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Who is Hardcore Holly?
Hardcore Holly has worked in World Wrestling Entertainment/Federation for 16 years. Hardcore Holly, as many of his contemporaries and fans have noted, is a six-time WWF Hardcore Champion.
He has also won three WWF Tag Team Championships, one of which he shared with his on-screen cousin Crash Holly.
Whether you cheered him on in the ring in the 2000s or heard about his myths, you undoubtedly want to learn more about his career and personal life.
This article will satisfy your thirst. So stick with it till the end.
Holly the Hardcore: Childhood and Education
Howard was born on January 29, 1963, in Glendale, California.
His mother reared him and his older brother there.
Following his mother’s remarriage, the family was forced to relocate to Ventura.
After relocating to Grants Pass, Oregon, Robert attended Grants Pass High School.
He started working in a beer warehouse shortly after graduating from high school.
In Alabama, Howard worked as a technician for Meineke Car Care Center.
During that period, he supplemented his income by boxing in bars.
Following that, Howard worked as a pipe cutter at Taylor Wharton.
More Facts of Hardcore Holly
| Full Name | Robert William Howard, Jr. |
| Birth Date | January 29, 1963 |
| Birth Place | Glendale, California, United States |
| Nickname | Hardcore Holly, Bombastic Bob |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Father | Robert William Howard |
| Education | Grants Pass High School |
| Zodiac | Aquarius |
| Siblings | One brother |
| Age | 59 Years Old |
| Height | 6 feet (183 cm) |
| Weight | 107 kg (235 lbs) |
| Build | Athletic |
| Eye color | Greenish |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Profession | Professional Wrestler |
| Active years | 1987-present |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Wife/ Spouse’s Name | Cathy Dingman (m. 2000-2003) Linda Kievet (m. 2010) |
| Children | One |
| Net Worth | $5 million |
| Salary | $500,000 |
| Social Media | |
| Merch | Wrestling Cards, Story Book |
| Last Update | July 2022 |
Holly the Hardcore: Wrestling Career
Howard began his wrestling career in 1987 when he made his debut in the World Wrestling Organization company in Mobile.
There, he was trained by Bob Sweetan and Rip Tyler.
During that time, he won the WWO Tag Team Championship alongside Ron Starr.
Wrestling career in the World Championships
Hardcore Holly joined WCW in 1990 as a jobber after having considerable success in the National Wrestling Alliance.
In his first WCW match, he was defeated by Lex Luger. Later, in August 1990, Ric Flair defeated him at WCW Saturday Night.
WWF’s professional career
Holly joined the World Wrestling Federation as a jobber in March 1991.
In his first match there was a loss against The Bushwhackers, in which he paired with Mike Sample.
“Hollywood” In Smoky Mountain Wrestling, he went under the ring name Bob Holly.
On his debut, he defeated Tim Frye.
When he returned to the WWF in 1994, he went by the alias Bob “Spark Plug” Holly.
It was inspired by Thurman “Sparky” Plugg’s ring name as a former NASCAR driver.
In the qualifying round of the 1995 King of the Ring event, he defeated Mantaur.
However, he was defeated in the quarterfinals by The Roadie.
He and 1-2-3 Kid won the WWF Tag Team Championship title in 1995, but it only lasted one day.
He was also a member of the Underdogs. During 1996-1997, he made far fewer television appearances.
In 1998, Holly joined with Bart Gunn as The New Midnight Express, a National Wrestling Alliance stable.
In March, they defeated The Headbangers to become the NWA World Tage Team Champions.
However, following a loss to The Border Patrol in August, they were forced to relinquish the championship.
Championship of the Hardcore
Bob Holly defeated Al Snow to win the WWF Hardcore Championship in February 1999.
Snow was a former JOB Squad teammate.
Holly coined the moniker “Hardcore Holly” during her title defense against another former competitor, Bart Gunn.
In 1999, Crash Holly was cast as his on-screen cousin.
In October 1999, they won the WWF Tag Team Championship on Raw.
Holly later feuded with The Big Show, Chris Jericho, and his The Holly Cousins partner.
He won the Hardcore Championship in a 13-man battle royal at WrestleMania 2000.
The next night, though, his cousin took it from him. In the year 2000, he appeared alongside another on-screen relative, Molly Holly.
Holly worked as a trainer for the reality show Tough Enough II.
WWE and MTV co-produced the show.
The candidates dubbed him “bully” because he was rough on them and occasionally harmed them.
Injuries
Brock Lesnar used a powerbomb to break his neck in 2002.
