WWARCHIVES – RANDY CROSS PT.2

 One mans thoughts on Randy Cross.

Imagine this. The year is 1997. The world of wrestling is at its peak and you’re a wide-eyed child watching greats go in and out of the ring. The World Wrestling Alliance was on the rise and at the top of the heap was Randy Cross, The Painmaker. The man who created the most influential stable in the WWA in the House of Pain. Truth is, perhaps the only real stable in the CWC Alliance at that time as well.

His feuds with men such as Nikedemous Segier were memorable and epic. Those two men absolutely despised one another. Hatred coursed through their bones for one another. Cross was the guy and Segier was going to be the guy coming. Everyone saw the greatness and the legendary matches coming before they even got there. Was this going to be a flash in the pan? No. Randy Cross refused to be the flash in the pan and nobody would dull his star from shining.

To a lot of fans, Randy Cross represented something they could not be. A free spirit, a free thinker, or a man who simply became what they wanted to be. Yet in the end it was Cross who made it seem like you could be anything in the wrestling ring. He simply drove dreams into the heads of children. He had put many a wrestler into the ring after he had matches. In fact, personally, I think he helped fuel the business’ rise for a few years.

Did Randy Cross ever have any friends? Not in so many words, really. We truly believe that Cross was in it for himself, but yet the Minnesota Wrecking Crew aka Zack and Aric Crockett were with him to the bitter end. They did not give up on him nor he on them. Where you found one you'd find the others. They fed each other, in truth, and when they departed one would truly think Cross lost an edge - perhaps the burning desire to continue further.

Fans wonder at times whenever Randy Cross' music plays, why people hold up four fingers. The man was the WWA's first 4 time World Heavyweight Champion. He signified perfection in its rawest form. The WWA's very first Television Champion, and of course WWA royalty of sorts. When someone says "Who was the Greatest in the WWA?" most would not even think twice without having Randy Cross come up in the conversation or minds.

Yet there is the one side of Randy Cross people forget. The manipulative, lying, stealing, and of course power hungry man behind the scenes. Cross seldom took his hand out of the cookie jar. He had to be the puppet master and pulling many strings. Often driving owner Mark Harrington nuts with the constant dealings in the ring and backstage. Was it because of a drama queen? No it was because someone orchestrated enough time and energy to be the one top guy to start on top and leave on top.

Randy Cross had to do things only one way. Randy Cross’ way. Was Randy Cross a wresting god? No not even close, and yet he was wrestling's royalty. He set stages and bars high for people to achieve.

All in all, what made Randy Cross great? The answer was simple…he demanded greatness. After all he is the one and the only.

The Painmaker Randy Cross.

Comments on Randy Cross

The One Man Show: Randy Cross? Oh right, the guy that got fired so Fat Tony could come back. Yeah, we all missed Tony. Randy...not so much. I love him on American Idol though.

Ian Tense: When you think about the WWA World Championship, Randy Cross is the first person that pops into your head. He was the standard I held myself to. The quintessential "heel". And the House of Pain was as devastating a team as there has ever been in this industry. Randy Cross could walk into the WWA today and beat just about everyone on the roster. Not because he was ever that technical, or fast, or anything like that. He was just that mean. That determined. That vicious. Anyone who wants to know what it takes to be a WWA legend should do nothing more than sit back and watching old videos of Randy Cross. He was one of the guys who laid the blueprint to immortality in this industry. It was an honor of mine to walk around like I did with HIS title.

Denrol: What do I think about Randy Cross? You mean the biggest coward in the history of the WWA? That's right. From the moment I stepped into this federation, I was gunning for Cross. He knew it and was crapping his pants. He surrounded himself with better workers, like Outlaw. That meant he never got exposed for the second-rate wrestler he was. Well, not until he ran into Damien Thorne. Despite my feelings for Thorne, I still owe him a beer for that one.

Kid Cool: Randy Cross was the greatest wrestler that ever lived. He was like sooo totally cool. One minute he was like POW! and then he'd pull out a WHAM!  And when he did that Figure four leg lock! OH BOY! You can be sure nobody was getting out of that. Man Randy was cool! Wish I was like him...Now I gotta get back to training or Liam will kick my ass.

Kade Williams: Randy Cross? The Painmaker, House of Pain Randy Cross? A numerous time WWA World Heavyweight Champion? The same Randy Cross who was announcing WWA Glory not that long ago? He ain't shit.

Shaman: Randy Cross is and always will be the man who avoids real challenges. All those years he had dodged me. Challenge after challenge war after war between stables. I was always against him, but when it came down to it he avoided me with a passion. What can i say about a man who hid behind the skirts of his women and men. Nothing at all good riddance may the road be paved with people who won't hide behind fake retirements.