For 10 years, virtually no one pinned the shoulders of The Bruiser and/or The Crusher. Even fewer made it out of the ring without being battered and bloodied by the violent blue-collar heroes. They were unstoppable, and the fans loved their bombastic exploits. Bruiser and Crusher were so dominant during their matches against the competition (The Valiants, The Texas Outlaws/Rhodes and Murdoch, Von Raschke & Ladd, The Blackjacks, etc.) that once their match was over, they would often trade blows with each other, to the thunderous roar and delight of the sold-out crowds.  

Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher won the W.W.A. World Tag Team title (in addition to their AWA World Tag titles) 6 times between 1967 and 1976. Even Bruno Sammartino, in one of his very few non-WWF championship reigns, teamed with The Bruiser in 1973, and "Annihilation Inc." (as they were known) held the W.W.A World Tag Team title's for nearly 6 months before losing a tainted match to The Valiant Brothers. 

As the 1980's rolled in, having dominated tag team wrestling like few other teams in history, The Crusher moved on to other territories within the A.W.A., and N.W.A. Meanwhile, The Bruiser wrestled primarily in the W.W.A. (Chicago, Indianapolis, Milwaukee), as well as competing for other Midwestern promotions like Central States (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri) and longtime promoter and friend Sam Muchnick in St. Louis. Behind the scenes, Dick Afflis used his vast experience and knowledge to make the W.W.A. -- which he owned and operated -- into one of the most successful regional promotions of the day.  Even though he was a bit older than his days as wrestling's roughest "tough guy", Bruiser still manhandled and defeated the best men in wrestling. Likewise, his fearsome, much-deserved reputation preceded him wherever he wrestled.  He continued defeating the best wrestling had to offer like, among others, Harley Race, Ernie Ladd, and "King Kong" Bruiser Brody (who "lost" the right to use the name "Bruiser" in several Midwestern territories by losing to the original Bruiser) (including St. Louis) for the W.W.A. World title in the early 1980's. In 1985 he won and lost his last W.W.A. World Heavyweight title to Greg Wojokowski (one of his WWA pupils). Soon after, he retired from the ring, following more than 30 years of volatile competition.   

After retiring, and the demise of the WWA, Dick Afflis remained involved with wrestling, working as a talent agent for WCW. He died of a heart attack after completing his daily morning workout on November 10, 1991 at the age of 62. 

Dick The Bruiser either directly or indirectly influenced generations of tougher-than-tough wrestling brawlers from Bruiser Brody and Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer, to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Cactus Jack/Mankind, of course The Sandman, and dozens in between. 

TITLES Held:

Credit: http://members.aol.com/Skinner001/titles.html (and Puroresu.com Title Histories)

The following is a list of titles that Dick the Bruiser held during his illustrious career: 

W.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (Indianapolis & Chicago Version) : 10 times
W.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis & Chicago Version) : 14 times.
 6 with Crusher Lisowski, 3 with Wilbur Snyder, 1 each with Bill Miller, 
Bruno Sammartino, Spike Huber, Jeff Van Kamp, and Bobby Colt.

A.W.A. World Heavyweight Title: 1 time.

A.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Main Version): 5 times with Crusher.

A.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis Version): 2 times with Wilbur Snyder. 

N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Indianapolis Version): 1 time with Gene Kiniski.

W.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (Los Angeles Version): 1 time. 
(April 1964 - Defeats Fred Blassie for the belt and 
starts own WWA promotion in Indiana.)

N.W.A. United States Heavyweight Title (Chicago & Detroit Version): 5 times.

N.W.A. Missouri Heavyweight Title: 3 times.

N.W.A. International Tag Team Title: 1 time with Crusher.

N.W.A. United States Heavyweight Title (Chicago Version): 1 time.

N.W.A. United States Heavyweight Title (Hawaii Version): 1 time.

The information and images used herein are courtesy of Pro-Wrestling Title Histories.

Some interesting Bruiser tidbits: 

On his NFL career: “In 1950 the Bruiser signed a professional contract with the Green Bay Packers and for the four years was a mainstay on the line. So great was his play in the 1951 and 1952 seasons that he was chosen team captain in 1953 and 1954. The National Football League will probably never forget the big No. 72 across the powerful shoulders of the great offensive and sometimes defensive tackle of Green Bay. His bone-crushing blocks and jarring tackles earned him the title of professional football's strongest man.” (credit: http://www.hack-man.com/Wrestling/NewsArticles/196301xx-dick-bruiser.html) 

On leaving the NFL for the squared circle: “One of the more popular myths about how Bruiser transitioned from Pro Football (offensive captain for the Packers) to grappler is that he was thrown out of the NFL for breaking too many bones.  Although it's true that he did break a lot of bones on the gridiron, the real story, as told by his-own-self, is that he was looking for work during the off-season, 6 months back then, and was offered the wrestling gig.  That year, circa 1955, he made $6500 playing ball and $20,000 in the ring!  "I never went back!" he declared with a large grin.” (credit: http://members.aol.com/bgathoam/index)

