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BRUISER: The World's Most Dangerous Wrestler
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.
232 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2016
8 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 22, 2022
Very good read about Dick the Bruiser, probably the biggest name of pro wrestling in 1960s and 70s Chicago, and other midwest cities. Written in chronological order, more or less, the author seemed to bring up all the important aspects of the Bruiser's career, including his "feuds" with the likes of Bobby Heenan, the Devil's Duo, Henning and Race, etc. In addition, much is written about the business side of pro wrestling in terms the reader can easily understand.
November 11, 2018
A very detailed look at the career of one of wrestling's true legends.
January 23, 2021
Excellent book about the legendary Dick The Bruiser. Very thorough book with lots of great pictures.
June 20, 2018
as filled with primary source details ($$$ amounts, newspaper clippings, quotes) as any history of William "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis could possibly hope to be. fans will be happy with this one, for sure.
November 3, 2024
As Much of a character Bruiser was, the story as it is, has been told many times, Author's prose is fine, and the subject, if your not a wrestling die hard will be eye opening but if your in anyway knowing of backstage insider stuff on the industry and heard it better. I do wish to read more by the author tho. I feel a warmth that doesnt deny truth but doesn't go out it's way to damn either.
July 1, 2016
Like everything coming out of Crowbar Press, this is excellent. It is exhaustively researched, and features comments from those who knew Bruiser best. Besides serving as a biography, it serves as a history of the Indianapolis promotion as well as its dealing with its relations with other territories. As compared to other wrestling books, the section on his childhood and days as a young adult are fully formed and show why Bruiser became a wrestler. Highly recommended.
June 27, 2016
Very thorough telling of the life of one of wrestling's most dangerous, under appreciated personalities. I've been following the writing of this book, and it was well worth the wait. Bruiser is still revered as one of the greatest in Indiana, and I'm glad his story has been so well-told.
August 9, 2016
Disappointing. Dick the Bruiser was larger than life. This book made him seem small and ordinary.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews