One would never know it from looking at him, but Bruiser Brody (real name: Frank Goodish) was a man of great intellect. That was never portrayed on television, though. Instead, he was a wild and chaotic brawler, the godfather of what would eventually become hardcore wrestling. During the height of his popularity, he made occasional appearances in the World Wide Wrestling Federation under Vincent J. McMahon but as the New York territory shifted from the old school days and into a more family-friendly, widely accepted form of entertainment, tolerance for Brody's act lessened significantly. He would remain immensely popular, working countless territories including Fritz Von Erich's World Class promotion, Bob Geigel's Central States Wrestling and Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association. He even had a stint with the National Wrestling Alliance. But he never achieved the success in New York that he never experienced the success in New York that would have launched him into households across the globe, his wild and violent style too much for McMahon and company.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
