{{short description|Former American wrestling manager}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox writer | name = Randy Baer | image = | imagesize = 225px | caption = | pseudonym = RD Reynolds<br />Real Deal Reynolds | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|1|12}}<ref>{{cite book|title=WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling|last=Baer|first=Randy|author2=R.D. Reynolds|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=1-55022-584-7|year=2003|page=[https://archive.org/details/wrestlecrapveryw00rdre/page/6 6]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wrestlecrapveryw00rdre/page/6}}</ref> | birth_place = [[Indianapolis, Indiana]], U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Author, webmaster | nationality = [[United States|American]] | period = | genre = Comedy, non-fiction | subject = [[Professional wrestling]], [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick|Professional wrestling gimmicks]] | movement = | spouse = | partner = | children = | relations = | signature = | website = {{URL|wrestlecrap.com}} | footnotes = }} '''Randy Baer''' (born January 12, 1969), better known by his [[ring name|ring]] and [[pen name]] '''RD''' ('''Real Deal''') '''Reynolds''', is an American former [[professional wrestling]] [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]] and is also the co-creator of the professional wrestling website [[WrestleCrap]], with Merle Vincent (who died in September 2000).<ref name=slam1/> He has also authored three books, ''WrestleCrap'',<ref name="Wrestlecrap author">[http://www.ecwpress.com/biographies/r_d_reynolds RD Reynolds listed as the author of "Wrestlecrap" at ECW Press.com.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807120522/http://www.ecwpress.com/biographies/r_d_reynolds |date=2008-08-07 }}</ref><ref name=slam3>{{cite web|title=WrestleCrap author aims for laughs|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2004/02/02/333498.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722163255/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2004/02/02/333498.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2017|access-date=2010-08-15|date=2004-02-02|first=Jon|last=Waldman|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref> ''The Death of [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]]'',<ref>[http://www.ecwpress.com/books/death_wcw RD Reynolds listed as the author of "The Death of WCW" at ECW Press.com.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031090132/http://www.ecwpress.com/books/death_wcw |date=2007-10-31 }}</ref> co-authored with [[Bryan Alvarez]], and ''The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!'', co-authored with Blade Braxton (who died in March 2021). He has been called "the foremost authority on the worst of professional wrestling" by the [[Canoe.com|Canadian Online Explorer]].<ref name=slam2>{{cite web|title=Plenty of laughs in WrestleCrap's Lists|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2007/12/11/4719551.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310132825/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2007/12/11/4719551.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2016|access-date=2010-08-15|date=2007-12-18|first=Bob|last=Kapur|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref>
==Independent wrestling career== Baer's self-produced DVD ''The Worst of RD Reynolds'' chronicles his work in various [[Independent circuit|independent wrestling promotions]], most of which were in the [[Indianapolis]] area for promoters Jeff Cohen and "Diamond" Dan Garza; primarily Cohen's Championship Wrestling of America and [[List of NWA territories|NWA Indianapolis]].<ref name="OVW"/><ref name="Furious">{{cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/dev/wrestling/video_reviews/60228/The-Furious-Flashbacks-The-Worst-of-RD-Reynolds.htm |title=The Furious Flashbacks - The Worst of RD Reynolds |author=Furious, Arnold |date=December 2, 2007 |work=Video Reviews |publisher=411mania.com |access-date=March 14, 2011}}</ref> Baer worked as an interviewer, commentator, manager, and booker, meaning that he wrote storylines and set up matches. Occasionally, he performed in professional wrestling [[Mock combat|matches]], some of which had special stipulations.<ref name="OVW"/> When he became a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] manager, he was forced to adopt the ring name RD Reynolds due to wrestling fans leaving him angry messages on his answering machine.<ref name=slam1>{{cite web|title=Baer proudly peddles WrestleCrap|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/03/21/968307.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724205132/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/03/21/968307.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 24, 2017|access-date=2010-08-15|date=2005-03-21|first=Chris|last=Sokol|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref>
Baer once appeared in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]], a former developmental territory of [[WWE|World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE), managing [[Mark Henry]] in a match against [[Big Show|The Big Show]]. Show [[chokeslam]]med Baer during the course of the match and significantly injured him. Later, Baer himself took responsibility, citing his own inexperience and lack of training as the reasons for the injury.<ref name="OVW">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzpwi.co.nz/home/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=550&Itemid=88$|title=Interviews (2003): RD Reynolds|publisher=New Zealand Pro Wrestling Informer|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415143728/http://www.nzpwi.co.nz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=550&Itemid=88$|archive-date=2012-04-15|access-date=2010-08-16|first=James|last=Cardno}}</ref><ref name=Bakon>{{cite web|title=R.D. Reynolds Interview|url=http://www.lethalwrestling.com/opinions/news_content.php?fileName=427|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411075339/http://www.lethalwrestling.com/opinions/news_content.php?fileName=427|archive-date=April 11, 2013|access-date=2010-08-15|year=2004|first=Jun|last=Bakon|publisher=LethalWrestling.com|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Writing career== Baer holds a degree in broadcast journalism and sociology.