On November 17, 1997, a broadcast anomaly occurred during the prime-time television slot for professional wrestling. At approximately 8:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, the performer Rick Rude appeared on the USA Network program Monday Night Raw as a member of the faction D-Generation X. At the same time, on the TNT network program Monday Nitro, Rude appeared live in the arena as the newest member of the New World Order (NWO).
The incident exposed the operational differences between live and taped television production. It also highlighted the instability of talent relations within the WWF during late 1997.
Rick Rude’s Career Status in 1997
In 1997, Rick Rude was retired from active in-ring competition. His wrestling career ended in 1994 following a match against Sting in Japan, where he sustained a C-4 vertebrae injury. Following the injury, Rude collected on a permanent disability insurance policy from Lloyd’s of London.
The terms of the Lloyd’s of London policy stipulated that Rude could not participate in professional wrestling matches as an active competitor without repaying the settlement amount. However, the policy permitted him to work in non-physical roles, such as a commentator, manager, or on-screen authority figure.
In mid-1997, Rude returned to the WWF. The company utilized him as an “enforcer” and bodyguard for Shawn Michaels. When Michaels formed the group D-Generation X with Triple H and Chyna, Rude served as the group’s stoic, suit-wearing protector.
The Absence of a Written Contract
Despite his regular appearance on WWF television, Rick Rude did not hold a written, exclusive contract with the organization. He worked on a “pay-per-appearance” basis. This arrangement meant that Rude was paid for the dates he worked but was not legally bound to the company for any set duration. He was free to terminate his services at any time without a notice period.
Vince McMahon, the WWF Chairman, proceeded with this arrangement under the assumption that Rude was not a flight risk because he could not wrestle for the competition. This lack of a non-compete clause or exclusivity agreement provided Rude with the legal leverage to negotiate with WCW immediately.
The Catalyst: The Montreal Screwjob
On November 9, 1997, the WWF held the Survivor Series pay-per-view in Montreal, Quebec. The main event featured Shawn Michaels defeating Bret Hart for the WWF Championship. The match ended when Vince McMahon ordered the referee to ring the bell while Hart was in a submission hold, despite Hart not submitting. This event, known as the Montreal Screwjob, resulted in Hart losing the title before his scheduled departure to WCW.
Rick Rude was a close friend of Bret Hart. In his autobiography Hitman, Hart described Rude as one of his strongest supporters in the locker room. Following the event, Rude contacted Hart to express his dissatisfaction with how management handled the situation.
Rude viewed the incident as a breach of trust between the promoter and the talent. Because he was financially independent due to his insurance settlement and not bound by a contract, he decided to leave the WWF in protest.
The Production Schedule Discrepancy
The WWF’s television production schedule in 1997 frequently involved “bi-weekly” tapings. To reduce production costs, the company would broadcast one episode of Raw live and record the following week’s episode on the same night.
On November 10, 1997, the WWF held a television taping in Ottawa, Ontario. They broadcast the November 10 episode live. Immediately after the broadcast concluded, the production team taped the episode scheduled to air on November 17.
Rick Rude performed his role during this taping. He accompanied Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and Chyna to the ring. He held the microphone for Michaels and stood in the corner during the segment. Once the taping concluded, Rude left the arena. Since he had completed his agreed-upon appearance, he had no further legal obligation to the WWF.
Negotiations with WCW
Shortly after the Ottawa taping, Rude contacted Eric Bischoff, the President of WCW. Rude informed Bischoff that he was a free agent and wished to join WCW. Bischoff agreed to sign him.
Bischoff was aware of the WWF’s taping schedule. He knew that if he put Rude on television live on November 17, it would coincide with the WWF airing the footage of Rude taped in Ottawa. Bischoff utilized this timing to undermine the credibility of the WWF broadcast.
The Broadcast: November 17, 1997
On the night of November 17, viewers tuning into the USA Network saw Rick Rude standing in the ring with D-Generation X. In this footage, Rude had a full beard and was wearing a dark suit. The commentary team spoke about him as a current member of the roster.
