10 Ravishing Rick Rude WWE Hall Of Fame Moments
4. Insurance Policy
Following a spring and summer of ECW hijinks, Rick Rude made a shocking WWE return following Shawn Michaels' heel turn on The Undertaker following a SummerSlam '97 miscommunication.
Failing to apologise for clattering 'The Deadman' with a steel chair, Michaels instead upped his stubbornness, blaming the fans, company bosses and Taker himself for placing him in an impossible corner.
Michaels was gaining monster steam as a heel, and would employ Rude as an 'insurance policy' alongside new on-screen allies Triple H and Chyna.
Initially Rude informed audiences that he was a hired gun available to the highest bidder, but after constantly running interference for Michaels in August and September, he remained exclusively in the pocket of 'HBK' and became a founder member of D-Generation-X when the group made things official in October.
The four had fantastic chemistry, with Hunter and Shawn playing sophomoric jerks whilst Chyna and Rude were the mismatched muscle behind the mayhem.
Rude was an instrumental figure in the Shawn's emotive European Title defeat of Davey Boy Smith at the controversial 'One Night Only' pay-per-view and featured right up to his WWE exit, aiding the group in dishing out a demeaning beating to commissioner Sgt Slaughter ahead of his 'Boot Camp' match with Triple H.