<ref name="OVW"/> In 2000, Baer and Merle Vincent launched the website WrestleCrap, which features wrestling-related articles, primarily focusing on moments in wrestling which Baer and contributors perceive to be the worst. Since the launch of the website, Baer has written four wrestling-related books. In his first book, ''WrestleCrap,'' Baer chronicles the characters and storylines from WWE and [[World Championship Wrestling]] which he perceives to the very worst.<ref name=slam3/><ref name=Bakon/> It features an introduction by [[John Tenta]].<ref>{{cite web|title=John "Earthquake" Tenta dead|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/06/07/1619216.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151227094245/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/06/07/1619216.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2015|access-date=2010-08-15|date=2006-06-07|first=Jason|last=Clevett|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}</ref> Reynolds also co-authored ''The Death of WCW'', with wrestling journalist [[Bryan Alvarez]].<ref name="PWA">{{cite web |url=http://www.prowrestlingarena.com/interview-with-wrestecrap-rd-reynolds.html |title=Pro Wrestling Arena's Craptacular Interview with RD Reynolds |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=December 12, 2008 |website=ProWrestlingArena.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124072403/http://prowrestlingarena.com/interview-with-wrestecrap-rd-reynolds.html |archive-date=January 24, 2009 }}</ref> The book received a positive review from Jon Waldman of SLAM! Wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2005/01/12/896170.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309204721/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Reviews/2005/01/12/896170.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 9, 2016|first=Jon|last=Waldman|access-date=2010-08-15|date=2005-01-12|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|title=WCW's demise makes for good read}}</ref> His third book, ''The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!'', written with Blade Braxton, was released in November 2007.<ref name=slam2/> He was a featured columnist for British pro wrestling and MMA magazine, ''[[Fighting Spirit Magazine]]''.<ref name="Fighting Spirit">{{cite web|url=http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/about.asp|title=About Fighting Spirit|website=Fighting Spirit Magazine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302072038/http://www.fightingspiritmagazine.co.uk/about.asp|archive-date=2012-03-02}}</ref> He has also been interviewed as an expert on wrestling gimmicks.<ref>{{cite web|title=The right persona can turn a no-name into a wrestling star|publisher=The Press-Enterprise |url=http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/living/stories/PE_Fea_Living_wrest22.57f41.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207091135/http://www.pe.com/lifestyles/living/stories/PE_Fea_Living_wrest22.57f41.html|archive-date=2005-02-07|first=Mark|last=Kendall|date=2004-01-22|access-date=2010-08-15}}</ref> In 2014, a 10th anniversary expanded edition of ''The Death of WCW'' was released.<ref>{{cite web|first=RD|last=Reynolds|title=HUGE NEWS! The Death of WCW 10th Anniversary Edition Announced!!|url=https://www.wrestlecrap.com/about/huge-news-the-death-of-wcw-10th-anniversary-edition-announced/|website=WrestleCrap|date=January 15, 2013|access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Paul|last=Kraft|title=The Death of WCW: 10th Anniversary Edition is Available in Hardback, Paperback and Amazon Kindle!|url=https://www.wrestlecrap.com/sbt/the-death-of-wcw-10th-anniversary-edition-is-available-now-in-hardback-paperback-and-amazon-kindle/|website=WrestleCrap|date=March 11, 2014|access-date=August 17, 2022}}</ref>
==Death hoax== In April 2007, Baer was the victim of an internet [[hoax]], with various people and websites claiming that he had died from [[heart failure]] and his neighbors found him in his bathtub. In the end, Baer returned on an episode of WrestleCrap Radio with no idea how the rumor had started.<ref>{{cite podcast|url=http://www.wrestlecrapradio.com/2008/04/061-wrestlecrap-radio-recap-may-4-2007.html |title=061 Botany Crap Radio: May 4, 2007 |publisher=[[WrestleCrap|WrestleCrap Radio]] |host=Braxton, Blade |date=May 4, 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130928024604/http://www.wrestlecrapradio.com/2008/04/061-wrestlecrap-radio-recap-may-4-2007.html | archive-date =September 28, 2013 |access-date=August 19, 2011 }}</ref>
==Awards and accomplishments== *'''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]]''' **[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Best Pro Wrestling Book|Best Pro Wrestling Book]] (2005, 2014, with [[Bryan Alvarez]]) <small>Death of WCW</small><ref>{{cite journal| last = Meltzer | first = Dave | author-link = Dave Meltzer | date = January 26, 2015 | title = Jan. 26, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2014 awards issue w/ results & Dave's commentary, Conor McGregor, and much more | journal = [[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]] | location = [[Campbell, California]] | issn = 1083-9593 | page=35 | url=http://www.f4wonline.com/component/content/article/110-wrestling-observer-newsletter/40865-jan-26-2015-wrestling-observer-newsletter-2014-awards-issue-w-results-a-daves-commentary-conor-mcgregor-and-much-more}}</ref>
==Bibliography== *''WrestleCrap: The Very Worst of Pro Wrestling'' (2003) *''The Death of WCW'' (2004) (with [[Bryan Alvarez]]) *''The WrestleCrap Book of Lists!'' (2007) (with Blade Braxton) *''The Death of WCW – 10th Anniversary Edition'' (2014) (with Bryan Alvarez)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.wrestlecrap.com/ RD Reynolds' WrestleCrap website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Reynolds, R. D.}} [[Category:American comedy writers]] [[Category:American non-fiction writers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Writers from Indianapolis]] [[Category:American professional wrestling announcers]] [[Category:Professional wrestling journalists and columnists]] [[Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets]] [[Category:1969 births]] [[Category:American professional wrestling podcasters]]