Rick Steiner
Rick Steiner | |
---|---|
Birth name | Robert Rechsteiner |
Born | Bay City, Michigan, U.S.[1][2] | March 9, 1961
Alma mater | University of Michigan |
Children | 3, including Bron Breakker |
Family | Scott Steiner (brother) |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Rick Steiner[3] |
Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)[3] |
Billed weight | 280 lb (127 kg)[3] |
Billed from | Detroit, Michigan[3] |
Trained by | Brad Rheingans Eddie Sharkey[1] |
Debut | 1983[1] |
Robert Rechsteiner[1] (born March 9, 1961)[1] is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Rick Steiner.
Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion (seven times with his brother Scott as half of the Steiner Brothers, and once with Kenny Kaos). In addition to tag team success, he was also a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a three time World Television Champion. Beyond WCW, Steiner found success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he and Scott held the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, and the World Wrestling Federation, where they won the World Tag Team Championship twice.
Early life
Steiner was a collegiate wrestling standout at the University of Michigan, where he placed second at the Big Ten Championships in 1983 for the Wolverines, became an NCAA qualifier, and established the fastest pin record in the school's history at 15 seconds. At the 1983 NCAA tournament, Steiner wrestled against three-time All-American and future National Champion Tab Thacker of North Carolina State.[1] After earning his bachelor's degree in education,[4] he was introduced to professional wrestling by George "The Animal" Steele and entered pro wrestling immediately out of college.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1983-1988)
He initially wrestled under the name Rob Rechsteiner before he took on the simpler
Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling (1988–1992)
Steiner was a charter member of the
In early 1989, his brother Scott began accompanying him to the ring and eventually, the two formed a tag team. They proved they were a serious tag team by defeating the Freebirds for the World Tag Team Championship in November 1989. The pair continued to dominate in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) (as JCP came to be known following its sale to Turner Broadcasting System), winning multiple championships and making occasional trips to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
World Wrestling Federation (1992–1994)
The two jumped to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), WCW's biggest competitor, in December 1992 after then WCW Executive Vice President Bill Watts lowballed them on a contract extension and then gave them the option for an early release from their present contracts. They found success there as well, winning the WWF World Tag Team Championship from Money Inc. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster) on two occasions.
The Steiners left the WWF in 1994, with Rick stating that he felt that Vince McMahon was not following through with promises made to the team.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1995)
After leaving the WWF, Steiner debuted in
The Steiner Brothers reunited in ECW on July 28, 1995, defeating
At Gangstas' Paradise on September 16, 1995, they teamed with Taz in a loss to The Eliminators (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) and Jason. On September 23, they defeated Raven and Stevie Richards. Rick made his final ECW appearance on October 28, teaming with Taz in a loss to The Eliminators in a tag team match.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1991–1997, 2000)
Steiner made his return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1991 with Scott. They won the IWGP Tag Team Championship two times. In 1995, the Steiners wrestled for NJPW full-time until going to WCW in March 1996. Rick returned later that year while under contract with WCW with Keiji Muto as a tag team. On May 3, 1997, he teamed with Scott and Muto as they lost to Masahiro Chono and The Outsiders, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
Return to WCW (1996–2001)
On the March 11, 1996 episode of
In a shocking move during the August 4, 1997 episode of Nitro, the Steiner Brothers introduced Ted DiBiase as their new manager (DiBiase was no longer a member of the nWo and had not been seen on TV since April). After starting a winning streak, the Steiner Brothers defeated the Outsiders in a rematch for the World Tag Team Title on August 9 at Road Wild, but due to winning via disqualification, they did not win the title.[10] On the October 13 episode of Nitro, the Steiner Brothers finally reclaimed the World Tag Team Title after defeating Hall and his substitute tag team partner Syxx.[11] On the October 27 episode of Nitro, the Steiners successfully retained the title in their first defense against The Public Enemy.[12] After several successful title defenses, they re-lost the title to the Outsiders on the January 12, 1998 episode of Nitro.[13] Nearly a month later, they defeated the Outsiders for the championship on the February 9 episode of Nitro.[14]
