Pioneer Singles Wrestler
Bruiser Brody
Frank "Bruiser Brody" Goodish was one of the most insane, most
wild, and most imitating men ever to step into a wrestling ring. Brody's
look and style made him a true legend in every country he performed in.
His style and image have been emulated countlessly, which is a tribute
to his uniqueness and originality. Bruiser Brody was one of, if not the
greatest, brawler the sport has ever known. His story, unfortunately,
is also one of wrestling's most tragic.
Frank Goodish was born in Pennsylvania in 1946. As a youth he moved to
New Mexico where he started his career as "Bruiser" Frank Brody
in 1973. In September 1974, Brody had won his first championship, the
NWA U.S. (Tri-State version) Tag team titles with Stan Hansen. This was
the beginning of what would become a life-long friendship between the
two brawlers. By 1975, after only a couple of years in the business, Brody
was in main event title matches with Bruno Sammartino.
Brody won the NWA Western States title in 1975; the Florida Heavyweight
title, 4 NWA North American titles, and 3 Texas Tag Team titles between
1977-79; the Texas Heavyweight title, the Texas Brass Knuckles title,
4 American Tag Team titles (3 w/Kerry Von Erich, 1 w/Ernie Ladd), the
Central States Tag Team title (w/Ladd) and the Central States Heavyweight
title in 1980. He also held 3 NWA International Heavyweight titles between
1981-1988, the Australian World Brass Knuckles title, the World Wrestling
Association World Heavyweight title, the PWF Tag Team titles (w/Hansen),
the WCCW TV title in 1986, and the last title he would ever hold, the
NWF International Heavyweight title in 1987.
Brody's wrestling style was so unorthodox that he was "banned"
from a couple of promotions for swinging chairs and chains at anyone unfortunate
enough to get too close to him -- including the fans at ringside. Despite
the controversy he created, Brody was an instant success in Japan since
his debut in a tag match with Curtis Iukea vs. Giant Baba and The Masked
Destroyer in January of 1979.
During his 15 years in the sport, Brody wrestled a villain and a loved
hero. He feuded with the best in the sport during his career including
Dick The Bruiser (for the right to the name "Bruiser", which
he lost, creating the need for his other nickname, "King Kong"),
Bruno Sammartino, the Funks, Ric Flair, Abdullah the Butcher, the Von
Erich Family, Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch, Harley Race, and many more.
One of Brody's most memorable feuds was against the legendary Andre the
Giant.
As was the case everywhere he wrestled, Bruiser Brody was also one of
the biggest stars in the Puerto Rican-based World Wrestling Council. He
had legendary feuds there with Abdullah the Butcher and Carlos Colon.
On July 17, 1988, Frank Goodish a.k.a. Bruiser Brody was murdered in
a Puerto Rican locker room, the victim of several stab wounds to the stomach.
Jose Gonzalez was charged with the murder, to which there were several
eye witnesses. The news of Brody's murder sent shockwaves through the
world of wrestling, and everyone wanted to know just why someone would
murder the generally well-liked Brody. Fellow wrestler Tony Atlas witnessed
the murder take place while in the same locker room, and he became a key
element in the subsequent trial. In a statement to police at the time,
Atlas told the authorities that Gonzalez had approached Brody (after a
series of real-life confrontations between Brody and Gonzalez, some of
which spilled over into the wrestling ring) in the shower with a long,
concealed hunting knife and stabbed Goodish in the torso several times.
Atlas also stated that Gonzalez attempted to slit Brody's throat. Atlas
would refuse to testify at the trial though, and Gonzalez was eventually
acquitted. Brody's family attorney was quoted at the time saying that
Atlas refused extradition (he was allowed to do so on a technicality)
and that the case had depended entirely on his testimony. In other words,
without Atlas, Goodish's legal team had no case.
The World Wrestling Council, once a wrestling hot-bed, all but disappeared
after the negative publicity and devastating loss of American talent who
refused to work in Puerto Rico after Brody's murder. But the loss of the
WWC pales in comparison to the loss the wrestling world suffered when
Frank Goodish died. Wrestling lost a true legend the likes of which we
may never see again.
It is an honor to induct Frank Goodish, a.k.a. Bruiser Brody, into the
Independent Wrestling Hall of Fame.
