8 Reasons Rick Rude Deserves WWE Hall Of Fame 2017 Induction
2. Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
Newer fans who go back and check out Rude's work may find that, while he was talented, his shtick doesn't seem so revolutionary - they've seen it before. Rude, though, did it first - and he did it better than everybody who tried to take a page from his book.
From Val Venis to Dolph Ziggler, every self-obsessed, hip-swiveling star who came around since the late '80s owes a debt of gratitude to Rude, who took wrestling egotism to the next level. At the same time, though, they've never been able to get it right the way Rude did. Rude, more than any other wrestling character, seemed able to convey the feeling that he was truly and passionately in love with himself, and needless to say, that got him over as a bad guy.
Influence is one of the most important long-lasting effects a wrestler's career can have, and Rude's body of work has had a huge influence on others over the years.