However, WCCW withdrew from the NWA on February 20, 1986, and changed its name to the World Class Wrestling Association. During his time in WCCW, Rude captured the NWA American Heavyweight Championship on November 4, 1985. In late 1985, he jumped to World Class Championship Wrestling along with Pringle, where he feuded with Kevin Von Erich and Chris Adams. While teaming with Jesse Barr, he won the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship on April 16, 1985, and feuded with Billy Jack Haynes and McDaniel over the belts, losing the straps to McDaniel and Haynes on July 9, 1985. He held the belt until October 2 of that year when he dropped it to Wahoo McDaniel, who was booking Florida during this time. He captured the championship again on July 20, 1985, when he defeated Mike Graham in the finals of a Southern title tournament. He defeated Pez Whatley for the NWA Florida Southern Heavyweight Championship on Januand lost it to Brian Blair on April 10, 1985. Rude was hired by Championship Wrestling from Florida in December 1984, where he was managed by Percy Pringle. Rude feuded with Jerry Lawler and later his former partner, King Kong Bundy. He returned to Memphis in 1984, this time as 'Ravishing' Rick Rude, an overconfident, arrogant heel managed by Jimmy Hart.

He later left and joined the National Wrestling Alliance affiliate Jim Crockett Promotions where he and a variety of tag team partners feuded with The Road Warriors. He started with Vancouver's NWA: All-Star Wrestling before moving on to compete for Georgia Championship Wrestling and later the Memphis-based Continental Wrestling Association. Peter, Minnesota, Rood attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, Minnesota with Tom Zenk, Brady Boone, Nikita Koloff, Curt Hennig, John Nord, and Barry Darsow, all of whom later became professional wrestlers.Īfter graduating from Anoka Ramsey Junior College with a degree in physical education, Rood began wrestling in 1983 as Ricky Rood, a babyface jobber. 1.3 Extreme Championship Wrestling and return to the WWF (1997)īorn in St.

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