Today in Wrestling History - Rick Rude (April 20th)

April 20th 1999

Richard "Rick Rude" Rood died from heart failure due to a mixture of medications.  He was in training to make his in ring comeback at the time of his death.

He has a long list of titles and in ring accomplishments as well as being known as a tremendous worker to all his opponents.

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (2 times)^[1][35]
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time)^[36] – with Jesse Barr^[1]

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[1][37]
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[38] – with King Kong Bundy^[1]

• Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time)^[14] – with Manny Fernandez^[1]
  • WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)^[1][24]
  • WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[23]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Most Hated Wrestler of the Year (1992)^[39]
  • PWI ranked him No. 4 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992^[40]

• World Class Championship Wrestling / World Class Wrestling Association
  • NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[41]
  • WCWA Television Championship (1 time)^[1][42]
  • WCWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[1][43]

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)^[1][17]
  • Jesse "The Body" Award (1987)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • 5 Star Match (1992) with "Stunning" Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, and Arn Anderson vs. Sting, Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham, and Nikita Koloff (February 24, WarGames match, WrestleWar)
  • Best Heel (1992)^[39]
  • Worst Worked Match of the Year (1992) vs. Masahiro Chono at Halloween Havoc