The man who survived a six-second defeat at WrestleMania

History · Published 7 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the high-stakes world of professional wrestling, some losses are more legendary than victories. For Joseph Ruud, known to many as Erick Rowan, a six-second defeat against The Rock remains a permanent fixture in wrestling history, marking a career defined by intense loyalty and dramatic transformations.

Born in Minneapolis on November 28, 1981, Joseph Ruud’s path to the ring was far from a straight line. Before finding global fame, he trained under Eddie Sharkey in 2003 and competed in Japan for the Pro Wrestling Noah dojo. His early career saw him wrestling under the name Thoruf Marius, moving through the Midwest circuit before signing his first WWE developmental contract in February 2011. A former football player at the University of Minnesota Morris, Ruud's heritage traces back to Nannestad, Norway. He also possesses German ancestry.

Ruud is perhaps most recognized for his role in the Wyatt Family, where he was introduced as Bray Wyatt's 'second son.' Alongside partner Luke Harper, he achieved significant success, including winning the NXT Tag Team Championship in May 2013 and later the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. His career has been marked by physical extremes, from the terrifying persona of a man protecting a mysterious caged creature to the brutal reality of a six-second loss to The Rock at WrestleMania 32. His championship repertoire includes a reign as a two-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion, once alongside Daniel Bryan. He also found success as part of the Bludgeon Brothers.

The professional landscape for Ruud has been one of constant shifts. After a decade-long tenure with WWE, which saw him transition through various personas like The Bludgeon Brothers, he was released in April 2020 due to pandemic-related budget cuts. He subsequently rebranded as Erick Redbeard on the independent circuit and appeared in AEW. His career continues to be defined by deep personal connections, notably his emotional tribute to his late partner, Jon Huber, in late 2020. Under his Redbeard moniker, he participated in the United Wrestling Network World Title tournament in late 2020. He later joined the Death Triangle faction in AEW.

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