Literary Squared Circle #5 – BRODY
The legendary Bruiser Brody was born on June 18, 1946. Had his life not come to a tragic end 33 years ago next month, Brody would be celebrating his 75th Birthday this Friday. In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the birth of Bruiser Brody, the Literary Squared Circle blog is reviewing the book, Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel by Larry Matysik and Barbara Goodish (ECW Press, 2007).
Brody begins at the end; in a locker room shower in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on July 16, 1988. The book describes in detail the events surrounding Bruiser Brody’s death at the age of 42, at the hands of fellow wrestler José González. González, who was also the company’s booker, called Brody into the shower area for a private meeting. It was there that González fatally stabbed Brody, who passed away early the next morning.
Before the book leaves the scene in Puerto Rico and takes the reader back to the beginning, telling the life story of Frank Goodish, the man who would become Bruiser Brody, it looks at the aftermath of his murder. A spotlight is turned on the injustice of the Puerto Rican legal system, which saw José González charged with murder, but then acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. Many key witnesses, mostly American wrestlers who were in the locker room at the time did not receive their summons regarding the trial until after the trial had ended. González continued to wrestle for over a decade after Brody’s murder, even taking part in a tasteless 1990 angle in Japan in which he “stabbed” Atsushi Onita.
The remainder of the book allows readers to get to know Bruiser Brody. His story is told by those who knew him best: friends, family, fellow wrestlers, and wrestling journalists. The most effective and captivating stories are told by his widow, Barbara. She provides a unique portrait of the wrestling legend, that of the man behind the Bruiser Brody persona, her husband, Frank Goodish.
Goodish’s career as Bruiser Brody is covered in great detail. His memorable matches, famous feuds, and backstage dealings with promoters across the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico are explored. Goodish/Brody was a complex individual. He had contentious relationships with many promoters over money and he went against the grain career-wise, becoming a huge attraction in Japan, while not joining Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation during the company’s national expansion in the early to mid 1980s.
The only thing I did not like about the book was author Larry Matysik’s tendency to dwell upon the territory for which he worked, St. Louis. It was in St. Louis that Matysik befriend Brody, who was billed as King Kong Brody in the city to avoid confusion with Dick the Bruiser. Yes, Brody competed in the St. Louis, and yes, he and Matysik became close friends, but his time there seemed to receive more coverage than his equally, if not more, memorable runs in Texas, Florida, and the American Wrestling Association.
Thankfully, Bruiser Brody’s career in Japan is covered extensively. Brody was a huge star in the country, rivalling Hulk Hogan’s popularity in the United States during the peak of Hulkamania. Brody concludes with a “What might have been” discussion, which addresses hypothetical scenarios for Bruiser Brody’s career had his life not been cut short. Would Brody have joined the then WWF? Would he have had a main event run against Hulk Hogan? Would Brody have ever main evented a WrestleMania? Unfortunately, one can only theorize as to these and other scenarios, as Brody was tragically taken from us too soon.
Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel is an interesting read which effectively summarizes of the life Frank Goodish, the man, as well as the career of his in-ring alter ego, Bruiser Brody. The contributions of Barbara Goodish add a dimension to the book not seen in many wrestler biographies. She is able to take a larger-than-life character, and humanize him through her memories of her late husband.
On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the birth of Bruiser Brody, I recommend the book, Brody. Those who remember his work will enjoy reliving matches and moments from throughout his storied career. Those too young to have seen him in-action will learn about one of the true legends of professional wrestling, and hopefully be inspired to watch a few of his classic matches on YouTube.
4 Stars out of 5
Brody begins at the end; in a locker room shower in Bayamón, Puerto Rico on July 16, 1988. The book describes in detail the events surrounding Bruiser Brody’s death at the age of 42, at the hands of fellow wrestler José González. González, who was also the company’s booker, called Brody into the shower area for a private meeting. It was there that González fatally stabbed Brody, who passed away early the next morning.
Before the book leaves the scene in Puerto Rico and takes the reader back to the beginning, telling the life story of Frank Goodish, the man who would become Bruiser Brody, it looks at the aftermath of his murder. A spotlight is turned on the injustice of the Puerto Rican legal system, which saw José González charged with murder, but then acquitted on the grounds of self-defense. Many key witnesses, mostly American wrestlers who were in the locker room at the time did not receive their summons regarding the trial until after the trial had ended. González continued to wrestle for over a decade after Brody’s murder, even taking part in a tasteless 1990 angle in Japan in which he “stabbed” Atsushi Onita.
The remainder of the book allows readers to get to know Bruiser Brody. His story is told by those who knew him best: friends, family, fellow wrestlers, and wrestling journalists. The most effective and captivating stories are told by his widow, Barbara. She provides a unique portrait of the wrestling legend, that of the man behind the Bruiser Brody persona, her husband, Frank Goodish.
Goodish’s career as Bruiser Brody is covered in great detail. His memorable matches, famous feuds, and backstage dealings with promoters across the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico are explored. Goodish/Brody was a complex individual. He had contentious relationships with many promoters over money and he went against the grain career-wise, becoming a huge attraction in Japan, while not joining Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation during the company’s national expansion in the early to mid 1980s.
The only thing I did not like about the book was author Larry Matysik’s tendency to dwell upon the territory for which he worked, St. Louis. It was in St. Louis that Matysik befriend Brody, who was billed as King Kong Brody in the city to avoid confusion with Dick the Bruiser. Yes, Brody competed in the St. Louis, and yes, he and Matysik became close friends, but his time there seemed to receive more coverage than his equally, if not more, memorable runs in Texas, Florida, and the American Wrestling Association.
Thankfully, Bruiser Brody’s career in Japan is covered extensively. Brody was a huge star in the country, rivalling Hulk Hogan’s popularity in the United States during the peak of Hulkamania. Brody concludes with a “What might have been” discussion, which addresses hypothetical scenarios for Bruiser Brody’s career had his life not been cut short. Would Brody have joined the then WWF? Would he have had a main event run against Hulk Hogan? Would Brody have ever main evented a WrestleMania? Unfortunately, one can only theorize as to these and other scenarios, as Brody was tragically taken from us too soon.
Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestling’s Rebel is an interesting read which effectively summarizes of the life Frank Goodish, the man, as well as the career of his in-ring alter ego, Bruiser Brody. The contributions of Barbara Goodish add a dimension to the book not seen in many wrestler biographies. She is able to take a larger-than-life character, and humanize him through her memories of her late husband.
On the occasion of the 75th Anniversary of the birth of Bruiser Brody, I recommend the book, Brody. Those who remember his work will enjoy reliving matches and moments from throughout his storied career. Those too young to have seen him in-action will learn about one of the true legends of professional wrestling, and hopefully be inspired to watch a few of his classic matches on YouTube.
4 Stars out of 5
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