When going through the old school section naturally we often see threads about the big names from the past. I myself just made one about Hulk Hogan earlier today. We see threads on Bret Hart, Steve Austin, Randy Savage, etc. If we drop down one tier the names Ted Dibiase, Curt Hennig, and Scott Hall come up often. This thread is dedicated to a man who made a pretty big impact during the Hulkamania era but hardly ever gets any recognition around here. If youre reading this now youve obviously read the title so you know that man is Brutus The Barber Beefcake.
When I started watching wrestling Beefcake was just breaking away from the Dream Team and becoming the Barber. It wasnt long until Beefcake became a personal favorite of mine. His unique look with the ripped tights, upbeat entrance music, and of course the after match hair cut made Beefcake a very likeable character. You probably wont find too many four star matches from Beefcake but that didnt stop him from being one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWF in the late 80s into 1990. Beefcake faced three of the most hated guys of that era at three consecutive WrestleManias; Honky Tonk Man at WM4, Ted Dibiase at WM5, and Mr. Perfect at WM6. He also got to feud with Randy Savage in Savages first feud after dropping the world title. That feud would lead to a main event match at SummerSlam 89 where Beefcake would team with Hulk Hogan. Brutus seemed like a natural IC champion and despite being a regular challenger to that title the gold always eluded the Barber. Beefcakes life and career changed on July 4, 1990 when he suffered a near fatal parasailing accident. If not for the accident he likely would have won the IC title at SummerSlam. His popularity eventually led to Beefcakes return to television as host of an interview segment appropriately titled The Barber Shop. The Barber Shop was destroyed shortly before WM8 and Beefcake would disappear from the WWF.
One week in early 1993, out of the blue, Sean Mooney made a special announcement as Superstars of Wrestling was ending. Brutus Beefcake was going to return to active competition. I was thrilled. I missed Beefcake and couldnt be happier that he was returning. What I didnt know was his return was going to be a brief one and just be a way to get Hulk Hogan back for WM9. Beefcake would leave the WWF for good shortly after WM9.
In 1994 he followed Hogan to WCW where he earned a reputation as Hogans lackey. I think when most fans think of Beefcake they think of nothing more than a Hogan lackey. Thats a shame. Sure his friendship with Hogan may have opened some doors, but Brutus Beefcake was once one of WWFs most popular stars with or without Hogan. What are your thoughts on Brutus Beefcake? Why doesnt he get any recognition by WWE today?
When I started watching wrestling Beefcake was just breaking away from the Dream Team and becoming the Barber. It wasnt long until Beefcake became a personal favorite of mine. His unique look with the ripped tights, upbeat entrance music, and of course the after match hair cut made Beefcake a very likeable character. You probably wont find too many four star matches from Beefcake but that didnt stop him from being one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWF in the late 80s into 1990. Beefcake faced three of the most hated guys of that era at three consecutive WrestleManias; Honky Tonk Man at WM4, Ted Dibiase at WM5, and Mr. Perfect at WM6. He also got to feud with Randy Savage in Savages first feud after dropping the world title. That feud would lead to a main event match at SummerSlam 89 where Beefcake would team with Hulk Hogan. Brutus seemed like a natural IC champion and despite being a regular challenger to that title the gold always eluded the Barber. Beefcakes life and career changed on July 4, 1990 when he suffered a near fatal parasailing accident. If not for the accident he likely would have won the IC title at SummerSlam. His popularity eventually led to Beefcakes return to television as host of an interview segment appropriately titled The Barber Shop. The Barber Shop was destroyed shortly before WM8 and Beefcake would disappear from the WWF.
One week in early 1993, out of the blue, Sean Mooney made a special announcement as Superstars of Wrestling was ending. Brutus Beefcake was going to return to active competition. I was thrilled. I missed Beefcake and couldnt be happier that he was returning. What I didnt know was his return was going to be a brief one and just be a way to get Hulk Hogan back for WM9. Beefcake would leave the WWF for good shortly after WM9.
In 1994 he followed Hogan to WCW where he earned a reputation as Hogans lackey. I think when most fans think of Beefcake they think of nothing more than a Hogan lackey. Thats a shame. Sure his friendship with Hogan may have opened some doors, but Brutus Beefcake was once one of WWFs most popular stars with or without Hogan. What are your thoughts on Brutus Beefcake? Why doesnt he get any recognition by WWE today?
