RICK MARTEL
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One of the most gifted wrestler ever to lace up the boots...Rick Martel had it all great mat skills, amateur wrestling background, the face to carry a company and women fan fare, a fan favorite who held the AWA Heavyweight Championship for 2 years in a row, part of one of the most popular teeny bopper tag team in the 80's with Tito Santana as Strike Force and Can Am Connection with Tom Zenk. Long overdue appericaton for RICK MARTEL.
Richard Vigneault (born March 18, 1956) is a retired Canadian professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) between 1980 and 1995 under the ring name Rick Martel. He is also known for his two-year-long reign as AWA World Heavyweight Champion.
Martel vs Flair AWA/NWA Unification Match (1985)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ter1k5_Gd24Martel is from a family of wrestlers, and made his professional debut at age sixteen when his brother Michel, a wrestler, asked him to replace an injured wrestler. Martel was already a skilled amateur wrestler, and quickly adapted to professional wrestling.
Martel wrestled throughout the world, winning titles in Canada (in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling and Vancouver-based NWA All Star Wrestling), New Zealand and Puerto Rico. His first real success in America came in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)'s Portland affiliate, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, where he became a top talent, holding the Canadian and PNW tag team titles simultaneously. He left PNW on August 16, 1980, when he lost a Loser Leaves Town match to Buddy Rose. Martel also served a stint as a booker for a wrestling territory in Hawaii.
Stan Hansen vs Rick Martel AWA World title match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDUBMtTBpCsWorld Wrestling Federation (1980–1982)Martel debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in July 1980. That fall, he formed a tag team with Tony Garea. On November 8, they defeated The Wild Samoans to capture the WWF Tag Team Championship. They successfully defended the title until dropping the belts to The Moondogs on March 17, 1981. They regained the title from The Moondogs on July 21. Their second reign came to an end on October 13, when they lost to Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito. Though they would challenge the champions numerous times, Martel and Garea were unable to recapture the belts, and Martel left the WWF in April 1982.
Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel [1985] part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIYRZt0wp0American Wrestling Association (1982–1986)Martel signed with the AWA in 1982 and quickly ascended through the ranks, defeating Jumbo Tsuruta to win the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on May 13, 1984.[3] His reign as champion lasted nearly nineteen months, during which time he wrestled several matches with NWA World Champion Ric Flair, as well as with Jimmy Garvin, Nick Bockwinkel and King Tonga. His finishing move alternated between the slingshot splash and the combination atomic drop/back suplex. On December 29, 1985, Martel lost the title to Stan Hansen, who forced him to submit to the "Brazos Valley Backbreaker" (Hansen's version of the Boston crab
Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel [1985] part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upkbGZyXzhc Comments
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Yo that belt is ?
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He's most well known by doing "The Model" gimmick, man Vince should have at least given him the IC title because that gimmick had some legs to it. Would have been dope to see him vs Bret Hart for the title too in the early 90s.
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i think him n bret fought for the IC belt not to sure tho
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The Can-Am Connection (1986-1987)
Can Am Connection vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAzEKZrxQeg
In 1986, Martel returned to the WWF, with his tag team partner Tom Zenk. They were billed as the Can-Am Connection. The Can-Am Connection had been formed by Martel in the Montreal-based International Wrestling Association in 1986. Zenk was the boyfriend of Martel's sister-in-law, and had been introduced to Martel in the AWA by Curt Hennig.
The Can-Am Connection quickly garnered the affection of fans, and they looked likely to win the WWF Tag Team Title in the near future. The team made their televised debut in WWF on the November 15, 1986 episode of Superstars against the team of Steve Lombardi and Moondog Spot which they won. The Can Am Connection contested a series of matches with former tag-team champions The Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine), the team of Kamala and Sika, and the team of Magnificent Muraco and "Ace" Cowboy Bob Orton, whom they would face and defeat in the opening match of WrestleMania III. The Can Am Connection's last feud would be against The Islanders, a feud that began on WWF Superstars of Wrestling in the summer of 1987. In this match, the Islanders turned heel by revealing their association with manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Can Am Connection vs Sika & Kamala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUopDJLLIAU
However, the team split shortly after WrestleMania III; Zenk claimed Martel had secretly negotiated an individual contract worth three times more than his partner's contract (traditionally, tag teams are paid roughly equal salaries).
