Real Name: Robert Sternberg
Wrestling Name(s): Real Deal Rob
Finisher(s): Canadian Crush (Styles Clash), The Done Deal (Leg Sweep/Stunner combo), Canadian Maple Leaf (Half Crab)
Signature Move(s): Last Resort (Acid Drop), Diving Elbow Drop, Chop Block
Hometown: Calgary, AB, Canada
Career Highlights: Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion (1), Self-Proclaimed "Real" Worlds Champion (1)
Nickname(s): The Old School Icon
Favorite Quote: "That's the Deal...and it's for Real!"
Born: 1986
Theme Song:
Drain STH - Simon Says
Project Wyze - Nothing's What It Seems 2001
Linkin Park - Somewhere I Belong
Official Site

Real Deal Rob is considered the most technical "Brawler" in BBA History. His unbelievable skills on the microphone also made him one of the most controversial stars in the BBA. His feuds with Calypso, "The Franchise", Viper, M80, and Above Average Angelo set the bar for exciting and captivating feuds in the world of backyard wrestling.

Real Deal Rob perhaps got his first taste of wrestling before any other BBA Brawler. At the young age of just 10 years old, RDR got his start in Valley Townhouse Wrestling Federation (VTWF) in 1996 before eventually moving over to Kids Wrestling Association where he got his real big break. He would go on to win the VTWF World and Tag-Team Championships and the KWA World Championship in those federations. His biggest splash was in his own Oceanside Wrestling Federation, which was in operation from 1998-2001 (putting it in direct competition with the BBA). In the OWF, RDR would win nearly all championship gold including the World, Intercontinental, Television, and Tag-Team titles. For a more extensive look at Real Deal Rob's pre-BBA career, view his Biography on his official website linked above.

He made his BBA debut a few weeks after the debut of fellow OWF defectors Viper, Firestarter, Biohazard, and John Hanley. He challenged "The Franchise" John Hanley to a rematch from the last OWF match at OWF's "Last Dance". RDR infuriated the Rockville Centre (pronouncing it Rockville "Sent-Ray") by calling them white-trash and such things. He would lose his debut match, along with his first set of following matches. This surprised many, as his reputation in the OWF/KWA made people expect great things from the Old School Icon. He would continue to lose matches to the likes of Calypso, Biohazard, and Viper.

Real Deal Rob finally got the ball rolling when he decided to pick fights outside the squared-circle. On his official website, he took shots at BBA Owner Craig Dixon, The Impostor, Calypso, and the entire undercard of BBA. His claims that there was "no flow to a BBA event" and "Impostor wearing a dress" brought a lot of controversy to BBA. While BBAwrestling.tk was under construction, Calypso and an anonymous BBA member commented back towards RDR's words. See it here. His words created a backlash in the BBA, in which RDR eventually tried to get former OWF members to rebel against the BBA members. Unfortunately for RDR, Viper was not up to this and turned on him. Real Deal Rob brought his OWF Championship to the ring during this time to declare himself as the "Real" World Champion. Viper and him met at Backyard Assault for the vacant Intercontinental Championship, in which Viper won with a roll-up.

In beginning a war with the BBA, a confrontation between RDR and Calypso was inevitable. Real Deal Rob interfered in a World Title triple threat match between Calypso, Franchise, and The Impostor helping Franchise get the tainted victory over Calypso. They shook hands, and became the Icons of the BBA. The Old School Icon and the Extreme Icon were taking the BBA by storm. Their biggest targets were Calypso, The Impostor, and Viper. In fall of 2001, The Franchise and RDR tagged up to take on Calypso and Viper in a no disqualification tag match. Winning the match was not enough for the Icons. They wanted to destroy the career of Calypso. By isolating Viper, The Icons managed to take this brutal warfare to the roof of the Dixon House of Pain. Then, the unthinkable happened. The Icons threw Calypso off the roof! Calypso's rivalry with Real Deal Rob had culminated with one of the most sickening visuals in BBA history. A week later, Calypso would trick RDR into a singles match by dressing up as the Impostor. The Old School Icon would get the last laugh, as he would make Calypso pass out to the Canadian Maple Leaf.

