Darkside Ron Garvin
What if? (Bruiser Brody)
by , 05-27-2012 at 01:15 AM (3565 Views)
Bruiser Brody died on July 18, 1988 due to a stab wound given to him by Jose Gonzales (Invader 1) while wrestling an event for World Wrestling Council (A promotion started by Carlos Colón, father of Carlito and Primo. Uncle to Epico). Brody bled to death on an operating table in Puerto Rico. Jose Gonzalez was acquitted on all counts of the crime after Colon testified on his behalf. No American wrestler was able to make it to the trial to testify on Brody’s behalf.
This is a story that has always interested me, but I am not going to divulge into the actual controversy that surrounded the case. This blog is geared towards this. What if Bruiser Brody hadn’t gone to Puerto Rico that night, and instead returned to wrestle for the NWA or AWA? (I eliminate Brody from being part of the WWWF because he was indeed blackballed by Vince Sr. after a backstage fist-fight with Gorilla Monsoon) I’d like to think that this man could have had a great deal in the swing of how the history of the wrestling industry turned out. He was a brilliant “beast” who could not only tell stories in the ring working with talent, but also could intimidate you while you watched him cut promos on television. He was the Undertaker before Mark Calaway became the Undertaker. I like to think of it this way. If in the late 80s to early 90s, Hogan had the WWF, Flair had the NWA, and Brody had the AWA, there would be a vast change in how the business would be today. The three men were definitely unique draws (you might not have heard of Brody, but the man could draw pretty solid crowds and garnered a 5 star rating on his Dec 8th, 1984 match with Stan Hansen vs. the Funks) and it would have been an interesting perspective.
Better yet, if you know anything about Brody, then imagine what would have happened if Heyman acquired him during the 93-01 run of the original ECW. Cactus Jack and Bruiser Brody vs. The Dudleyz. Bruiser Brody vs. Tommy Dreamer. To have a veteran who knew the business inside and out… To have a veteran that wouldn’t “work” for Lex Luger because Luger didn’t respect the business enough to “sell” for stars at the time… To have another veteran that made hardcore wrestling an actual STORY instead of just violence. He might have been the guiding hand that could have helped get over many more stars. Terry Funk is a Hall of Famer that helped to make ECW what it was. Now imagine what could have happened if he had the help of Bruiser Brody.
Brody was the last of a dying breed in that he was a “territory” guy. He was able to travel throughout the entire US to Canada to Japan to Mexico and even to the place of his untimely death in Puerto Rico. He was welcomed where he wanted to roam because they knew if they booked Brody, people would come to see him. The man’s influence is written all over those who watched him wrestle. From those trying to be Hardcore, to those Big Men who were insane but tried to play normal. Brody might not be someone the common wrestling fan of today would know, but what if July 16th, 1988 never happened? Could the same statement still be made?
Okay, so the only blogs I have done so far have been the "How to Regain" series. After reading blogs as normal, I thought of one that I am not sure anyone has written on the site before, but I have to write this one specific entry. Not for recognition from the likes of my peers, but rather to enhance an idea that I have pondered about when dealing with many superstars that have been forgotten to the pages of wrestling history books. I doubt this will turn into another series, but this is a concept that could very well be one… However, I would it much rather be carried on by other bloggers who remember the wrestlers of the past and think about “What If”
If you’ve enjoyed this blog, read this following article.
http://deadspin.com/bruiser-brody/
I also employ you to do some research into who Bruiser Brody was. He might have been blackballed from the WWWF but the man definitely etched in blood a place in the annuals of the Wrestling Industry.
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