# Rhonda Sing

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{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name             = Rhonda Sing
|image            = Bertha Faye in 1995.jpg
|caption          = Sing (as Bertha Faye) in 1995
|birth_name       = Rhonda Ann Sing
|names            = '''Bertha Faye'''<ref name=oww/><br />'''Monster Ripper'''<br />La Monstra<br />Nitro Girl Beef<br />Rhonda Singh<ref name=oww/>
|height           = 5 ft 7 in}<ref name=oww/><ref name=taint/>
|weight           = 260 lb<ref name=oww/><ref name=taint/>
|birth_date       = {{birth date|mf=yes|1961|2|21}}<ref name=oww/><ref name=fame/>
|death_cause      = [Heart attack](/source/Heart_attack)<ref name=ecwpress/>
|birth_place      = [Calgary, Alberta](/source/Calgary%2C_Alberta), Canada<ref name=oww/><ref name=taint/>
|death_date       = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2001|7|27|1961|2|21}}<ref name=taint/>
|death_place      = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
|billed           = [Walls, Mississippi](/source/Walls%2C_Mississippi), United States (as Bertha Faye)<ref name=Encyclopedia2009>{{cite book|title=[WWE Encyclopedia](/source/WWE_Encyclopedia)|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/26 26]|publisher=[Dorling Kindersley](/source/Dorling_Kindersley)|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0}}</ref>
|trainer          = [Mildred Burke](/source/Mildred_Burke)<ref name=oww/>
|debut            = 1979<ref name=oww/>
|retired          = 2000
}}
'''Rhonda Ann Sing'''<ref name=bret/> (February 21, 1961 – July 27, 2001) was a Canadian [professional wrestler](/source/professional_wrestler).<ref name=oww>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rhonda-singh.html|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|title=Rhonda Singh profile|access-date=September 11, 2009|archive-date=September 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926230701/http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/rhonda-singh.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After training with [Mildred Burke](/source/Mildred_Burke), she wrestled in [All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling](/source/All_Japan_Women's_Pro-Wrestling) under the [ring name](/source/ring_name) '''Monster Ripper'''. In 1987, she returned to Canada and began working with [Stampede Wrestling](/source/Stampede_Wrestling), where she was their first [Stampede Women's Champion](/source/Stampede_Women's_Champion). In 1995, she worked in the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/World_Wrestling_Federation) as the comedic character '''Bertha Faye''', winning the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship). She also wrestled in [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) to help generate interest in their women's division.

==Professional wrestling career==

===Training===
While growing up in [Calgary](/source/Calgary), Sing attended numerous [Stampede Wrestling](/source/Stampede_Wrestling) events with her mother.<ref name=taint>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_01aug4-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310152135/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_01aug4-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2016|title=Mourners salute Sing|author=Wood, Michael|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 5, 2009|date=August 9, 2001}}</ref> She knew she wanted to be a wrestler from a young age and frequently beat up the neighborhood children, along with those in her kindergarten class.<ref name=fame>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707103706/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 7, 2015|title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Rhonda Sing / Monster Ripper|author=Laroche, Stephen|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=August 23, 2008|date=January 9, 2001}}</ref> As a teenager, Sing approached members of the [Hart wrestling family](/source/Hart_wrestling_family) and asked to be trained, but she was rejected as they did not train women wrestlers at the time.<ref name=taint/> [Bret Hart](/source/Bret_Hart), however, claims it had more to do with scheduling conflicts.<ref name=bret/> During a trip to [Hawaii](/source/Hawaii) in 1978, she saw Japanese women's wrestling on television and decided she wanted to pursue the sport.<ref name=bret/> She later wrote to [Mildred Burke](/source/Mildred_Burke) after a friend gave her a magazine with Burke's contact information,<ref name=fame/> and sent her a biography and photo.<ref name=bret/> Shortly thereafter, she joined Burke's training facility in [Encino, California](/source/Encino%2C_California).<ref name=taint/>

