Rick Rude feuds with Austin Idol (1984) Classic Memphis Wrestling

[@TBDV1]

I met Rude around the time this was shot/aired...Hell of an athlete and regardless of what you hear? He was a down to earth, cool dude and a class act all the way!

[@michaelallanrubin2376]

Rude and idol did not get along

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

I met him in 85 and he was incredibly cool to me and my father. Still have his signed photo. He definitely took about 2 minutes to talk to us and it was very heartfelt. Yes he was young, but still acted like he gave a sh-t. He asked me who my favorite wrestler was. I told him Muraco, Morales, Dusty,Backlund ,Kevin Von Eric,and of course , Rick Rude. I’ll never forget the conversation and how he actually seemed to care. One of the greats for sure.

[@MoBizzie]

@@michaelallanrubin2376 Sort of like your mom and dad

[@FabzRoma-is3sq]

@@BigBass-xf5yi Rick does care and he is Christian soul, loving, compassionate, giving and always the consummate professional/ Love never dies and the soul is immortal, indestructible/

[@Bryan-gz9xn]

I don't doubt that for a minute. because I'm a fan of idol, I'd say he'd beat the daylights out of rude in a real fight.

[@narc6150]

the way rude came out it looks like he was upset that somebody interrupt him during a porno shot. lol

[@jasonmarks9059]

Austin Idol...Women's Pet and Man's regret.....Every mother's nightmare and every school girls dream...The Universal Heart throb... Originator of the Vegas Leg lock....Very underated....Great mic skills

[@rodneywaugh8535]

Honestly..... If it wasn't for his refusal to fly.... You would have seen him in the WWF fighting against hulk Hogan.... He had that same look that same body build but the way wrestling had changed he was going to have to fly to make it the next level

[@JruGordon]

He sounds high here

[@johnskinnwr4629]

@@rodneywaugh8535 he was in a bad plain crash

[@williambrightman1375]

​@@johnskinnwr4629The plane crashed in Tampa Bay , Gary Hart was on board and Bobby Shayne died in the crash.

[@ColdSmokes]

"I don't lift no weights".lol @01:34

[@drgwhatsthetruth3783]

...or take steriods, human growth hormones...

[@rodzor]

One this is for sure he didn't do any lower body weight training. Rude looking like a weightlifter up top with little basketball player legs. The man had some serious chicken legs, Tony Atlas back in the day, same thing. Also Rude here, that physique he has is attainable naturally though I doubt he is natural I'm just saying. He isn't huge by any means just jacked with low bodyfat. Austin Idol is freaking huge on the gas here.

[@d820m]

Rude used to call Idol, "The Universal Heartburn"

[@Kagemusha08]

Lance Russell has to be the best interviewer ever. His reactions are always plausible, no matter how ridiculous the situations were. He always managed to put the heels over as dangerous threats yet never cowered away and stood up for his beliefs (something that the wet noodles that WWE currently employs as interviewers could learn from).

[@Blacattacsquadron]

@Leonardo's Truth your comment is 3 years old but damn good!!!!!

[@trollem69]

5 Years Old comment, but what ya said about WWE is still relevant today.

[@16rumpole]

he always made things interesting.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Agreed

[@babarazamsucks]

I mean this is Memphis and this is why Vince McMahon killed territory wrestling.

[@ozzymorrison8628]

this is professional wrestling baby!! goddam i miss it

[@markadriantomlinson200]

Rude played the cowardly heel to perfection.

[@mondocjenson-dy8zd]

Classic. Bring back the Good ole days of Wrestling

[@RavishingBeyond]

It so woefully miscast though. There might not have been a single man on the roster that could really whoop Rude's ass.

[@w1hines]

@@RavishingBeyond I heard that Rude, Simmons, Meng, Harley Race, Wahoo, Dick Slater, Bad Leroy Brown were all real tough guys.

[@RCLeyba88]

@@w1hines They're all legit tough guys but you got the top of the list right., I'd only add Barbarian and Stan Hanson as well.

[@RCLeyba88]

I've never thought of him as a cowardly heel nor Piper. They always backed up what they said and usually stood face to face with their opponents. He's not the finished mold of Ravishing Rick Rude yet at this time either. His mic skills improved 100 percent and his confidence in his work got way better not to long after this. But I totally agree with you that he was a perfect heel.

[@KingofNewark]

Austin Idol TODAY looks fantastic for his age. He is managing Nick Aldis the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion.

[@GregoryWeagle]

Considering what happened years before this, he's lucky he's even alive.

[@mickm6309]

And now Aldis is at WWE as the General Manager of Smackdown.

