Rick Steiner

Rick Steiner
Robert Rechsteiner (born March 9, 1961) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Rick Steiner.
Steiner is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was an eight time World Tag Team Champion (seven times with his brother Scott as half of the Steiner Brothers, and once with Kenny Kaos). In addition to tag team success, he was also a one time United States Heavyweight Champion and a three time World Television Champion. Beyond WCW, Steiner found success in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he and Scott held the IWGP Tag Team Championship twice, and the World Wrestling Federation, where they won the World Tag Team Championship twice.
Early life
Steiner was a collegiate wrestling standout at the University of Michigan, where he placed second at the Big Ten Championships in 1983 for the Wolverines, became an NCAA qualifier, and established the fastest pin record in the school's history at 15 seconds. At the 1983 NCAA tournament, Steiner wrestled against three-time All-American and future National Champion Tab Thacker of North Carolina State. After earning his bachelor's degree in education, he was introduced to professional wrestling by George "The Animal" Steele and entered pro wrestling immediately out of college.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1983-1988)
He initially wrestled under the name Rob Rechsteiner before he took on the simpler ring name Rick Steiner. He spent time in the American Wrestling Association, Montreal promotion International Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF). While in the UWF he formed a tag team with Sting, winning the UWF World Tag Team Championship in 1987. Also in 1987 he wrestled for New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The UWF was bought out by Jim Crockett Jr. in 1988, acquiring much of its roster (including Steiner), for his National Wrestling Alliance territory, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP).
Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling (1988–1992)
Steiner 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 breakup and Steiner subsequently became a fan favorite before winning the Television Championship from Rotunda at Starrcade.
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 World Championship Wrestling (WCW) (as JCP came to be known following its sale to Turner Broadcasting System), winning multiple championships and making occasional trips to New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
World Wrestling Federation (1992–1994)
The two jumped to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), WCW's biggest competitor, in December 1992 after then WCW Executive Vice President 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. (Ted DiBiase and Irwin R. Schyster) 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 (1995)
After leaving the WWF, Steiner debuted in Extreme Championship Wrestling in April 1995 at Three Way Dance, substituting for Sabu in the main event.
The Steiner Brothers reunited in ECW 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 (John Kronus and Perry Saturn) 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.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (1991–1997, 2000)
Steiner made his return to New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 1991 with Scott. They won the IWGP Tag Team Championship two times. In 1995, the Steiners wrestled for NJPW full-time until going to WCW in March 1996. Rick returned later that year while under contract with WCW with Keiji Muto as a tag team. On May 3, 1997, he teamed with Scott and Muto as they lost to Masahiro Chono and The Outsiders, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
Return to WCW (1996–2001)
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 re-lost the title to Harlem Heat 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.
In a shocking move during the August 4, 1997 episode of Nitro, the Steiner Brothers introduced Ted DiBiase as their new manager (DiBiase was no longer a member of the nWo and had not been seen on TV since April). 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 re-lost the title 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.
During a title defense against the Outsiders during SuperBrawl VIII on February 22, the Steiner Brothers disbanded when Scott turned on Rick and DiBiase, 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 (nWo) 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, and DiBiase remained in Rick's corner during this stretch. Rick took several months off soon after this due to shoulder surgery caused by an ambush attack from Scott and Brian Adams during the May 4 episode of Nitro.
Scott would talk trash about Rick for months until Rick finally healed and was ready to return for revenge. Upon returning from his injury, Rick was no longer accompanied by DiBiase (Rick made his return to TV during the August 3 episode of Nitro). Rick and Scott were then scheduled for a long-anticipated match at Road Wild, but the match didn't happen after Scott and Bagwell came out to claim to J. J. Dillon that Scott couldn't compete "due to injury". Then, 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 (who was a substitute for Scott Hall) 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 (which included overcoming an ambush attack from Bagwell and Stevie Ray.
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 The Giant and Stevie Ray. At World War 3 on November 22, Steiner was attacked backstage by nWo Hollywood, who injured his right shoulder. Despite the attack, Rick still made his way to the ring for his scheduled match against Scott, but he clearly wasn't healthy enough to wrestle which led to the match ending in a "no contest" (Rick was further attacked by Scott and Bagwell in the ring before Goldberg ran in to make the save). This would be Steiner's last TV appearance for several months. On January 7, 1999, the titles were vacated, with a Tag Team Title tournament beginning that evening on Thunder.
On the March 1, 1999 episode of Nitro, he made his televised return as he and Goldberg defeated Scott and 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. Rick would not wrestle for a year.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Noah (2002–2005, 2008)
Following WCW's closure, Steiner returned to the ring in February 2002; returning to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He continued to wrestle in local venues and made several appearances, with fellow former WCW superstar Buff Bagwell, around the southeast United States and the independent circuit. In May 2002 Rick reunited with Scott, since the closing of WCW, and defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kensuke Sasaki which was refereed by Chyna. In 2002, he also made an appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling losing to Bill Goldberg. In 2003, he teamed with Scott Norton in New Japan.
