[worker1]

Rude was one of those rare talents that never needed a title to be a main event wrestler. He had a natural charisma that few in the sport ever had. Wrestling wise, he was no Lou Thesz, but he was a legit tough SOB and would have been a great foil for Brett Hart and Shawn Michaels. A world title run would have never materialized because I don't think Vince or the people in WCW viewed Rude as a top level heel mainly due to his lack of size. Rude was ripped beyond belief, but size-wise, he was considered small in comparison to the main event heels of that time. I think he was one of those guys who would have been a bigger star in the late 70s or today than the 80s or 90s when he was in his prime.