View source for Rhonda Sing

{{short description|Canadian professional wrestler}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name=Rhonda Sing
|image=File:Bertha Faye in 1995.jpg
|caption=Sing in 1995
|birth_name = Rhonda Ann Sing
|names=Bertha Faye<ref name=oww/><br />La Monstra<br />Monster Ripper<br />Nitro Girl Beef<br />Rhonda Singh<ref name=oww/>
|height={{height|ft=5|in=7}}<ref name=oww/><ref name=taint/>
|weight={{convert|260|lb|kg st|abbr=on}}<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]]<ref name=ecwpress/>
|birth_place=[[Calgary]], [[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]] (as Bertha Faye)<ref name=Encyclopedia2009>{{cite book|title=[[WWE Encyclopedia]]|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/26 26]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0}}</ref>
|trainer=[[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 wrestling|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=2009-09-11|archive-date=2009-09-26|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]], she wrestled in [[Japan]] under the name '''Monster Ripper'''. In 1987, she returned to Canada and began working with [[Stampede Wrestling]], where she was their first [[IWA World Women's Championship|Stampede Women's Champion]]. In 1995, she worked in the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] as the comedic character '''Bertha Faye''', winning the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]]. She also wrestled in [[World Championship Wrestling]] to help generate interest in their women's division.

==Professional wrestling career==

===Training===
While growing up in [[Calgary]], Sing attended numerous [[Stampede Wrestling]] events with her mother.<ref name=taint>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_01aug4-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715024606/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_01aug4-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=Mourners salute Sing|author=Wood, Michael|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2009-11-05|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.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630042403/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 30, 2012|title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Rhonda Sing / Monster Ripper|author=Laroche, Stephen|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2008-08-23|date=January 9, 2001}}</ref> As a teenager, Singh approached members of the [[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]], however, claims it had more to do with scheduling conflicts.<ref name=bret/> During a trip to [[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]] 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, Los Angeles, California|Encino, 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|All Japan Women]] (AJW), despite her inexperience.<ref name=taint/><ref name=bret/> Sing's debut match in Japan was a [[tag team]] match with partner Mami Kumano, defeating the [[Beauty Pair]] ([[Jackie Sato]] and [[Maki Ueda (wrestler)|Maki Ueda]]) 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]], 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]]'s [[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 (wrestler)|Bruce Hart]], the owner of the company.<ref name=taint/> There were plans to pair her with [[Gadowar Singh Sahota|Gama Singh]], but they never came to fruition.<ref name=taint/> During 1987, she was named their first [[IWA World Women's Championship|Women's Champion]] because she had defeated [[Wendi Richter]] prior to returning to Stampede.<ref name=fame/><ref name=bret>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010804-sun.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115125250/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBretHart/010804-sun.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 15, 2013|title=Singh earned much respect within wrestling circles|author=Hart, Bret|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=2008-08-22|date=August 4, 2001|author-link=Bret Hart}}</ref> She held the title until September 22, 1988, when she lost to [[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]] for the [[World Wrestling Council]] (WWC), where she held the [[WWC Women's Championship]] on five separate occasions by defeating Wendi Richter, [[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 wrestling|intergender match]].<ref name=profe>{{cite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/faye.html|title=Bertha Faye|access-date=2010-11-04|archive-date=2010-04-12|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 [[Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide|Asistencia Asesoría y Administración]] in Mexico, where she won the WWA World Women's Title.

===World Wrestling Federation (1995)===
[[File:Bertha Faye in the ring.jpg|thumb|left|Faye in the ring]]
In 1995, Sing was contacted by the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] to help their ailing women's division.<ref name=fame/> She, however, was repackaged as Bertha Faye, a comedic character who lived in a trailer park and dated [[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=2017-04-11|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77305-014-0|language=en|access-date=2021-07-27|archive-date=2021-11-07|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/> (in an OWW radio interview Wippleman revealed that the two never got along well)<ref name="youtube.com">{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7FSa5fhNcE |title=OWW Radio Ep. 6 - Harvey Whippleman Part 5/6 - YouTube<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=2017-01-18 |archive-date=2021-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423204038/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7FSa5fhNcE&feature=youtu.be |url-status=live }}</ref> WWF management originally wanted her to have an on-screen [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with [[Bull Nakano]], but there was a change of plans after Nakano was charged with [[cocaine]] possession.<ref name=fame/>

Sing made her WWF debut on the April 3, 1995 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]'' participating in a sneak attack on [[Debrah Miceli|Alundra Blayze]], making it appear as if Blayze's nose had been broken.<ref name=fame/> At [[SummerSlam (1995)|SummerSlam]], Faye defeated Blayze for the [[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] and held the title until the October 23, 1995 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]]|access-date=2008-08-22|archive-date=2011-06-05|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]]|access-date=2008-09-23|date=February 15, 2007|archive-date=2016-03-03|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]] in Alberta, Canada.

===World Championship Wrestling (1999–2000)===
In late 1999, she worked with [[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 [[WWE Cruiserweight Championship (1991–2007)|WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] and [[WCW Hardcore Championship]]. In addition to competing in matches using her Singh and Monster Ripper gimmicks, she also appeared with the [[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=2008-08-18|date=December 13, 1999|archive-date=2008-12-16|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=2008-08-18|date=July 10, 2000|archive-date=2009-02-07|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]].<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/> According to her brother Tom, she had a "big heart" and "liked to look after people".{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

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=2008-08-23|archive-date=2009-07-05|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]], [[Stu Hart]], [[Davey Boy Smith]], [[Smith Hart]], [[Allen Coage]], and [[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]]'''
**[[IWA World Women's Championship]] ([[IWA World Women's Championship#History|1 time]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/iwa-wm.html|title=IWA Women's World Title (Japan)|access-date=2013-01-08|archive-date=2017-09-17|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]] ([[WWWA World Single Championship#History|2 times]])<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=2007-10-09|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}</ref>
*'''[[Cauliflower Alley Club]]'''
**Posthumous Award ([[Cauliflower Alley Club#2003|2003]])
*'''[[Stampede Wrestling]]'''
**[[IWA World Women's Championship|Stampede Women's Championship]] ([[IWA World Women's Championship#History|1 time]])<ref name=oww/><ref name=bret/>
*'''[[World Wrestling Association]]'''
**[[WWA World Women's Championship|WWA Women's Championship]] ([[WWA Women's Championship (Mexico)#Title history|1 time]])<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]]'''
**[[WWC Women's Championship]] ([[WWC Women's Championship#Title history|8 times]])<ref name=oww/>
**[[AWA World Women's Championship]] ([[AWA Women's Championship#Title history|1 time; unofficial]])<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]] |access-date=2017-03-01 |archive-date=2017-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406064731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxPgsvoQPRw |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Ref|1|1}}
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
**[[WWE Women's Championship (1956–2010)|WWF Women's Championship]] ([[List of WWE Women's Champions (1956–2010)|1 time]])<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]] did not recognize Sing's title win.}}

==See also==
*[[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:Stampede Wrestling alumni]]
[[Category:WWWA World Single Champions]]
[[Category:WWF/WWE Women's Champions]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian sportswomen]]
[[Category:WWC Women's Champions]]