[@go-goakins1489]

Classic clip there of austin idol and rick rude here Sure beats anything on wwe or tna today Wrestling was in that era was gold

[@poopsyko]

Go-go Akins it just turned you on when rude said everyone wants to see his beautiful body hey?lol

[@go-goakins1489]

This kind of footage is classic It brings back the days when territories ruled wrestling Rick rude was great wrestler nuff said

[@Michael_Chandler_Keaton]

Go-go Akins I would give anything to see this kind of wrestling again. There's just not enough of us out here. No promotion could make serious money bringing this back. Today's marks don't get it, and they wouldn't let it work, cheering the bad guys and booing matches as "boring," just because nobody is doing quintuple swanton 450 splashes, or really punching each other in the nose.

[@94fleetwood49]

@@Michael_Chandler_Keaton No wrestling took place, u meant wrestling "show." Also most marks are booing today's product just as u are. Also, there is no storylines and Kayfabe is dead which makes the product "boring" today. Most marks want Kayfabe/storylines back. I'm sure u agree with the "marks," otherwise ur confusing today's audience as "marks" to fit ur agenda.

[@Michael_Chandler_Keaton]

@@94fleetwood49 Today's audience are the marks, and I thought it rather obvious that my comment was intended to convey the kind of wrestling that took place in this era. No, most of todays marks are not booing the product. WWE marks keep selling out arenas to see their garbage and AEW play wrestling is drawing thousands of fans too. It's not about "storylines,' they still do storylines today (even if they do abandon them halfway through sometimes), it's about treating the business in a serious fashion. It's about performers selling those storylines and not taking pictures together on social media while they're in the middle of a feud. In fact, promotions should ban all out of gimmick social media accounts. If you wanna be a pro wrestler be prepared to live the life, and sacrifice social media and all business exposing enterprises, you're not an actor. Lastly, we need psychology and the ability to tell a story without five 450 splashes through a table every match. Ric Flair and Michael Hayes had matches most fans today couldn't even sit through, yet they had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands, no triple sowcows necessary. Pro wrestling is dead. All we have left is sports entertainment, play wrestling, hardcore mudshows, and Japanese MMA lite.

[@miltonrogers1395]

We've had some real legendary wrestlers start their careers my home town. 7 years old then, probably was there that day. My uncle used to take us to Channel 5 studios on Saturday mornings to watch live. Memories

[@reneeowens3826]

80's FOREVER !! No One Can COMPARE. Hands Down Baby🏆💃🍸💃🍸💃🍸💃

[@lastwolflord]

Man angel was smoking hot. And this was better then anything I have seen from wrestling in 15 years.

[@OdaVenom]

My... this Angel is a piece of art, like a beautiful ivory statuette.

[@ricardoleonardo442]

A very young Rick Rude

[@theflyingninja1]

"I got no gimmick". Rick, you had the best gimmick in the history of wrestling. Absolute legend.

[@richardcook4478]

@P McGill see

[@King4sshole89]

That wasn't a gimmick, he smashed all of our moms.

[@drgwhatsthetruth3783]

I was back and forth on Rick Rude. But all in all he's a legend in professional wrestling.

[@Boomhauer89]

I don't think so. He didn't sleep around. Many wrestlers who knew him say that he was a devouted family man.

[@philiptucker7590]

His gimmick was stealing your woman 😂

[@jonrife8226]

Austin Idol and Rick Rude worked great together ! Love 1980s wrestling

[@gregstephens4028]

Wish wrestling was like this again.

[@ArkonBlade]

You and me both

[@libra42ful]

Greg Stephens me too man, im 48, but when I was young this was the best thing on tv....two men, roughly dry humping on each other in "gear" designed to show off their rods, until one takes control and punishes and dominates the "wimp" ror the win.....and call it pro wrestling to get away with it.....I tuned in everytime it was on!!!.....this is when wrestling had such a great homoerotic "vibe" about it, we knew that aspect was there....but never talked about it, you know, hushed, "its not gay...their straight....its just pro wrestling, mmm hmmm, I remember the first time I "play wrestled" as a 10yr old boy with a neighborhood kid, I got him in a headscissor with my hands clamped under his chin, he squirmed and struggled in it until I started feeling my balls tingling, it felt good so I made him keep struggling in it, and then it happened, he was begging me to let him submitas I got an itchy/tickle in my dick as it started spasmibg against the back of his head.....I was hooked!.....I understood why some of the wrestlers liked to punish the wimps (jobbers) and this was the best era for those kind of matches....Rude was great, and Austin was a fun heel to watch "beat-up" a jobbet!

[@centrist1008]

It is. Watch the NWA

[@CM-fk3or]

"I got no gimmick!". Awesome.

