Wrestling nice Scott Corridor dies at age 63
“Hey, yo.”
That two-word catchphrase turned a staple within the repertoire of Scott Oliver Corridor, aka Razor Ramon. Corridor was identified for conserving a toothpick on the high of his ear, having one in his mouth, and earlier than a match, his ritual of throwing a toothpick in his opponent’s face. Corridor oozed machismo, hooking viewers of all ages, like myself, again within the mid-Nineteen Nineties nearly instantly.
Corridor died Monday after a sequence of coronary heart assaults stemming from hip surgical procedure issues. He was 63.
Within the ’90s, he actually was one of many first cool heels on WWE (then WWF) tv. Together with his borrowed Cuban accent and Scarface impersonations, Corridor (as Razor Ramon) was an on the spot stumble on debuting within the WWF through the summer season of ‘92 after weeks of vignettes. If you happen to’ve by no means seen any of those vignettes, examine ‘em out. They’re hilarious now however did precisely what they have been presupposed to do again then. They made Razor one of the crucial hated heels within the firm. As they are saying in wrestling, Ramon had warmth and plenty of it. His arrogantly crude perspective was over, and Corridor had lastly hit the massive time and was on his means.
Most followers have been launched to Corridor for the primary time within the World Wrestling Federation with the Razor Ramon gimmick, however he’d been round for nearly a decade by the point he stepped foot in a WWF ring. Corridor was a part of that closing period of stars that got here up by means of the previous territory system. Corridor received his begin with NWA affiliate Championship Wrestling from Florida. The primary time I can keep in mind watching Corridor on TV was round 1989 throughout his temporary stint with NWA/WCW. Even then, he seemed like a star. He simply wasn’t seasoned on the time.
Quick ahead to ’92-’93 and the Razor character, and after I first noticed him, I believed he seemed acquainted, however his complete persona, his swagger, was fully completely different from after I’d watched him a few years prior. Though the Ramon character was a dick initially (because it was presupposed to be), his fashion was completely different and extra refined. Now, in fact, as a child I wasn’t calling Ramon refined, however I knew one thing was completely different. Perhaps it was his look, which had modified a bit, or maybe it was his in-ring fashion or his pretend Cuban accent. Name it machismo or no matter you need. However I used to be reeled in and have become a fan.
Throughout Corridor’s lengthy profession, which spanned components of 4 a long time, he was concerned in quite a few legendary moments in professional wrestling historical past. Certainly one of which often will get ignored is that as Razor Ramon, Corridor was the particular person to retire “The Million Greenback Man” Ted DiBiase, defeating him in DiBiase’s closing match at SummerSlam ‘93. These days, there would have been a giant farewell tour on the way in which to that match, however again then, that wasn’t the way it labored. Ramon received the rub from DiBiase with little fanfare. In truth, until you have been within the enterprise at the moment, you in all probability had no clue that bout could be DiBiase’s swan track. Corridor’s greatest match within the eyes of many got here in 1994 at WrestleMania X within the first-ever Mania ladder match towards Shawn Michaels for the Intercontinental title. Since then, we’ve seen far crazier ladder matches, however this one, for its time, was completely on one other stage than something we’d seen within the WWF at that time. Corridor and Michaels put collectively an on the spot basic that received Professional Wrestling Illustrated’s Match of the 12 months award for ‘94.
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In ’96, on his means out of the WWF, Corridor, Michaels, Kevin Nash, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley gave followers at Madison Sq. Backyard one final picture of the 4 buddies collectively within the ring through the notorious “curtain name.” The loopy half about this was 1) it wasn’t a televised match and a pair of) in line with the members, it wasn’t meant to be as controversial because it turned. All 4 males shook fingers, threw up the wolfpack signal, and hugged in the course of the ring after the match, basically “breaking kayfabe,” which was nonetheless a strict no-no in ‘96.
That second led immediately into the primary massive shot fired within the Monday Night time Warfare between WCW and the WWF. Lex Luger had unexpectedly jumped ship the earlier fall (Sep.’ 95) and popped on the debut of WCW Monday Nitro, however that didn’t have practically the affect of Corridor strolling out by means of the Nitro crowd and leaping within the ring through the center of a match and slicing a promo on WCW. After I noticed that, I actually misplaced it. I couldn’t imagine my man Razor, who was simply within the WWF a few weeks earlier than, had now proven up on the competitors’s programming. As a child, I learn some professional wrestling magazines (or grime sheets), however I used to be not ready for this transfer. Like most, I by no means noticed it coming.
Scott had a terrific thoughts for the wrestling enterprise in these days. He actually understood the psychology of creating followers imagine. Initially, Corridor was presupposed to stroll down the aisle, bounce within the ring, interrupt the match, and minimize his promo. However since this was presupposed to be an “invasion” angle by WWF guys, Corridor got here up with the thought of strolling in by means of the stands, hoping the rail and the remaining is historical past.
That one minor tweak to the angle made it really feel actual. By ‘96, Vince McMahon had lengthy uncovered the enterprise, however at that second, until you knew, you didn’t know. Have been McMahon and the WWF actually invading WCW? Or had Corridor simply defected to the opposite facet? When Corridor’s greatest good friend Nash quickly adopted, they finally joined forces with heel Hulk Hogan to type the New World Order. That started the following vital growth interval in wrestling. That second was so actual to the WCW followers in attendance that they started to throw trash within the ring. This was one of many first instances I can keep in mind followers throwing that quantity of rubbish on the wrestlers on dwell tv.
So many moments and so a lot of my wrestling recollections are immediately attributed to Scott Corridor. I do know he wasn’t an angel. Corridor had demons that plagued him most of his life. I feel most of us have demons of some type we’re battling, and so they can take form and manifest themselves in some ways. This doesn’t absolve anybody from holding themselves accountable for his or her actions, nevertheless it additionally signifies that we proceed to try to struggle to be higher and overcome them. Scott Corridor fought. He fought for so long as he may. Alongside the way in which, he simply occurred to grow to be top-of-the-line in-ring performers and entertainers of his time. To me, that counts for one thing.
So, say goodnight to the unhealthy man, chico. Scott’s in-ring legacy will dwell on endlessly, and I do know I’ll be going again to look at a lot of his most memorable matches and promos.
My life is like driving down a street. I often look within the rearview mirror, however I’m not centered on the previous or wanting again anymore.
Corridor’s contributions to the NWO, The Kliq, The Wolfpac, WWF, WCW, and the wrestling business total won’t ever be forgotten by followers. Relaxation in peace.