Rick worked for Pro Wrestling Noah from 2004 to 2005.
On January 4, 2008 the Steiners lost to Giant Bernard and Travis Tomko for New Japan at the Tokyo Dome.
Reunions (2005–2006)
The brothers reunited for the Wrestling Fan Xperince in Winnipeg, Manitoba to defeat Buff Bagwell and G-Man on December 6, 2005. On June 2, 2006, Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) defeated Elvis Elliot & Original Sinn (Sinn Bodhi) at a UCW wrestling show at Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Michigan entitled "Steiner Brothers Return Home." They went to United Wrestling Federation in Wilson, North Carolina to defeat the team of Matt Bentley and Frankie Kazarian. They also defeated Team 3D the next night in Wilmington, North Carolina. On December 9, 2006, the Steiners won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2002–2003, 2006–2008)
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 determine a winner for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship, 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 and sporadic appearances (2008–present)
After being released from TNA, Rick would continue to go on his own. On August 9, 2008, he lost to Bobby Eaton at Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. In 2009, Rick continued teaming with Scott. Rick wrestled for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling from 2010–2011. 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.
On November 5, 2016, Rick lost to GNW Canadian Heavyweight Champion Devon Nicholson for Great North Wrestling in Hawkesbury, Ontario. He made a return to Japan on September 19, 2019 for Tokyo Championship Wrestling teaming with Kazushi Miyamoto defeating Elliot Russell and Sigmon.
Return to WWE (2022–present)
At NXT New Year's Evil, Rick appeared in the now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in what is his first appearance since 1994, celebrated his son, Bron Breakker's first NXT Championship win over Tommaso Ciampa. Rick and Scott Steiner were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 1, 2022. A few days later, at the end of the April 5 episode of NXT after his son Bron retained the title, Rick was kidnapped by Joe Gacy and Harland, locked up and tied inside a cage.
Personal life
Steiner has three sons: Hudson, Maveric, and Bronson. In 2020, Bronson signed with the National Football League's Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted rookie. In 2021, Bronson was signed to a professional wrestling contract by WWE and currently performs for NXT under the name Bron Breakker.
In mid-2004, Steiner began selling real estate. He is currently with Rick Steiner and Associates at Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage in the North Metro Atlanta area.
He is also a school board member of the Cherokee County School District. He was disqualified from entering the Republican primary for the 2006 term, due to using the Steiner name rather than his legal name. Steiner could have run for re-election had he presented a petition calling for this with 4,500 signatures; however, he was unable to do so. Consequently, Steiner ran unopposed as a write-in candidate in November 2006 and won.
On March 31, 2023, Impact wrestler Gisele Shaw accused Steiner in a tweet of yelling transphobic comments directed at her and a homophobic slur at one of her peers at WrestleCon. Professional wrestling referee Daniel Spencer stated on Twitter that he witnessed the incident, giving his support for Shaw. On April 1, WrestleCon organizers subsequently banned Steiner from the rest of convention's events for 2023.
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 (1 time)
NWA/WCW World Television Championship (3 times)
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Eddie Gilbert (1) and Scott Steiner (1)
NWA/WCW World Tag Team Championships (8 times) – with Scott Steiner (7) and Kenny Kaos/Judy Bagwell (1)
Pat O'Connor Memorial Tag Team Tournament (1990) – with Scott Steiner
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Terry Taylor (1) and Scott Steiner (1)
New Japan Pro-Wrestling
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Scott Steiner
Preston City Wrestling
PCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scott Steiner
Pro Wrestling America
PWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Scott Steiner
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI Match of the Year (1991) with Scott Steiner vs. Lex Luger and Sting at SuperBrawl I
PWI Tag Team of the Year (1990, 1993) 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 (May 2, 1987) with Sting
Pure Action Championship Wrestling
PACW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Scott Steiner
Southern Championship Wrestling
SCW Championship (1 time)
United Wrestling Federation
Rock 'n' Roll Express Tag Team Tournament - with Scott Steiner (2007)
Universal Wrestling Federation
UWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sting
World League Wrestling
WLW Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
World Pro Wrestling
WPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Federation/WWE
WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Scott Steiner
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2022) - as a member of The Steiner Brothers
Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Tag Team of the Year (1990) with Scott Steiner
Most Improved (1986)
Best Gimmick (1988)
Match of the Year (1991) with Scott Steiner vs. Hiroshi Hase and Kensuke Sasaki at WCW/New Japan Supershow
Notes
References
External links
1961 births
20th-century professional wrestlers
21st-century professional wrestlers
American male professional wrestlers
American male sport wrestlers
Living people
Michigan Wolverines wrestlers
NWA/WCW World Television Champions
NWA/WCW/WWE United States Heavyweight Champions
Professional wrestlers from Michigan
Sportspeople from Bay City, Michigan
Sportspeople from Cobb County, Georgia
University of Michigan alumni
WWE Hall of Fame inductees
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
NWA Florida Heavyweight Champions
WCW World Tag Team Champions
NWA/WCW United States Tag Team Champions
World Tag Team Champions (WWE)