Introduction
Lawrence Oliver is a former professional wrestler, known as Rip "The Crippler" Oliver, who had great success in Pacific Northwest Wrestling. He is the son of Ray Oliver, Sr., known as Rip "the Crippler" Oliver, and the brother of Ray Oliver, Jr., who also portrayed the masked Super Ninja character from time to time. His cousin, Earl Oliver, is a successful musician and founder of the oldest pro wrestling internet website, Solie's Vintage Wrestling.
Professional wrestling career
In Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW), he set a record for holding the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship more than anyone. Rip also had many titles in tag team competition, holding the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship and the NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship a combined 18 times. In 1985 Chris Adams allowed Gino Hernandez to defend his television title against Billy Jack Haynes, where he lost that title, but Rip Oliver defeated and severely injured Billy to win the W.C.C.W. Television Title soon thereafter.
After wrestling in PNW, Rip began to wrestle for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), and worked mainly as a jobber During his run Rip appeared once on Saturday Night's Main Event, going by the name of Super Ninja, challenging The Ultimate Warrior for the Intercontinental Championship. During his many title reigns Rip faced many wrestlers such as Rocky Johnson, Brett Sawyer, Billy Jack Haynes, Buddy Rose, Bobby Jaggers, Stan Stasiak, Larry Hennig, Curt Hennig, Brian Adams (wrestler), Jay Youngblood, Steve Regal, Roddy Piper, Tom Zenk, and Buzz Sawyer.
In July 2016, Oliver was named part of a class action lawsuit filed against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit is litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (2 times) - with Fidel Cortez (1) and Buddy Rose (1)
- Oregon Wrestling Federation
- OWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (12 times)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (16 times) - with Fidel Cortez (1), David Sierra (7), Buddy Rose (2), Matt Borne (2), Bobby Jaggers (1), Mike Miller (1), Super Ninja (1), and Larry Oliver (1)
- World Class Championship Wrestling
- WCCW Television Championship (1 time)