Robert "Rick" Rechsteiner, better known by the ring name Rick Steiner, is an
American semi-retired professional wrestler.
Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling, where
he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion. In addition to tag team
success, he was also a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a three
time World Television Champion. In addition to WCW, Steiner also found
success in the World Wrestling Federation, where he and Scott won the
World Tag Team Championship twice. Professional wrestling career
Rechsteiner was an amateur wrestling standout at the University of Michigan,
where he placed second at the Big Ten Championships in 1983, became an NCAA
qualifier and established the fastest pin record in the school's history at 15
seconds. After earning his bachelor's degree in education, he was introduced
to professional wrestling by George "The Animal" Steele and entered the business
immediately out of college. He initially wrestled under the name Rob Rechsteiner
before he took on the simpler stage name Rick Steiner. He spent time in the
American Wrestling Association, Montreal promotion International Wrestling, and
the Universal Wrestling Federation before going to work for the National
Wrestling Alliance in 1988. = National Wrestling Alliance / World
Championship Wrestling= He formed an early tag team with Sting
in the UWF and was a charter member of the faction known as The Varsity Club
along with Mike Rotunda and their manager Kevin Sullivan, with the
long-term angle being that Rotunda was favored by Sullivan and both of them
looked at Steiner as their dull-witted underling. It also started a slow fan
favorite turn for Steiner, as he began breaking rules less often and was
portrayed as a dim but good-hearted guy who was a villain by association only.
Steiner and Rotunda were given a spot at the second ever Clash of the Champions,
which took place in Miami on June 8, 1988. The duo faced Jimmy Garvin and
Ronnie Garvin in a losing effort. Eventually, this would lead to a
break-up and Steiner subsequently became a fan favorite before winning the
Television Championship from Rotunda at Starrcade.
Teaming with Scott 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 the
NWA, winning multiple championships and making occasional trips to New Japan Pro
Wrestling. = World Wrestling Federation=
The two jumped to the World Wrestling Federation, WCW's biggest competitor, in
December 1992 after then WCW-head 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. 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= After leaving the WWF, the Steiner
Brothers debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling on July 28, 1995, defeating
Dudley Dudley and Vampire Warrior. A few days later on August 4, they defeated
Dudley Dudley and 2 Cold Scorpio. The following day, the Steiner Brothers made
their debut in the ECW Arena at Wrestlepalooza, where they teamed with
Eddie Guerrero in a loss to Scorpio, Dean Malenko, and Cactus Jack. On August
25, they defeated Scorpio and Malenko and then Scorpio and Chris Benoit the
following evening. On August 28, they defeated Dudley Dudley and Dances with
Dudley. At Gangstas' Paradise on September 16,
1995, they teamed with Taz in a loss to The Eliminators 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. = Return to WCW=
World Tag Team Champions On the March 11, 1996 episode of Nitro,
the Steiner Brothers redebuted in World Championship Wrestling in a losing
effort to The Road Warriors. The following week on Nitro, the Steiners
picked up their first win since returning after they defeated The Public
Enemy. After briefly feuding with both the Warriors and Public Enemy, the
Steiners began feuding with the World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat. On July
24 at a house show, the Steiner Brothers defeated Harlem Heat to win the World
Tag Team Championship, although they lost the title back to Harlem Heat only
three days later. The Steiner Brothers then reclaimed the title after defeating
The Outsiders on January 25, 1997 at Souled Out. Only two days later, they
were stripped of the title by Eric Bischoff. Rick then faced Kevin Nash for
the title at Spring Stampede on April 6 due to Scott Hall not appearing, but was
unable to win the title back. 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. 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. On the October 27 episode of Nitro, the
Steiners successfully retained the title in their first defense against The
Public Enemy. After several successful title defenses, they lost the title back
to the Outsiders on the January 12, 1998 episode of Nitro. Nearly a month later,
they defeated the Outsiders for the championship on the February 9 episode
of Nitro. Split from Scott and feud with the New
World Order During a title defense against the
Outsiders during SuperBrawl VIII on February 22, the Steiner Brothers
disbanded when Scott turned on Rick, becoming a villain in the process by
allowing the Outsiders to pin Rick and win the World Tag Team Championship.
