BACKGROUND:
The Rick's IWEF Career began with an upset victory over the Innovator of Violence, Tommy Dreamer to make Rick the first ever IWEF European Champion, a title he held on and off until finally dropping it to 'The Dragon' Eddy Johnson. During the early stages of his career The Rick was managed by Stephanie McMahon-Angle, who was now married to Kurt Angle. However, when Kurt Angle briefly left the IWEF to embark upon a tour of Australia, signs pointed to a relationship forming between The Rick and Stephanie. Kurt returned to the IWEF and eventually consumed with raging jealousy defended his IWEF Intercontinental Championship against The Rick at the IWEF Fireworks PPV. It was here that it was revealed that Stephanie was really back with her ex-husband, The Game: Triple H.

A new era of D-Generation X followed, as did a new manager for The Rick when he and fellow DX Member, Chris Jericho won a special match-up to earn the managerial services of Stacy. With Stacy in their corner Rick and Y2J captured the IWEF Tag Team Titles on two separate occasions. When The Rick and Stacy became a couple outside of the IWEF, D-Generation X was showing signs of fading and The Rick and Stacy embarked on a bigger goal, The Rick winning the IWEF World Heavyweight Championship from Steve Corino.

Shortly after the IWEF's closure, The Rick assumed brief control of the ICWA. But when he realised the call of the ring was too strong, he passed over control and returned to the ring shortly before the ICWA closed only months after opening. During his time in the ICWA, Rick teamed up with VWF legend Fugitive to capture the ICWA World Tag Team Championship and formed the ICWA's version of the oWo.

The Rick kept a low profile after the ICWA ended, returning when Tyler Jones' KiWF then under the IWEF/ICWA banner came calling. Tyler used Stacy to lure The Rick into signing for the KiWF and then tried everything in his power to end The Rick's career. The Rick quickly put paid to that goal, by winning the ICWA World Heavyweight Championship, but lost the title in a Unfication match at the IWEF/ICWA (KiWF) Resurgence 2002 PPV to Amadeus McLarson. Although The Rick won the KiWF Title from Amadeus a few weeks later, his feud with Tyler was the biggest challenge of his KiWF tenure, only ending in a brutal ladder match where The Rick beat Tyler to take control of the KiWF. At the same event the WCCW's own Alex Rydell attacked the new Chairman, and the KiWF Board of Directors decided to close down the KiWF after The Rick decided to remain an in-ring competitor rather than running a company.

Marrying Stacy on November 1st 2003, The Rick has now joined up with the new look WCCW to settle the score with Alex Rydell. However the Absolute One left the company soon after leaving Rick without any current feud to fit into. However, Rick enjoyed tag team success with cisco KID when they won the WCCW World Grand Prix Tag Team Championship a title they never lost during in-ring competition.

After a short leave of abscence The Rick returned to the WCCW to find that his arch rival Tyler Jones had wormed his way into the office as new GM Vixxen's Executive Official. Tyler once again made Rick and a pregnant Stacy's life a living hell placing Rick against some of the toughest opposition he could find. Unable to break Rick's spirit, Tyler finally achieved his goal when he convinced Stacy that Rick was cheating on her. Stacy was offered a home paid for by Tyler and painted the picture that Stacy was now romantically involved with TJ although this was never the case. Stacy gave birth to a baby girl named Amy Louise in June 2004 and claimed that she was not Rick's daughter. Tyler then had false documents created so it appeared Rick was not Amy's father. A disheartened Rick reacted by attacking his friend and former tag team partner cK and hooked up with a woman by the name of Rebekka Young.

A few months in it was revealed that Rebekka was under Tyler's payroll. When the WCCW folded Rebekka found herself locked in a web of lies and deceit she could not escape and in a bid for freedom she told Tyler's daughter Victoria Jones what was going on. Victoria informed her father that she knew his plans and was intent to stop him. Tyler told Victoria he was extremely proud of her for being so ruthless as to stand up to her father when suddenly a loud bang was heard and Tyler was found dead. Victoria Jones was arrested for her father's murder as all of Tyler's lies were revealed to the public.

During The Rick's 2006 stint with the VWF, Rick was a co-winner of the Royal Rumble match with Bishop, however due to problems with the VWF office and a few personal issues, Rick was forced to take leave of the VWF and never got the chance to take up his title shot at Bloodlust. Upon his 2007 return to the VWF and a strong showing in the 2007 Royal Rumble where he finished third, The Rick was granted the title shot he never took up from the previous year.

Prior to the Sizzle PPV, Michael Bunda announced something that only a blind man wouldn't know, that his wife Angel and Rick's wife Stacy H were identical twin sisters. Bunda and Angel started a war of words with Rick and Stacy that was set to end at the Sizzle PPV when The Rick, Michael Bunda and the 2007 Royal Rumble Winner, Creed were set to face off for Bunda's VWF Title but a mystery attacker ran Bunda over in the parking lot at a VWF event, forcing The Viking King to change plans for Sizzle.

At Sizzle, a Double Ladder Match was held for the VWF Intercontinental Championship and the VWF World Heavyweight Championship. Sylvaine Gingras was able to retain his Intercontinental Title but The Rick took home the World Championship when the other two opponents in the match, Crimson Lightening and Dr. Feelgood decided they would rather kill each other than win the title.