[@isaaca1036]

Crazy to think he was only 25 years young in this video!!!!

[@stevebruce9804]

Austin Idol should've been world champ either as a heel or baby face cause he had great ring skills and just as great on the Mic and always had great shoot promos!!

[@generestaino563]

He did not like to travel especially after the plane crash or else he would have been considered for sure.

[@elvissmith404]

The most underrated wrestlers of all time. The universal heartthrob

[@lackdeaver9934]

Austin Idol still alive and still fit!

[@RCLeyba88]

One of the top 5 greatest heels of all time. Thank God his Promos got a hundred times better, looks like he's still a teenager.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

When I see Austin idol, now I see where Hogan stole his hair from.

[@markjones5757]

kenterminatedbygoogle naah Hogan look and act comes from Superstar Billy Gram

[@markjones5757]

johnny tyler oh ok well if he said that. I stand corrected.

[@markjones1444]

johnny tyler Hey, who said you could use my name? I'll go ahead and let it slide, no problem...☺

[@jessemathes5126]

Austin stole it back from hogan.

[@khriscaplinger483]

Hulk hogan had hair back then, in his later wrestling years he wore a bandana to cover up his bald head, i have that problem also

[@charlesbukowski9836]

Whats funny is Rick could have beat the whole locker rooms ass in real life..

[@DW-nb2zc]

Until any one of these guys would've bounced him about 20 feet in the air.Great physique good arm strength but way too f'n lean to really do alot of damage

[@chrischar9428]

Who gives a fuck

[@chrispeak6707]

He was a champion arm wrestler he has plenty of strength

[@aeschafer1]

R.I.P. Rick Rude. One of the all-time greats, and a career cut sadly way too short. I remember watching him in the WWF in the late 80s when he was carrying Ultimate Warrior through probably the best feud of Warrior's career. Seeing Rude and Bobby Heenan together during the pose-off that Warrior won due to being the face was one of the high points of my young wrestling-viewing life. I never saw a whole lot of Rude's work before he got to WWF; growing up in St. Louis we saw some mid-South, some Memphis, and whatever came through the Lou on Wrestling at the Chase, but my memories of the territorial days is barely extant, just a bit too young. Rude was so, so good pretty much anytime he was in front of the camera, though. Classic.

[@MemphisWrestlingVideoVault]

In 1984, "Ravishing" Rick Rude is feuding with Austin Idol in pursuit of the Heartthrob's CWA International Heavyweight Championship. In an interview with Lance Russell, Rude, with his valet Angel by his side, insults Idol but he isn't aware Idol is watching the interview on a monitor in the back. Rude is confronted by Austin Idol about his comments and Rude backpedals, but Idol doesn't buy his baloney and slaps the taste out of his mouth. Date: March 1984 Location: WMC TV-5 Studios in Memphis, TN Interview: Lance Russell

[@clarencerichmond6818]

Memphis Wrestling Video Vault

[@patale1640]

hot damn that angel is a smoke show

[@therealflamelit]

Ravishing Rick muthaf***ing Rude and the IDOI..fast forward 2-3 years; and RUDE was kickin azz

[@bettysmith8956]

Memories! Wish hese were a better quality tapes. Lord, I miss this kind of "rassling"

[@bettysmith8956]

Me too!

[@donniebrasco1364]

Lol the only difference between society yesterday and today's social media is people nowadays do online what people in the 80s did face to face. There is no such thing as back then.

[@jasonmarks9059]

Also a tragedy that Rude died much earlier than he had too

[@kreed82]

Jason marks true but looking at his physique it's not a stretch to assume he was juicing hard. That stuff ruins the heart quick

[@jasonmarks9059]

No question, Put a lot of people in their graves way before their times for sure

[@JeromeBrooks-x2b]

Jason more than Rick rude pass look at Brutus barber beefcake all the brothers Armstrong brad road dog

[@guyinacoffeeshop2239]

Damn Idol is rolling on those percs. He's definitely got that warm fuzzy feeling. He's talking in circles and rubbing his chest.

[@jamessimmons7480]

I HAD NO IDEA FOR A LONG TIME THAT RICK HAD NARCOLEPSY!!!

[@ArkonBlade]

When wrestling was actually good.

[@rrt1592]

It seems Stone Cold stole from this Austin Idol guy. I thought they were one in the same person.

[@seabrook1976]

God damn, Rick Rude was chiseled out of wood.

[@dietrichwilliams2913]

wow, rude was really green!, when he first started!, rest in peace champ!!!

[@allenm.355]

Most of em are smh

[@jamesdavidson676]

Classic Memphis Wrestling back then compared to today. R.I.P. Rick Rude.

