The Free Dictionary
bruiser
n. Informal
1. A usually large or powerfully built person who is aggressive or readily gets into fights.
"When I started wrestling, everyone like Gorgeous George had on capes [and] big robes; really gaudy and everything. Then I came along and all I had was pair of trunks and my shoes. I had no gimmick. It was the absence of gimmicks that made me different."
— Dick the Bruiser
There have been several "Bruisers" in professional wrestling's history — Bruiser Brody, Don the Bruiser, Bruiser Bob Sweetan, to name the three most recognizable — but the name synonymous with pro wrestling for almost three decades was "Dick the Bruiser."
A former Green Bay Packer lineman who found more money and success in pro wrestling than he did professional football, Bruiser is a name people readily mention when talking about the golden age of the sport. Bruiser didn't languish for long in opening matches, and within a few months of his June 24, 1954, debut, Bruiser was cracking heads and pounding flesh in main events from coast to coast across the United States. Words that desribe Bruiser's in-ring style are believability, belligerence, domination, unpredictability, explosiveness, intensity, and rampage.
Bruiser's story may never have been told had it not been for author Richard Vicek's dogged determination to interview and correspond with hundreds of people who knew our Bruiser during various stages of his lifetime. They all shared their memories and experiences.
To wrestling fans, Bruiser was a intimidating bull of a man who put fear into the hearts of his opponents and could not be controlled by wrestling promoters. What they didn't know was, Bruiser was co-owner of a highly successful wrestling promotion based in Indianapolis, in which he served as both an executive producer and as the star performer of the show.
In all respects, Bruiser left an indelible mark in pro wrestling history that will never be matched in either longevity or significance. This book is a testament to the legacy he left behind.
bruiser
n. Informal
1. A usually large or powerfully built person who is aggressive or readily gets into fights.
"When I started wrestling, everyone like Gorgeous George had on capes [and] big robes; really gaudy and everything. Then I came along and all I had was pair of trunks and my shoes. I had no gimmick. It was the absence of gimmicks that made me different."
— Dick the Bruiser
There have been several "Bruisers" in professional wrestling's history — Bruiser Brody, Don the Bruiser, Bruiser Bob Sweetan, to name the three most recognizable — but the name synonymous with pro wrestling for almost three decades was "Dick the Bruiser."
A former Green Bay Packer lineman who found more money and success in pro wrestling than he did professional football, Bruiser is a name people readily mention when talking about the golden age of the sport. Bruiser didn't languish for long in opening matches, and within a few months of his June 24, 1954, debut, Bruiser was cracking heads and pounding flesh in main events from coast to coast across the United States. Words that desribe Bruiser's in-ring style are believability, belligerence, domination, unpredictability, explosiveness, intensity, and rampage.
Bruiser's story may never have been told had it not been for author Richard Vicek's dogged determination to interview and correspond with hundreds of people who knew our Bruiser during various stages of his lifetime. They all shared their memories and experiences.
To wrestling fans, Bruiser was a intimidating bull of a man who put fear into the hearts of his opponents and could not be controlled by wrestling promoters. What they didn't know was, Bruiser was co-owner of a highly successful wrestling promotion based in Indianapolis, in which he served as both an executive producer and as the star performer of the show.
In all respects, Bruiser left an indelible mark in pro wrestling history that will never be matched in either longevity or significance. This book is a testament to the legacy he left behind.
