Lance Idol

**Steven Sutton Schuman** (June 26, 1959 - September 26, 1991) was an American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name **Lance Idol**. He also used a variety of other names.

## Professional wrestling career

Schuman started wrestling in 1978 and early in his career, worked for the Vancouver All Star Wrestling promotion in British Columbia. The following year, he moved to NWA Hollywood, changed his name to Ray Evans, and formed a tag team with fellow wrestler Jack Evans as the Evans Brothers. On January 13, 1980, they had a shot at the NWA Americas Tag Team Titles against Al Madril & Mando Guerrero, but did not win the straps. Schuman also campaigned in the WWF for a few shows in 1983, even competing against Pat Patterson.

Later that year, Schuman resurfaced in All Star Wrestling as the Star Rider. On February 25, 1984, the Star Rider and Ed "Moondog" Moretti defeated Athol Foley & Snake Williams to capture the NWA Vancouver Canadian Tag Team Titles. They held the belts for 36 days until dropping them to The Warlords (Easy Rider & Snake Williams); Rocky Della Serra was a replacement for Schuman.

In April, Schuman once again changed his name, this time to Rebel, as he moved to Canada for Stampede Wrestling. That month, Rebel teamed with partners including Bad News Allen and Ron Starr in an attempt to dethrone Stampede International Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid), but they were unsuccessful, though he and Starr managed to earned a disqualification victory over the champs. He would return to All-Star Wrestling as the Star Rider once again later on.

Schuman, during this time period, used names that were previously used by others or adopted by future stars, including The Spoiler for Championship Wrestling From Georgia (a name previously used by Don Jardine) and Steve Austin for All-Star Wrestling (the future "Stone Cold"). From early to mid 1988, he worked for Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) as both Austin and The Assassin. In August, he again returned to Stampede, once again failing to regain the International Tag Titles with partners like Biff Wellington and Randy Thatcher.

   It was during August that Schuman adopted perhaps his best known ring name, **Lance Idol**. He challenged for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Title on two occasions against Makhan Singh, but lost. After this, Idol formed a team with the young, future megastar Chris Benoit. The two proved to be a formidable team as, over the next few months, they frequently beat the Stampede International Tag Team Champions Cuban Commandos (Cuban Assassin & Gerry Morrow) in non-title matches, however, they did not win the belts when the championships were on the line. On October 7, 1988, Idol and Benoit finally overcame the Commandos, winning the Stampede International Tag Team Titles. They retained the belts against the Commandos in a few rematches, as well as other teams like Akam & Gama Singh and Goldie and Rip Rogers. However, on October 28, Idol and Benoit dropped the straps back to the Commandos.

In 1989, he promoted a show in California, but notoriously faked a suicide attempt as a way to avoid paying the competitors. Idol then went to Puerto Rico, working for Capitol Sports Promotions and forming a team with Rick Valentine known as The Continental Dream. On August 4, 1990, Idol and Valentine defeated The Super Medics (Super Medic I & Super Medic III) to win the WWC Tag Team Titles, however, a month later on September 15, the Medics won back the belts.

In May 1991, Idol, wrestling as Steve Golden, suffered a heart attack after a match in Clear Lake, California. He bled so badly during the match that he was taken to the hospital, and while he was there for treatment, suffered the attack and passed out. They were able to revive him.

## Death

On September 26, 1991, Schuman died from a heart attack at the Mills Memorial Hospital in San Mateo, California, at the age of 32. He had cut out drinking and drugs and red meat, but later went back to using drugs, which were attributed to his passing.