[@Vercingetorix.Fantasia]

Man, back then these territories really were the place to see the stars of tomorrow

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Damn I really miss these days. So glad these videos are out there to take in because I can’t watch a minute of what’s being produced nowadays.

[@shonmoody3482]

Well....he definitely skipped leg day quite a bit. Still, an incredibly strong guy in the ring and gym. Definitely in the top 5 on my list of greatest heels. I never even heard of Austin Idol Untill I started watching these videos recently. Not a bad heel himself.

[@somepeoplecanthandlethetruth]

There was a promotion in Georgia where they had a royal rumble and the winner would recieve $7,500 on a big check. It was all kayfabe but the promoter of the event was known to stiff guys. I think it was in Columbus Georgia, Austin Idol won the royal rumble and took the big check to the local bank and they cashed it because the bank manager was at the event and thought it was real. Can't remember where i read or saw that story but thats legendary in my mind.

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Rick Rude had to be one of the most disciplined men in the world to stay maritally-faithful, being on the road without his wife, around women like that, and being so ripped!!!!!!!!

[@badnewssandow5091]

good thinking

[@michaelallanrubin2376]

He wasn't faitful you are gullible

[@dondemmeljr1765]

LMAO faithful? 😂 you funny ! Rude got more pussy than a cat adoption center! 💯

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

@@dondemmeljr1765 Well yeah, I've seen what he did to Francine since I wrote the above comment.

[@dondemmeljr1765]

@@STEJTHEGREATEST well I don't know what he did to Francine but I did many a show with him over several years and he lived his gimmick to the hilt! 💯🤣

[@theblueoctopus4494]

They should make a movie about Rude's mustache!

[@robertbritt2607]

I know this was the early days of Memphis wrestling..but in the long run Austin idol couldn't carry ric rude's jock strap.

[@mixey01]

Austin Idol, the Original heartbreaker

[@mrbobevans]

I like how Idol was sucking it in when he was doing his poses.

[@slipper409]

Vacuum pose, not really easy. But super trendy back then.

[@bradstevens1707]

Wrestling was great in the South back then.

[@ericthomas7560]

Austin Idol was such a pro and Rick Rude was in of the greatest of all time

[@evanmarion4007]

i see where Steve Austin got his promo style from

[@Kairi420]

Yep

[@andrethegiant3035]

You misunderstood me... I wanna be just like you 😂

[@eddiesoul4890]

This was a cool Rick Rude before he started being really "RUDE"

[@contour157]

Austin Idol.. the man Hogan learned his whole career from.

[@jcice131949]

Idol stole his from Flair and others before him as well

[@travismcdonald6576]

jcice131949 Idol and Flair both stole from Billy Graham.

[@vinayseth1114]

+Jamaal Crushaa I was actually thinking of Stone Cold when I saw this clip :/

[@jeffreycoogan09]

@Travis McDonal Actually, "Ric Flair" stole more from (Nature Boy Buddy Rogers). "Austin ldol" was really more of a hybrid of (Superstar Billy Graham and Nature Boy Buddy Rogers). However, "Hulk Hogan", "Jesse the Body Ventura" and "Lex Luger" all came from (Superstar Billy Graham). Although some have suggested that "Billy Graham's" gimmick may have been inspired by (Sailor Art Thomas). Billy Graham has never admitted to that, at least not to my knowledge anyway 😉.

[@marcifritz9816]

Superstar billy graham

[@Kibo40443B]

I'm 23 years old & this is fucking awesome. I will continue my research

[@arkansoul]

Memphis is a treasure trove of real rasslin' footage. Enjoy your research...

[@darrellwilson1809]

AWA was my #1 favorite show, this was my 2nd

[@LoganSewell83]

Rick Rude looked like John Cleese in this video. I expected him to sing "Sit on My Face."

[@EvilestGem]

"I got no gimmick, this is me..." Man I love Rick Rude.

[@modev4163]

Rick had the most unique physique I've ever seen

[@modev4163]

@Bill Diehl of Midwest Federal What about Bony Tony 😂 My dad used to say that about Tony Atlas

[@smnbee75]

6:08 When Wrestlers knew how to treat a lady, even if the lady is a heel.

[@MnMs002]

austin needed to watch that slap he almost took out the eardrum of rick rood... He is lucky rick was a professional and didn't plaster austins nose all over austins face...

[@cnoteali6617]

MnMs002 I'm a rick rude fan but also I came up watching Austin Idol in the 70's and early 80's and let me tell you, rude couldn't carry Idols' jock .

