Rhythm and Blues (professional wrestling)

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=Rhythm & Blues
type=T

---

members=The Honky Tonk Man Greg Valentine
names=Double Trouble
Rhythm and Blues
heights=Honky Tonk:
6 ft. 1 in. (185 cm)
Valentine:
6 ft. (183 cm)
weights=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 [ [http://www.wrestlecrap.com/oldinductions.html Rhythm & Blues: Greg Valentine attempts to duplicate Honky Tonk Mania and falls short.] ] 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, and both had previously held the WWF Intercontinental Titlecite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=4th Edition 2006 | id=ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 ] . Greg Valentine had also held the WWF Tag Team Championship with Brutus Beefcake as one half of The Dream Team.

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,“ though the announcers rarely used this name) 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 [cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#V | title = WWF WrestleMania Results (V) | accessmonthday = April 21| accessyear = 2007| author = prowrestlinghistory.com] . 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”)cite book | author=Brian Shields | title=Main event – WWE in the raging 80s| publisher=Pocket Books| year=4th Edition 2006 | id=ISBN 978-1-4165-3257-6 ] .

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 [cite web| url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#VI | title = WWF WrestleMania Results (VI) | accessdate=2007-04-21| author = prowrestlinghistory.com] . 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 [cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/90.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1990 | accessdate=2007-04-21| author = Graham Cawthorn | quote = (December 1, 1990) WWF Tag Team Champions Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart defeated Greg Valentine & the Honkytonk Man] . 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 [cite web| url = http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/90.htm | title = WWF Show Results 1990 | accessdate=2007-04-21| author = Graham Cawthorn | quote = (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] . 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 1991 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.

In wrestling

*Finishing moves
**Double belly to back suplex
**"Shake, Rattle and Roll" (Swinging neckbreaker with a hip-swiveling dance in the middle) (Honky Tonk Man)
**Figure four leglock (Valentine)
**Guitar shot (Both)

*Manager
**Jimmy Hart

Championships and accomplishments

*Northern States Wrestling Alliance
**NSWA Tag Team Championship

References

External links

* [http://www.gregvalentine.newpathproductions.com/ The official website of Greg Valentine]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/gregvalentine/profile/ WWE Hall of Fame Profile: Greg Valentine]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wherearetheynow/40358804 Honky Tonk Man interview on WWE.com]