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Wendi Richter
Richter in 1984
Born (1960-09-08) September 8, 1960 (age 64)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Wendi Richter
Wendy Richter
Billed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Billed weight140 lb (64 kg)[1]–150 lb (68 kg)[2]
Billed fromDallas, Texas[1]
Trained byThe Fabulous Moolah[1]
Judy Martin[3]
Debut1979[1]
Retired2005

Victoria "Wendi" Richter (born September 8, 1960)[4] is an American former professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she teamed with Joyce Grable, with whom she held the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship twice. In the 1980s, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). She held the WWF Women's Championship twice and feuded with The Fabulous Moolah over the title. She was also involved in a storyline with singer Cyndi Lauper called the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection". Richter, however, left the WWF after losing the championship in controversial fashion. She then worked in the World Wrestling Council and American Wrestling Association, where she held both companies' women's titles.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1979–1983)

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Richter trained at Lillian Ellison's wrestling school under The Fabulous Moolah, Judy Martin, Leilani Kai, and Joyce Grable, debuting professionally in 1979.[1] Early in her career, she teamed briefly with Moolah, competing against Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in early 1982.[5] Later that year, Richter formed "The Texas Cowgirls" with Joyce Grable,[1][3][6] competing notably in Stampede Wrestling against Velvet McIntyre and Judy Martin.[5] The duo also appeared in Mid-South Wrestling and American Wrestling Association (AWA), maintaining a notable rivalry with McIntyre and Martin.[5] Together, Richter and Grable won the NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship twice.[7]

World Wrestling Federation (1983–1985)

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Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection (1983–1985)

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Richter (left) celebrates with Cyndi Lauper after becoming WWF Women's Champion. This victory prompted Wrestling's Main Event Magazine to name her Wrestler of the Month.

Richter signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in late 1983. Her popularity surged due to the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection," a storyline involving pop star Cyndi Lauper.[8] Managed by Lauper, Richter defeated The Fabulous Moolah at MTV's The Brawl to End It All on July 23, 1984, ending Moolah's record-setting WWF Women's Championship reign.[1][2] The broadcast drew unprecedented ratings for MTV, significantly raising Richter's profile.[9]

In early 1985, Richter lost the Women's Championship to Leilani Kai at The War to Settle the Score[1] but regained it shortly after at the inaugural WrestleMania event.[10] During this time, Richter became a mainstream personality, starring in the CBS animated series Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling[11] and appearing in Lauper's "She Bop" music video.[12]

The Original Screwjob (1985)

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On November 25, 1985, at Madison Square Garden, Richter defended her title against an unknown masked wrestler named "The Spider".[1] Unbeknownst to Richter, The Spider was The Fabulous Moolah in disguise. During the controversial match, Richter was quickly pinned by Moolah despite kicking out at the count of one, with the referee proceeding with a fast three-count. Richter, who was unaware of the planned title change due to backstage disagreements over her WWF contract, was visibly upset, unmasking Moolah immediately afterward.[13] Furious, Richter abruptly left the WWF following this incident, which later became known as "The Original Screwjob."

It was reported that the plan to rid Richter of the title was concocted by WWF Chairman Vince McMahon, who brought in Moolah after Richter refused to sign a new contract with the WWF.[13] Richter, however, claims she was still under her original five-year contract, but that she regularly had disagreements with McMahon about her compensation.[14]

Later career (1987–2005)

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Richter on the April 1986 cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated

After departing the WWF, Richter wrestled in various promotions across the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico. In the World Wrestling Council (WWC), she captured the WWC Women's Championship twice in 1987, exchanging the title with Monster Ripper.[14] Richter then moved to the AWA, where she defeated Madusa Miceli to win the AWA World Women's Championship in December 1988.[1][14] At SuperClash III, Richter successfully teamed with The The Top Guns (Ricky Rice and Derrick Dukes) to defeat Miceli and Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka).[15]

Throughout the 1990s, Richter competed sporadically. She briefly returned to wrestling for events such as WrestleReunion in 2005, participating in tag team matches involving several veteran female wrestlers.[16]

Retirement and WWE Hall of Fame induction (2005–present)

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Following her retirement, Richter initially distanced herself from professional wrestling due to dissatisfaction with the portrayal of women in WWE programming.[14] In 2010, however, she accepted induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, inducted by "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.[17]

Richter made an additional WWE appearance on June 16, 2012, during an episode of ''Raw'' alongside Cyndi Lauper, Roddy Piper, and WWE Diva’s Champion Layla, commemorating the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection."

