Woman Wrestler
Wendi Richter
Height: 5ft 8in
Weight: 140 lbs
Date of birth: September 6
Town of birth: Dallas, Texas
Trained by:Lillian Ellison
Debut: 1979
Nicknames: Crowbar, Salem, Tempest
Managed By: Cyndi Lauper
Wendi Richter was trained at the The Fabulous Moolah's school and made her pro debut in 1979. The rough and rugged Richter played 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 & Princess Victoria. Grable and Richter also ent to Japan and face some of the toughest talent, playing the roles of big American heels.
Wendi returned stateside signing with the WWF in late 1983. Wendi soon 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. 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 War to Settle the Score 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-and-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
protege, 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 the CBS Saturday morning cartoon during this lucrative
run, titled Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling.
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 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. After ignoring the count
and continuing to attack the Spider Lady, Wendi unmasked the new champion
to find out that she was The Fabulous Moolah, the woman she defeated a
year and a half earlier. In years following the incident, it was described
as a contract dispute between Richter and Vince McMahon regarding her
new contract and monetary compensation and royalties for the cartoon series.
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. Wendi never returned to the WWF and went to
wrestle in Puerto Rico, Japan, and throughout the U.S. in independent
promotions.
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 (and the wrestling business)
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.
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).
Wendi popped up in the now-defunct Ladies Professional Wrestling Association. 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.
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 & George South Jr) wrestling against Amy Love, DC Drake and Gary Royal
Titles and Accomplishments:
SCPW Women's title
IWF Women's title
NWA Woman's Tag Team titles w/Joyce Grabl
NWA Woman's Tag Team titles w/Joyce Grable (82/05/06)
WWF Woman's title defeating The Fabulous Moolah (23/07/84)
WWF Woman's title defeating Leilani Kai (Wrestlemania 1 - 31/03/85)
AWA Woman's title defeating Madusa Miceli (87/12/27)
WWC Woman's Heavyweight title (2)
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(compiled by Brett Schwan)