Martel claimed Zenk "...was overwhelmed by it all... Wrestling is very hard on your body. Hard on you also mentally. It's hard physically. Tom wasn't mentally or physically hard as I thought he would be.
Shortly after this match Tom Zenk left the WWF due to a pay dispute, wrestling their last match together on July 9, 1987 against the Islanders
Can Am Connection vs Islanders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MndXVB7teUU
To this day Tom Zenk and Rick Martel have differing opinions on the matter of why Tom Zenk left the WWF,[4][5] all but eliminating the chance of a Can-Am Connection reunion.
Missy Hyatt: Missy's Manor - Missy interviews the Can Am Connection
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiY8_VZt6Xw -
Strike Force (1987–1989)
Strike Force is born
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78ESBx2Ryzw
Formation of Strike Force and Debut Match
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxcFsVD-N7M
After Zenk's departure, Martel formed a new tag team with Tito Santana, called Strike Force. The duo quickly captured the WWF World Tag Team Title from The Hart Foundation, holding it for five months before losing to Demolition at WrestleMania IV.
Strike Force vs The Hart Foundation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDArYqJ_kOg
STRIKE FORCE wins WWF TAG TEAM TITLE
Shortly afterward, Martel (kayfabe) took time off due to injuries sustained in a title rematch at a Prime Time Wrestling taping in Oakland, California on June 1, 1988 (aired July 11). Smash hit Martel with a steel chair, then both members of Demolition performed their "Decapitation" finisher on him at ringside, leaving him unconscious on the floor. On the June 18 Superstars, it was announced he suffered back injuries and a concussion. In reality, Martel took the extended leave of absence to help take care of his wife, who was severely ill.
Martel returned in January 1989 as a singles wrestler, before reforming Strike Force with Santana at WrestleMania V to face The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard). During the match, Santana accidentally hit Martel with his signature flying forearm smash and knocked him out of the ring. A frustrated Martel refused to tag in and walked away, leaving Santana to be beaten down and pinned.[6] Later, in an interview with Gene Okerlund, Martel said, "I'm sick and tired. Sick and tired of him. I was doing great as a singles wrestler, but Mr. Tito wants to ride my coattails some more."
WWF Strike Force Theme "Girls In Cars"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpkIuHkqy1M -
The Model (1989–1995)
In late 1989, Martel adopted a narcissistic gimmick, as "The Model." Just before the 1989 Survivor Series, he introduced his own (fictional) brand of cologne called Arrogance, which he carried in a large atomizer and sprayed in the eyes of his opponents to blind them. He wore a turquoise sweater tied around his neck to the ring (later replaced by a turquoise sportcoat), with a large lapel pin that read "Yes, I am a model.".[9] Martel made his pay-per-view singles match debut at WrestleMania VI, where he defeated Koko B. Ware via submission with his signature Boston Crab.
Rick "the Model" Martel - Arrogance Vignettes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm9AbH7CnBc
Martel's most high-profile feud during his stint as "The Model" was with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, sparked when he blinded Roberts with Arrogance on "The Brother Love Show" in October 1990. Martel and Roberts captained opposing teams at the Survivor Series. The Visionaries (Martel, The Warlord and Power and Glory) defeated The Vipers (Roberts, Jimmy Snuka and The Rockers) in a clean sweep, 4-0. Martel continued to have the upper hand in the 1991 Royal Rumble match, eliminating Roberts from the match en route to lasting (a then-record) 53 minutes, before being eliminated by The British Bulldog. Roberts would ultimately get his revenge at Wrestlemania VII, defeating Martel in a blindfold match.
Rick The Model Martel vs Rocker Marty Jannetty At Survivor Series
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTGM_XXmgoY
In early 1992, Martel began a feud with Tatanka, leading to WrestleMania VIII, where Tatanka pinned him.
That summer, Martel had a brief feud with Shawn Michaels, as both men sought the affections of Sensational Sherri. The feud ended with a chain of events that resulted in a double countout at SummerSlam 1992. The match carried a "no punching in the face" stipulation (mutually agreed upon by the two narcissistic heels).Martel then resumed his rivalry with Tatanka by stealing his sacred eagle feathers, to add to his wardrobe. The feud was resolved at the 1992 Survivor Series, where Tatanka again defeated Martel and reclaimed the feathers
El Matador Tito Santana vs The Model Rick Martel - Prime Time April 27th, 1992
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO9gYci_qCw
By 1993, Martel mainly appeared on the lower undercard, and rarely on television. However, at the September 27 Monday Night Raw taping, he was the co-winner (with Razor Ramon) of a battle royal (aired October 4) to decide the competitors in a match for the vacant Intercontinental Championship. He lost that match (aired the next week) to Ramon.
