Synopses & Reviews
?The most unpredictable and charismatic grappler of all time? The brute that made brawling an art before the term hardcore” was coined? The confrontational businessman who fought for every penny he felt he deserved? Bruiser” Brody had no peers when it came to blood and guts, controversy and independence. Most wrestling promoters portrayed their top talent as exactly that kind of free-spirited, take-no-guff personality. They didnt mean it, though which explains why so few would admit to respecting Brody even as they featured him time and again. So why did they give him work? Simple. Bruiser” Brody delivered the goods in the ring and at the box office. In the 1970s and early 80s, Brody was one of the few performers, along with Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair, to be recognized as a national star. With his fiery personality, Brody also conquered the international market. Nearly two decades after his murder in Puerto Rico, Brody: The Triumph and Tragedy of Wrestlings Rebel delivers a complete portrait of Brodys remarkable life. Co-authors Barbara Goodish, Brodys widow, and Larry Matysik, a close friend, offer a first-time opportunity to truly understand one of the sports most complex and controversial human beings. Goodishs account of her husbands horrific murder and its aftermath is both heartbreaking and compelling, while Matysiks insider knowledge of the business puts Brodys place in wrestling history into perspective. With a foreword by WWE announcer Jim Ross, Brody offers readers the unvarnished truth about one of the greatest wrestling legends of all time.
Review
"Matysik tells it as honestly and true as any reader could want." Nick Bockwinkel, former American Wrestling Association champion
Review
"[Co-author] Matysik serves as a sympathetic biographer who worked professionally with Brody as a St. Louis wrestling promoter. Barbara Goodish tells a love story that began during Brody's Australian tours in the 1970s. Their chapters are interwoven throughout the book." ScrippsNews.com
Review
"A must read for any wrestling fan. . . . An inspiring story." About.com
Synopsis
Written by his best friend and widow, this compelling biography of international wrestling superstar Bruiser” Brody provides an unparalleled look at his life and death. At 65” and a muscular 320 pounds, Brody was a giant in the ring who evoked fear in his opponents and respect from the wrestling community. In the geographical segregated wrestling world of the 1970s and 1980s, where each area had its own stars, Brodys intensity made him one of the few recognized as celebrities across the country. Featuring candid discussions about the nature of wrestling during Brodys heyday as well as a frank description of his horrific murder and its aftermath, this revealing account illustrates why Brody continues to be one of the most beloved figures in wrestling.
About the Author
Larry Matysik is a former protege of the famous St. Louis wrestling promoter, Sam Muchnick, and was Brody's best friend. He is the author of "Wrestling at the Chase." Barbara Goodish is Brody's widow.