===Japan, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico (1979–1995)===
After a few weeks of training with Burke, Sing was scouted by [All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling](/source/All_Japan_Women's_Pro-Wrestling) (AJW), despite her inexperience.<ref name=taint/><ref name=bret/> Sing's debut match in Japan was a [tag team](/source/tag_team) match with partner Mami Kumano, defeating the [Beauty Pair](/source/Beauty_Pair) ([Jackie Sato](/source/Jackie_Sato) and [Maki Ueda](/source/Maki_Ueda_(wrestler))) in January 1979.<ref name=taint/><ref name=fame/> In Japan, she began wrestling under the name Monster Ripper.<ref name=taint/> Although she found adjusting to the Japanese culture difficult, Sing held AJW's premier title, the [WWWA World Single Championship](/source/WWWA_World_Single_Championship), on two occasions and was the first Calgary born wrestler to gain success in Japan.<ref name=taint/><ref name=bret/> During her time in the company, the Japanese female wrestlers gave her a hard time because they did not like losing to foreigners.<ref name=fame/><ref name=bret/> Sing also had difficulty because of her youth and inexperience in the ring.<ref name=taint/> Sing, however, was comforted by [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling)'s [Dynamite Kid](/source/Dynamite_Kid), who had trained in Calgary.<ref name=fame/><ref name=bret/> Sing won the WWWA World Single Championship from Jackie Sato on July 31, 1979.<ref name=fame/> Despite losing the title to Sato six weeks later, she regained it on March 15, 1980.<ref name=fame/> The title was vacated in August 1980.<ref name=fame/>

After another stint in Japan, Sing returned to Stampede Wrestling in late 1987 and was renamed Rhonda Singh by [Bruce Hart](/source/Bruce_Hart_(wrestler)), the owner of the company.<ref name=taint/> There were plans to pair her with [Gama Singh](/source/Gama_Singh), but they never came to fruition.<ref name=taint/> During 1987, she was named their first [Women's Champion](/source/IWA_World_Women's_Championship) because she had defeated [Wendi Richter](/source/Wendi_Richter) prior to returning to Stampede.<ref name=fame/><ref name=bret>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010804-sun.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310030322/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010804-sun.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2016|title=Singh earned much respect within wrestling circles|author=Hart, Bret|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=August 22, 2008|date=August 4, 2001|author-link=Bret Hart}}</ref> She held the title until September 22, 1988, when she lost to [Chigusa Nagayo](/source/Chigusa_Nagayo).<ref name=fame/>

Over the next few years, Sing once again traveled throughout the world and wrestled for a number of companies, holding several titles. Between 1987 and 1990, Sing worked in [Puerto Rico](/source/Puerto_Rico) for the [World Wrestling Council](/source/World_Wrestling_Council) (WWC), where she held the [WWC Women's Championship](/source/WWC_Women's_Championship) on five occasions by defeating Wendi Richter, [Candi Devine](/source/Candi_Devine), and Sasha in matches for the title. As Monster Ripper on the WWC 18th Anniversary Show on July 6, 1991, she faced and beat El Profe in an [intergender match](/source/intergender_match).<ref name=profe>{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/faye.html|title=Bertha Faye|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=April 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412112112/http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/faye.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1992 she worked as La Monstra for [Asistencia Asesoría y Administración](/source/Asistencia_Asesor%C3%ADa_y_Administraci%C3%B3n) in Mexico, where she won the WWA World Women's Title.

===World Wrestling Federation (1995)===
thumb|Sing (as "Bertha Faye") in 1995

In 1995, Sing was contacted by the [World Wrestling Federation](/source/World_Wrestling_Federation) to help their ailing women's division.<ref name=fame/> She was repackaged as "Bertha Faye", a comedic character who lived in a [trailer park](/source/trailer_park) and dated [Harvey Wippleman](/source/Harvey_Wippleman).<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Laprade|first1=Pat|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f_lsDQAAQBAJ&q=bertha+faye&pg=PT256|title=Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling|last2=Murphy|first2=Dan|date=April 11, 2017|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77305-014-0|language=en|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107234220/https://books.google.com/books?id=f_lsDQAAQBAJ&q=bertha+faye&pg=PT256|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=taint/><ref name=fame/> WWF management originally wanted her to have an on-screen [feud](/source/feud_(professional_wrestling)) with [Bull Nakano](/source/Bull_Nakano), but there was a change of plans after Nakano was charged with [cocaine](/source/cocaine) possession.<ref name=fame/>