He had surgery, which resulted in a thirteen-month layoff.
He finished his preparations for his return after training at Ohio Valley Wrestling.
In a rematch for the WWE Championship, he was defeated once more by Lesnar.
During that time, Holly was also involved in a feud with Randy Orton and Kurt Angle.
Holly underwent several procedures to correct the lingering injury in 2005, and she contracted a staph infection in the right arm wound. Fortunately, the treatments were effective.
In a 2006 Extreme Rules match against Rob Van Dam, he suffered a major laceration.
A WWE doctor stitched up his back 24 times.
Wrestling Extreme Championship
Holly was unexpectedly spotted at an ECW house show event in August 2006.
He worked with Paul Heyman and had feuds with Rob Van Dam, CM Punk, Test, and others while there.
He lost numerous games in ECW and was unable to win the championship there.
WWE’s final days
Holly returned to SmackDown! and Raw in 2007 after a brief stint with ECW.
He formed an alliance with Cody Rhoades.
On Raw’s 15th Anniversary broadcast, they defeated Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch to win the World Tag Team Championship.
Similarly, the couple successfully defended their title on numerous occasions.
The partnership was broken when Rhodes and Ted DiBiase defeated Holly at Night of Champions in June 2008.
His WWE career ended after this match. WWE eventually let him go on January 16, 2009.
He performed in England for Varsity Pro Wrestling and National Wrestling Superstars after leaving WWE in 2009.
He then took a three-year hiatus from wrestling. Holly made a one-night appearance for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in March 2013.
He also made an appearance at Pro Wrestling Showdown in the Netherlands.
During his stay in the UK, Holly also performed in Kamikaze Pro, Pro Wrestling Pride, and the IPW.
Holly the Hardcore: Auto Racing
Then, in 1993, Robert Howard won the Mobile International Speedway after finishing fifth in 1992.
He arrived in a Chevrolet Malibu.
Howard also raced a WWF-sponsored super late model in the All-Pro Series.
Holly the Hardcore: Achievements and Titles
Six-time WWF Hardcore Champion Holds three WWF/WWE World Tag Team Championships with different partners.
The former Kamikaze Pro Championship winner has also won the World Wrestling Organization’s Tag Team Championship and US Heavyweight Championship.
In the Pro Wrestling Illustrated 500, he was placed 41 in 2000 and 391 in 2003.
Holly has won the NWA World Tag Team Championship and the Under the Lights Lights Out Championship once each.
Autobiography of Hardcore Holly
In 2013, Holly published his book, The Hardcore Truth: The Bob Holly Story.
It was released by ECW Press and co-authored by former British wrestler Ross Owen Williams.
A DIRECT LOOK AT THE LIFE OF A MAN WHO HAS DEVOTED HIS LIFE TO THE SPORT OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING
The book has received numerous positive reviews from wrestling magazine personnel.
In his article for the Pro Wrestling Torch newsletter, Bruce Mitchell referred to the book as “one of the strongest professional wrestling novels in a long time.”
It gives an honest account of an era in WWF history as seen through Holly’s eyes.
Holly is a hardcore actor.
Holly appeared as Sturner in the television film Operation Sandman (2000) and The Reader in the short movie Thanks for Reading (2016).
He also starred in the “Dodge Ball” episode of MTV’s The 70’s House in 2005.
Holly the Hardcore: Wife and Children
Holly married Cathy Dingman in the year 2000.
Before divorcing in 2003, the couple had a daughter named Stephanie.
He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Linda Kievet, since 2010.
They live in Dubuque, Iowa, in the United States.
Holly Hardcore’s Net Worth and Salary
Holly has spent 16 years of his career in WWE and has also competed in other countries.
AS OF 2022, HARDCORE HOLLY’S NET WORTH IS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT $5 MILLION.
He has also made a fortune from the selling of his book.
He currently appears in the ring on occasion for independent wrestling shows.
According to reports, he currently earns roughly $500,000 per year.
Vince McMahon, the WWF Chairman, gave him the ultra late-model WWE-sponsored automobile he used at the All-Pro Series.
Holly the Hardcore: Age, Height, and Body
Holly will be 58 years old in November 2021.
Because the blonde still fights on occasion, he has kept his athletic physique.
His height is 6 feet, 183 centimeters, and he weighs 107 kilos or 235 pounds.
Also, read Allonzo Trier, Jadon Sancho, Elton Brand
Holly the Hardcore: Social Media Presence
Holly’s sole social media profile is Twitter, where he is usually active.
62,100 followers on Twitter.
