Rick Rude wrestlers loved (and hated) in real life

The “ravishing” Rick Rude was among the greatest heels in wrestling history after strong success in WWE and WCW. The skilled worker at all levels could have solid matches with most opponents and pull off cocky heel promos that sold his character perfectly. Most wrestlers liked working with Rude, but that didn’t mean he got along with everyone.

Rude had a good mix of friends that he became close with and a smaller number of people that he had a strong disdain for in the industry. Opposing wrestlers knew where they stood with Rude since he was seen as an honest and forthright person. The following wrestlers and personalities were either loved or hated by Rude.

Liked: Bobby Heenan

The on-screen partnership showed true friendship

Rick Rude and Bobby Heenan were both two of the best heel personalities in WWE. WWE decided to have Rude join the Heenan family to be managed by “The Brain” and have an advantage as two hated characters.

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During his time in various promotions, Rick Rude has teamed with some spectacular performers, as well as some duds.

Rude apparently didn’t want a manager because he liked to do his own promos, but he still enjoyed working with a close friend like Heenan. The duo found a perfect act with Rude continuing to do most of the talking while Heenan cheated outside the ring.

I Didn’t Do It: Shawn Michaels

The on-screen partnership had no friendship

WWE saw Rick Rude go from a high heel wrestler with a manager to becoming the manager of new high heel Shawn Michaels within a decade. Michaels led the original heel version of D-Generation X with Triple H and Chyna saw him add Rude to the act.

Rude’s presence as a heel saw him described as an insurance policy that helped Michaels attack others. However, Rude was one of many WWE talents who hated the way Michaels behaved. Rude’s signing by WCW during the Monday Night Wars saw him trash Michaels in his first appearance after leaving WWE.

I loved: Sting

WCW Feud saw them gain mutual respect

Rick Rude made a big move to join WCW in the early 1990s after his initial run in WWE as a talent ended. WCW placed Rude in a larger role in the main event more consistently and saw him have a big feud with Sting at the top of the card.

Sting has praised Rude in interviews for being a great heel and working hard to ensure Sting gets the best babyface reactions. Both wrestlers saw that their characters benefited from working together and formed a friendship based on that respect.

Didn’t do it: Bruce Prichard

Prichard revealed that Rude once threatened to kill him

Bruce Prichard was considered Vince McMahon’s right-hand man for most of his WWE career. This led many wrestlers to hate Prichard as a middleman who often played a role or was the one to give them bad news regarding ending pushes, firings, or lower contract offers.

Rick Rude wasn’t happy with how things ended in his first WWE run and left in a huff. Prichard revealed their last conversation before he left, Rude threatened to kill him. However, things were cordial when they spoke again with Rude looking for a return to WWE.

Liked: Bret Hart

Rude left WWE because of Montreal Screwjob

Rick Rude was technically against Bret Hart on-screen as Shawn Michaels’ enforcer, but he clearly preferred Hart in real life. The WWE locker room almost all chose Hart over Michaels during their personal drama, and Rude was at the top of that list.

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WWE upset Rude enough that he left the company and called out Eric Bischoff a day after the Montreal Screwjob embarrassed Hart. Rude showed loyalty to Bret and did not want to work in a place where Michaels’ bad behavior was rewarded by Hart’s long-standing professionalism.

I didn’t do it: Erik Watts

Rude & Watts had a weird fight backstage

Erik Watts has told how he was forced to “wrestle” Rick Rude for real backstage after an awkward interaction. Rude was talking about Curt Hennig ad nauseam to get Watts to make a snide comment that set the veteran off.

The WCW locker room witnessed Rude then challenges Watts to an amateur wrestling match to test its robustness. Watts claimed he got the better ending and Rude called him a cheater. The only thing certain in the story was that Rude clearly didn’t like Watts.

Liked: Paul Heyman

The WCW partnership made them lifelong friends

Paul Heyman getting his first big character break in WCW saw him lead the Dangerous Alliance faction. Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Madusa and Bobby Eaton were all important members of the group, but Rude clearly remained the biggest star.

Heyman’s management skills added to Rude’s run in WCW to make him feel like the most well-rounded heel on the roster. The following years saw the love still there as Heyman hired Rude to play a masked character on screen when he was forced to retire from the ring and try to stay involved in other roles.

I Didn’t Do It: Ultimate Warrior

Rude hated carrying a warrior to good matches

It can be argued that Rick Rude led Ultimate Warrior to the latter’s career-best matches, but they were not friends despite working closely together. Rude actually hated Warrior for the same reasons as many other wrestlers due to his bad attitude and reckless style.

Bruce Prichard revealed that Rude almost fought Warrior backstage after tensions reached a boiling point following one of their matches. Rude was always professional and helped Warrior have rare great matches, but he hated the person behind the gimmick.

Liked: Curt Hennig

Minnesota Connection made them wrestling BFFs

Rick Rude has referred to Curt Hennig, aka Mr. Perfect, as his best friend dating back to their childhood in Minnesota. The two wrestlers met at the same high school and were on the same wrestling team with fellow future wrestlers Barry Darsow, Tom Zenk, Nikita Koloff and The Barbarian.

Hennig and Rude both got into the wrestling business around the same time to become stars and further strengthen their connection. WCW allowed them to work together later in their careers, with Rude becoming Hennig’s manager until his sudden and shocking death.