Simultaneously, on TNT, Monday Nitro aired live from Cincinnati, Ohio. During the first hour of the program, the nWo faction made their entrance. Eric Bischoff introduced Rude as the newest member of the group.
Rude walked to the WCW ring wearing a suit but with a distinct physical change: he had shaved his beard, leaving only a mustache. This visual cue confirmed to the audience that the Nitro appearance was live, while the Raw appearance was pre-recorded.
The “Titanic” Promo
Upon entering the ring on Nitro, Eric Bischoff handed Rude a microphone. Rude delivered a statement addressing his departure from the WWF and his reasons for joining WCW. He characterized his time in the WWF negatively. “I’ve spent the last 10 years of my life in a gypsy camp known as the WWF,” Rude stated. “I was part of the so-called ‘new generation’… and let me tell you, it was nothing more than a humongous disappointment.”
Rude then referenced the state of the WWF business and the recent departure of Bret Hart. “I wanted to be on a ship that was going somewhere, not the Titanic that is sinking.”
He concluded his remarks by addressing Shawn Michaels directly, reclaiming a nickname Michaels had been using. “Shawn Michaels, you call yourself the ‘Showstopper.’ Well, let me tell you, I’m the ‘Showstopper.'”
This segment served as a public confirmation of the backstage unrest within the WWF.
The ECW Appearance
In addition to his appearances on WWF and WCW programming, Rick Rude also appeared on Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) television during the same timeframe.
Between November 14 and November 16, 1997, ECW Hardcore TV aired in syndication. Rude appeared on the program as a color commentator and engaged in a storyline with Shane Douglas.
Consequently, Rick Rude appeared on the television programs of all three major national wrestling promotions (WWF, WCW, and ECW) within a period of approximately 72 hours. This remains a statistical singularity in the history of the North American wrestling industry.
WWF Reaction and “Rick Rood”
On the November 24, 1997 episode of Raw, the WWF addressed Rude’s departure. Shawn Michaels and Triple H conducted a segment in the ring where they mocked the situation.
The segment featured a performer of short stature dressed in a suit and a fake mustache. Michaels and Triple H referred to the character as “Rick Rood.” They made comedic remarks regarding Rude’s height and his decision to leave the company.
Shawn Michaels stated during the segment, “He quit because he couldn’t handle the heat in the kitchen.”
The segment was an attempt to minimize the impact of the defection by turning it into a comedic sketch, though it acknowledged the reality that Rude was no longer with the company.
Operational Changes for the WWF
The incident had operational consequences for the WWF. The simultaneous appearance of a wrestler on a competitor’s live show discredited the “live” feel of Raw. It highlighted the risks associated with taping episodes in advance during a competitive ratings war.
Following this event, Vince McMahon and WWF management altered their production strategy. The frequency of live Raw broadcasts increased. By 1999, the show was broadcast live almost every week to prevent spoilers and ensure that talent defections could not be exploited in the same manner.
Additionally, the company revised its contract protocols. The practice of using “handshake deals” or pay-per-appearance arrangements for on-air talent was largely discontinued. The WWF began requiring written exclusivity agreements for managers, announcers, and non-wrestling performers to prevent immediate crossovers to WCW.
Rick Rude in WCW
Rick Rude remained with WCW from November 1997 until early 1999. His role was limited due to the Lloyd’s of London insurance policy. WCW management could not utilize him in physical wrestling matches, as doing so would trigger a requirement for Rude to repay the insurance settlement.
Rude served primarily as a manager for Curt Hennig and later as a non-wrestling member of the NWO faction. He stood at ringside during matches and participated in interview segments but did not take physical “bumps” or engage in competitive matches.
Final Years
Rude left WCW in early 1999. He began training for a potential return to the ring, with the intention of resolving the insurance policy situation.
On April 20, 1999, Rick Rude passed away in Alpharetta, Georgia. The cause of death was heart failure attributed to an overdose of mixed medications. He was 40 years old.
