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Alan Wojcik Reviews Bruiser Brody Bio

Alan Wojcik Reviews Bruiser Brody Bio

Posted: Sep 23rd 2007 By: CMBurnham

For the better part of two decades there was one wrestler promoters and fans loved but also feared despite him never wrestling for the former World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling. His name was Frank Goodish but you probably know him better by his ring name, Bruiser Brody. From World Class in Texas to the rings of Japan, Bruiser Brody thrilled audiences until July 16, 1988 when Brody wrestled in Puerto Rico. That night Frank Goodish was murdered in the venue's locker room by wrestler and WWC booker Jose Gonzales. Goodish left behind a young son Geoff and wife Barbara. Nearly 20 years later Mrs. Goodish joined with Wrestling at the Chase author Larry Matysik to create a living tribute to the man and his wrestling persona, BRODY: THE TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY OF WRESTLING'S REBEL (ECW press, 206 pgs, $19.95 US)

Let me say I only knew the legend of Bruiser Brody by trading stories with wrestlers who knew him and fans that grew up watching him plus the couple of WCCW matches I saw on ESPN in the 80s. So I was excited to read how a former football player and San Antonio Express sports writer Frank Goodish became the legendary Bruiser or as he was called in St Louis "King Kong" Brody. I am happy to say that Mr. Matysik and Mrs. Goodish have created one of the best wrestling biographies ever. Both provide hundreds of stories and memories and I am happy to say that not one of them makes the book dull. They get some help from other people that knew Goodish/Brody like former tag team partner Stan Hansen, Terry Funk, Buck Robley, Jack Brisco, Kevin Von Erich, J. J. Dillon, "Playboy" Gary Hart and others. Also included are people that only knew Goodish as a friend and neighbor for decades. The book is opened with a forward by Wrestling Observer publisher David Meltzer whom befriended Goodish in the 80s and an introduction by hall of fame announcer Jim Ross who knew Goodish from his time working the Mid-South Territory.

This book gives a direct and honest look at Brody's career from his debut to one of the worst nights in wrestling. Thanks to his working for famed St. Louis promoter Sam Muchnick, Mr. Matysik is able to take you behind the curtain to see how Goodish created Brody and how he looked out for himself when it came to dealings with penny pinching promoters. In between the wrestling talk Mrs. Goodish talks about her life and how she became Mrs. Goodish after meeting Frank on one of his trips to Australia in 1977. The book is filled with photos of Brody in action and Goodish at home with his family. The hardest chapters to read are titled What Might Have Been where Matysik and Goodish contemplate if Brody had never gone to Puerto Rico. Would he have possibly gone to WWF and wrestled then champion Hulk Hogan who he had faced in Japan? Would he have gone to WCW or even ECW? Would he be working as a road agent for WWE now and taking an active role in his son's life? Thanks to Mr. Gonzalez we will never know but this book will help you remember the impact Goodish and his ring persona left on the world of wrestling for years to come.

For other books log onto www.ecwpress.com

 

Tags: Bruiser Brody, Stan Hansen, Buck Robley, Jack Brisco, Kevin Von Erich, Gary Hart, Jim Ross

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Spotlight in History

  • 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
  • 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
  • 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion

Week of Sun 11-10 to Sat: 11-16

  • 11-10 1976 Bill Watts & Billy Robinson def. Karl Kox & Ken Patera for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 11-10 1987 Matt Borne def. Ted Arcidi for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-10 2002 Kool Ade def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 11-10 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Kool Ade for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 11-10 2007 Cheerleader Melissa became the AACW Womens Champion
  • 11-10 2007 Oliver John became the AACW Internet Champion
  • 11-10 2007 Jack Dalton [2nd]/Jack Legacy became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-10 2007 J. D. Rebel & Fuel became the SECW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2011 Uncle Mikey & Michael Titus became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-10 2018 Alex Royal def. J. D. for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 11-11 1964 Danny Hodge became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 1985 Eddie Gilbert & The Nightmare def. Wendell Cooley & Al Perez for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 11-11 1988 Eric Embry def. Jeff Jarrett for the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 2006 Mustafa Sharmoot def. Glen Steel for the AACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 2017 Running Wolf def. Dusty Gold for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-11 2022 Nova Phoenix became the CPW Women’s Champion
  • 11-11 2022 Koko def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-12 1979 Bill Watts & Buck Robley def. Mike George & Bob Sweetan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 11-12 2002 Baby B def. Jeffrey Parker for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 11-12 2011 The Jersey Kings (Scott Riley & King James) def. Pork Chop & Shane Cortez for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-12 2022 Ronnie Morton def. Ryan the Ripper for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 11-12 2022 Andrew Fenix def. Dove Puro for the WAH Hunger Dojo Champion
  • 11-12 2022 San La Muerte became the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 11-12 2022 Elijah Sparks def. San La Muerte for the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 11-13 1950 Verne Gagne became the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 1964 Angelo Savoldi def. Hiro Matsuda for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 1965 Mike Clancy became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 1965 Jack Brisco became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 2010 Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) def. Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Arrogant Money (Randy Price & Austin Tacious) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2015 The Pen Palz (Skyler Fayden & Dimitri Alexandrov) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2015 Lance Osburn became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 11-13 2015 Jon Cross def. Riker for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-13 2021 Rebel Hearts (Christian Temple & Justin Gray) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-13 2021 Striker def. Warren Powers for the EPW All-American Champion
  • 11-13 2022 Subject to Death (Leo Fox & Derek James & Cade Fite) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 11-13 2022 Derek James became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 11-13 2022 Cappuccino Jones def. Derek James for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 11-14 1980 Bruiser Brody def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 11-14 2009 Goldeneye def. Sage for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 11-14 2009 John O'Malley def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2009 Running Wolf def. Michael H for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2010 Greatness On Demand (Rage Logan & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 11-14 2015 Aaron Neil def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 11-14 2015 Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-14 2015 Rolling Thunder became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2020 Alex Royal def. Sam Stackhouse for the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-14 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. Tim Rockwell for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 11-15 1963 Bull Curry def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 11-15 2003 Northern Threat (Luc Lapointe & Dexter Hardaway) def. X-Cal for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-15 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 11-15 2014 Double D & Jermaine Johnson def. The Old School Studs (Randy Price & Gary Tool) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 11-16 1942 Fred Nelson became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-16 1965 Jack Brisco def. Don Kent for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-16 2013 Kareem Sadat became the SWCW Luchadore Champion
  • 11-16 2013 Kevin James Sanchez def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 11-16 2019 Karnage def. Naomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Champion
  • 11-16 2019 Sam Stackhouse def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Champion
11-10
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