Dangerous Conversations Episode #9: Featured Guest - Downtown Bruno

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Sam. [00:00:25] Speaker B: Hey, everybody. Welcome back to Dangerous Conversations with Dangerous Doug Gilbert. I'm your host, Gene Jackson, and as always, it is my pleasure to introduce the man you came to hear, Dangerous Doug Gilbert. Doug, how you doing? [00:00:38] Speaker C: Hey, Gene, I'm doing great, man. Hey, I have got one of my best friends in the rasping business on here with us tonight, and that would be none other than downtown Bruno. [00:00:53] Speaker B: How you doing, buddy? [00:00:54] Speaker A: I'm proud to be here. One of my best friends there, Doug Gilbert. The whole Gilbert family's been close friends of mine pretty much my whole time in the business. So this is a honor and a privilege to be on here. [00:01:07] Speaker B: Well, man, we're glad to have you. We've been on quite the roll here lately, Doug. We've had some really great guests. You've been. You've been knocking it out of the park. [00:01:14] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. I think everybody's been real good. And Bruno and myself, my brother, my dad, we all think a lot of Bruno, and, I mean, me and Eddie and Bruno, we've done a lot of stuff together. [00:01:31] Speaker A: Sure did. We sure did. And we. I'll tell you, one of the funniest things ever, Tommy Gilbert, Doug's dad, as y' all probably know, listener. One day we were in Oldsboro, Kentucky, and I was back in the back, and it was. It was you. And if you remember, you and your dad was wrestling. I don't remember who it was, but two good guys and do with the match. Tommy said, bruno, just in the middle of the matches, run down, jump over the top rope, run around the ring, and run to the back. So I said, okay, if you want me to. And to this in his grave right now. Eddie, Marlon. Don't know why I did that. [00:02:14] Speaker C: That's great. And that's not like my dad is Bruno. [00:02:20] Speaker A: He was just having fun that night. Crappy house, jump in the ring, look around and run away. [00:02:28] Speaker C: Hey, it wasn't the Harris boys. Was. [00:02:32] Speaker A: Might have been. I. I swear. I couldn't swear to you, but it might have been. And there was Owensboro, Kentucky. I think it was 1988, if I'm not mistaken. Right? [00:02:42] Speaker C: I think it might have been the Harris brothers. [00:02:44] Speaker A: Yeah. For some reason at the match, he wanted to do something, screw it up, you know? [00:02:50] Speaker C: Yeah. It was. It was either Harris brothers or Jeff and Billy. [00:02:56] Speaker A: It was probably the Harris brothers, because Jeff and Billy and y' all would have had a good match. Where the Harris brothers world. [00:03:10] Speaker C: Hey, I think it was the Harris brothers, actually. [00:03:13] Speaker A: Yeah. Because I had just came back. I had been in Alabama. I Just came back. [00:03:18] Speaker C: Right. [00:03:19] Speaker B: So tell us a little about that, Bruno. How did. How did you like it down in Alabama compared to the Memphis territory? [00:03:26] Speaker A: Oh, I mean, I enjoyed my time in Alabama. I mean, I was with the good crew, and it was good houses at the time, and I was making decent money. I wasn't getting rich, but I enjoyed it down there. And plus, it's close to home. Like, the furthest I ever went from home was Kansas City before I went to wwf, because I wanted to keep a place in Memphis or, you know, Memphis area, and I wanted to be able to come back, you know, when you're way off in Kansas City or something, it's hard. So I enjoyed Alabama. I came home twice a week. [00:04:04] Speaker B: And so down there, you know, recently, a guy that was a great friend to both of you guys, Sid, passed away. And me and Doug did a whole episode talking about Sid. And I know you and Sid were very close, and that's who you were, one of the guys that you were managing down there in Alabama. Tell me a little bit about managing a very, very young in the business, Sid. [00:04:27] Speaker A: Well, let me tell you what the deal was. I was in Kansas City working for Bob geigel. This was 1986, and we just weren't making a whole lot of money out there. And what it was, Bob Geigel says one of the referees quit or left or whatever, and he says, bruno, we're not making a whole lot of money. We've already got Brenda Britton, who was Rick Rogers, his wife, managing. He goes, bruno, we budgets the title. It's hard for me to pay two managers. He goes, why don't we do a deal where we switch you out and we can make you the referee? Well, I didn't want a referee, you know, which I know I made the right decision because I ended up doing pretty well, you know, in the business. [00:05:09] Speaker C: As a manager, I'd say bring all men, but I'd say, you done very