, his premature death.
6. Dre’s Lance Russell is fantastic, but his Jim Barnett may be the creepiest thing you two have EVER done on this podcast!
Keep up the great work!
Looking forward to the big announcement next time,
Dogfaced Kremlin
Solid point regarding the atomic drop. Rude really is one of the top guys who should’ve attained more success but never did. Him and Curt Hennig.
Rude was rumored to be winning the WCW title from Ron Simmons back at Starrcade 92, but a legit injury forced those plans to be changed.
Oh, what could’ve been…a Ravishing World Champion would’ve been sweet!
It almost seemed to be an amazing coincidence that I posted an episode of my show, you guys speaking of my show, my show featuring a Tommy Rich match, and yours featuring a Tommy Rich match. For a brief moment I felt bad when reading the description of the episode thinking all the horrifically bad things I had said about the Hobo Camp Champion, but I don’t nearly feel as guilty now that I have substantial proof that he looked at I described even in 1984.
The Abdullah the Butcher story had me rolling with laughter. I cannot imagine the sight of him walking through a Home Depot like a normal person. The thought of it brings to mind a Simpsons gag where the employees of a peanut factory were preparing for an impending elephant stampede.
Thanks for sharing the story guys…I’m glad some others could get some enjoyment from it..And thanks for painting a more vivid picture of Abdullah putting the stank on some unlucky woman.
1. Rick Rude spent some time as a babyface jobber in the early part of 1984 in Mid South..as Rick Rood…There was a talent exchange that went on at the end of 1983/beginning of 1984 between Jerry Jarrett and Bill Watts..Jarrett has the genius to change his name from Rood to Rude and the rest is history..Watts has the genius out of this trade to create the Midnight Express with 2 midcarders, Eaton and Condrey.
2. The Rich/Race match was a different type of screwjob than the one Jim Barnett was looking for. If you watch it on youtube and read the stories, it appears Race had no idea this was going down this way and Rich didn’t either..it seems the local promoter pulled a Vinny Mac..it appears Andre came in to add a little security for Rich so that Race wouldn’t beat the crap out of him…it could also be why he dropped it back 4 days later.
Hah…I was concerned we might have offended you with our commentary to your story. I will look into the Andre story. Hadn’t heard about that.
I think Doc Henedrix explained that on an episode of Legends of Wrestling. I remember him saying that Jim asked him and the other guys in the back if they could get Harley if things got crazy.I believe he thought ,since Rich was the top baby face in the territory, that Race beating him would cause a riot. However, when Race lost, that’s when Doc realized that they were screwing Race and not Thomas Rich.
Dre and Cat,
With Wrestlemania weekend going on right now, I would like to take this opportunity to look at the WWE Hall of Fame induction of the greatest faction of all time, THE Four Horsemen, and why the WWE would take a later version, and not the originals, which would include Ole Anderson.
I totally get the politics involved, as Ole Anderson is a pompous old prick, and everyone with a paying job in professional wrestling hope he gets run over by a garbage truck, but in my opinion, the originals were more feared, and had more of a gang mentality with Ole then Barry, or Lex. The later versions were not as good, obviously Paul Roma and Kendal Whindam come to mind. I actually liked the Ric, Arn, Mongo, and “the fourth member”, as they brought something old school to the table, and I think Curt Henning fit the bill just fine as well, albeit he lasted exactly three days. Let us venture in our Delorian, plug in the Flux Capaciter, and drive 88 miles per hour and go back in time to see how the Four Horsemen dominated late 85 through January 89.
It is not a secret how this union came about, with the four men using airtime and teaming together to help book shows across the south and midwest areas. The first group, Arn, Ric, Tully and Ole, from hereby known as FH1, were a ruthless bunch. All four of them were sound technicians in the ring. Arn and Ole were National Tag Team Champs, and could kick the crap out of any tag team Crockett had to offer, minus the Road Warriors, but could definitely hold their own against the second greatest Tag Team of all time (see my rant on the Killer Bees). Nobody wanted to wrestle against the Minnesota Wrecking Crew. FH1 not only broke Dusty Rhodes leg when Dusty came out to save Ric Flair against the Russians, about eight months later, they went out and broke his arm in that infamous street footage. They were mean, nasty, and could fight with anyone. Ric Flair was the Champ, and the Gestapo, if you will. Tully was a great ring technician, and will fight you with all he had. Arn, at the time, was the greenest of the four, but you can’t deny his potential, you knew he was something special, and then Ole was the muscle of the group. The most underrated fact of Ole, was his interview abilities. Ole was a great spot, because what he told you he was going to do, he did it. All of the FH1 had that gift to deliver the verbal warning. What a joy it was to see all five of the FH1 (dont forget JJ) in the Atlanta studio surrounding David Crockett, and painting the picture of how bad ass they were. That was my favorite group.