Scott subsequently joined the New World Order faction and began feuding with
Rick, whilst also trying to get him to join. In addition to Scott, Rick also
began feuding with various members of the nWo, facing them in either singles
matches or teaming with Lex Luger on occasion in tag team matches over the
following months. Rick took several months off soon after this due to
shoulder surgery thanks to an attack from Brian Adams, whilst his brother
Scott went to Hollywood. Scott would talk trash for months about Rick till
Rick finally healed and was ready to return for revenge. After wrestling to a
no contest against Scott at Fall Brawl on September 13, Rick teamed up with
Scott's former ally Buff Bagwell to defeat Scott and The Giant for the World
Tag Team Championship at Halloween Havoc on October 25 despite Bagwell turning on
Rick during the match. Immediately after the tag team match, Rick defeated Scott
in a singles match. 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 Stevie Ray and The
Giant. On January 4, 1999, the title was vacated after Steiner suffered an
injury. World Television Champion and United
States Champion After a few months of recovery, Steiner
returned to the ring in February 1999. On the March 1 episode of Nitro, he made
his televised return as he and Goldberg defeated Scott and Buff Bagwell. After
winning several matches, Steiner became a villain and lost to Booker T in a
match for Booker's World Television Championship on the April 12 episode of
Nitro. On May 9 at Slamboree, Steiner defeated Booker in a rematch to win the
World Television Title. After becoming a villain, Rick reunited with Scott on a
few occasions and began feuding with Sting, culminating with a successful
title defense at The Great American Bash on June 13. After four months as
champion, he lost the title to Chris Benoit on the September 13 episode of
Nitro, before reclaiming it a little over a month later at Halloween Havoc on
October 24. At Mayhem, Scott Hall defeated Booker T to retain his United
States Heavyweight Championship as well as win Steiner's World Television
Championship, which he had to vacate due to being injured.
On December 19 at Starrcade, Steiner reformed the Varsity Club with Mike
Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan]] to wrestle an eight-man tag team match with Jim
Duggan against the Revolution, whom Duggan had been feuding with. However,
the Club turned against Duggan, allowing him to be pinned. After Starrcade,
Sullivan left the Club as Steiner and Rotunda wrestled as a tag team
throughout the rest of 1999 and into March 2000.
After taking a hiatus in late August, Rick returned on the January 15, 2001
episode of Nitro as he helped Kevin Nash fend off Scott after a World Heavyweight
Championship match, turning Rick into a fan favorite again. Two days later on
Thunder, he made his in-ring return with a victory over Kwee Wee. On the February
5 episode of Nitro, Steiner defeated Shane Douglas to win the United States
Heavyweight Championship. Later that night, he teamed with Nash to face Scott
in a handicap match, but turned on Nash and allowed Scott to pick up the
victory, thus turning into a villain once more and also joining Scott's group
the Magnificent Seven. After winning the U.S. Heavyweight Title, Steiner began a
brief feud with Dustin Rhodes over the title, which culminated at SuperBrawl
Revenge with Steiner being victorious in a title match. On March 18 at WCW's
final pay-per-view, Greed, Steiner lost the U.S. Heavyweight Title to Booker T.
On the final episode of Thunder on March 21, Steiner wrestled his final match for
WCW in a losing effort to Hugh Morrus. WCW was bought by the World Wrestling
Federation only days later and Steiner's contract was not picked up.
= Total Nonstop Action Wrestling= Following WCW's closure, Steiner
continued to wrestle in local venues and made several appearances with former
fellow WCW superstar Buff Bagwell around the southeast United States and in Japan
for Pro Wrestling Noah. He then debuted for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
during the promotion's debut show on June 19, 2002, where he participated in
the 20-Man Gauntlet for the Gold match to crown the first World Heavyweight
Champion in TNA, which was ultimately won by Ken Shamrock. Steiner made a
one-night return to TNA in October 2003, brawling with Jeff Jarrett. On the May
4, 2006 episode of Impact!, he returned as a possible partner for Sting at the
pay-per-view Sacrifice. He made a second appearance on May 11 in a similar role.