well. [00:05:16] Speaker A: Well, I appreciate that. And. But the thing is, at that time, I was still only in the business, like, seven years or whatever. I. It was like one hand, make a living, the other hand, I want to advance in the business, which, you know, like you said, thankfully, thank God I did. But I didn't want to stay on it and referee. So I gave him my notice. And then I started calling around. I wasn't ready to come back to Memphis yet because things were kind of slow in Memphis at the time. I called Robert Fuller to come to Alabama. He goes, I'd love to Bring you in. He goes, I want to put you with a big old giant guy with the hockey mask and that Lord your mother's giving. I said, who is. He goes, it's up to you to find him. He says, you find me that guy and you got a starting date. [00:06:05] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:06:06] Speaker A: I met, Yeah, I met Sid years ago. See, there was a guy named Jeff Van Camp that I think Eddie knew, right? [00:06:13] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, yeah, he did a gimmick. [00:06:16] Speaker A: Yeah, but he was business. [00:06:19] Speaker C: Yeah, he was the one that was from Florida that worked for Watts Brady. [00:06:24] Speaker A: Yes, yes. Well, he. Yeah. So he quit the business and became a copper FBI agent. [00:06:29] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, he was a police officer. [00:06:32] Speaker A: Yeah. So I remembered Sid. I had met him a few times in Memphis and I had, you know, remember back then there was no cell phones or nothing. It was hard, but I tracked him down. I want to know was he interested in going full time in the business. He was doing construction in Memphis at the time. He said, yeah. Long story short, that's how Sid got his start full time. As we went there as, as Lord Humongous. And he was very green, Very, very green at the time. And Robert Fuller put him with Danny Davis every night. Who? Danny we just seen, all of us seen the other day at the. In Jackson, Dennis. So he worked with Danny every night, and that's how he learned to work with Danny Davis. So that's, that's how Sid got his start. That's how I was. You know, he was the first guy I managed in that territory. [00:07:21] Speaker C: There's two guys that really helped Sid out then. That's downtown Bruno and my brother, Hot stuff, Eddie Gilbert. [00:07:29] Speaker A: Oh, your brother Hot stuff. Eddie Gilbert's the one that brought him to WCW and started his national. [00:07:36] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:07:36] Speaker A: Exposure. [00:07:37] Speaker C: But, but, but you brought him to Alabama and got him started. [00:07:42] Speaker A: Right, Right. [00:07:43] Speaker C: That's it. Gene Metz says the two most important guys was down there, Bruno and my brother. [00:07:51] Speaker B: And he never forgot that because he always. Every interview I ever heard was said. He always put over Bruno and he always put over Eddie and always said he owed his career to those guys. So he certainly never forgot it. [00:08:03] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:08:04] Speaker A: Doug will tell you this. This is no secret. Sid was very, very moody and he could get upset easily, but he could get over it too, you know, and it's just how he was. And you have, you have to consider the source with everything. That's just how he was. That was his personality. [00:08:18] Speaker C: And myself and Bruno, we went to Sid's funeral together. [00:08:26] Speaker A: Who was a really nice young man. [00:08:28] Speaker C: Yeah. Oh, he's a really nice young man and everything. But I was glad me and Bruno went together to that. [00:08:36] Speaker A: Yeah, we sure did. We sure did. And I'll tell you honestly, talking about Sid, yeah, he never forgot people had helped him along the way. You know, Eddie, Eddie Gilbert, as we just said, brought him to wcw. And you know, Robert Fuller said real good when he was in Alabama. So Sid brought Robert Fuller to wcw. Remember he called him Colonel Parker. [00:09:00] Speaker B: Right. [00:09:01] Speaker A: He got Robert in over there. And hey, Sid didn't forget me. He's the one who got me my tryout in 1989 with WWF. [00:09:11] Speaker C: So luckily enough and, and Bruno, I told Gene this when we was talking about Sid the other day. That Sid got you try out but you kept your job. You know, everybody says different things, but she was the one that had to keep your job. And you did. [00:09:31] Speaker A: Well, I appreciate it. But you know, that's how the business is. And you know this. Anybody can open the door for you, but it's up to you to stay in that. In that. [00:09:38] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:09:40] Speaker A: You know, and Vince McMahon is not the type of guy that's going