YouTubular: Rad Radford

Posted by Leonard Hayhurst on 11.21.2009

Smells like teen spirit…or possibly feet

Mid-nineties bad WWE gimmicks have always been the bread and butter of this column. Recently reading Dustin James’ “Sqaured Circle News” here on 411 he reminded me of Rad Radford. Radford was played by Louie Spicolli. Spicolli was a jobber for WWE while also working some other territories and really honing his craft in Mexico. In 1995, WWE gave him a gimmick and a push as a grunge rock fan and boyfriend of Courtney Love. I would think that’s more of a punishment than a reward. Radford eventually became a joke character when he tried to join the Body Donnas, but his flabby physique wasn’t up to snuff. Spicolli was released by WWE in 1996 after having a seizure from taking too many Soma tablets.

He went on to work for ECW and WCW. He died in 1998 after choking on his own vomit from ingesting too many Soma pills and wine. So before we get going, while the below might contain some humor and pokes at the Radford gimmick, there is no disrespect meant on my part to the memory of Spicolli or to his family and friends. This column, as always, is meant as a way to take a fun look at some matches not available on DVD while also paying tribute to minor stars of the past.

Rad Radford vs. Gary Scott
Video Length: 4:34
Link

This is Radford’s debut from “Wrestling Challenge” with Gorilla Monsoon and Jim Ross on commentary. It’s hilarious hearing Ross name drop a bunch of grunge acts and trying to reference the musical genre for Monsoon. “I’ll get you an eight track for your Cadillac,” says Ross to Monsoon.

Radford does some basic wrestling to start in a very lackadaisical manner. Scott tries to show his wrestling acumen, but takes an elbow to the dome. Radford hits a shoulderblock, but then takes a dropkick. That just makes him mad and Radford comes back with a few punches to the ribs in order to setup a gutwrench suplex. He whips Scott from pillar to post. Scott eventually reverses a whip, but Radford goes up to the second turnbuckle and comes off with a double axe handle. Radford hits two standing dropkicks and starts to turn Monsoon onto him. Scott fires back, but takes a back suplex. A butterfly suplex sets up an elbow drop. A spinebuster has Rad announcing “it’s time to go” and he finishes with a Northern Lights Suplex with a bridge. Monsoon pops a boner. I don’t think they got Radford’s character over clearly enough. He’s a good wrestler and powerful, but he’s overall lazy and bored with everything. ½ *

After the match we get a promo from Skip and Sonny. Odd, being that they would factor into Radford’s storyline later on.

Rad Radford vs. Bret Hart
Video Length: 6:00
Link

This is from “Superstars” with Vince McMahon and Michael Hayes on commentary. This match is kind of famous as Jean Pierre LaFitte steals Hart’s jacket before the match starts. Dude, that is totally not going to fit you.

Radford does take the distraction to attack Hart on the floor. Radford tosses Hart into the ring, but Hart catches him coming in with a shoulder and slingshots him in from the apron. Hart gets a backdrop and rakes Radford’s eyes across the top rope. Radford comes back with a spinebuster and lands an elbow drop. He then chokes Bret out. Radford telegraphs a backdrop and is kicked. Radford rakes the eyes to cut Hart off. Radford does a choke with his leg on the mat. Radford is doing a lot more brawling here than the above match and even McMahon notes that Radford has shown more scientific skill than he is here.

Radford works Hart over in the corner and chokes him more. A ‘let’s go Bret’ chant breaks out. Hart takes a hard whip to the corner. Radford tries for the spinebuster, but Hart lands a Thesz Press. You know what time it is! Reverse atomic drop, clothesline, fist to the gut, Russian leg sweep, cover for two, backbreaker, second rope forearm; so that’s six moves of doom and a cover, I guess. Radford reverses a whip, but eats boots on a charge. A bulldog sets up the Sharpshooter and we’re out. A standard Hart squash and Radford just came off as a generic brawler. ½ *

Rad Radford vs. Hakushi
Video Length: 9:51
Link

This was supposed to be Hakushi vs. Skip, but they give the match to Radford to prove himself as Body Donnas material, as well as Skip having his arm in a sling.

