Wikipedia:
Rhythm and Blues(professional wrestling) |
| Rhythm & Blues | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Tag Team | |
| Members | The Honky Tonk Man Greg “Boxcar” Valentine |
| Heights | Honky Tonk: ft in ( m) Valentine: ft in ( m) |
| Combined weight | 514 lb (234 kg) |
| Debut | 1989 |
| Disbanded | 1990 |
| Promotions | WWF |
The Rhythm & Blues was a tag team comprised of The Honky Tonk Man and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the World Wrestling Federation from 1989 to 1990 and later on in the independent circuit for a short run.
History
Background
Both the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine were a part of manager Jimmy Hart’s stable of wrestlers in the WWF, both had previously held the WWF Intercontinental Title[1]. Greg Valentine had also held the WWF World Tag-Team titles with Brutus Beefcake as one half of The Dream Team[1].
Team
In 1989 The Hart Foundation turned face and started a feud with former manager Jimmy Hart for picking The Fabulous Rougeaus over them. Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine teamed up (under the team name of “Double Trouble“) to defend Jimmy Hart through the early parts of 1989 with the two teams facing off at WrestleMania V with the Hart Foundation winning the match[2]. After the loss Honky Tonk Man and Valentine focused on singles feuds with "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka and ”Rugged” Ronnie Garvin respectively.
After the Fabulous Rougeas left the WWF Jimmy Hart reunited the Hammer and the Honky Tonk Man, gave them the team name “Rhythm and Blues” and made changes to Greg Valentine’s appearance. Valentine had always been a blonde, ungimmicked wrestler who favored the traditional wrestling robe, but when teamed with the Honky Tonk Man Valentine’s hair got dyed jet black, he was given Elvis style shades, a white jacket and a guitar he quite obviously did NOT know how to play. Commentator Gorilla Monsoon nicknamed Greg Valentine “Boxcar” when he saw his changed appearance (most likely after Blues singer “Boxcar Willie”)[3].
Probably their most famous/infamous moment came at WrestleMania VI when they were driven to the ring in a pink Cadillac driven by the then unknown "Diamond" Dallas Page. In the ring, they debuted their new song, "Hunka Hunka Honky Love!" But their song was interrupted by The Bushwhackers who attacked them and broke their guitars much to the delight of the fans[4]. The two teams had a lengthy feud over the summer of 1990 before Rhythm and Blues challenged the tag-team champions the Hart Foundation for the titles during the fall[5]. The team had several shots at the gold but came up short every time.
Break up
Near the end of 1990 the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine started arguing when Greg Valentine got tired of Jimmy Hart’s interference in their matches[6]. This was supposed to lead to a feud between Greg Valentine and the Honky Tonk Man but the Honky Tonk Man left the federation in January of 1991[3] thus nullifying the feud.
At some point after both men left the WWF the team reunited in the Northern States Wrestling Alliance where they won the tag-team titles once[1].
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
-
- Shake, Rattle and Roll (Swinging Neckbreaker with a hip-swiveling dance in the middle) (Honky Tonk Man)
- Figure four leglock (Valentine)
- Hammer Drop (Elbow drop to the gut) (Valentine)
- Guitar shot (Both)
Championships and accomplishments
- Northern States Wrestling Alliance
-
- NSWA Tag Team Championship
References
- ^ a b c Royal Duncan & Gary Will (4th Edition 2006). Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF WrestleMania Results (V). Retrieved on April 21, 2007.
- ^ a b Brian Shields (4th Edition 2006). Main event – WWE in the raging 80s. Pocket Books. ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6.
- ^ prowrestlinghistory.com. WWF WrestleMania Results (VI). Retrieved on April 21, 2007.
- ^ Graham Cawthorn. WWF Show Results 1990. Retrieved on April 21, 2007. “(December 1, 1990) WWF Tag Team Champions Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated Greg Valentine & the Honkytonk Man”
- ^ Graham Cawthorn. WWF Show Results 1990. Retrieved on April 21, 2007. “(December 28, 1990) Saba Simba defeated Greg Valentine (w/ Jimmy Hart) via disqualification at 8:29 after Valentine pushed the referee; after the bout, Hart hit Valentine with his own guitar when Simba moved out of the way, busting him open in the process, when Valentine came around, he almost attacked Hart after the crowd began cheering Valentine to do so but Hart was able to escape before anything could happen”
External Links
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