Farewell to a Wrestling Legend: Remembering Sycho Sid

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Sid’s wrestling debut:

Sid first debuted as Lord Humongous for Jerry Jarrett & Jerry Lawler in Memphis & teamed with Austin Idol to face Nick Bockwinkel & Lawler in 1987. From there, Sid took this gimmick to Continental Championship Wrestling (CCW) for promoter/wrestler Ron Fuller & New Japan.

Sid becoming Vicious per WCCW:

Sid introduced his Vicious persona while competing in Fritz Von Erich’s World Class Championship Wrestling. By 1989, WCW signed him to a contract after Sid gained more wrestling experience. Concerning his staggering height, Sid paired with another enormous man named Dan Spivey. The duo were called-” The SkyScrapers!!! ” Fans recall their battles against Rick & Scott Steiner.

Sid is a Horsemen:

Circa mid-1990. Sid finds himself a part of wrestling’s best, The Four Horsemen. World Championship Wrestling positioned Sid by providing muscle-heavy-hitting for this iconic group. At Clash of the Champions 11, Sid opposed Lex Luger. Beginning a notable feud versus NWA Champion Sting at Halloween Havoc that year.

Starting with WWF circa 1991: Sid Justice

Vince McMahon loved larger-than-life personalities who visually possessed an unreal look combined with Sid’s tremendous physique. The star wrestler received a new name, Sid Justice. They introduced him as a special guest referee at SummerSlam 1991’s handicap main event featuring Hulk Hogan & the Ultimate Warrior defeating Sgt: Slaughter, General Adnan, & Colonel Mustafa ( The Iron Sheik). Sid with various historic moments in wrestling. Here are examples & lasting as one of the final four per Royal Rumble 1992 by eliminating both Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage. WrestleMania 8 showcased Sid threatening Hulk Hogan’s successful match run.

2nd WCW stint:

Sid returns to WCW after exiting the WWF in 92. Sid re-entered into additional dominating Van Hammer at Slamboree 1993. Two fearsome competitors joined forces when Sid aligned with Big Van Vader. They focused on Sting, Sid, Vader, & Harlem Heat ( Booker T. & Stevie Ray) w/ Colonel Rob Parker (Robert Fuller) & Harley Race clashed vs. Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes, & The Shockmaster w/ Road Warrior Animal via Fall Brawl 93: War Games thus a War Games styled contest. Later, at Halloween Havoc of 93, Sid faced The Stinger again.

Sid’s USWA days:

Subsequently, Sid entered the United States Wrestling Association. Familiar rivals met again when USWA World Champion Sid went against Jerry Lawler.

Sid’s comeback to WWF:

The year is 1995. Fans witnessed Sid’s magnificent return to the WWF. It occurred because Vince McMahon lost his top stars like Hulk Hogan & Macho Man Randy Savage, who left for the competitor World Championship Wrestling & Sid’s comeback begins what many believe remains arguably his best run ever in wrestling. Sid captured the WWF World Title twice and headlined WrestleMania.

Let’s review his storied history regarding this second stint. Shawn Michaels had lost the services of his bodyguard, Big Daddy Cool Diesel (Kevin Nash). To ensure that HBK would triumph over Champion Diesel at WrestleMania 12. He enlisted a new enforcer in Sid. What followed assisted the big man as Michaels confronted Sid on Monday Night Raw after Mania to convey his unhappiness with Sid’s less-than-helpful efforts. It prompted Sid to go Sycho on HBK & a villainous monster that unleashed damaging powerbombs on Michaels.

Ted Dibiase recruits a Sycho:

Ted Dibiase revealed that Sid was a member of his devious ” Million Dollar Corporation. ” Sid challenged Champion Big Daddy Cool Diesel at the inaugural In Your House PPV in 95. Other critical rivalries included wrestling Razor Ramon. Unfortunately for Sid, a neck injury halted his momentum & forced him out. 1996 would be Sid’s complete turnaround year. McMahon got him back into the headline mix. Sid’s terrifying 3rd return left an undeniable mark on wrestling via In Your House 9: International Incident. He teamed with former rival Shawn Michael & Ahmed Johnson with Jose Lothario to fend off Camp Cornette with the British Bulldog, Vader, & Owen Hart with Jim Cornette. Sid pinned Vader at In Your House 11: Buried Alive for an opportunity to contend Shawn Michaels’s World Title reign at Survivor Series.

A new Sycho Championship era commences:

Madison Square Garden hosted Survivor Series 96′ & fans desired a new Champion in Sycho Sid!!! Sid began ruling the Wrestling Universe after defeating HBK to become the WWF World Champion. Everyone noted how his popularity exploded due to Sid’s conquest of Shawn Michaels. Sid lost the belt to Michaels in a rematch at Royal Rumble 97 in the Heartbreak Kid’s hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

Sid beating The Excellence of Execution: 2nd WWF Championship Run.

