If you are a fan of professional wrestling, you might have wondered if Bobby Roode, the former WWE and TNA star, is related to Ravishing Rick Rude, the late WWE Hall of Famer. The two share a similar surname, a similar look, and a similar style in the ring. But are they really related by blood or just by coincidence?
Who is Bobby Roode?
Bobby Roode is a Canadian professional wrestler who has been active since 1998. He is best known for his tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he was a two-time world champion, a six-time tag team champion, and a one-time King of the Mountain. He also had a successful run in WWE, where he was a one-time United States champion, a one-time NXT champion, and a two-time tag team champion. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW).
Bobby Roode was born Robert Francis Roode Jr. on May 11, 1977, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He grew up as a fan of wrestling and idolized stars like Ric Flair and Curt Hennig. He trained under fellow Canadian wrestlers Sean Morley (Val Venis) and Shane Sewell and made his debut in 1998 for Real Action Wrestling.
Who is Ravishing Rick Rude?
Ravishing Rick Rude was an American professional wrestler who performed for many promotions, including World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). He was known for his arrogant and flamboyant persona, his impressive physique, and his signature move, the Rude Awakening.
Rick Rude was born Richard Erwin Rood on December 7, 1958, in St. Peter, Minnesota. He attended Robbinsdale High School with other future wrestlers like Tom Zenk, Nikita Koloff, Curt Hennig, John Nord, and Barry Darsow. He trained under Eddie Sharkey and debuted as Ricky Rood in 1982.
Rude rose to fame in the mid-1980s as Ravishing Rick Rude, an overconfident heel managed by Jimmy Hart. He feuded with Jerry Lawler and later his former partner, King Kong Bundy. He then joined WWF in 1987 and became part of Bobby Heenan’s stable. He had memorable rivalries with Jake Roberts, Ultimate Warrior, Roddy Piper, and Hulk Hogan. He also challenged for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 1990.
Rude left WWF in 1990 and joined WCW in 1991. He became a three-time WCW International World Heavyweight Champion and a one-time WCW United States Heavyweight Champion. He also formed the Dangerous Alliance with Paul Heyman and others. He retired from wrestling in 1994 due to a back injury but returned as a manager for ECW and WWF in 1997. He was also part of the original D-Generation X with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna.
Rude passed away on April 20, 1999, at the age of 40 due to heart failure caused by an overdose of mixed medications. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2017 by his son Rick Rood Jr., who delivered a touching tribute to his father.
Are Bobby Roode and Rick Rude Related?
The short answer is no. Bobby Roode and Rick Rude are not related by blood or by marriage. They just happen to have similar names that sound alike but are spelled differently.
However, that does not mean that they have no connection at all. In fact, Bobby Roode has acknowledged that he was inspired by Rick Rude’s work and style in the ring. He has also paid homage to him by using some of his moves and mannerisms.
For example, Bobby Roode has used the Rude Awakening neckbreaker as one of his finishers in TNA and WWE. He has also done the signature pose of Rick Rude where he gyrates his hips and kisses his biceps. He has even worn tights with Rick Rude’s face on them as a tribute.
Bobby Roode has also expressed his admiration for Rick Rude in interviews and social media posts. He has called him one of his favorite wrestlers of all time and praised him for being ahead of his time. He has also said that he would have loved to work with him if he was still alive.
So while Bobby Roode and Rick Rude are not related by blood or by marriage, they are related by respect and admiration. They are both ravishing wrestlers who have entertained millions of fans with their charisma and skills.