Personal life

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Richter in 2012

Born in 1960, Richter grew up in Dallas, Texas, and before she entered the sport of professional wrestling, she worked on her family's ranch and took part in rodeo competitions.[3][10] She attended Bossier High School, where she participated in volleyball, track, and cross-country.[3] She later majored in computer programming at Dallas's Draughon's Business College.[3] In the 1980s, she moved to Crystal River, Florida.[3]

After leaving the wrestling business, Richter worked as a real estate agent.[18] She also returned to school for 13 years, earning a degree in physical therapy and a master's degree in occupational therapy.[14] Aside from therapy, Richter competes in dog shows, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.[14] She was once married to Hugo Savinovich, a former Spanish announcer for the WWF.[19] In 2019, she was featured in the documentary Circle of Champions: The History of Women's Pro Wrestling directed by Christopher Annino.[20]

She currently works as an occupational therapist for Rehab Partners Inc.[21]

Championships and accomplishments

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Richter was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012
  • Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)[22]
  • Other honoree (1993)[23]
  • NWF Women's Championship (6 time)[14]
  • Class of 2024
  • Stampede Wrestling North American Women's Championship (1 time)[25]
  • Class of 2024 – with Joyce Grable[26]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Shields, Brian. Main Event: WWE in the Raging 80s, p.105
  2. ^ a b Corliss, Richard (April 15, 1985). "Hype! Hell Raising! Hulk Hogan!". Time. Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Peeples, Lisa (July 5, 1989). "Crystal River woman is at top of her sport". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved January 9, 2009. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Wendi Richter". SLAM! Sports. Canoe.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c Nevada, Vance (June 30, 2005). "Results for Velvet McIntyre". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2008.
  6. ^ Conner, Floyd (2001). Wrestling's Most Wanted: The Top 10 Book of Pro Wrestling's Outrageous Performers, Punishing Piledrivers, and Other Oddities. Brassey's. p. 152. ISBN 1-57488-308-9.
  7. ^ a b Duncan, Royal and Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ^ Niemietz, Brian (January 29, 2008). "The Pain Eventpostie Shines in WWE's Square Ring". New York Post. Archived from the original on April 4, 2008. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  9. ^ Beekman, Scott (2006). Ringside: A History of Professional Wrestling in America. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 125. ISBN 0-275-98401-X.
  10. ^ a b Banks, Bill (February 1999). "Fantasy Warefare: Sable vs. Wendi Richter". Raw Magazine. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2008. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Oliver, Greg (December 17, 1999). "Rock 'n' Wrestling best left in the past". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
  12. ^ Ellison, Lillian. First Goddess of the Squared Circle, p.173.
  13. ^ a b Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963–1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN 978-1492825975.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Richter, Wendi and Mark Nulty. Wendi Richter Shoot Interview (DVD). HighSpots.
  15. ^ "Historical Cards". 2007 Wrestling Almanac and Book of Facts. Kappa Publications. p. 159. 2007 Edition.
  16. ^ "Wendi Richter's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  17. ^ ""Rowdy" Roddy Piper Is Always a Suspect". IGN.tv. March 12, 2010. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  18. ^ Carolan, Vinnie and Ed Symkus (2004). Wrestle Radio U.S.A.: Grapplers Speak. ECW Press. p. 104. ISBN 1-55022-646-0.
  19. ^ Ross, Jim (June 15, 2007). "Sensational Sherri Martel Dead at 49.. and more.. in Today's Blog". JR's BBQ. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
  20. ^ "Circle of Champions: The History of Women's Pro Wrestling" – via www.imdb.com.
  21. ^ "Staff".
  22. ^ Johnson, Steve (April 18, 2012). "Austin, Steamboat delight at Cauliflower Alley Club reunion". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  23. ^ "Ladies Award History". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on December 5, 2007. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  24. ^ "NWA United States Women's Title".
  25. ^ "North American Women's Title (Alberta & Saskatchewan)". wrestling-titles.
  26. ^ Wilkinson, Nick (January 17, 2024). "Jacqueline, Rockin' Robin, Lisa Marie Varon, and More Inductees WWHOF 2024". Diva Dirt. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.

References

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