Rick Rude vs Bruiser Brody (WCWA, 5-4-1986)

WCWA 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, Irving, TX

A request! This is for World Class’ world heavyweight title, held by Rude here in their post-NWA period. The belt can change hands on a disqualification here, and they’ve got a 60-minute time limit.

Brody also did a barbed wire match with Terry Gordy on this show. A lot of people worked double duty on this show, which still did a little over 24,000 at Texas Stadium.

(Requests open and tips always appreciated!)

Fabulous Freebirds vs Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody (WCCW, 6-17-1983)

WCCW International Wrestling Star Wars, Dallas, TX

Request via Ko-fi. This is for the NWA American tag team title held by the Freebirds, represented here by Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy. The ‘Birds are in the midst of their war with the Von Erichs, and Kerry has brought in Bruiser Brody. There’s a great pre-match promo where Hayes is stunned that Brody has actually showed up with Kerry, and also displays a sincere fear of Brody himself: “He’s an animal. He’s wild. … Brody might be big, but I got a brother that stands 290 lbs of walkin’, talkin’, rompin’, stompin’ graveyard destruction, baby! And he don’t back up from nobody, man! And he’ll protect me!”

Antonio Inoki vs Bruiser Brody (NJPW, 4-18-1985)

NJPW Big Fight Series II, Tokyo, Japan

Ol’ Tony Inoki here was still redassed over Stan Hansen jumping to AJPW in ’81, so about three and a half years later he came up with the plan of stealing Brody from Baba, doing it by, according to Larry Matysik’s book, offering Brody $16,000 a week, up from AJPW’s $12,000 a week.

Terry Gordy vs Bruiser Brody (WCWA, 5-4-1986)

WCWA 3rd Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, Irving, TX

This is a barbed wire match at Texas Stadium in front of 24,000-plus, an impressive number on the surface, but less than half of what they’d done for the first Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions in ’84, honoring David. Still before the bottom truly fell out on Fritz & Co., as they would only do 5,000 in ’87 after Mike died, too.

Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Bruiser Brody & Stan Hansen (AJPW, 4-20-1982)

AJPW Grand Champion Series, Nagoya, Japan

Baba and Tsuruta are defending the NWA International tag team title in a 2/3 falls match here, but who gives a shit about belts? Baba and Tsuruta are out first, then Brody and Hansen come down, Bruiser leading the way with his trademark bark, Hansen trailing behind him, a serious look on his face.

Bruiser Brody & Jimmy Snuka vs The Funks (AJPW, 12-13-1981)

AJPW Real World Tag League, Tokyo, Japan

There’s a big banner hanging over one of the balconies that says “GO! GO! FUNKS!!” The Funks are out first, big applause. They have slick matching jackets and are met with many streamers and bouquets of flowers.

Bruiser Brody vs Bob Brown (WFWA, 8-27-1986)

WFWA, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

West Four Wrestling Alliance was a Winnipeg-based promotion owned for many years by Tony Condello, who eventually renamed it IWA, and then eventually renamed it Tony’s Championship Wrestling, which I absolutely love.

Wahoo McDaniel vs Bruiser Brody (NWA, 2-14-1986)

NWA Battle of the Belts II, Orlando, FL

Here’s an instance where Brody has Gary Hart in his corner, as this is a $20,000 bounty match on the big CWF supercard in Orlando, between two men largely considered to be among the toughest in wrestling history. The $20K is to put Wahoo out of professional wrestling.

Dory Funk Jr vs Bruiser Brody (AJPW, 10-9-1981)

AJPW Giant Series, Tokyo, Japan

Funk is defending the NWA International heavyweight title and, shock of shocks, he comes out first with the belt. Brody is out second, carrying his chain, shit flying at him from the crowd, ambling around the ring the way he does, before climbing right in, circling around, barking. Funk’s ready to fight, and Brody always is.

Bruiser Brody vs Abdullah the Butcher (WCWA, 8-4-1986)

WCWA, Fort Worth, TX

This was televised by KTVT-11. I’m doing my best with the date here — I scoured the ’86 World Class Memories results in addition to Cagematch, and this seems to be right. Abdullah has longtime Brody nemesis Gary Hart in his corner. David Manning is “special referee” in his street clothes, as this match has been rushed onto the show because they were about to fight backstage.