Rick Rude's back injury

OnlineHost: Tonights guest is Ravishing Rick Rude!!!!!! Rick appeared in WrestleMania 4 & 5!!!!


WWFLive1: Rick: This is Ravishing Rick Rude blowin' off the cobwebs, jumping back into action on America Online.


Question: Going in to WrestleMania 4,were you more interested in winning the WWF title or beating Jake Roberts?


WWFLive2: Rick: It was two fold..I had to be more focused on the title. We didn't know who we were going to draw.


Question: Why did you leave the WCW?


WWFLive1: Rick: I was injured in a World Championship match in Tokyo Japan, I defeated Sting to become the world champion but during the match I ruptured some discs in my neck. So WCW decided instead of giving me time to heal, they would strip me of the title.


Question: What was your greatest match that you have ever been in?


WWFLive1: Rick: I would have to say one of two. WrestleMania V where I defeated the Ultimate Warrior or a cage match in MSG with Roddy Piper.


Question: Rick...Will we see you in the ring? And what is your physical status now?


WWFLive1: Rick: Well the first part is a big question mark. Right now I don't plan on ever wrestling again. My physical status is obviously down with my back injury. It may even get worse, but I hope not. That is also kind of a question mark.


Question: What are your feelings about the Ultimate Warrior making his return to the WWF? And do you think he will be as effective as he once was?


Rick: Well I feel that he can definitely be at the level he was before, he can probably surpass that level. He is the most intense person I have ever met. His only weakness was that he was so intense that he would tire quickly. Coming back after a break, it may have done him some good.


Question: Rick, How would you compare the WWF to the WCW?


WWFLive1: Rick: Talent comes and goes between the organizations but I have always stated that I believe that the WWF from a wrestlers point of view, is the more professional organization to work for. And now from a spectators point of view, I can see that WWF is a much more entertaining product.


Question: How would you compare your era with wrestling now? And what do you like and dislike about professional wrestling?


WWFLive1: Rick: I believe that at that point in time the WWF had extremely talented and versatile tough wrestlers. If you look at the talent at the time I was there, it was loaded with good talent all in their prime.


Question: Who of today's stars would you most like to work with?


WWFLive1: Rick: To work with I would say Jake Roberts, Roddy Piper, Mr.Perfect, Bret Hart and I hate to seem one sided here, so I also like some of the talent coming in from Japan like Terry Gordy and Chris Benoit. And of course, I would always like to hook up with the Ultimate Warrior.


Question: You were in the WWF at the height of Hulk Hogan's popularity? What did you think of him then, and what do you think of him now?


WWFLive1: Rick: I never had that high of an opinion of Hulk because I feel that he has taken more from the business than he has given.


Question: In your time away from the sport, have you been watching it? What do you think of the direction the business is headed?


WWFLive1: Rick: I have been watching and the prof. wresting business as well as many other prof. sports, seems to be in sort of a lull. That is strictly from a couch potato point of view.


Question: Have you kept in as good of shape as you were in during your first WWF stint?


WWFLive1: Rick: No.


Question: At WM5 were you in better shape than the Warrior was?


WWFLive1: Rick: Yes, I feel that I was in better shape as far as going a longer time than Warrior. But I knew that he was stronger power wise.


Question: Have you ever taken steroids? And what do you think about them in the wrestling business?


WWFLive1: Rick: Yes, I did. It is questionable. They have benefits and they have side effects. Whether the benefits outweigh the risks is each individual's decision.


Question: Rick, Deep down inside do you think that Cheryl Roberts really wanted you?


WWFLive1: Rick: Yes.


Question: How do you feel about all these wrestlers coming back and making a large amount of money and being in a position that you might not physically able to come back?


WWFLive1:Rick: Again I think that individuals can comeback after time off, such as Warrior and Jake and they may be even more effective than they were. Especially with the shallower talent roster for both federations. As for myself, it is tough to sit home and see guys like Razor, Diesel, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Sting and Lex Luger supposedly making big bucks when I don't think that they could carry my jock strap. That's very difficult.


Question: Do you have any regrets in your entire career?


WWFLive1: Rick: I never turned baby face, and I would have to, that is the one thing.


Question: What do you think about Eric Bischoff?


WWFLive1: Rick: I have a picture in my mind right now that I can't seem to bring words to explain. I don't know legally what I can say online, but I know that in my opinion, Eric Bischoff is lower than snake #@$@, and not half as pretty.


Question: What are your feelings toward Vince McMahon?


WWFLive1: Rick: I thought that Vince was very creative and open minded.


Question: Who would you wish you would have had a chance to work with and didn't?


WWFLive1: Rick: There are a lot of wrestlers that I never got the chance to work with, that would have been an honor. Like Bret Hart and Curt Hennig. Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan and Sting are wrestlers that I would like to meet in an alley.


Question: What wrestlers did you look up to when you broke into the wrestling business?


WWFLive1: Rick: Believe it or not, at that time in my career I looked up to Ric Flair, Roddy Piper, Jimmy Snuka.


Question: If you were to come back tomorrow, who would you choose as a Tag Team partner?


WWFLive1: Rick: Mr. Perfect. We've known each other for a long time, we go back a long way. We know each others style. There is a common bond between us.


Question: Hey Rick, was defeating Warrior for the IC Belt your greatest achievement?


WWFLive1: Rick: It was my greatest achievement in the WWF. Winning the world title in two other organizations were equally important.


Question: How do you feel about athletes who are well past their prime and don't know when to hang up the boots?


WWFLive1: Rick: I think from a couch potato point of view, it sucks. But from a wrestler's point of view, I guess the longer those old-timers keep getting a paycheck they would be foolish not to do it.


Question: Rick: Bret or Shawn, who will win the Iron Man Match at WrestleMania XII?


WWFLive1: Rick: That's a tough one. I feel that Bret Hart is probably the greatest wrestling technician in our sport. I feel that he's in the prime of his career and life and although Shawn Michaels is approaching his prime, and he has youth and speed in his favor, I think that Bret is going to come out on top.


OnlineHost: Well Rick, It has been a pleasure talking with you tonight on AOL, We hope we can talk again in the future!!!


WWFLive1: Rick: It feels good to lace up the boots. It was a pleasure to have online in a hammerlock, but I would rather put Ric Flair in a rude awakening!

Jason: Whatever happened to [Ravishing Rick Rude]? He was at the beginning of the WWF to WCW exodus that started a few years ago and then he disappeared. Just curious.

sniper: I don't think he can wrestle anymore because he settled on a Lloyds of London insurance policy. Mr. Perfect was due to collect a 300,000 dollar settlement from Lloyds until the WWF sent a memo to them thinking he was going to return to wrestling. Had Perfect collected on the policy he never could have wrestled again. I think that's why Rude's not wrestling. I understand he's also involved in a lawsuit with WCW as is Rick Steamboat for being fired with 4 months left on his contract. FYI, Lloyds doesn't insure wrestlers anymore.

yankee7: He was on the WWF AOL thing a while ago, and I guess he's semi-retired for the moment and spending time with his family. I also remember something about a back injury but have no specifics.