Ron Bass (wrestler)
American professional wrestler

Ron Bass (wrestler)

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American professional wrestler
A.K.A.
Ron Heard, Ron Bass, "Outlaw" Ron Bass
Gender:
Male
Places:
United States of America
Is:
AthleteWrestler
Work field:
Sports
Birth:
21 December 1948(Harrisburg)
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Biography

Introduction

Ronald "Ron" Heard (born December 21, 1948) is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the name Ron Bass. His gimmick was a Texan cowboy who entered World Wrestling Federation (WWF) rings to the sound of a bullwhip.

Professional wrestling career

National Wrestling Alliance (1975–1987)

Herd started wrestling as Ron Bass in 1975. Throughout the 1970s, he performed primarily in National Wrestling Alliance territories. He was known as "Cowboy" Ron Bass, Sam Oliver Bass, and "Outlaw" Ron Bass, depending on which territory he was working at the time.

In the early 1980s, he wrestled in Florida Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions, frequently teaming with Black Bart as The Long Riders in both promotions. He also teamed and feuded with Barry Windham in Florida. Bass' feud with Barry Windham (over a saddle given to Bass by Dusty Rhodes) led to Windham losing a "loser-leaves-town" match to Bass and coming back to wrestle as the masked "Dirty Yellow Dog."

World Wrestling Federation (1987–1989)

In 1987, Bass (using the "Outlaw" name) went to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where he voiced challenges to the likes of WWF champion Hulk Hogan and Brutus Beefcake. It appeared that a feud was in the works for Bass against Blackjack Mulligan who had just returned to WWF but the plug was pulled on the feud once Mulligan got angry with the WWF office and left to go back to the Florida wrestling promotion. At that point Bass quickly settled into a role in the midcard position, wrestling against Hillbilly Jim, Lanny Poffo and Sam Houston on many house show events. Later on he was part of the five-man team captained by The Honky Tonk Man at the inaugural Survivor Series pay-per-view on Thanksgiving Day 1987 (he was eliminated by Beefcake). He also participated in the very first Royal Rumble and the 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania IV. He was eliminated at the latter event by the Junkyard Dog; a feud between the two began in the months after WrestleMania after Bass choked and dragged the Dog with his bullwhip, "Miss Betsy," in a sneak attack on Wrestling Challenge. Bass was one of the rare heels during this time to not have a manager.

At the 1988 King of the Ring tournament, Bass qualified for the final after beating a young Shawn Michaels but was paid by Ted DiBiase to fake an injury. Bass began his most notable WWF feud with Beefcake in August 1988, gouging Beefcake's head open with his spurs ("Bret" and "Bart") on an episode of Superstars of Wrestling; the attack caused Beefcake to miss his scheduled Intercontinental championship match against the Honky Tonk Man at the first SummerSlam event on August 29. Bass and Honky co-captained a five-man contingent against a team captained by Beefcake and the Ultimate Warrior at the second Survivor Series in November. Bass and teammate Greg Valentine were eliminated by Warrior in succession in the final minute of the match. On the January 7, 1989 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Bass lost to Beefcake via sleeperhold in a hair vs. hair match. He competed in the 1989 Royal Rumble (sans hair), Bass' feud with Beefcake was scrapped, and he was used mainly as a preliminary wrestler and left the WWF shortly thereafter, and wrestled in the independents before retiring in 1991.

Retirement

He eventually retired due to the injuries sustained over his career. He returned to Tampa, Florida, where he golfed, became religious, and earned his bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University. Subsequently, he worked in sales in Florida's construction market. He also became a successful Amway salesman in the Tampa area.

In 2005, Bass made an appearance at WrestleReunion on January 29 and teamed with Larry Zbyszko to defeat Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda.

He has one son.

In 2007, WWE released the "Outlaw" Ron Bass action figure as part of its classics collection.

In July 2016, Heard 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.

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
    • Clawhold
    • Inverted suplex slam
    • Running powerslam
    • Spike piledriver
    • Texas Gourdbuster (Kneeling facebuster)
  • Managers
    • James J. Dillon
    • Oliver Humperdink
    • Bobby Heenan
  • Nicknames
    • "Outlaw"
    • "Cowboy"
  • Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. Dorling Kindersley. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0. 

Championships and accomplishments

  • All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Hansen
  • Central States Wrestling
  • NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ken Mantell
  • Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Florida Bahamian Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Barry Windham
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (2 times)
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (4 times) - with Black Bart (3), and One Man Gang (1)
  • Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling - Southeastern Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Don Bass (1) and Dutch Bass (1)
  • NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
  • NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Randy Rose
  • NWA Tennessee Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Don Bass
  • Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions
  • NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time)
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Black Bart
  • NWA Television Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Hollywood Wrestling
  • NWA Americas Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Dr. Hiro Ota (1), Moondog Lonnie Mayne (1), and Roddy Piper (1)
  • NWA Mid-America / Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Stan Lane
  • NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) (1 time) – with Don Bass
  • NWA Tri-State
  • NWA Arkansas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Pacific Northwest Wrestling
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with John Anson (1) and Moondog Mayne (1)
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 294 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.