Rick Rude: Too Great of a Heel to Be WWE Champion

Rick Rude was one of the most talented and charismatic performers of his era in professional wrestling. With Rude's confidence, his peak physical conditioning, Rude's ability to connect with the female demographic, and his polished in-ring skills, Rude was a top-tier star. A natural heel, his gimmick was based around arrogance, vanity, as well as disrespect, displayed when Rude would flirt with the female fans while simultaneously insulting the male fans during promos. It's fair to say that he was one of the most effective heels of his generation. Unfortunately, however, for Rude, it was for that reason that he never became a world champion in WWE (then known as the WWF).

Making his debut in 1982, Rick Rude held many championship victories early in his career, becoming the first as well as fourth-longest reigning World Class World Heavyweight Champion, the last ever NWA American Heavyweight Champion, an NWA World Tag Team Champion, a World Class World Television Champion, a two-time NWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, an AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion, an NWA Florida United States Tag Team Champion, and an AWA Southern Tag Team Champion, all by 1986.

When Rick Rude arrived in WWE in the late 1980s, his career reached new heights. His 1988 feud with Jake Roberts, which involved Roberts' wife at the time Cheryl, is well remembered for its drama and controversy, which included Rude flirting with Cheryl, grabbing her wrist after she slapped him, Rude later wearing tights with a likeness of Cheryl on them, and Roberts' reaction.




Rick Rude’s ability to generate heat was notable. He could rile up the crowd with his arrogant promos, often insulting the local audience and boasting about his physique. Rude was a master of manipulating the crowd's emotions, and although his interactions with the female fans were often suggestive and would include Rude kissing women who were selected from the audience, even they were not immune to his sharp tongue.



During a match, Rick Rude could back up the confidence that he displayed. Rude was a skilled and powerful technician with a smooth and athletic style. He was impressive in the ring no matter who he was in the ring with, showcasing Rude's versatility and in-ring capability. However, despite his talent and the consistent reactions Rude brought out from crowds, he never became a world champion in WWE.

In WCW, which Rick Rude joined in 1991 after leaving WWE a year earlier, he held the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship three times, with his first reign being the longest in the championship's history. Critics state that the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship was not on the same level as the WCW World Heavyweight Championship as a top singles title. However, an argument can be made that it was, due to the fact the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship was represented by the Big Gold Belt. It is iconic, with its lineage tracing back to the World Heavyweight Championship, giving the Big Gold Belt an inherent legitimacy- that lineage started in 1905, making the World Heavyweight Championship the oldest title in the pro-wrestling industry. Regardless of the "International" designation, the belt's presence signaled "world championship". Also, Rude both defended and won the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship overseas, making it undisputedly a true world championship.

The reason why Rick Rude did not have the same fortune in WWE that he did in WCW was that both organizations had very different environments. WCW had a significant heel presence which allowed Rude, being that he was a heel, to thrive. Rude's charisma, mic skills, athleticism, and in-ring talent could easily be utilized to the fullest extent. WWE during the period that he was there, on the other hand, was a "face territory," where a strong heel's role was to challenge the face champion, and then in the end, be defeated. This is the same situation that Curt Hennig was in during his heel run in WWE. Rude was a great heel, so he had title matches with Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, The Ultimate Warrior, the three wrestlers who were face champions of WWE during his time in the company. In WWE's view at the time, their audience was strongly against heel world champions, and having one would have been ineffective.

Being that Rick Rude was a complete fit as a heel, it's highly unlikely that WWE would have turned him face had he stayed with the company past 1990, but perhaps Rude would have a short transitional run as WWE Champion, like Ric Flair did two times in 1992, when the company's stance on being a face territory was changing. However, even though it doesn't equal the career impact of holding the WWE Championship, Rude's record reign as WCW International World Heavyweight Champion is a significant achievement that shows a high level of drawing power and is something that a wrestler should be proud of.

Rick Rude’s legacy is having excellent wrestling ability that set a high standard, possessing outstanding charisma, elevating the heel role to an art form, and being great at his role at the time, whether it was being a heel obstacle for a face champion, or being the champion. Rude is also remembered for consistently delivering top performances both in the ring and on the mic. Although he did not hold the most valuable title in the industry, Rude's lasting influence on the wrestling world is undeniable, and he remains a favorite figure among wrestling fans who, even while raining boos down on him for his heelish behavior, were entertained by Rude. For those who grew up watching WWE in the 1980s, it holds a special place due to the larger-than-life characters of that time, and he was definitely one of them as he connected with his audience, even in the most antagonistic way. Rude's legacy isn't defined by what he didn't achieve, but by what he did achieve, as well as the unforgettable moments he created and the permanent impression he left on a generation of wrestling fans.