Brutus Beefcake To Enter Hall Of Fame : Brutus Beefcake! The name sends down a shiver in the spines of the people born in the 1980s and who followed the WWF episodes religiously. One of the happiest news of 2019 is that Brutus is entering the Hall of Fame for his achievements in the world of wrestling. For those who don’t know who Brutus is, here’s a brief intro of his life and achievements:
The real name of Brutus Beefcake is Edward Harrison Leslie. He is an American retired professional wrestler, popularly known for his fabulous works in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. Later in his life, he has worked for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under a variety of names. Brutus has bagged nine titles throughout his career and is a former WWF World Tag Team Champion along with Greg Valentine. He was also a powerful contender for major singles titles on pay-per-view and television, headlining the Starrcade 1994, in a match against then-WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. He also challenged the then-Intercontinental Champion the Honky Tonk Man at WrestleMania IV. Hulk Hogan Inducted Brutus into the WWE Hall of Fame on 6th April 2019.
WRESTLING CAREER
Leslie’s career began in 1977 at the side of Terry Bollea. As a singles wrestler, he fought with David Sammartino, his opponent at the inaugural WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden, and WWF World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan. Brutus was a prominent member of the Dream team from 1985 to 1987. Two other members of the team were Greg Valentine and Johnny Valiant. The Dream Team lost the title to The British Bulldogs at WrestleMania 2, in Rosemont, Illinois. The team’s performance further deteriorated and the team members part ways at WrestleMania III after a bitter argument. This changed Beefcake’s perspective on wrestling. In the immediate next match on the show, Roddy Piper defeated Adrian Adonis. Brutus helped Roddy to shave Adonis’s head and earned the title ‘Barber’.
Beefcake has feuded with several wrestlers in his wrestling period. He feuded with Ron Bass in 1988 and ultimately defeated him in a grudge match. Brutus then feuded with Randy Savage during 1989. He ultimately defeated Bass in a grudge match. During his match against Savage, Zeus assaulted him. In the pay-per-view special called “No Holds Barred: The Movie-The Match”, Beefcake and Hogan defeated Zeus and Savage in a steel cage match. He continued to be a noteworthy name in the world of wrestling until July 1990. In July 1990, he met with a serious parasailing accident and went out of action for days. He was helping his friend to take off while his friend’s bare feet hit his face crushing his facial skeleton. More than 100 metal plates were used to repair his face and his career was put on hold for nearly two years. However, talented people cannot be stopped from long. He returned as Brutus Beefcake in a special appearance on the April 23, 1991 episode of WWF Prime Time Wrestling. Later on, he came back as a full-time regular in the summer of 1991, hosting an interview segment called “The Barber Shop.”
Few Of The Championships And Accomplishments Of Brutus Beefcake Are:
- Alabama Wrestling Federation: AWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – along with Greg Valentine
- Brew City Wrestling: BCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – along with Greg Valentine
- Championship Wrestling International: CWI Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- South-eastern Championship Wrestling: NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship (3 times) – along with Ken Lucas, and Robert Fuller
- International Wrestling Association: IWA Television Championship (1 time)
- Legends Pro Wrestling: XWF/LPW Hall of Fame Inductee- Class 2008 & 2010
- Maple State Wrestling/Slam All-Star Wrestling: MSW/SAW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Shane Williams
- New England Wrestling Alliance: NEWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Wide Wrestling Alliance: WWWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E): WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Greg Valentine
Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the internationally well-known wrestling magazine has ranked Brutus as one of the top wrestlers several times. Few rankings are as follows:
- In 1995, PWI ranked him # 75 of the 500 top singles wrestlers in the PWI 500.
- In 2003, PWI ranked him # 173 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the “PWI Years”.
- In 2003, PWI ranked him # 94 of the 100 best tag teams of the “PWI Years” with Greg Valentine.
Finally, his biggest Achievement Is Entering Into The Hall of Fame in 2019.
Brutus became part of the Christian wrestling group, World Impact Wrestling after his formal retirement. He also founded a wrestling school. On June 24, 2007, he made an appearance at Pro Wrestling Syndicate’s debut show in Garfield, New Jersey. In all these years, he could be seen at several Memphis wrestling shows, including the 2007 Ultimate Clash of the Legends.
He coached and trained the budding wrestlers at the Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling. His skills and way of turning a match is something to be lauded about.
On January 26, 2008, Jack Blaze inducted Brutus into the XWF Hall of Fame. After it became the LPW Hall of Fame, Beefcake was honored again by Blaze on March 26, 2010, in Wheeling, West Virginia.
However, on July 24, 2009, he competed in “Celebrity Boxing 10” in Philadelphia, but lost in the first round to local competitive eater Bill Simmons. This was an unexpected incident for all his fans. Yet he will always remain as one of the best wrestlers in the world. His style of wrestling, his gimmicks, and his aggressiveness- all these together make him one of the most wanted wrestlers of all time. He has shown how one can come back even after having a major accident if one has the will power and faith in himself.
Although Beefcake eventually left WWE to head to WCW, he has remained one of the most enduring characters in WWE history and an all-time fan favorite of the WWE Universe. There is no better honor for him than induction into the Hall of Fame.
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