Erick Rowan Bio
Joseph Ruud (born November 28, 1981), known professionally as Erick Rowan, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE. Performing on the SmackDown brand, he is a member of the stable The Wyatt Sicks and is best known for his size, character work, and tag team championship runs.
Early Life and Background
Ruud was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and grew up in Montrose, Minnesota. He is of predominantly Norwegian descent, with family roots tracing to Nannestad, Norway, and also has German ancestry.
In high school Ruud sang and played football, and he continued playing football while attending the University of Minnesota Morris. His early athletic background helped build the foundation for his later transition into professional wrestling.
Path to WWE
Ruud began training as a professional wrestler with Eddie Sharkey and debuted in 2003 under ring names such as Thoruf Marius. He spent time competing on the independent circuit in the Midwest and was invited to train and wrestle at Pro Wrestling Noah’s dojo in Japan.
After his tour in Japan and additional work on the independent scene, Ruud signed a developmental contract with WWE in February 2011. He was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), which later became NXT, and was introduced on the NXT brand as Erick Rowan, joining Bray Wyatt’s Wyatt Family stable.
Erick Rowan Career
Early Career (2003–2011)
Ruud debuted in 2003 after training with Eddie Sharkey and initially wrestled across the Midwest using various ring names. He gained international experience when invited to live, train, and compete in Pro Wrestling Noah’s dojo in Japan, appearing in tag team and singles matches during that tour.
Upon returning to the United States in 2008, he worked regional promotions such as Minnesota-based F1rst Wrestling, refining his in-ring persona and gaining experience that led to his WWE developmental signing in 2011.
NXT and Main-Roster Breakthrough (2011–2016)
Assigned to FCW and later NXT as part of Bray Wyatt’s faction, Rowan formed a notable partnership with Luke Harper. Harper and Rowan captured the NXT Tag Team Championship, marking Ruud’s first professional wrestling title in WWE developmental before the duo moved to the main roster as part of The Wyatt Family.
On the main roster, The Wyatt Family made an immediate impact with cinematic vignettes and a backwoods cult-style presentation. Rowan and Harper established a winning streak as a tag team and became central figures in feuds with top acts including The Shield and John Cena, with Rowan also involved in storylines against established stars such as Big Show.
Tag-Team Success and Character Work (2016–2019)
Rowan battled injuries at points but returned to form where he and Harper were repackaged as The Bludgeon Brothers. Under that gimmick, Rowan won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 34 alongside Harper, marking his first main-roster title.
Following further injuries and character shifts, Rowan formed an alliance with Daniel Bryan that led to a second SmackDown Tag Team Championship reign. This period highlighted Rowan’s ability to play both a dominant physical presence and a character-driven role tied to larger storylines.
Independent Circuit, AEW, and WWE Departure (2020–2024)
Rowan was released from WWE on April 15, 2020. He returned to the independent circuit as Erick Redbeard and made a sympathetic appearance in All Elite Wrestling at the Brodie Lee memorial event in December 2020. He also appeared for AEW in 2022 and booked independent dates across the U.S.
During his time away from WWE he performed under the Erick Redbeard name, maintained an active presence on the indie scene, and appeared in a handful of media projects, including an independent film and music videos for metal bands.
The Wyatt Sicks Era (2023–Present)
Ruud made a brief tribute appearance to Bray Wyatt on SmackDown in August 2023 and reportedly signed a new contract with WWE in mid-2024. On the June 17, 2024 episode of Raw he returned as Erick Rowan and joined a new stable led by Uncle Howdy called The Wyatt Sicks.
The Wyatt Sicks have been featured on both Raw and SmackDown, with Rowan appearing unmasked in character vignettes and returning to in-ring action alongside stablemates such as Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy. The group has engaged in multi-team confrontations and a televised feud that included American Made and other teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rowan is a classic power wrestler whose 6 ft 8 in frame and deliberate aggression define his in-ring style. He combines brawling offense with strong character presentation, using props and vignettes to extend feuds beyond standard matches. His work in tag teams shows an ability to play both the protector and the enforcer, and his psychology favors storytelling over high-flying technique.
Notable Matches and Milestones
Key milestones in Ruud’s career include winning the NXT Tag Team Championship with Luke Harper, capturing SmackDown Tag Team gold at WrestleMania 34, and later holding the SmackDown Tag Team Championship with Daniel Bryan. He also competed in a notable WrestleMania singles match against The Rock, which became one of the shortest matches in WrestleMania history.
Erick Rowan Career Wins
Across WWE and its developmental system, Ruud has secured multiple tag team championships and notable televised victories. His championship history centers on tag team gold at both the NXT and SmackDown levels.
Main Roster Highlights
Rowan captured his first main-roster title at WrestleMania 34 when The Bludgeon Brothers defeated The Usos to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. He later won the SmackDown Tag Team Championship a second time alongside Daniel Bryan.
NXT Achievements
On NXT, Rowan and Luke Harper won the NXT Tag Team Championship, establishing them as a successful partnership before the pair were moved to WWE’s main roster as part of The Wyatt Family.
Independent and Other Wins
Before and after his initial WWE run, Ruud worked the independent circuit under names such as Thoruf Marius and Erick Redbeard, competing in regional promotions and international tours, including a training and competition stint with Pro Wrestling Noah in Japan.
Erick Rowan Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ruud’s family background includes strong Norwegian roots; his ancestors emigrated from Nannestad, Norway. That heritage has been part of his public identity, including participation in a Norwegian reality series that explored family history and culture.
Personal Life
Ruud has been married to Leah since 2019 and has a child from a previous marriage. Away from wrestling he plays guitar, writes songs, and is an outspoken fan of heavy metal music and horror films. He has also made appearances in film and music videos tied to bands he favors.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Erick Rowan remains aligned with The Wyatt Sicks on WWE television following his 2024 return. The storyline arc since his reintroduction has emphasized grief and legacy tied to Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper while positioning Rowan as a protective, unpredictable enforcer within the stable.
Through 2025 the creative focus for Rowan is re-establishing his presence in the SmackDown tag division and as a featured member of a character-driven faction. The immediate outlook centers on continued stable-based television appearances, tag matches, and character vignettes that build toward longer-term feuds and potential championship contention.