During a title defense against the Outsiders during
Scott would talk trash about Rick for months until Rick finally healed and was ready to return for revenge. Upon returning from his injury, Rick was no longer accompanied by DiBiase (Rick made his return to TV during the August 3 episode of Nitro). Rick and Scott were then scheduled for a long-anticipated match at Road Wild, but the match didn't happen after Scott and Bagwell came out to claim to
The next night on Nitro, Steiner nominated Kenny Kaos as his new tag team partner to hold the World Tag Team Championship with due to Bagwell turning against him after winning the title at Halloween Havoc the previous night. Later on in the night, Steiner and Kaos successfully retained their title against nWo members The Giant and Stevie Ray.[18] At World War 3 on November 22, Steiner was attacked backstage by nWo Hollywood, who injured his right shoulder. Despite the attack, Rick still made his way to the ring for his scheduled match against Scott, but he clearly wasn't healthy enough to wrestle which led to the match ending in a "no contest" (Rick was further attacked by Scott and Bagwell in the ring before Goldberg ran in to make the save). This would be Steiner's last TV appearance for several months. On January 7, 1999, the titles were vacated, with a Tag Team Title tournament beginning that evening on Thunder.
On the March 1, 1999 episode of Nitro, he made his televised return as he and Goldberg defeated Scott and Bagwell.
On December 19 at
After taking a hiatus in late August, Rick returned on the January 15, 2001 episode of Nitro as he helped
New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah (2002–2005, 2008)
Following WCW's closure, Steiner returned to the ring in February 2002; returning to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He continued to wrestle in local venues and made several appearances, with fellow former WCW superstar Buff Bagwell, around the southeast United States and the independent circuit. In May 2002 Rick reunited with Scott, since the closing of WCW, and defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kensuke Sasaki which was refereed by Chyna. In 2002, he also made an appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling losing to Bill Goldberg. In 2003, he teamed with Scott Norton in New Japan.
Rick worked for Pro Wrestling Noah from 2004 to 2005.[32]
On January 4, 2008, the Steiners lost to Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko for New Japan at the Tokyo Dome.
Reunions (2005–2006)
The brothers reunited for the Wrestling Fan Xperince in Winnipeg, Manitoba to defeat Buff Bagwell and G-Man on December 6, 2005. On June 2, 2006, Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) defeated Elvis Elliot & Original Sinn (Sinn Bodhi) at a UCW wrestling show at Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Michigan entitled "Steiner Brothers Return Home." They went to United Wrestling Federation in Wilson, North Carolina to defeat the team of Matt Bentley and Frankie Kazarian. They also defeated Team 3D the next night in Wilmington, North Carolina. On December 9, 2006, the Steiners won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2003, 2006–2008)
He then debuted for
In 2007, Rick and Scott reunited at Sacrifice after Scott and Tomko lost a World Tag Team Championship match, leading to the Steiners attacking Tomko. On the episode of Impact! following Sacrifice, the Steiners busted down the door to Jim Cornette's office and asked for Cornette to have Team 3D meet them in the ring the next week for an opportunity at the World Tag Team Title. However, the match never transpired due to Scott needing emergency surgery after damaging his trachea during a match in Puerto Rico. Scott was then replaced by Road Warrior Animal at Slammiversary, where Rick and Animal lost to Team 3D for the World Tag Team Title.[32]
At Victory Road, he interfered in the Match of Champions by attacking the referee during Brother Devon's pinfall attempt on Kurt Angle. A month later at Hard Justice, Scott returned to the ring following his recovery and the reunited Steiners defeated Team 3D, beginning a feud with Team 3D.[32] In retaliation to their loss, Team 3D attacked the Steiners, ending with Rick being powerbombed through a table.