What was the famous 1957 MSG incident that resulted in a “real world” ban of DTB from NYC: “On November 19, 1957, Afflis was teaming up with Dr. Jerry Graham to take on Antonino Rocca and Edouard Carpentier in front of a sold out crowd at New York's Madison Square Garden. Some 300 were injured during the match following a riot that was said to be started by Afflis's taunting of the crowd. Two police officers were among those injured.”  (credit: http://www.slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/schramm_99jun11.html)

What was the story of the famous fight between Alex Karras and DTB? – “One of the most interesting matches in Afflis's career came to a start in 1963. Afflis was at a Detroit bar owned by Alex Karras. Karras was no normal man. He was an all-pro defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions. Karras and Afflis began talking about wrestling when Afflis made a challenge. Karras quickly accepted, but Afflis tried to have it that night in the bar. Police were called in after Afflis attacked just about everyone and everything in the bar and on the streets outside the bar.  The match made headlines across the nation, and some 16,000 fans flocked to the Detroit Olympia on April 27, 1963. Afflis got a wide cut above his right eye during the bout, but the pain just angered Afflis more. Some eleven minutes into the match, Afflis was able to roll-up Karras up for the win.” (credit: http://www.slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingGuestColumn/schramm_99jun11.html)

What was the relationship between DTB and Spike Huber? – Spike was an exciting up-and-comer in the late 70s and early 80s who had a great look and a ton of talent. He received pushes in Indy and St. Louis. Oh yeah. He was also DTB’s son in law. Imagine that for a father in law?  

My St. Louis memories of DTB: (aka “Rowdy Richard” and “The Most Dangerous Man in Wrestling”)

Dick the Bruiser was my biggest STL wrestling heroes of the 70s and 80s. In fact, one of my earliest STL wrestling memories is approximately 1972 or 1973 where DTB absolutely destroyed a jobber on Wrestling at the Chase. The match was in the ring, out of the ring, and at one point DTB slammed the poor guy’s head into one of the concrete pillars holding up the studio. This was out of control action and also out of character for Sam Muchnick’s television program. Despite my best research, I could not find out a whole lot about the relationship between Sam and DTB. They must have had some relationship over many years, and made a lot of money working together. Now meetings and dealings between those two would make an interesting article.

In my humble opinion, DTB was “Stone Cold” waaaay before “Stone Cold” – he was the brawling anti-hero that would take heels that came in St. Louis and kick their rears to the delight of the Kiel crowd. Interviews with him on WATC were great – and memorable. His style, his look, his attitude, his skills (and his knowledge of how to book and “do business”) made him an absolute St. Louis legend. You just knew if DTB was involved, it was gonna be good!

On a kayfabe note – I remember a DTB – Flair NWA title match from around 1982 or so at the Kiel. Even then, I was a little “smart” – wondering if the NWA would put the title on a 50-year old man with apparently few wrestling skills? But once the match got going….and it was one fall apiece…. I found myself madly cheering for DTB, hoping he could pull it off.

Did he? Of course not.

But that was the beauty of good booking and good workers. For a few minutes, I really thought DTB could/would do it!

St. Louis Matchups I remember – DTB versus:

Ø       Harley Race (MO Title Feud)

Ø       King Kong Brody

Ø       Ric Flair

Ø       Ken Patera

Ø       Crusher Blackwell (I remember this selling out the Kiel on a night that we had an ice storm in STL – enough people cared to show up and sell out the building. Hey, VKM, maybe take a lesson?)

Ø       Dirty Dick Murdoch (MO Title Feud)

Here is a snapshot of some memorable DTB matches at the Kiel and the Arena:

February 20, 1970 – DTB & Ernie Ladd vs. Black Jack Lanza & Bob Geigel (yes THAT Bob Geigel!)

December 4, 1970 – DTB vs. Moose Cholak (sounds like a WWA match taken on the road!)

March 17, 1971 – DTB & Pat O’Connor vs. Black Jack Lanza & Cowboy Bill Watts (Wow!)

May 8, 1971 – DTB vs. Harley Race (Harley billed from “Hollywood, California”. They must have worked together in the AWA during Race’s run there in the 60s, as well as St. Louis and Bruiser’s own WWA-Indy)

November 6, 1981 – DTB vs. Sergeant Slaughter (a revenge match for Sarge attacking Spike Huber during a October 4^th WATC match)

January 22, 1982 – DTB & Gene Kiniski vs. Ken Patera & Sergeant Slaughter (4 big STL names, including a former NWA champion)

August 27, 1982 – DTB defends the MO Title vs. Harley Race (two greats, at it again – Race shows his brawling side)

August 5, 1983 – DTB & David Von Erich & Hulk Hogan vs. Crusher Blackwell & Black Jack Mulligan & Baron Von Raschke (Sam is retired, the WWF has not invaded yet, business is still good, and look at this 6 man! Only topped by Flair vs. Race for the NWA title in the main – DTB is getting long in the tooth, but still filling the Kiel)

The subject of DTB would take six months to give the proper attention and respect it deserves. He was a legend both in and out of the ring, performing and promoting his own WWA region. I hope you have enjoyed this part retrospective/part opinion piece. Please feel free to stop by our STL message board and share your thoughts and memories of DTB. Thanks for reading and see you next month.

NEXT MONTH: 

Lou Thez, Sam Muchnick, and the NWA.