[@buddyholly3527]

Cnote Ali You're fucking crazy. Rick Rude would beat Idol to a pulp in real life. The Ravishing One didn't have to act tough because in real life he was tough.

[@bigglilwayne6400]

@@cnoteali6617 Rude would've stomped a mud hole in Idol's ass and walked it dry in a "shoot fight"

[@SIStud]

Austin Idol still kicks ass on NWA today

[@terrymoore909]

Two true legends

[@King4sshole89]

Fucking take my money, I now want this match now!

[@joelguillen3938]

Rick rude is a boss enough said

[@Noway673]

Rick Rude said his body was giving to him by birth! Yeah! Before he lift weights,I never saw a muscle babie before.Rick Rude has no body fat! Just pure cuts and all muscle.He looked young and still growing.His size in this video is light weight compared to his WWF debut.

[@ntxbanditos9921]

Golden

[@robintaylor4249]

Austin was a true heel. Bad ass dude.

[@babarazamsucks]

I don’t think he’s a heel here though.

[@chaddnelson8939]

Holy sh!t, those tights!

[@shawnperico7221]

Those hand gesters and hat Austin has on gives me the idea of where Macho Man got the first spark of his act

[@teenice1885]

Austin Idol and Stone Cold similar voice?

[@MrJmharwood]

Austin Idol was my favorite! The Universal Hearthrob😎

[@LeoWamBamSlamJam]

That's what I call "selling."

[@JasonQuinn-qq4om]

This was a great feud.

[@ShanteeHaynes]

When you gotta cut a promo and go to work at Chippendale's at 9...

[@pc8679]

Austin idol is the inspiration behind Johnny Bravo

[@machohogan]

The sexiest man alive.

[@dabdella1460]

The beautiful Austin Idol I watched just to see him He couldn't stop touching himself cuz he was so much the cat And the Cats Pajamas What a guy Dd

[@khriscaplinger483]

I remember this feud when ric rude lost to austin idol and ended up wearing a dress that was hilarus

[@picmman]

Love the pimp hat rick.🤣

[@jaesea323]

This is the hulk hogan/rick rude matchup we never got

[@chrischar9428]

Just cause you missed it

[@slipper409]

How the fuck!? Did they convince Rude to back down?!!

[@chrischar9428]

Ummm they told him too

[@carlosrazo5199]

I heard that in real life Rick Rude would have fucked up almost any of the wrestlers back then.

[@cards1985]

Mike McCord (Austin Idol) just turned 65 in October. I miss those days.

[@yegenek]

Every bald wrestler had his Superstar Billy Graham moment lol.

[@clayp7284]

Only one word needed.Idol

[@reneeowens3826]

AUSTIN Was My 1st (Rick Flair) In My Day. Rick Had Better Mouth and Back It Up . Salute To AUSTIN IDOL✌💕🏆

[@kevinkidd7211]

When Wrestling Was Great!!

[@timhenson6161]

I seen an interview where several wrestlers were at a club and some pink was making threats …anyway Rick Rude was a world class arm wrestler and slammed punk down….

[@chrispeak6707]

Rick Steiner told that story and Mr Perfect kept the money

[@A-shot-in-the-dark]

austin idol reminds me of a young mike love from the beach boys !! lol

[@AndrewNewZealand]

Wonder how much Rick weighed back then, he looks much thinner than when he joined WWF. I thought his promo/mic was good here though, better than his "What I'd like to have right now...." routine which went on right up to his final match in WCW.

[@michaelallanrubin2376]

Wow that was a shoot slap ouch

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

Shawn Michaels SO BADLY wanted to be Austin!!!!!!!!

[@STEJTHEGREATEST]

+Yojimbosblade THEY EVEN HAD THE SAME VOICE!!!!!!

[@DW-nb2zc]

You sure you don't mean Stone Cold?

[@robertcrain8299]

If AUSTIN slapped me I'd turn that blond hair red with his blood and then they could fire me or whatever job be dam

[@JackJones-ke8mo]

You are so right, now we are talking wrestling 🔥 Great idea 💡 R U a cruel sadistic heel I wonder 🤔

[@dewaynewhite2928]

Rick Rude was the original (SMOOTH OPERATOR )!!!

[@harrybean8466]

Slap Rick rude like Will Smith like Chris Rock lol.

[@TheEnviousdominous]

Rick Rude doesn't lift weights!? I've been doing it all wrong!

[@lumphead2564]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@johndawhale3197]

1000 times more entertaining than WWE in 2023

[@toddhilley3851]

Idol is under estimated , he more than held his own against the future superstar Rude , and did a better job in this feud from Memphis wrestling .

[@koolpopjones6499]

Universal Wrestling College brought me here