The Steiners returned to TNA in late September to challenge Team 3D in a
Independent circuit and sporadic appearances (2008–present)
After being released from TNA, Rick would continue to go on his own. On August 9, 2008, he lost to Bobby Eaton at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. In 2009, Rick continued teaming with Scott. Rick wrestled for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from 2010 to 2011. On May 31, 2013, the Steiner Brothers won the Preston City Wrestling Tag Team Championships before losing it the following day. On June 23, the Steiner Brothers defeated Eddie Kingston and Homicide at the House of Hardcore 2 event.
On November 5, 2016, Rick lost to GNW Canadian Heavyweight Champion Devon Nicholson for Great North Wrestling in Hawkesbury, Ontario. He made a return to Japan on September 19, 2019, for Tokyo Championship Wrestling teaming with Kazushi Miyamoto defeating Elliot Russell and Sigmon.
Return to WWE (2022)
At NXT New Year's Evil, Rick appeared in the now renamed WWE in what is his first appearance since 1994, celebrated his son, Bron Breakker's first NXT Championship win over Tommaso Ciampa.[33] Rick and Scott Steiner were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1, 2022.[34] A few days later, at the end of the April 5 episode of NXT after Breakker retained the title, Rick was kidnapped by Joe Gacy and Harland, locked up and tied inside a cage.[35]
Personal life
Steiner has three sons: Hudson, Maveric, and Bronson.[4] In 2020, Bronson signed with the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie.[36] In 2021, Bronson was signed to a professional wrestling contract by WWE and currently performs on the WWE Raw brand under the name Bron Breakker.[37]
In mid-2004, Steiner began selling real estate. He is currently with Rick Steiner and Associates at Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage in the North Metro Atlanta area.
He is also a school board member of the Cherokee County School District.[4] He was disqualified from entering the Republican primary for the 2006 term, due to using the Steiner name rather than his legal name. Steiner could have run for re-election had he presented a petition calling for this with 4,500 signatures; however, he was unable to do so. Consequently, Steiner ran unopposed as a write-in candidate in November 2006 and won.
Championships and accomplishments
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2014[38]
- Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[a][39]
- NWA/WCW World Television Championship (3 times)[40]
- WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[41][42]
- NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championships (8 times) – with Scott Steiner (7) and Kenny Kaos/Judy Bagwell (1)[c][44][45][46]
- Pat O'Connor Memorial Tag Team Tournament (1990)[d] – with Scott Steiner[2]
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling[e]
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Terry Taylor (1) and Scott Steiner (1)[47]
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- 2 times) – with Scott Steiner[48]
- Preston City Wrestling
- PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scott Steiner[49]
- Pro Wrestling America
- PWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scott Steiner[50]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Sting at SuperBrawl I
- PWI Tag Team of the Year(1990, 1993) with Scott Steiner
- PWI ranked him #2 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Scott Steiner in 2003[51]
- PWI ranked him #10 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991[52]
- PWI ranked him #88 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003[53]
- Pro Wrestling This Week
- Pure Action Championship Wrestling
- PACW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Scott Steiner
- Southern Championship Wrestling
- SCW Championship (1 time)[55]
- United Wrestling Federation
- Rock 'n' Roll Express Tag Team Tournament - with Scott Steiner (2007)
- Universal Wrestling Federation
- World League Wrestling
- World Pro Wrestling
- WPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[1]
- World Wrestling Federation/WWE
- WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Scott Steiner[58][59]
- The Steiner Brothers[60]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Tag Team of the Year(1990) with Scott Steiner
- Most Improved(1986)
- Best Gimmick(1988)
- Match of the Year (1991) with Scott Steiner vs. Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki at WCW/New Japan Supershow
- Notes
- ^ Although it was almost always defended in Florida, the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was given to Steiner by Mike Rotunda while working a storyline together in Jim Crockett Promotions in December 1987. Steiner was stripped of the championship so that it could be defended in the Florida promotion exclusively once again in December 1988.