Sid continued impressing on an ensuing Monday Night Raw episode after In Your House: Final Four by dethroning Bret Hart’s Championship ascendency. It began Sid’s second WWF Championship run.

Sid takes on The Deadman at Mania:

Sid encounters a phenom (The Undertaker) from the grave whose motivation revolves around taking his title & soul. WrestleMania 13 proved essential, headlining another featured event. Undertaker would overcome Sid to win, thus becoming Champion. However, surprisingly, the match, for many of its critics, did not perform well because it followed Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart’s No DQ technical submission match. Their matchup had a slower tempo compared to Hart & Austin. Sid began a program against Bret Hart. There, Sid remerged as the hero, teaming up with the Legion of Doom ( Hawk & Animal )to battle The Hart Foundation in the summer of 1997. By July of that year, Sid would exit WWF to recover from a neck injury that required surgery.

Sid gets Extreme:

Sid debuts for ECW-Extreme Championship Wrestling in January of 1999 & he opposes Paul Heyman’s stars, like Lance Storm, during his brief stay there.

Late 90’s Return to WCW:

Kevin Nash & Scott Hall talked Sid into returning to WCW later in the year(99′). Sid shocked audiences by appearing at The Great American Bash as he joined Randy Savages’s Team Madness faction!!!

The Millennium Man gimmick:

Sid began introducing a new persona & no, Not Justice, Sycho, or Vicious. You can call him The Millennium Man. I respect Sid for trying to evolve here. Remember, it was a new era then & after those legendary Monday Night Wars between WWF & WCW. Sid knew about reinventing his television image concerning both wrestling & adapting this new gimmick.

Sid captures the WCW United States Championship:

Sid overwhelmed Chris Benoit circa Fall Brawl 99′ to secure the United States Championship. Then, Sid feuded with Bill Goldberg. It originated on Halloween Havoc 1999 during a backstage fight before their in-ring showdown that required Sid to have stitches, but Sid refused. He would bleed in his violent & bloodied clash with Goldberg. Sid was not satisfied after a losing effort. He challenged Goldberg to an ‘ I Quit Match ‘ at Mayhem.

Sid won the WCW World Championship for the 1st time:

Sid defeated Kevin Nash on an episode of Monday Night Nitro to win the first-ever WCW Championship of his career & this all came about when Champion Chris Benoit departed to the WWF, which caused World Championship Wrestling to vacate it. Sid only held the belt until new creative forces ( Vince Russo & Eric Bischoff )gained control to launch The New Blood story.

Now Sid was ordered by Bischoff to vacate the Championship. WCW had tried revamping everything from a creative perspective & respectfully, things were not working out with this new initiative. Regrettably, World Championship Wrestling phased Sid off of TV.

Sid Challenges Champion Scott Steiner:

While ” Big Poppa Pump ” Scott Steiner took over being Champion. Sid returned to vie for Steiner’s prestigious belt. The Pay-Per-View was Starrcade 2000. Sid suffered a gruesome injury (fractured leg) during a 4-corners match Championship battle vs. (C) Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, & Road Warrior Animal. Sid’s career nearly ended.

Sid’s Miraculous Recovery to Wrestling:

Sid amazed everyone by appearing in the American & European independent wrestling scene in 2004. He always maintained an incredibly muscular build into his 50s. Sid competed in over 50 bodybuilding competitions.

Sid answers Heath Slater’s open challenge on Raw:

WWE star Heath Slater was calling out wrestling legends on Raw. Sid responded on a special June 25th, 2012 edition. Sycho Sid demolished poor Slater that night & a week later, Sid appeared for Raw’s 1000th-episode celebration. The famed wrestler’s legendary career started winding down. He remained active wrestling independently when Sid retired in August of 2017.

We should remember Sid for having a unique look that combined an intimidating presence filled with physical power. What about his over-the-top intense promos? Sid brought unbridled charisma to whatever he did. Sid won multiple World Championships for numerous organizations.

Yes, it’s sad. We, as wrestling fans, lost another legend. The industry said goodbye to one of their own & the family will mournfully say farewell to him.

Thanks for the enduring memories and your contributions to Professional Wrestling. He loved Softball. I’m sure Sid made his hometown- West Memphis, Arkansas, proud.

WrestleBuddy extends our heartfelt prayers to the entire Eady Family.

RIP Sycho Sid Vicious, 1960-2024. ” You Ruled The World ”

Credit Wrestling Bios on career research per remembering Sid.