Wendi Richter

Infobox Wrestler
name=Wendi Richter


names=Wendi Richter
Wendy Richter
height=5 ft 8 in. (1.73 m)
weight=140 lb (64 kg)
birth_date =birth date and age|year=1961|month=9|day=6
death_date =
birth_place =Dallas, Texas
resides=
billed=
trainer=The Fabulous Moolah
debut=1980
retired=|

Wendi Richter (born on September 6, 1961 in Dallas, Texas) is a former professional wrestler best known for her stint in the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-1980s.

Career

Wendi Richter was trained at the The Fabulous Moolah's school and made her pro debut in 1980. The rough and rugged Richter was a heel in most of her early matches. Wendi was paired with Joyce Grable to form the tag team, the Texas Cowgirls. The Cowgirls were quite successful, winning the NWA Women's Tag Team Titles and notably feuding with the team of Velvet McIntyre and Princess Victoria. Grable and Richter also went to Japan and faced some of the toughest talent, playing the roles of big American heels.

World Wrestling Federation

Wendi returned stateside signing with the WWF in late 1983. After an unremarkable start, Wendi found superstardom that few other female wrestlers have ever experienced. WWF owner Vince McMahon saw the attention a small promotion in Memphis got when Andy Kaufman got involved in wrestling and he wanted that type of exposure. He brought in rock superstar Cyndi Lauper for a feud with Lou Albano (who had appeared in Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" video). They settled their differences by having their female competitors face off in a match. Albano seconded Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah, while Lauper was in the corner of Wendi. Wendi defeated Moolah at MTV's "The Brawl to Settle it All" for the WWF Women's Championship. At age 23, she became the youngest WWF Women's Champion in history and at the same time ended what was billed as the longest championship reign in professional wrestling history (The Fabulous Moolah's 28-year reign).

The ratings were remarkable and the "Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection" was born. Richter became one of the WWF's main attractions, often main eventing house shows, unheard of for women wrestlers. At one point, Wendi was second in popularity to only Hulk Hogan, whose Hulkamania was in full bloom. Wendi faced Moolah in several rematches around the country. She also faced challengers such as Judy Martin, Penny Mitchell, Black Venus, and Moolah protégé, Leilani Kai. Kai defeated Richter for the title in early 1985. She regained the title at the first WrestleMania one month later. Wendi was also animated for a CBS Saturday morning cartoon, titled "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling".

The Original Screwjob

In 1985, after losing and then regaining the title from rival Leilani Kai at the inaugural WrestleMania, Richter was scheduled to defend her women's title at Madison Square Garden on November 25th of that same year against a mysterious masked opponent known only as The Spider Lady. The Spider had been an alternating group of women under a mask (including Penny Mitchell). Richter said she was never told who was under the mask or how the match was supposed to end. Moments into the match, her opponent attempted to pin Richter's shoulders to the mat and the referee delivered a swift three count (Richter clearly kicked out after a 1 count). Richter ignored the bell and continuing to attack the Spider Lady, unmasking the new champion to find out that she was The Fabulous Moolah. Richter claims she left the arena immediately after the match that night (still in her ring attire) and never spoke to McMahon or Moolah again.

This incident was billed by many wrestling fans as "The Original Screw Job". Nearly 12 years later, a similar scenario happened in Montreal at Survivor Series 1997 when Bret Hart lost his belt to Shawn Michaels, known to many as the "Montreal Screwjob."

In years following the incident, it was described as a dispute between Richter and Vince McMahon regarding monetary compensation and royalties. Richter claimed that she never made more than $1,500 per week while working for McMahon and that her WrestleMania payoff was roughly $5,000. Upon leaving the WWF, Richter wrestled in Puerto Rico, Japan, and throughout the U.S. in independent promotions.

American Wrestling Association

Richter surfaced in the American Wrestling Association in 1988 to challenge champion Madusa Miceli for the AWA title. After a few unsuccessful attempts, Wendi captured the title on November 28. She defended the title against former champion Candi Devine, Magnificent Mimi, The Dazzler, and Judy Martin. Wendi participated in the infamous Team Challenge Series joining Sgt. Slaughter's Snipers. She left the AWA before the series concluded. Candi Devine won the belt on December 6, 1989 when she defeated Judy Martin to determine the new Women's Champion after Richter vacated the belt.

Ladies Professional Wrestling Association

Wendi popped up in the now-defunct Ladies Professional Wrestling Association in the early 1990's. She teamed with another former WWF women's champion, Rockin' Robin, to challenge tag team champions The Glamour Girls for the belts. Wendi only stayed with the company a few months, leaving before their only pay-per-view, "Superladies Showdown" and subsequent closing. She left the business for good after this, returning to Texas to practice physical therapy.

emi-retirement

After leaving the business, Wendi has gone on to get a degree in physical therapy and got married to current WWE Spanish broadcaster Hugo Savinovich (they have since divorced).

On January 29, 2005, Richter appeared at "Wrestle Reunion" in an 8-woman tag team match (teaming with Bambi, Malia Hosaka, and Jenny Taylor wrestling against Sherri Martel, Peggy Lee Leather, Krissy Vaine, and Amber O'Neal.

On August 27, 2005 Richter would once again appear at "Wrestle Reunion II" in a 6-person tag team match (teaming with The Patriot and George South Jr.) wrestling against Amy Love, DC Drake, and "Gorgeous" Gary Royal.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves:*"Widow Maker" (Sitout DDT):*Arm wrench:*Facebuster

*Managers:*Cyndi Lauper

*Entrance music:*"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" performed by Cyndi Lauper:*"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough" performed by Cyndi Lauper

Championships and accomplishments

*American Wrestling Association:*AWA Women's Championship (1 time)

*Central States Wrestling:*NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Joyce Grable

*National Wrestling Alliance:*NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Joyce Grable

*World Wrestling Council:*WWC Women's Championship (2 times) (First)

*World Wrestling Federation:*WWF Women's Championship (2 times)(Youngest)

*National Wrestling Federation:*NWF Women's Championship (1 Time)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Worst Match of the Year (1984) vs. The Fabulous Moolah on July 23

External links

* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/wendy-richter.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
* [http://www.bodyslamming.com/other/richter.html Inactive Superstars - Wendi Richter]
* [http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/richter.html The Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster: Wendi Richter]