This would set the stage for their epic match at New Year's Nightmare for Calypso's World Television Championship. Their previous encounters set the stipulation for a two out of three falls match, with the first stipulation being a regular match (must like their first match in which Calypso won). The second stipulation would be a submission match (because RDR made Calypso pass out). Finally, if necessary, it would go to a scaffold match (because of Calypso's scary fall). These two put on an absolute classic, pulling off many technical maneuvers never before seen in backyard wrestling. Real Deal Rob would pull the first fall after a lengthy battle, but Calypso would tie it up at 1-1 by making RDR tap to the Walls of Calypso. It would go to that fatal final fall, but as Calypso and RDR battled to the roof of the Dixon House of Pain, BBA Management had to break up the match due to its violent nature. This draw would make the Calypso/RDR feud wait for an outcome at a future date.

Dissension would get the best of The Icons. The Franchise would question why RDR would get the dressing room while The Franchise was the BBA Champion. Real Deal Rob was convinced that BBA Management was out to get the Icons to split up. At the Radzicki Fieldhouse, a World Title triple threat match between the Icons and Calypso was setup. The two of them vowed to make sure that Calypso would not be the victor. As the match ensued, The Icons were sure to isolate Calypso. They would tease dissension, but never reached a point of throwing fists. Thanks to a returning Johnny Shotgun, The Franchise was able to retain the World Title from RDR and Calypso. A week later, after a BBA vs. Network brawl involving every BBA member, RDR and Franchise would join the mix but not to fight. They would stare down in the middle of the ring. It looked like their frustration with each other might blow over as they would share a beer. RDR toasted his beer on Franchise's chest, spilling the beer all over Hanley. Hanley proceeded to take down RDR as they brawled to end the show, and set up the main event for the BBA Realm of Champions.

Real Deal Rob would bring his "Real" Worlds Title into the fold once again, and would put it up for grabs for the first time in a unifying championship match against "The Franchise". After a lengthy epic, Real Deal Rob sealed the deal by beating the longest reigning BBA Champion to become the first BBA's first Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion after a top of the ladder diving elbow drop. Perhaps the only thing that didn't go well for the Old School Icon that day was the fact that Hanley announced his retirement at the end of the bout which may or may have not hampered this epic feat.

With the Undisputed Championship in his possession, Real Deal Rob was without any challengers. The "fighting champion" that he was, he would defend his newly crowned gold against several opponents in what seemed to be a weekly trend. After verbally looking for a challenger, M80 would answer the call. After exchanging some harsh words, M80 and Real Deal Rob had to be restrained by the entire BBA roster to prevent a legit fight. Their animosity towards each other would finally culminate at a BBA event in the summer of 2002. RDR would appoint someone with stature as the referee for this all too important match. In choosing Calypso, RDR would seal a very grim fate. During their battle, M80 locked in Rob's finisher, the Canadian Maple Leaf. Calypso asked if he gave up, and Real Deal uttered "No!" very audibly. Calypso would however claim that RDR gave up, and sent a shock wave that would rock the very foundation of the BBA. M80 was awarded the Undisputed Title by Calypso and they got out of there as soon as humanly possible. Real Deal Rob realized what happened quickly, as he began to destroy the ring and verbally rip M80 and Calypso a pair of new assholes.

The Old School Icon had become a anti-hero in the process, as fans would finally cheer the Canadian brawler for the first time in BBA history. With renewed motivation, Real Deal would willingly set himself in a handicap match against both M80 and Calypso in the very same event. As resilient as he was, two world class caliber wrestlers were too much for RDR to handle. Angelove would make the save of the century, as he would insert himself as Rob's tag partner. Angelove & RDR, as unlikely of a team as you can imagine, were able to defeat Calypso & M80 in what many people thought would be Rob's last BBA match. This "Rockville Centre Screwjob" was the last we heard from Real Deal Rob for several months. We are unaware of his whereabouts during that time period, but many speculate he returned to his native Calgary to find himself once again. It's also widely possibly that Calypso petitioned for his firing to Craig Dixon, or that RDR quit after such a insulting early match ending.

