.gif)
Rhythm and Blues (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The Rhythm & Blues was a tag team
composed of The Honky Tonk Man
and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
in the World Wrestling Federation
from 1988 to 1991 and later on in the independent circuit for a short run.
's stable of wrestlers in the WWF, and both had previously held the WWF Intercontinental Title
. Greg Valentine had also held the WWF Tag Team Championship with Brutus Beefcake
as one half of The Dream Team
.
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. After the loss Honky Tonk Man and Valentine focused on singles feuds with "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
and ”Rugged” Ronnie Garvin
respectively.
After the Fabulous Rougeaus 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
”). As a commentator, Rowdy Roddy Piper once opined "Elvis would be turnin' over in his grave if he was dead." In an interview for World Wrestling Insanity, the Honky Tonk Man states the team name was a suggestion made by Rick Rude.
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 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. 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. The team had several shots at the gold but came up short every time.
At the 1990 Survivor Series
, Rhythm and Blues partnered with Ted DiBiase
on his "Million Dollar Team" along with the debuting Undertaker, taking on Dusty Rhodes
' "Dream Team" of the Hart Foundation and Koko B. Ware. DiBiase would go on to be the only survivor for his team.
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.
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
composed of The Honky Tonk Man
The Honky Tonk Man
Roy Wayne Farris , better known by his ring name The Honky Tonk Man, is an American professional wrestler. A 1975 graduate from University of Memphis with a B.S. degree in Education. Coached high school football 2 seasons at Munford High School in Munford, Tennessee...
and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine
Greg Valentine
John Wisniski, Jr. is an American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine.-Training:...
in the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
from 1988 to 1991 and later on in the independent circuit for a short run.
Background
Both the Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine were a part of manager Jimmy HartJimmy Hart
James "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
's stable of wrestlers in the WWF, and both had previously held the WWF Intercontinental Title
WWE Intercontinental Championship
The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship in WWE. It is the original secondary title of the promotion. Currently, it is the secondary championship exclusive to the SmackDown brand...
. Greg Valentine had also held the WWF Tag Team Championship with Brutus Beefcake
Edward Leslie
Edward Harrison "Ed" Leslie is an American professional wrestler, best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Brutus The Barber Beefcake. He later worked for World Championship Wrestling under a variety of names, mainly as "The Disciple" of real-life best friend...
as one half of The Dream Team
The Dream Team (professional wrestling)
The Dream Team was a World Wrestling Federation tag team from 1985 to March 29, 1987 consisting of Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine managed by ”Lucious” Johnny Valiant...
.
Team
In 1988, The Hart FoundationThe Hart Foundation
The Hart Foundation referred to several teams or stables in the World Wrestling Federation , usually consisted of members or close friends of the Hart wrestling family from Canada....
turned face and started a feud with former manager Jimmy Hart for picking The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus
The Fabulous Rougeaus was the professional wrestling tag team of real-life brothers, Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau, best known from their time in the World Wrestling Federation , from 1986 to 1990....
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
WrestleMania V
WrestleMania V was the fifth annual WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on April 2, 1989 at the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
with the Hart Foundation winning the match. After the loss Honky Tonk Man and Valentine focused on singles feuds with "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka
Jimmy Snuka
James William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
and ”Rugged” Ronnie Garvin
Ron Garvin
Ron Garvin is a Canadian former professional wrestler and referee most known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early career:...
respectively.
After the Fabulous Rougeaus 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
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
style shades, a white jacket and a guitar he quite obviously did not know how to play. Commentator Gorilla Monsoon
Gorilla Monsoon
Robert James "Gino" Marella , better known by his ring name of Gorilla Monsoon, was an American professional wrestler, play-by-play announcer, and booker...
nicknamed Greg Valentine “Boxcar” when he saw his changed appearance (most likely after Blues singer “Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie, born as Lecil Travis Martin was an American country music singer, who sang in the "old-time hobo" music style, complete with dirty face, overalls, and a floppy hat...
”). As a commentator, Rowdy Roddy Piper once opined "Elvis would be turnin' over in his grave if he was dead." In an interview for World Wrestling Insanity, the Honky Tonk Man states the team name was a suggestion made by Rick Rude.
Probably their most famous/infamous moment came at WrestleMania VI
WrestleMania VI
WrestleMania VI was the World Wrestling Federation's sixth WrestleMania professional wrestling pay-per-view event and the first to be held outside of the U.S...
when they were driven to the ring in a pink Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
driven by the then unknown Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
. In the ring, they debuted their new song, "Hunka Hunka Hunka Honky Love!" But their song was interrupted by The Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers were a professional wrestling tag team that also competed as The Sheepherders during their long career. They wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation and Jim Crockett Promotions as well as a nearly 40 year run on the independent wrestling circuit...
who attacked them and broke their guitars much to the delight of the fans. 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. The team had several shots at the gold but came up short every time.
At the 1990 Survivor Series
Survivor Series
The Survivor Series is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event held in November by WWE. It is one of the "Big Four" events, along with WrestleMania, Royal Rumble and SummerSlam, as It is one of the original four pay-per-views produced by WWE....
, Rhythm and Blues partnered with Ted DiBiase
Ted DiBiase
Theodore Marvin "Ted" DiBiase, Sr. is a retired professional wrestler, manager, ordained minister and color commentator. DiBiase achieved championship success in a number of wrestling promotions, holding thirty titles during his professional wrestling career...
on his "Million Dollar Team" along with the debuting Undertaker, taking on Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
' "Dream Team" of the Hart Foundation and Koko B. Ware. DiBiase would go on to be the only survivor for his team.
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. 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
- Double-team finishing moves
- Double belly to back suplex
- Guitar shot (Both)
- Honky Tonk Man's finishing moves
- Shake, Rattle and Roll (Swinging neckbreaker with a hip-swiveling dance in the middle)
- Valentine's finishing moves
- Figure four leglock
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Jimmy HartJimmy HartJames "Jimmy" Ray Hart is a professional wrestling manager, executive, composer, and musician currently signed with WWE. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling under his nickname "The Mouth of the South." He has managed many professional...
- Jimmy Hart
Championships and accomplishments
- Northern States Wrestling Alliance
- NSWA Tag Team Championship
See also
- The Blond Bombers