Radford attacks Hakushi at the bell and chokes him on the ropes. The ref pulls him off and Skip slaps Hakushi with his good arm. Hakushi rolls under a clothesline attempt and backdrops Radford to the floor on a charge. Hakushi comes out with a plancha. Back in the ring, Sonny distracts the referee so Skip can pull the ropes down and dump Hakushi to the floor. Skip proves he’s not hurt by attacking Hakushi with his right arm. Radford comes out to beat Hakushi on the ring apron. Back in the ring, Radford uses a butterfly suplex for two. Hakushi hits a cross body for two. Radford fires back with a clothesline and covers for two.

Radford chokes him out with his foot. Hakushi flips out of a suplex into a rear waistlock. Radford reverses. Hakushi re-reverses and gets a back suplex. Radford kicks Hakushi on a backdrop try and lands a standing dropkick for two. Hakushi fights out of a headlock, but takes a spinebuster for two. Hakushi comes back with martial arty stuff and the cartwheel elbow in the corner. He gets a missile dropkick for two. Hakushi lands a sweet slingshot splash from the apron to the inside, but Sonny has the ref distracted and Skip attacks Hakushi. The ref sees it, wonders never cease, and orders Skip into the ring since his arm isn’t injured. Barry Horowitz runs out and the crowd goes crazy, no really. He throws Skip into the ring. Hakushi splashes him from on high and covers for the win. That’s a wonky finish, but I guess you have to keep Rad strong. I would actually like to see the Radford and Skip vs. Horowitz and Hakushi natural follow-up tag match, but couldn’t find it on YouTube. This was all pure storyline advancement and both men took a backseat to the out of ring antics. ½ *

Rad Radford and Brooklyn Brawler vs. the Smoking Gunns
Video Length: 5:25
Link

This is from “RAW” with Lawler and McMahon on commentary. I think it’s a right of passage for every jobber to team with the Brawler at some point. The Gunns are in full gay cowboy porn star mode here. The heels attack at the bell. Billy is tossed out and the heels double team Bart. Bart ducks under a clothesline and slingshots Billy in from the apron for a flying clothesline. Sweet! They follow with stereo dropkicks. The Brawler is nailed in the gut by Bart to setup a swinging neckbreaker by Billy. Say what you will, the Gunns were tag team specialists back in the day. Billy works an arm wringer and tags Bart. Brawler reverses a whip and Radford lands a knee to the back from the apron. Bart walks into a clothesline. Tag to Radford. McMahon calls them “seedy.” Both are dirty and like to wear ripped clothes. It’s a natural match. Radford gets a neckbreaker. He drops an elbow and tags Brawler. They land double back elbows.

Brawler body slams Bart and goes to the top rope. Bart catches him and throws him across the ring. Hot tag to Billy. He works the punch count in the corner. Radford tries to interfere, but Billy catches him with a cross body. Bart comes back in on Brawler. They go for the double whip and in the first time ever, it’s not partner on partner in that Bart is slammed into Radford. Rad rolls out of the ring and leaves the Brawler to take the Sidewinder for the loss. I’m finding that I’m a sucker for old Smoking Gunns matches. *

Post match, Goldust quotes the Night of the Living Dead on the Undertaker and says that gold is a reflection of light and no evil can darken him. ‘Taker is dead, he’s all messed up.

Rad Radford vs. Diesel
Video Length: 11:00
Link

This is the first part of “Superstars” from Dec. 9, 1995, but we’re only concerned with the curtain jerker. The commentary team is McMahon, Ross and Mr. Perfect. However, I do have to ask what kind of main event is Bob Backlund vs. Savio Vega? That couldn’t headline a show at a local armory back then.

Radford attacks, but Diesel no sells and drives him into the corner with knee lifts. He just beats Radford to a pulp. You forget how crisp Nash used to be. Diesel whips Radford to the opposite corner and freight trains in with a charge. Radford takes the big boot off the ropes. Jackknife Powerbomb and the party is over. DUD.

McMahon tries to catch Diesel after the match, but he won’t talk to him. Diesel is set up to face Owen Hart at the next In Your House.

The 411: I know that Spicolli was a talented wrestler, but he doesn’t show it here. I think he was hampered by the gimmick as his character was never put across clearly and therefore he wasn’t sure how to make his wrestling style fit. I like the idea of him being a great, but lazy wrestler as put across in the first match than just a big, brutish brawler. While Spicolli did show occasional glimpses here and there, the Radford gimmick is not where you should go to see why he has the minor cult following he does today.

Final Score:  4.0   [ Poor ]