Angelove would tout the return of Real Deal Rob in the fall of 2002, but no one was really sure if he was coming back. Then, the unthinkable happened, Angelove would sing the theme of "Welcome Back Kotter" and the former Undisputed World Champion was right back where he left off. After scolding Angelove that people suggesting he should sing was a practical joke, RDR would challenge M80 and Calypso (who were now officially part of the newly reformed cX). Throughout their battles, RDR would eventually lose a Undisputed World Title rematch against M80.

As Real Deal's return started to turn sour, so did his mood. In his first non-title singles match against M80, Rob snapped. After locking in the Canadian Maple Leaf, M80 refused to tap out. As he wrenched in the hold for several minutes, M80 began to fade until the referee made the decision to award Real Deal the victory via submission. Real Deal Rob didn't care, and he continued to inflict pain on the incapacitated M80. The fans became irate with RDR, while M80 had now gained sympathy. In one match, cX went from bad to good, and Real Deal went good to bad.

In Real Deal's growing frustration, he began to take out on his frustration on his self-appointed lackey, Angelove. Their initial chemistry during RDR's departure and return began to fade away. Angelove's good loving heart just wanted to be RDR's pal, but RDR felt like Angelove was to blame for all of his troubles in getting revenge on cX. In a tag match, Real Deal walked out on his partner, leaving Angelove to fend for himself. This unofficially ended their partnership, and now Angelove needed a change himself.

Angelove would return to his old roots in Above Average Angelo, although less comical and more serious this time around. The feud between RDR and Triple A was building, and their continual use of various weapons and illegal objects prompted a special stipulation for their future encounter at "Total Carnage". That stipulation would be a no-holds-barred, "Old School Bunkhouse Brawl". In this match, Real Deal would pull out Angelo's best match to date, and really cemented himself as man who would do whatever it takes to win. AAA actually had the match won with the referee incapacitated, but RDR had a plan for a case like this. Viper and the debuting Bryan Blade interfered on Real Deal's behalf, helping Real Deal Rob win this epic battle.

Who knows how Real Deal Rob's developing stable would have impacted the BBA. Nonetheless, BBA was dwindling towards the "Final Approach". Who better to take on the Old School Icon at the BBA's final event than Calypso? Their overall singles record against each other was at a stalemate: 1 Win, 1 Loss, and 1 Draw. Their needed to be a clear winner. In surprisingly the third match of "Realm of Champions II", they would do battle for one last time. Minutes into the match, Real Deal grabbed the mic saying he didn't give a shit about the BBA, didn't give a shit about Calypso, and that he was taking this match. It seemed like Real Deal wouldn't change his ways even in this last sendoff. They went through what seemed 40 minutes of solid pure chain wrestling. The match ended with Calypso, in the midst of trying to escape the Million Dollar Dream, running up the turnbuckle and landing over the Old School Icon's shoulders for the captivating three count. An obviously frustrated Real Deal Rob looked like for a moment that he would show some respect for his greatest rival, but he instead pushed Calypso back to the ground. After several BBA wrestlers and trainers tried to help Calypso to the back, Real Deal would return to the ring. Many thought that he would attack the weakened Calypso, but he reluctantly raised Calypso's hand in a show of honor.

Real Deal Rob used to say, "Nobody can do this job as good as Real Deal Rob," and he couldn't be more true. He was the most sound technical wrestler in the history of the BBA. His promos would make the fans' blood boil with hate, but he sure was one of the better interviewers in BBA as well. His epic feuds with Calypso, John Hanley, M80 and Triple A are four of the most memorable feuds of BBA's existence. Whether he was locking in the Canadian Maple Leaf, connecting the Done Deal, or even busting out the old school Last Resort...the Old School Icon was truly the Real Deal. That's the deal, and it's for real.