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. 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. 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 two
out of three falls tables match at Bound for Glory. Team 3D won the first fall
after performing the 3D on Rick through a table. However, Brother Ray would take
the first loss for his team after Scott performed the frankensteiner on him
through a table. The deciding fall came when Scott lifted Ray on his shoulders
and Rick performed his signature diving bulldog on Ray through a table, securing
the win for the Steiners. On January 29, 2008, Rick Steiner was released due to
budget cuts, splitting up the brothers once again.
= Independent Circuit, Sporadic Appearances=
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. Personal life
Steiner and his wife Jamye have three sons, Hudson, Maveric, and Bronson.
In mid-2004, Steiner began selling real estate, a common career choice for
retired and semi-retired wrestlers. He is currently with Rick Steiner and
Associates at Keller Williams Realty Partners in the North Metro Atlanta area
servicing Cherokee, Cobb, Pickens, Bartow, and Fulton counties. His website
is www.callRickSteiner.com He is also a school board member of the
Cherokee County School District. He was disqualified from entering the primary
for the 2006 term, due to using the Steiner name rather than his legal name.
Steiner could have run for reelection had he presented a petition calling for
this with 4500 signatures; however, he was unable to do so. Consequently,
Steiner ran unopposed as a write-in candidate in November 2006 and won.
In wrestling Finishing moves
Diving bulldog Keylock – 1999
Steiner Driver Stepover toehold camel clutch – 1999
Signature moves Bulldog
Double underhook powerbomb DDT
Double leg takedown Headbutt
Knee lift Multiple suplex variations
Dragon German
Overhead / Side belly to belly, sometimes from the second or top rope
Scoop powerslam Steiner-Line
STF With Scott Steiner
Double team finishing moves Steiner DDT / Diving DDT combination)
Steiner Device / Diving clothesline combination)
Steinerizer / Diving bulldog combination)
Steiner-Line / German suplex combination Managers
Missy Hyatt Robin Green
Ted DiBiase Leia Meow
Kevin Sullivan Nicknames
"The Dog-Faced Gremlin" Entrance themes
"Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer "Steinerized" by D. Conort, M. Seitz and
J. Papa Cover of "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns
N' Roses Championships and accomplishments
George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Class of 2014 Jim Crockett Promotions/World
Championship Wrestling NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
NWA/WCW World Television Championship WCW United States Heavyweight
Championship NWA/WCW United States Tag Team
Championship – with Eddie Gilbert and Scott Steiner
NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championship – with Scott Steiner and Kenny Kaos/Judy
Buffwell Pat O'Connor Memorial Tag Team
Tournament – with Scott Steiner Mid-Atlantic Championship WrestlingNWA
Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship – with Terry Taylor and Scott Steiner
New Japan Pro Wrestling IWGP Tag Team Championship – with Scott
Steiner Preston City Wrestling
PCW Tag Team Championship – with Scott Steiner
Pro Wrestling America PWA Tag Team Championship – with Scott
Steiner Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Match of the Year with Scott Steiner vs. Lex Luger and Sting at SuperBrawl
PWI Tag Team of the Year with Scott Steiner
PWI ranked him #2 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Scott
Steiner in 2003 PWI ranked him #10 of the top 500
singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1991 PWI ranked him #88 of the top 500
singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
Pro Wrestling This Week Wrestler of the Week with Sting
Pure Action Championship Wrestling PACW Tag Team Championship - with Scott
Steiner Southern Championship Wrestling
SCW Championship Universal Wrestling Federation
UWF World Tag Team Championship – with Sting
World League Wrestling WLW Heavyweight Championship
World Pro Wrestling WPW Heavyweight Championship
World Wrestling Federation WWF World Tag Team Championship – with
Scott Steiner Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
5 Star Match with Scott Steiner, Sting, and Brian Pillman vs. Ric Flair, Larry
Zbyszko, Barry Windham and Sid Vicious in a WarGames match at WrestleWar
Tag Team of the Year with Scott Steiner Most Improved
Best Gimmick Match of the Year with Scott Steiner vs.
Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki at WCW/New Japan Supershow
Notes References
External links Official website
WWE Alumni profile Rick Steiner at the Internet Movie
Database Rick Steiner on Twitter
Rick Steiner Interview