The best wrestlers of the ‘90s usually get a lot of love and respect all these years later. Rick Steiner is among the few performers of the highest level to not have that same treatment. Longtime WCW fans know just how important Rick was to the company’s rise. The tag run with his brother Scott Steiner and his singles work each showed that he was a valuable asset.
WCW’s core of the Steiner Brothers, Ric Flair, Sting and Lex Luger led the promotion before the era of Hulk Hogan, and they continued to thrive with the bigger platform. Rick is the one who stands out of those names to not get his just due for all his accolades and overall entertainment value compared to the others. The influence of Steiner’s style is still being felt today as a talent deserving of more credit.
Rick Steiner Broke Out With A New Pro Wrestling Style
Rick and Scott Steiner both had amateur wrestling backgrounds in Michigan before making their way to the pro wrestling world. The Steiner Brothers wearing varsity jackets and delivering the stiff shots in the ring had a different vibe from anyone else at the time. Despite Scott having bigger success in the end of WCW, Rick was the bigger breakout star earlier in their careers on his own.
RELATED: 5 Reasons Scott Was The Best Steiner Brother (& 5 Reasons It Was Rick)
The headgear worn by Rick during matches was a small difference, but it helped him stand out before he even entered the ring. Rick also utilized his amateur wrestling background more than his brother as part of his identity. WCW booked him in the forgotten faction of the Varsity Club with Mike Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan. Rick’s wrestling style became part of his persona with the amateur wrestling holds and presentation helping him stand out.
The momentum of Rick saw him built as a credible contender to Ric Flair’s NWA Heavyweight Championship reign. Fans clearly loved the work of Rick, and it only grew to new heights when Scott joined him to officially form a legendary team. The Steiner Brothers would not have worked as quickly if Rick wasn’t already over with the audience.
Was Rick Steiner One Half Of Best Tag Team Ever?
The Steiner Brothers should be mentioned more often with the Road Warriors, Rock n Roll Express, Dudley Boyz and other teams in the all-time great duo discussion. WCW fans treated the tag matches of Rick and Scott with the same importance as most main event bouts. There were even times when WCW placed main eventers like Sting and Lex Luger in the tag division to feud with the Steiner Brothers.
Rick and Scott had a somewhat forgotten WWE run since it was so short, but they absolutely dominated as the top face duo for their entire stint there in the early 90s. The two WWE Tag Team Championship reigns saw them carrying the division before choosing to leave when having disagreements with Vince McMahon.
WCW fans will rate the Steiner Brothers and Harlem Heat as the only two teams with a real argument for the best duo in company history. Rick should be celebrated as an all-time great tag wrestler for having legendary success in WCW and even making WWE work, despite the general unhappiness there.
It's Time To Respect Rick Steiner's Legacy
The success of Rick Steiner’s son Bron Breakker in NXT may be the best thing to happen to Rick in various ways. Not only does Rick get to see his son thrive in the wrestling world, but it is making fans remember how much he used to entertain them. Scott breaking out as a singles star to reinvent himself created such a memorable chapter of his career that it can lead to Rick being overlooked.
The decision of Rick to slowly put wrestling in the past after WCW ended saw him becoming a successful real estate agent. However, it makes it easier for newer fans to view Scott as a singles star and for longtime fans to forget about all Scott’s brother's legacy. Rick accomplished more than the average fan realizes with success in WWE, WCW, ECW and NJPW.
The NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship, WCW United States Championship and WCW TV Championship reigns showed just how successful he was as a singles act. Only a handful of teams will ever match the impact and accolades Rick achieved with his brother Scott.
However, it was the influential nature of Rick’s work that earned him the most respect. Future legends like Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar may not have had the careers they did if not for fans being conditioned to appreciate amateur moves. Rick should be talked about more for his impact and importance to the wrestling business.