Sing made her WWF debut on the April 3, 1995, episode of ''[Monday Night Raw](/source/Monday_Night_Raw)'' participating in a sneak attack on [Alundra Blayze](/source/Alundra_Blayze), making it appear as if Blayze's nose had been broken.<ref name=fame/> At [SummerSlam](/source/SummerSlam_(1995)) on August 27, Faye defeated Blayze for the [WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship), holding the title until the October 23 airing of ''Monday Night Raw'', where Blayze regained the title, ending Faye's reign at 57 days.<ref name=wwe>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112115|title=Bertha Faye's reign|publisher=[World Wrestling Entertainment](/source/World_Wrestling_Entertainment)|access-date=August 22, 2008|archive-date=June 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605021151/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112115|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=list>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/greatestwhoamances/greatwhoamances9|title=List This #9: Harvey's whipped|author=McAvennie, Mike|publisher=[World Wrestling Entertainment](/source/World_Wrestling_Entertainment)|access-date=September 23, 2008|date=February 15, 2007|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224147/http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/greatestwhoamances/greatwhoamances9|url-status=live}}</ref> As the WWF continued to neglect their women's division, Sing became tired of working there. Moreover, she was frustrated with her Faye gimmick, once recalling that she felt like a prostitute due to the sexualized and comical way that she was often portrayed.<ref name="bret" /> WWF management asked her not to perform the same power moves as the male wrestlers, so instead, Faye was forced to act as comic relief.<ref name="fame" /><ref name="bret" /> After a year with the company, Sing asked for a release from her contract.<ref name="fame" /> She briefly returned to Japan but did not like the new system, which did not guarantee payouts.<ref name="fame" />

===Return to Mexico and Canada (1995–1999)===
After leaving the WWF, Sing returned to AAA in Mexico in 1996. During this period, she also worked in the [independent circuit](/source/independent_circuit) in Alberta, Canada.

===World Championship Wrestling (1999–2000)===
In late 1999, she worked with [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) (WCW) briefly, appearing on several telecasts to help generate interest in a women's division.<ref name=fame/> She was also a contender for both the [WCW Cruiserweight Championship](/source/WCW_Cruiserweight_Championship) and [WCW Hardcore Championship](/source/WCW_Hardcore_Championship). In addition to competing in matches using her Singh and Monster Ripper gimmicks, she also appeared with the [Nitro Girls](/source/Nitro_Girls) dance troupe providing comic relief.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/1999122m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro|author=Wade|publisher=DDT Digest|access-date=August 18, 2008|date=December 13, 1999|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216082805/http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/1999122m.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ddtdigest.com/updates/2000072m.htm|title=WCW Monday Nitro|author=Big Mike|publisher=DDT Digest|access-date=August 18, 2008|date=July 10, 2000|archive-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207023458/http://www.ddtdigest.com/updates/2000072m.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Rhonda was born in Calgary on February 21, 1961, to Jack Mah Sing, a grocery store operator, and Elsie Beatrice Sing.<ref>March 3, 1999, ''Calgary Herald'', pg 36.</ref> She had Chinese ancestry on her father's side. She was one of four children, having three brothers. She spoke fluent Japanese and Spanish.<ref>Saidman, Sorelle "She's real bad," The Province, August 21, 1984, pg 28.</ref> Backstage, Sing was friends with the male, rather than the female, wrestlers.<ref name=bret/> During her time in the WWF, she developed a close friendship with [Owen Hart](/source/Owen_Hart).<ref name=bret/> After leaving WCW, Sing took a break from wrestling.<ref name="fame" /> In 2001, she worked as a caregiver to the handicapped.<ref name="taint" /> 

