Frank Donald Goodish (June 18, 1946 - July 17, 1988), most famously known as Bruiser Brody, was an American professional wrestler who left an indelible mark on the wrestling world. He also worked as King Kong Brody, the Masked Marauder, and Red River Jack. Known for his wild hair, big bushy beard, and bulging eyes, Bruiser Brody was a madman in the truest sense of the word. Brody's career was defined by his brawling style, which often resulted in matches filled with blood and violence. He died on July 17, 1988, at the age of 42.
Bruiser Brody was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 as part of the Legacy wing and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2014 as part of the Television Era wing. This recognition highlights his significant contributions to the sport.
Early Life and Training
Frank Donald Goodish was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania on June 18, 1946. Prior to his wrestling career, Goodish worked as a sportswriter in San Antonio, Texas. After attending West Texas A&M and working as a sportswriter Goodish was trained to wrestle by Fritz Von Erich. He first wrestled in Dallas - Fort Worth and later Louisiana.
Wrestling Career
After making his professional debut in 1973, Brody competed as a freelancer in several companies including the National Wrestling Alliance, Central States Wrestling, World Wide Wrestling Federation, Southwest Championship Wrestling, Windy City Wrestling, Texas All Star Wrestling, World Wrestling Council, Deep South Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, American Wrestling Association, and World Class Championship Wrestling. As Bruiser Brody and King Kong Brody (the latter, a name he used in Midwestern promotions out of respect for Dick the Bruiser), Goodish competed as a freelancer in several companies including the Central States Wrestling (CSW), World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW), Windy City Wrestling, World Wrestling Council (WWC), Deep South Wrestling (DSW), Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), American Wrestling Association (AWA), and World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW).
In his prime he worked as a "special attraction" wrestler in North America, making select appearances for various promotions such as World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), Central States Wrestling (CSW), Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF), and the American Wrestling Association (AWA) among other events.
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Championships and Accomplishments
Bruiser Brody won a total of 23 championships in major promotions during his career. Some of his notable title wins include:
- NWA International Heavyweight Championship
- NWA Central States Heavyweight Title
- NWA Central States Tag Team Title
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Title
Here is a summary of Bruiser Brody's championships:
| Championship | Times Won |
|---|---|
| NWA International Heavyweight Title | 3 |
| NWA Central States Heavyweight Title | 1 |
| NWA Central States Tag Team Title | 1 |
| NWA Florida Heavyweight Title | 1 |
Bruiser Brody's Final Moments | DARK SIDE OF THE RING
Notable Feuds and Tag Teams
In the States, he had numerous feuds with the likes of Kamala the Ugandan Giant, Abdullah the Butcher, and "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell. Brody continued his feud with Abdullah the Butcher, as well as engaging in a feud with Carlos Colon. In Japan, he was in a tag team with Stan Hansen. In WCCW in Texas he was actually a babyface, most often against Abdullah The Butcher. However against Abdullah in Montreal he was a heel managed by Floyd Creatchman.
- Abdullah the Butcher: One of wrestling's goriest rivalries.
- Stan Hansen: A dominant tag team in Japan.
- Carlos Colon: A heated feud in Puerto Rico.
Controversies and Incidents
Brody had a reputation for refusing to job to other wrestlers. Behind the scenes Brody was very protective of his "in-ring" image, hardly ever agreeing to lose matches and building a reputation of being volatile; he would on occasion intentionally hit or hurt opponents during a match contrary to the predetermined nature of professional wrestling.
Brody had an infamous cage match with Lex Luger in Florida on January 21, 1987. In the middle of the match, Brody stopped "working" and stood around. Luger and Bill Alfonso, the referee of the match, were puzzled and attempted to speak to Brody who did not respond. Luger and Alfonso decided to forgo the planned finish of the match and Alfonso disqualified Luger in a spot where Luger shoved Alfonso to the ground. After the match, Luger recalls asking Brody if he did anything wrong to upset him, to which Brody responded "no", and Brody's reasons for not working were not very clear, stating that "the match just wasn't working". In Larry Matysik's book, Wrestling at the Chase, Matysik states that before the match Brody told him "I'm not putting up with any of his bullshit" and that Brody was upset that Luger would not sell for him.
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Death and Legacy
On July 16, 1988, Brody was in the locker room before his scheduled match with Dan Spivey at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, when José Huertas González, a fellow wrestler and booker, allegedly asked him to step into the shower area to discuss business. There was an argument between the two wrestlers and a scuffle ensued. Tony Atlas ran to the shower and saw Brody bent over and holding his stomach. He later died from his stab wounds. A jury acquitted González of murder, ruling that González killed Brody in self-defense.
Bruiser Brody's legacy lives on through the many wrestlers he influenced, including Mick Foley. Over the years Brody became synonymous with the hardcore wrestling brawling style that often saw one or more of the participants bleeding by the time the match was over. All the “junkyard matches”, WWF hardcore titles and ECW death matches that litter today’s wrestling world are pale imitations of the carnage, violence and havoc that Bruiser Brody wreaked over his career.
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