Former professional wrestler Bruiser Brody is the basis for two upcoming books. One of the most famous wrestlers of his era, he worked in various territories and continents and never failed to make a lasting impression wherever he competed. If you’re a younger professional wrestling (or sports entertainment) fan then you likely don’t have a clue who Bruiser Brody was, let alone the impact he had. The reason you likely have never heard of him (or not a lot) is due to the fact he was killed in 1988. When the American professional wrestling scene conglomerized between two major companies in the 1990s, Brody simply wasn’t associated with either.
First, to the books. ‘Bruiser Brody’ written by Emerson Murray and edited by Scott Teal is published by Crowbar Press. Crowbar Press is a well known publisher of wrestling related books (they’ve been associated with such wrestlers and managers as Ivan Koloff, J.J. Dillon, Ole Anderson). Murray interviewed a ton of subjects to learn about Brody. He did not interview Brody’s (real name is Frank Goodish) widow due to the fact she has written her own book on her husband. ‘Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel; is written by Barbara Goodish and Larry Matysik under ECW Press. This book offers a true “insiders” perspective to Brody that few could offer. So with both books on or soon to be on the market, what’s so special you ask?
Bruiser Brody was a huge guy at six-foot-five and just under three hundred pounds. Remember he competed in the territory days of pro wrestling so he never was in a single promotion for too long. Well, that’s one reason. Brody was known as a guy who beat to his own drum. If he didn’t think he was being treated fairly, he would make no bones about doing what he had to correct that. One infamous moment happened in Florida involving a young Lex Luger. (The video clip may be available on YouTube) Legend has it that Brody was not happy with the major push Luger was receiving and his attitude. So during a cage match, Brody simply stopped selling (showing signs of pain, for example if someone is punched, they may act as if they were literally punched in the face) for Luger. Brody stood in the ring in something of a trance so Luger (at the time, was young and inexperienced) had enough, climbed up and out of the cage and returned to the back…which was not planned. Years later, Luger would say he still never knew what that was about and it was possibly all about a financial dispute between Brody and the Florida office. He had a short stint working in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the 1970s, working against such fellow legends as Bruno Sammartino and Ivan Putski. However the story goes that he had a heated argument with Gorilla Monsoon and was never welcomed back by Vince McMahon Sr.. It’s believed he was offered a job by Vince McMahon Jr. when he took over in the mid 1980s but Brody was not about to give up his ability to schedule his own matches, especially in Japan and Puerto Rico.
Some of Brody’s most successful runs were in Texas for World Class Championship Wrestling, Japan and Puerto Rico. He worked with the legendary Antonio Inoki although the two large characters didn’t mesh well and Brody didn’t work long for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He had a famous feud with Abdullah the Butcher that spanned Japan and Puerto Rico.
Brody is recognized for popularizing the “brawling” style that became a staple of American pro wrestling in the 1990s. Mick Foley and John (The Berzerker) Nord have said they used Brody for inspiration during their careers.
Brody’s mistique took another chapter in 1988. While working for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, he was (allegedly) murdered. As was told by witnesses, Brody was called into the shower to talk by another wrestler when he was stabbed multiple times. It took about 30 minutes before an ambluance arrived. Brody was taken by ambulance to a main hospital facility in San Juan when he passed away. The alleged culprit, Jose Huertas Gonzales (his ring name was Invader I) was tried in Puerto Rico but was acquitted. The trial is believed to have been anything but fair and straight as witnesses weren’t exactly welcome to testify against Gonzales. Afterwards, some American wrestlers refused to work in Puerto Rico, but many returned in the following years.
Bruiser Brody was one of the more interesting characters to step foot in a wrestling ring. Through these two books, his amazing story will be told to a new audience.
