marrklarr Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I know Harley Race is legendary for being the baddest motherfucker in every dressing room he set foot in. (One of my favorite stories comes from Flair's autobiography in which Flair was set to defend the NWA title somewhere overseas, and there was some concern that the promoters there would stage a screwjob finish to steal the belt. Harley was sent along to be Flair's manager with the understanding that as long as he was there no one was going to take the strap away from Flair.) But I was wondering if there was a discussion to be had as to who were the legitimate badasses in wrestling history. Who were the guys that the other guys just NEVER fucked with? Andre comes to mind. I would imagine Andre could manhandle anyone he wanted. (Although, I think Dynamite Kid said in his book that Andre backed down when challenged once by Bad News Brown. Of course, that doesn't mean that Andre wouldn't have torn him limb for limb.) I think I've also heard that Haku had a reputation for being a very dangerous man, so don't EVER mess with the Colossal Connection, I guess. Anyone else come to mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapshot Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Danny Hodge. The thread starts and ends with him or Meng. Also Billy Robinson had a bit of a rep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JerryvonKramer Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 The guy who is almost always brought up as being the hardest son of a bitch in the world is Haku. Every shoot pretty much someone mentions it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Meng, Barbarian, Bad News, these are the obvious ones. Not that obvious : Raymond Rougeau was not someone you'd want to mess with apparently. Bob Backlund was a gentleman who probaby was a legit tough guy. Cornette told a story about Hercules Hernandez once that would make you think twice about it. Gary Hart said that Don "The Spoiler" Jardine was a vicious son of a bitch. JBL would tell you to not fuck around with Joey Styles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marrklarr Posted September 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Raymond Rougeau was not someone you'd want to mess with apparently. Raymond Rougeau was an honest-to-goodness ass stomper? Wow! The guy looked like a youth pastor. See, I love finding out shit like that. Reminds me of the time I learned Dr. Ruth was a sniper for the Israeli army. Astonishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Raymond Rougeau was not someone you'd want to mess with apparently. Raymond Rougeau was an honest-to-goodness ass stomper? Wow! The guy looked like a youth pastor. See, I love finding out shit like that. Reminds me of the time I learned Dr. Ruth was a sniper for the Israeli army. Astonishing. Bret Hart told in a shoot interview that Dynamite Kid would mess around with Jacques but didn't go after Raymond even when he was injured because he knew Ray was not a guy to be fucking with. Not to mention he was a smart guy too, getting out of the ring at 35 with his health and plenty of money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Going to say Tracy Smothers before anyone else does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subatomic_elbow Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I'm just hoping someone will mention Bob Roop to preserve the last shred of kayfabe left in my tattered soul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Rick Rude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheapshot Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Rick Rude. Who has been known to knock people out with a slap during his bouncer days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainmakerrtv Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Rick Rude. Who has been known to knock people out with a slap during his bouncer days. And his wrestling days, according to stories of him doing it to Ultimate Warrior and PN News. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blehschmidt Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I announced a show recently that had Barbarian on it. While talking to him I jokingly asked who would win if he and Meng got in a fight, Barbarian laughed and said "Meng, All Day Long brother!" I then said "Yeah, I've heard the stories." He replied" Brother, I LIVED the stories" which got a huge chuckle from Kevin Sullivan who was sitting at the table next to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainmakerrtv Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Reminds me of a bit from the Powers Of Pain Shoot interview, where the interviewer says, "When people talk about legit tough guys, they say Haku and they say you. " And Barbarian replies, "They don't say me, they just say Haku." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 That's pretty cool. Talking about women, of course Luna Vachon was supposed to be tough as nails (the infamous story of a young Luna being slapped by Sullivan and shouting at him after the take because he hit her "like a pussy"). I believe I heard about Etsuko Mita from LCO being a tough one too back in the days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 The Meng/Haku stuff is interesting in that it seems to be balanced by people in wrestling calling him an incredibly nice guy too. Just don't cross him I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsfan Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I know Harley Race is legendary for being the baddest motherfucker in every dressing room he set foot in. (One of my favorite stories comes from Flair's autobiography in which Flair was set to defend the NWA title somewhere overseas, and there was some concern that the promoters there would stage a screwjob finish to steal the belt. Harley was sent along to be Flair's manager with the understanding that as long as he was there no one was going to take the strap away from Flair.) flair expounds upon this during his interview on the steve austin podcast. the story goes like this- word got back to the NWA bosses that a swerve was planned during Flair's title match with Jumbo Tsurata. Harley was sent to make sure this title switch wouldn't happen. The match took place and everything worked out fine with the exception of what was described as jumbo not following flair's in ring "calls". So after the match, Harley has flair follow him into baba's office where Jumbo was also at. Harley proceeds to slap Tsurata in the face and chides him for doing a spot in the ring that flair didnt call.......i heard that in the podcast and i was thinking...that takes balls....on their turf......f'kn awesome...... Harley is god. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El-P Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 The Meng/Haku stuff is interesting in that it seems to be balanced by people in wrestling calling him an incredibly nice guy too. Yes. And also very safe and light as fuck (chops excepted) to work with apparently. I don't remember who talked about Haku being as light as a feather in the ring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I've heard that story before too, but it always seemed questionable to me because Jumbo had been facing NWA champions for years and there had never been any problems. Race is at ringside for the 10/81 Flair vs Jumbo match though (Flair's first Japanese tour as NWA champ), so who knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cross Face Chicken Wing Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Rick Rude. Who has been known to knock people out with a slap during his bouncer days. According to a buddy's mom who went to high school w/ Rude and Curt Hennig, they both would toss refrigerators and various other appliances into swimming pools at parties. A contractor that did some work in my basement used to roll w/ Hawk and Animal back in the day. He told me a story about having to leave the bar quickly one time because Hawk tore a urinal off the wall in the bathroom and threw it at a guy. Not sure if that stuff makes any of them legit tough guys, but they're cool stories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainmakerrtv Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 The Meng/Haku stuff is interesting in that it seems to be balanced by people in wrestling calling him an incredibly nice guy too. Just don't cross him I guess. My favorite part of the aforementioned Powers Of Pain shoot came when Warlord talked about being there when Haku bit a guy's nose off in a bar. The interviewer asked what did the other guy do to provoke him, Warlord replied, "Looked at him." Bobby Heenan seemed to back up the paradox that is Haku. Class man, big heart, just wants to work to take care of his family ... just don't mess with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteF3 Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Rude supposedly once dared anyone in a WCW locker room to try to take him down. The man who stepped up and succeeded: one Erik Watts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NintendoLogic Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Mike Graham, believe it or not. Eddie used him as a locker room policeman in Florida. Let's also not forget Paul Orndorff, the man who took down Vader with one arm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrickHithouse Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 I always like the story of Steve Williams and Rick Steiner pulling the guy out of a burning truck that had live ammo in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted September 30, 2013 Report Share Posted September 30, 2013 Why has no shoot interview company captilized on just making a MENG TOUGHMAN compiliation from shoots of guys talking about how badass he is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted October 1, 2013 Report Share Posted October 1, 2013 Mad Dog Vachon, in his day, was not to be messed with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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