| Rick Steiner |
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| Rick Steiner
Height: 5’11” Weight: 258 lbs. Real name: Robert Rechsteiner Hometown: Detroit, Michigan Pro debut: 1983 Finishing move: Bulldog From The Top Turnbuckle, Steiner Driver (Death Valley Driver) Favorite quote: "If you want some, come get some. If you don't like me, bite me." Other aliases: "The Dog-Faced Gremlin" (WCW) Career highlights: WLW Heavyweight Champion (2), WCW United States Champion, WCW TV Champion (2), WCW World Tag Team Champion (6), WWE World Tag Team Champion (2) (w/Scott Steiner) (2), IWGP Tag Team Champion (2) (w/Scott Steiner), PWA Tag Team Champion (w/Scott Steiner), NWA Florida Heavyweight Champion, NWA United States Tag Team Champion (2), NWA World Tag Team Champion, (w/Scott Steiner), NWA TV Champion, UWF World Tag Team Champion (w/Sting) Trained by: Eddie Sharkey Robert Rechsteiner was an amateur wrestling standout at the University of Michigan, placing 4th at an NCAA Championship competition. While there, he was introduced to professional wrestling by George "The Animal" Steele, and entered the business immediately out of college. Taking the simpler stage name Rick Steiner, he spent time in the American Wrestling Association, Montreal, Canada, and the Universal Wrestling Federation before going to work for the National Wrestling Alliance in 1988. He formed an early tag team with Sting and won the NWA Television Title from Mike Rotunda before his brother Scott turned pro. The two formed The Steiner Brothers, one of the most dominating tag teams of their time. The team proved they were for real by defeating the Freebirds for the NWA Tag Team Championship in November, 1989. The pair continued to dominate in the NWA (and later World Championship Wrestling (WCW), as NWA superterritory Jim Crockett Promotions came to be known), winning multiple championships and making occasional trips to New Japan Pro Wrestling. The two jumped to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), WCW's biggest competitor, in December, 1992. They found success there as well, winning the WWF Tag Team Championship from Money Incorporated (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster (Mike Rotunda)) in June 1993. The Steiners left the WWF later that year, however. "We left with a bitter taste in our mouth." Steiner said in an interview with the Michigan Daily. "Vince McMahon said a lot of things, but never followed through with them." The Steiners spent time in Japan and working for Extreme Championship Wrestling before returning to WCW in 1996. There they found renewed championship success, winning the Tag Team Championship once again from Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) in July. In 1998, the Steiner Brothers disbanded when Scott turned heel and joined the notorious New World Order stable. Rick and Scott feuded for several months afterward. Scott gained newfound singles success in the nWo as "Big Poppa Pump," but Rick languished in the singles ranks, often disappearing and reappearing in storylines after absences of several months. He did, however, have notable feuds with Chris Benoit, Sting, and Booker T over the WCW Television Title. When WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon, Steiner was a member of Ric Flair's heel group "The Magnificent Seven" with his brother Scott. Other members of this group were Road Warrior Animal, Lex Luger, Buff Bagwell and Jeff Jarrett. Since WCW's demise, Steiner has been seen in TNA and independent promotions, and continues to wrestle often. He also wrestled in Japan for Pro Wrestling NOAH in late 2004 and early 2005. In mid 2005, Steiner began selling real estate, a common career choice for retired and semi-retired wrestlers. He is also a member of the Cherokee County school system board of education. However, he was disqualified from entering the primary for the 2006 term, due to the fact he used the Steiner name, rather than his legal name. Steiner is still eligible to enter the November election, if he uses his legal name. Rick Steiner returned to TNA on the May 4, 2006 episode of TNA iMPACT! as a possible partner for Sting at TNA Sacrifice 2006. He made a second appearance on May 11, 2006 in a similar role. |