Did Rick Rude make Sting break character?
Selling is an important in pro wrestling as it makes the in-ring moves more believable, while also complementing a match’s overall storytelling. In the case of “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Sting, the story sometimes centered on the former bringing the latter out of character. Former WCW announcer David Penzer confirmed this through a post on X.
“This spot started as a rib on [Sting] at house shows because it would make him break character so it became a game of how much ridiculous selling Rick Rude would have to do to make Sting laugh,” Penzer wrote in reference to a video of Rude dramatically selling an inverted and regular atomic drop he received from Sting during a WCW match.
Coming off the inverted drop, Rude can be seen tip toeing in place with his back arched. After the regular atomic drop that followed, Rude initially stands up straight, then walks toward the corner in a robot-like manner while grimacing from the “pain.”
This spot started as a rib on @Sting at house shows because it would make him break character so it became a game of how much ridiculous selling Rick Rude would have to do to make Sting laugh. https://t.co/1Z76EIt5o3
— David Penzer (@davidpenzer) June 24, 2025
Rude and Sting faced off several times during their respective tenures in WCW, with a number of clashes involving the WCW United States and World Heavyweight Championships. Their last encounter came at the WCW x NJPW show in May 1994 as Rude dethroned Sting, the then-WCW International World Heavyweight Champion. Rude sadly died five years later.
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