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Post by hitmancmedge on May 13, 2020 8:48:36 GMT -5
I always thought Rick Martel should have been a bigger star. Was it because he always took sabbaticals? Where did he go?
Let’s look at the timeline.
First model run
Disappears summer of 1990 annouced Summerslam match of Martel vs Tito changes to Tito vs Warlord
Returns in fall of 1990 for arguably the biggest run of his career vs Jake where he is being pushed at the 4th or 5th biggest heel in the company, even co main eventing some house shows. Leaves after mania 7 loss to Jake.
Returns late 1991 and is a mid card heel til right before mania 1993, then is gone again returning late summer 1993 and is in the finals of the IC title tournament, treating like an upper mid card heel through to after mania 10, then disappears again only to return in late 1994 for only a handful of months leaving again shortly after Rumble 1995.
Where did he go? Was it always injury? Even online it seems to not have a ton of info as to where he was. He was always pushed as a least a mid card heel whenever he was around. Could he have been more if he was around more?
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Post by MKSavage on May 13, 2020 11:33:46 GMT -5
I remember hearing that he sort of retired after WM6. He was getting into the real-estate business in Canada. He would usually disappear after WrestleMania's from here on out and return in the fall, making spot appearances during the summer, usually at house shows. I'm guessing the summer was the best time for his business. I believe he said he came back in 1992 because the business wasn't doing well which is why he was around that entire year. Wrestling helped supplement his income. I believe after his return in 1998/99 with WCW he officially retired and hasn't returned. I have heard on some podcasts that his real-estate business is doing well and is one of the reasons he hasn't returned to wrestling since. Most of this, if I remember correctly, was covered in his shoot video that can be found on you tube (or at least it use to be on youtube, haven't checked since I saw it years ago).
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 13, 2020 13:37:49 GMT -5
He went off to France to become a model.
But seriously, as said above, he had a real-estate business that he ran or helped run.
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Post by The Brain on May 13, 2020 15:26:28 GMT -5
I'll never forget them saying on TV ''He has fashion commitments'' as the excuse for him missing SSlam 90 against Tito.
Gotta love kayfabe!
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Post by rowdy1971 on May 14, 2020 15:42:36 GMT -5
It would have been interesting, maybe not in a good way, if the planned Martel/Don Calis "SuperModels" tag team actually happened. Martel did his time and also got hurt in WCW. By that time, even though in great shape, it was time for Martel to leave. Yeah he looked great, but, he couldn't cut promos to save his life and that just wouldn't work in the "attitude era."
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Post by The Brain on May 14, 2020 16:00:00 GMT -5
It would have been interesting, maybe not in a good way, if the planned Martel/Don Calis "SuperModels" tag team actually happened. Martel did his time and also got hurt in WCW. By that time, even though in great shape, it was time for Martel to leave. Yeah he looked great, but, he couldn't cut promos to save his life and that just wouldn't work in the "attitude era." Yeah Martel would've definitely looked out of place in the AE just like the Quebecers did when they came back briefly in 98.
I do wish his WCW run was longer though. I enjoyed his brief run as TV champ feuding with both Booker and Saturn.
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natepadberg
Mid-Carder
Joined on: May 8, 2016 19:44:35 GMT -5
Posts: 324 
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Post by natepadberg on May 14, 2020 18:20:51 GMT -5
great in ring talent and gimmick, just stunk with a mic. loved his fueds with tatanka and hbk. was surprised to se him in wcw durring the thunder era TBH.
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 10:24:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2020 18:55:55 GMT -5
I enjoyed his brief wcw run and he had a great entrance song there. On a side note, he never does wrestling conventions which is a shame as I’d love to meet him.
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Post by JokerFC on May 24, 2020 13:51:30 GMT -5
Martel was a great hand....I always regret passing on his Mattel Figure too....
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Post by Mongo Bears on May 24, 2020 20:24:46 GMT -5
I’m glad I have the model in figure form.
I’d like a blue sweater version of the model too
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Post by The Brain on May 24, 2020 20:37:09 GMT -5
Shame they never released the Arrogance cologne. I would've bought a bottle of it. 
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 10:24:59 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2020 23:48:43 GMT -5
Shame they never released the Arrogance cologne. I would've bought a bottle of it.
I’m sure it would have been better than the nitro cologne which I sadly bought. |
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Post by hbkbigdaddycool on May 25, 2020 0:03:05 GMT -5
Martel was a great hand....I always regret passing on his Mattel Figure too....
Should be a former IC Champion. It seemed too many times he got passed over and would have made a great run with that title. The closest he came was in 1993 when he and Razor were the final 2 in the battle royal.
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Post by The Brain on May 25, 2020 3:24:43 GMT -5
Shame they never released the Arrogance cologne. I would've bought a bottle of it.
I’m sure it would have been better than the nitro cologne which I sadly bought. Yeah I heard that stuff was putrid. |
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ClassicFan2
Main Eventer
Joined on: Oct 22, 2010 15:25:00 GMT -5
Posts: 3,251
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Post by ClassicFan2 on May 25, 2020 4:33:49 GMT -5
Martel was a great hand....I always regret passing on his Mattel Figure too.... Should be a former IC Champion. It seemed too many times he got passed over and would have made a great run with that title. The closest he came was in 1993 when he and Razor were the final 2 in the battle royal. i was hopin he was gonna win. his model character was awesome. a big fued as champ vs mr perfect woulda been sweet. |
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 10:24:59 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2020 9:54:49 GMT -5
I’m sure it would have been better than the nitro cologne which I sadly bought. Yeah I heard that stuff was putrid. Remember when Bobby Heenan made fun of it on air? |
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Post by The Brain on May 25, 2020 10:24:45 GMT -5
Yeah I heard that stuff was putrid. Remember when Bobby Heenan made fun of it on air? That was when Madusa poured it on his head at Havoc 99 right? |
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Deleted
Joined on: Apr 20, 2024 10:24:59 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2020 10:26:52 GMT -5
I believe so.
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briskski
Mid-Carder
I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass.
Joined on: May 10, 2020 19:27:59 GMT -5
Posts: 98
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Post by briskski on May 25, 2020 11:04:34 GMT -5
Yeah too bad they did not do more with his character while they had him. His model gimmick was great. Who could forget Arrogance  |
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barnwhipple
Jobber
Joined on: Jun 5, 2020 7:50:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4
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Post by barnwhipple on Jun 5, 2020 8:47:46 GMT -5
The producers of Dark Side of the Ring wanted Martel to participate in the Dino Bravo episode. Rick refused. He seems to be happy with his real estate & other ventures & wants to focus on that and has moved on from the business. That's totally his choice & he has every right to make that decision.
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