WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase recently shared his thoughts on the late “Ravishing” Rick Rude, revealing a surprisingly tepid opinion of the legendary heel who captivated audiences throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
During the latest episode of his podcast “Everybody’s Got A Pod,” DiBiase addressed the wrestling landscape of 1990 while offering a remarkably honest evaluation of his former colleague.
You know, I never got to know Rick real well. But ‘Ravishing’ Rick Rude, the gimmick was good for him, and what have you.
DiBiase continued with his assessment of his fellow WWE Hall of Famer Rick Rude.
I thought he was okay, but I didn’t think he was the greatest thing that happened since apple pie, that’s for sure. Had a great body.
This almost lukewarm appraisal stands in stark contrast to the reverence many wrestling historians and fans hold for Rude, who is widely considered one of the greatest heel performers of his era. Known for his exceptional physique, provocative pre-match rituals, and in-ring psychology, Rude had high profile feuds with top stars including the Ultimate Warrior, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and Roddy Piper.
DiBiase specifically questioned WWE’s decision to book Rude against Ultimate Warrior, a program that produced several high-profile matches including their encounter at WrestleMania V and a memorable cage match at SummerSlam 1990.
At the time, apparently it worked. But I’ll be honest with you, I don’t really know what they were thinking [booking him against Warrior].
Rick Rude, who passed away in 1999 at age 40, was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017.
WWE Hall Of Famer Ted DiBiase Believes This Match Was A Big WrestleMania Mistake
In another recent edition of his podcast, Ted DiBiase discussed what he thinks is the biggest WrestleMania mistake and said that the decision to have the Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Lawrence Taylor match main event WrestleMania 11 was one of them. DiBiase said that Taylor’s involvement at the biggest pro wrestling event of the year devalues wrestling as a whole.
H/t to 411mania.com