By the summer of 1994, Martel dropped out of the WWF picture and would not be seen again until participating in the 1995 Royal Rumble (he was a substitute for Jim Neidhart).[18] Martel's wrestling career began to slow as he pursued a career in real estate.
In a later shoot interview with RF video, Martel claimed that he and Don Callis were set to return to the WWF as 'The Supermodels' in 1997, and Callis was to eventually turn on Martel, making him a babyface for the first time since 1989. However, after a pay dispute with Vince McMahon, Martel signed with WCW. -
World Championship Wrestling (1997–1998)
Brad Armstrong Vs Rick Martel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOxkJ09thRY
Martel debuted for World Championship Wrestling in 1997, feuding with Booker T for the WCW World Television Title and winning it on the February 16, 1998 Nitro. Martel's comeback was cut short during his rematch with Booker T at SuperBrawl VIII on February 22, when he landed badly on a throw, hitting his leg on one of the ring ropes. He tore an inside ligament of his right knee, fractured his leg and suffered cartilage damage, effectively ending his in-ring career. He was originally booked to retain the Television Title in the match, intended to be a gauntlet match, by beating Booker and then Perry Saturn. Martel and Booker worked out a finish in the ring (by which Martel suffered a further injury after a botched Harlem Sidekick), and then Booker and Saturn worked the second half of the match entirely on the fly. Martel was out of action for several months.
After suffering another injury in his first match back (on the July 13 episode of Nitro, against Booker T's tag team partner, Stevie Ray), Martel retired from the ring. He then worked for WCW as a trainer, and as host of the French versions of WCW programming
WCW Nitro February 16th 1998: Rick Martel vs. Booker T
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb39cDXn2hI
RICK MARTEL defeats Booker T for the TV title -
Championships and accomplishments
American Wrestling Association
AWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Georgia Championship Wrestling
NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy Rich
Lutte Internationale (Montreal)
Canadian International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA All-Star Wrestling
NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) – with Roddy Piper
NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions
NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version) (1 time)
NWA New Zealand
NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship (New Zealand version) (3 times)
New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2011
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Roddy Piper
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Lennie Hurst
Universal Superstars of America
USA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Championship Wrestling
WCW World Television Championship (1 time)
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Larry O'Dea
World Wrestling Council
WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Pierre Martel
World Wrestling Federation
WWWF/WWF World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Tony Garea (2), and Tito Santana (1)
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked him # 48 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
PWI ranked him # 70 of the 100 best tag teams during the PWI years with Tito Santana in 2003 -
I honestly didn't know Martel spent time in WCW, maybe I forgot.
Its a rare sight to see heels feud, I remember the "no punch in the face" match with Shawn, I always liked that match and the story with Sherri was pretty cool, maybe it should have led to a tag team or at least Sherri having/creating a stable similar to other heel managers. -
The model was the GOAT undercard heel....and him standing out in the pack when there were guys very similar like Rick rude and mr perfect and Shawn michaels shows his greatness. His heel turn on Tito gave heat for years and is very underrated.
And FTW blind fold match was the ? -
lmfao@Arrogance. I remember my grandma used to have a bug spray can like that in the house back in the day, so I always thought he was extra stupid for having the same type of can be his cologne dispenser.
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I honestly didn't know Martel spent time in WCW, maybe I forgot.
Its a rare sight to see heels feud, I remember the "no punch in the face" match with Shawn, I always liked that match and the story with Sherri was pretty cool, maybe it should have led to a tag team or at least Sherri having/creating a stable similar to other heel managers.
yeah WCW always look out and put belts on wrestlers who deserve it, Rick Martel was a former champion who wrestled the best WWF should of have Martel to headline some mean events and at least had him as a contenders for the ic belt -
lmfao@Arrogance. I remember my grandma used to have a bug spray can like that in the house back in the day, so I always thought he was extra stupid for having the same type of can be his cologne dispenser.
@knights my grandma had one also, a big orange Raid spray can and used to spray the house every morning at the break of dawn when the flys use to sneak through the screen door because in the central valley its get hot.. -
Martel should had been IC Champion and looking back on it now Vince really under utilized him seriously.