Behind the scenes, Ole was getting a little older, and wanted to book full time, so they brought in Lex Luger. He was, at the time, a good choice. Hindsight tells us now, he wasn’t. Lex Luger was not a team player. He was a singles wrestler, period. Yes, Tully and Lex made it to the Crockett Cup finals against Dusty and Sickle Pickle, (The Little Nightmare, if you will), but that was due to Tully and JJ carrying the team. He was a great bill as the US Champ, but compared to Ole and the rest, he couldn’t talk his way out of anything. He needed JJ and the rest more then they needed him. He looked good, and you could buy him fighting Nikita, The Road Warriors, Dusty, Ms. Atlanta Lively, and so on, but as a fit in the FH2, not so much. They were missing that enforcer type that Ole was.
Push forward, to the Bunkhouse Stampede, Lex eliminated JJ, and then explained how he didn’t need the Four Horsemen, and they parted ways. There was an open spot, and it was no secret who JJ and the other three wanted. Barry Whindam. In my opinion, the best choice to continue the battles with Dusty and friends. Flair wouldn’t have to defend against him anymore. Those battles between Flair and Whindam have and will always stand the test of time. Also, he had the secrets of Dusty, with Barry being a “Younger Nephew”, with the Blackjack Mulligan ties. Barry could talk, could fight, could wrestle a five star match, would “play his role”, and be a great team member. He definitely added a new dynamic to the group, with Arn now the full time enforcer of the group. That group was the most decorated of the Horsem combos, with Tully and Arn the tag champs That lasted until Steamboat came around, and we all know the story from there, the end of an era.
In closing, it is a tough debate between FH1 and FH3, but my opinion is that the original version is the best, with Ole holding the spot as the enforcer, and I was a fan of the dark blue sweatshirt with the embroidered “IM THAT DAMN GOOD” written across the front.
My friend (and Atomic Elbow cartoonist) made a reproduction of the Ole Anderson shirt in question.
http://tshirtsfortorsos.spreadshirt.com/
You guys have truest filled my life with comedy and great commentary. I found you guys by pure luck on iTunes and have been hooked ever since. Whenever I work out, you guys have have been on my iTunes playlist. I have quickly gone through your whole collection of pod cast in the past month and can’t wait for more. I even got into the Awesome 80’s podcast and crack up at that as well. However, Expect an email from me on your Facebook page about demolition. I actually am a huge demo fan and became one in the late 90’s despite being a 100% black southerner and NWA fanatic. Ttyl, take it easy guys.
-M.D. Johnson
Please be careful when listening to wrestling related comedic podcasts at the gym. I almost dropped a bar listening to Colt Cabana’s podcast when he and Bryan Danielson talked about a “Bacon is my Passion” T-shirt.
Ser J, you are dead on with that comment. I’m a fan of FH1 because I feel Ole could beat the brains out of everyone in that old NWA studio and possibly murder David Crockett in the process.
Possibly new favorite comment ever. I do not support the murder of David Crockett, but I do believe Ole was perfectly capable of doing so.
Dre most definitely won the Lance Russell-off.
Lawler sounded like he’d done a few tv/radio commercials in his day.
I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed Jook in hysterics. I really enjoyed hearing that. The subject matter about Abby doing it I could go without, but Jook laughing heartily is a good thing.
Questions about the Abdullah dry wall story: 1) Did Abby charge MoolahTossedSalad (MTS) for the 8×10? 2) Did Abby convince MTS to cover the Home Depot bill? 3) Would anyone be surprised if Abby invited MTS along just so he could get MTS to do all the heavy lifting? 4) Would anyone be surprised if Abby did not give MTS anything in return for helping him out?
Many thanks for the well wishes!
What did Lance Russell think he was doing bringing up hemroids at the end of that interview with Lawler at the end of the podcast? Did he not think Lawler would jump all over that?
1. No charge on the pictures..He had a big box of them in the trunk. 2. He didn’t ask but I would have. 3. I know it was his intentions, but I didn’t care..It was worth the memory. 4.He didn’t even offer a bottle of water, but I didn’t care..He gave me an awesome story to tell.
Hey, Why can’t you guys do once a week, like SWF. ha ha, thoughts on WM28 and why I cant download your other podcasts before 50?
You can’t handle us every week!!!!
I’m going through withdrawals, the ethanol kind with the DT’s. I need a Flair Cho fix!
*Chop
A Question of Tights
Does anyone remember the advertisement that featured in PWI for wrestling tights? There was a list of most of the popular stars of the day. Did anyone buy these? Where did they wear them?
During the mid to late 80’s could you walk into a sports bar and see grown men drinking beer, watching TV and dressed in nothing but the gold tights of Hulk Hogan or The Killer Bees?
“Hi Steve, I like your Dino Bravo tights. Are they new?”
“Yes. I couldn’t decide on these or the Barry Windham ones tonight.”
“There’s Dave over there in his ‘Rugged’ Ronnie Garvin tights. He has his Hammer Jammer on too.”
Did mothers get together and chat about the behaviour of their teenage sons?
Mum #1: “I’m a bit worried about my Johnny and a strange clothes fetish he has.”
Mum #2: “Oh did you catch him walking around your house wearing one of your dresses? That’s perfectly normal at his age.”
Mum #1: “No. He was stood infront of the mirror wearing Honky Tonk Man wrestling tights.”
Mum #2: “That’s weird.”