Rick Rude: Backstabbing Jerk or One Hellva a guy?

[Goldenbane]

I was hoping RD or someone else could shed light on this for me.

I've heard two stories about how Rick Rude appeared on WCW and WWF at the same time. One story says that Rude pulled a "Kevin Nash" and jumped ship merely out of greed for more money.

Other stories say Rude was appalled by Vince's bullcrap with what happened Bret Hart and even took a pay cut to jump ship and humiliate the WWF, because of what he believed was right.

Are either of these stories true? Why did Rick leave WWF and Degeneration X?

[stephendame]

As for pulling a "Kevin Nash," that verb may be coming from a smart fan who doesn't quite understand business. Big Kev was offered an obscene amount of money, a killer angle on top of a promotion, and an easier work schedule. It was a no brainer decision. In the then cutting edge RAW magazine, Vince said so himself. He wished Kevin luck, said there was no way he could compete with Ted Turners money (laying the ground work for his "the reason were number 2" speech he'd use over the next few years) and said he hoped they could work together in the future.

What Rick Rude did was tell the employer that he'd be on TV as scheduled... and then turned up on the other guys TV. You could argue that it was a decision made out of principle (Rude was pissed about Montreal) but he most likely took the WCW deal for the same reasons Nash did: money, exposure, easy road sched.

Although, the fact that he bolted without giving notice or allowing the company to blow off his character (Which Nash did) probably nudges him towards unprofessional territory.

[Goldenbane]

stephendame said:

As for pulling a "Kevin Nash," that verb may be coming from a smart fan who doesn't quite understand business. Big Kev was offered an obscene amount of money, a killer angle on top of a promotion, and an easier work schedule. It was a no brainer decision. In the then cutting edge RAW magazine, Vince said so himself. He wished Kevin luck, said there was no way he could compete with Ted Turners money (laying the ground work for his "the reason were number 2" speech he'd use over the next few years) and said he hoped they could work together in the future.

What Rick Rude did was tell the employer that he'd be on TV as scheduled... and then turned up on the other guys TV. You could argue that it was a decision made out of principle (Rude was pissed about Montreal) but he most likely took the WCW deal for the same reasons Nash did: money, exposure, easy road sched.

Although, the fact that he bolted without giving notice or allowing the company to blow off his character (Which Nash did) probably nudges him towards unprofessional territory.

D'OH!!!! I'm sorry, I didn't mean Kevin Nash, I meant Scott Hall (Didn't he like...fax his notice to Vince at the last minute and therefore was never embarrassed on tv as is wrestling tradtion?) I'm sorry...Big Daddy Cool Deisal wasn't the man I was thinking of.

[chrislatimer2005]

to be fair to nash, he spoke to vince and told vince what was going on, hall just acted so badly.

as for rude i heard a few things over his backstage ways, but he did go to wcw mainly over monteral i do beilive that, cant say he was right but thats what he did

[KLRA]

Yeah, the story on the WWE produced "Monday Night Wars" DVD is Nash told Vince, "Don't worry about it" but then called back with, "But they're offering all of this." Then the story you can get out of the RAW magazine which was published around the time Nash left for WCW is basically the truth. Nash was a total professional with how he acted in my opinion. It's like if you're working for say a restaurant as a cook, only getting paid X amount and having to work 7 days a week. A rival restaurant then offers you greatly more than what you're currently making and only at 4 days a week. What do you do? Give your two weeks notice and not burn any bridges.

Nash did that in my opinion.

[stephendame]

Hall jobbed his way out as well... however he wouldn't do the PPV job to Goldust at WM12.

But by May he was back in WWF rings. I saw him lose to Jerry Lawler in Hamilton, Ontario while fans chanted "Goodbye Razor:" very different from the "You Sold Out!" chants that would become popular after the formation of the nWo.

Didn't Hall job to Vader on PPV before leaving?

[Rocky Van Heineken]

Before Hall left for WCW, he wrestled Goldust at the 96 Rumble, 123 Kid at February's IYH, and Vader at April's IYH. He showed up in WCW in May.