- ^ Steiner's reigns with this championship occurred after Ted Turner purchased Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from Jim Crockett Jr. in November 1988 and renamed the promotion World Championship Wrestling. The reigns also occurred prior to the title being renamed the WCW United States Tag Team Championship and while WCW was still an NWA affiliated promotion.
- ^ After Buff Bagwell abandoned Steiner during the championship match, Steiner chose Kenny Kaos as a replacement partner to hold the championship with. After Kaos suffered an injury, Steiner chose Bagwell's mother Judy as a replacement partner to hold the championship with. WWE recognizes this occurrence as one continuous reign for Steiner.
- ^ The Steiner Brothers won the tournament in 1990 when Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling was bought by Ted Turner and renamed World Championship Wrestling, but prior to WCW's withdrawal from the National Wrestling Alliance.
- ^ This Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, while currently operating out of the same region of the United States and having revised some of the championships used by the original Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, is not the same promotion that was once owned by Jim Crockett Jr. and subsequently sold to Ted Turner in 1988. It is just another NWA-affiliated promotion.
References
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- ^ a b "Rick Steiner's official MySpace".
- ^ a b c d "Rick Steiner - WWE Alumini Profile". WWE. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ a b c "About Broadus/Steiner Group at RE/MAX". Archived from the original on May 12, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
- ^ "Rick Steiner - Matches". CageMatch. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
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- ^ a b "Souled Out report on January 25, 1997". Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
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- ^ "SuperBrawl VIII report on February 22, 1998". Archived from the original on September 24, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
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- ^ a b "Halloween Havoc report on October 25, 1998". Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Nitro report on October 26, 1998". Archived from the original on September 27, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Nitro report on March 1, 1999". Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Nitro report on April 12, 1999". Archived from the original on October 7, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
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- ^ "Halloween Havoc report on October 24, 1999". Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
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- ^ a b c d "Cagematch match listings, page 1". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ Davis, Paul (January 4, 2022). "Rick Steiner appeared after WWE NXT 2.0 went off the air". wrestlingnews.co. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- ^ Powell, John (March 28, 2022). "Steiner Brothers WWE Hall of Fame bound". Slam Wrestling. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (April 5, 2022). "Rick Steiner captured by Harland and Joe Gacy on WWE NXT | WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, AEW News, AEW results". F4 online. Archived from the original on April 6, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
- ^ "Rick Steiner's Son Signs With NFL Team, Scott Steiner And Others React". wrestlinginc.com. April 26, 2020. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ McGeorge, Alistair (February 11, 2021). "WWE's Triple H confirms Brock Lesnar lookalike Parker Boudreaux signing: 'I'm incredibly excited'". Metro (British newspaper). DMG Media. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
Triple H – whose real name is Paul Levesque – also casually namedropped the signing of Bronson Rechsteiner, whose father is wrestler legend Rick Steiner.
- ^ Johnson, Mike (November 12, 2013). "Steiners, Hennig And More Headling [sic] 2014 National Pro Wrestling Hall Of Fame Inductions". PWInsider. Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
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- ^ "Rick Steiner's first WCW United States Heavyweight Championship reign". Archived from the original on February 13, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- ^ "WWE United States Championship". Archived from the original on December 12, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ "WCW United States Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) history". Archived from the original on May 1, 2003. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "WCW World Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "Most Absurd Champions Ever, page 3". Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ "NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on April 25, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on January 19, 2011. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "PCW Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
- ^ "PWA Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1991". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 7, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
- ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- Atlanta, Georgia. Syndicated. WATL.
- ^ "Independent Wrestling Results - March 2006". onlineworldofwrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved July 4, 2008.
- ^ "UWF World Tag Team Championship history". Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "WLF Heavyweight Championship history". Archived from the original on January 9, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
- ^ "The Steiner Brothers' first World Tag Team Championship reign". Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
- ^ "The Steiner Brothers' second World Tag Team Championship reign". Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
- ^ "The Steiner Brothers to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame: Class of 2022". WWE.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Rick Steiner on WWE.com
- Rick Steiner's profile at Cagematch.net
- Robert Rechsteiner at IMDb