On July 27, 2001, Sing died of a heart attack at the age of 40.<ref name=ecwpress>{{cite book|title=Wrestling Babylon: Piledriving Tales of Drugs, Sex, Death, and Scandal|author=Muchnick, Irvin|publisher=ECW Press|year=2007|isbn=978-1-55022-761-1|page=148}}</ref><ref name=pwtorch>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Annual_Obituaries_39/article_24601.shtml|title=List of Deceased Wrestlers for 2001: Johnny Valentine, Terry Gordy, Chris Adams, Bertha Faye, Helen Hart|author=Gallipoli, Thomas M.|publisher=PWTorch|date=February 22, 2008|access-date=August 23, 2008|archive-date=July 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090705045443/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/Annual_Obituaries_39/article_24601.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> She never married or had children. Sing was buried on August 3, 2001, in Mountain View Cemetery in Calgary, and her funeral was attended by fellow wrestlers including [Bret Hart](/source/Bret_Hart), [Stu Hart](/source/Stu_Hart), [Davey Boy Smith](/source/Davey_Boy_Smith), [Smith Hart](/source/Smith_Hart), [Allen Coage](/source/Allen_Coage), and [Ben Bassarab](/source/Ben_Bassarab).<ref>Williamson, Kerry "Wrestlers say goodbye to queen of the ring," Calgary Herald, August 4, 2001, pg 20.</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling](/source/All_Japan_Women's_Pro-Wrestling)'''
**[IWA World Women's Championship](/source/IWA_World_Women's_Championship) ([1 time](/source/IWA_World_Women's_Championship))<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/iwa-wm.html|title=IWA Women's World Title (Japan)|access-date=January 8, 2013|archive-date=September 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917055649/http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/iwa-wm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
**[WWWA World Single Championship](/source/WWWA_World_Single_Championship) ([2 times](/source/WWWA_World_Single_Championship))<ref name=oww/><ref name=taint/>
**AJW Hall of Fame (1998)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/hof.html|title=All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame |access-date=October 9, 2007|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
*'''[Cauliflower Alley Club](/source/Cauliflower_Alley_Club)'''
**Posthumous Award ([2003](/source/Cauliflower_Alley_Club))
*'''[Stampede Wrestling](/source/Stampede_Wrestling)'''
**[Stampede Women's Championship](/source/IWA_World_Women's_Championship) ([1 time](/source/IWA_World_Women's_Championship))<ref name=oww/><ref name=bret/>
*'''[World Wrestling Association](/source/World_Wrestling_Association)'''
**[WWA Women's Championship](/source/WWA_Women's_Championship) ([1 time](/source/WWA_Women's_Championship_(Mexico)))<ref name=oww/><ref>{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= MEXICO: WWA Tag Team Title | page= 401 | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
*'''[World Wrestling Council](/source/World_Wrestling_Council)'''
**[WWC Women's Championship](/source/WWC_Women's_Championship) ([8 times](/source/WWC_Women's_Championship))<ref name=oww/>
**[AWA World Women's Championship](/source/AWA_World_Women's_Championship) ([1 time; unofficial](/source/AWA_Women's_Championship))<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPgsvoQPRw |title=WWC: Monster Ripper vs. Candi Devine (1990) - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[YouTube](/source/YouTube) |access-date=March 1, 2017 |archive-date=April 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406064731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPgsvoQPRw |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Ref|1|1}}
*'''[World Wrestling Federation](/source/World_Wrestling_Federation)'''
**[WWF Women's Championship](/source/WWF_Women's_Championship) ([1 time](/source/List_of_WWE_Women's_Champions_(1956%E2%80%932010)))<ref name=oww/><ref name=wwe/>

{{small|1 {{note|1}} The WWC briefly recognized Sing, then wrestling as Monster Ripper, as the AWA World Women's Champion following her victory over Candi Devine on July 7, 1990. However, the [American Wrestling Association](/source/American_Wrestling_Association) did not recognize Sing's title win.}}

==See also==
*[List of premature professional wrestling deaths](/source/List_of_premature_professional_wrestling_deaths)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rhonda Ann Sing}}
* {{IMDb name|name=Rhonda Sing}}
* {{Find a Grave|7752346|Rhonda “Bertha Faye” Singh}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles}}

{{AWA World Women's Championship}}
{{WWE Women's Championship}}
{{WWC Women's Championship}}
{{WWWA World Single Championship}}

{{good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sing, Rhonda}}
Category:1961 births
Category:2001 deaths
Category:20th-century female professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century Canadian professional wrestlers
Category:AAAW Single Champions
Category:AWA World Women's Champions
Category:Canadian female professional wrestlers
Category:Expatriate professional wrestlers in Japan
Category:Canadian expatriate professional wrestlers
Category:IWA World Women's Champions
Category:Professional wrestlers from Calgary
Category:Sportswomen from Alberta
Category:Stampede Wrestling alumni
Category:WWWA World Single Champions
Category:WWF/WWE Women's Champions
Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen
Category:WWC Women's Champions

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rhonda Sing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhonda_Sing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhonda_Sing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.