to say, oh, just because your Sid's friend you stay. Well, how come after Sid left, I kept staying, you know, it wasn't because they're trying to make Sid happy. Wasn't even there no more. You know, I just. Right, I. Hey, like we all have. [00:09:58] Speaker C: Hey, I'm gonna tell you, I love the Alabama territory also, Gene. It was, it was cool. I mean Bruno loved it. I loved it. I mean. Hey, Bruno, tell Gene the story about the, the apartment that we all had. [00:10:14] Speaker A: Yeah, we all know David woods who owned the territory. He bought it from Ronald Fuller. And then it was over on Bonaparte Boulevard in Montgomery, Alabama and it was a free apartment. We all stayed in there. It looked like a dad Gum Tobacco Road. It was Terry Stubbs and Terry Sims and the Ring crew. It was like. And Mick Foley, Cactus Jack. At the time we were all in this and the only thing we had to do was pay the phone bill and the utilities and you know damn well a bunch of wrestlers dark with no phone. [00:10:51] Speaker C: Well, at least when I was there, Bruno, we had electricity. So that was a good thing. But Sid was there when I was there and everything. But I was telling Gina was like me see it. I was trying to think P. Wadley would stay there with us. I mean it was like five or six of us and everything. I mean it was, it was cool. And remember, see, it had his room upstairs and everything, right? It was really cool. [00:11:20] Speaker A: Deal. Yeah. When I was me Jerry Stubbs, Cactus Jack. Who? McFly. [00:11:28] Speaker C: And. And listen to that talent. [00:11:30] Speaker B: Jean List. [00:11:32] Speaker C: Listen to what Bruno's saying. That talent. And Jerry Stubbs was. Was a great worker, wasn't he, Bruno? I. I've told. [00:11:38] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, he was built like a dumb, you know, bodybuilder at one point, and a good. [00:11:44] Speaker C: Right, right, right. [00:11:47] Speaker B: Mr. Olympia. [00:11:49] Speaker A: Me, Jerry Stubbs. Yeah. Mr. Olympia. Dennis Condrey was there, right. Like Doug said, Pez Watley was there. We had a hell of a crew there. And of course, when Eddie came in, that Bruno. Damn. Davis and Wendell Cooley. Frankie Lancaster. I mean, Robert Fuller. Ronald Fuller. Jimmy. Jimmy Goat to me is one of the most underrated. Oh, yeah, I think, Jimmy, tremendous work. [00:12:17] Speaker C: Hey, I've said that to Eugene. [00:12:21] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:12:22] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:12:22] Speaker B: Yeah. We talk a lot about Jimmy Golan and Jerry Stubbs. [00:12:25] Speaker C: We're gonna. [00:12:26] Speaker B: We're gonna track Jerry Stubbs down and get him on the show. Because me and Doug's put over Jerry Stubbs as much as we have anybody. And I think that'd be a fun conversation to have. [00:12:34] Speaker C: Yeah, that big. Hey, he taught me as much or more, Bruno. I mean, Eddie put me in the program with him and everything. We work around the loop and everything. I mean, he was just so smooth and everything. It was crazy. [00:12:51] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Great worker. It could talk. He could work. About the wig, remember? Because he had that hairpiece. Yeah. [00:13:03] Speaker C: But I mean, I watched him And Eddie go 60 Minutes one night, and it was a mask versus hair match, his mask versus hair. And they went 60 Minutes straight through. And Eddie beat him, and he went to pull his mask off, and he pulled his mask off and he added another one under it. And the people popped like crazy. Crazy. Oh, yeah. That shows how good in shape he was in, though. Two masks on for 60 minutes. [00:13:35] Speaker B: And especially those Mr. Olympia masks, they had those screens on. One of those would be hot as all get out, but two of those for an hour. Holy. [00:13:44] Speaker A: But people pop. So you're. But in other words, Eddie was the bad guy in that one. Evidently. [00:13:49] Speaker C: Well, exactly. He was always the bad guy. [00:13:51] Speaker A: Right, right. I was gonna say because. Because you could do it the other way, too. If Stubbs was the bad guy, he'd be like, screw. You know, screw you, Eddie Gilbert. You know, I'm smarter. [00:14:02] Speaker C: Right, right. [00:14:03] Speaker A: But. [00:14:03] Speaker C: But I thought that was such a cool angle and everything. And then I got to work with them after Eddie did, so that was really cool. [00:14:12] Speaker A: Right? Yeah. You know, I'm gonna tell you. And I'm. And I'm saying this out of all Honesty. I'm not just saying it because Doug's sitting here. It's the truth. Eddie Gilbert had one of the most creative minds for the business of anybody I've ever worked for. And with. I mean, he understood the business. I mean, to me, some of the top minds in the business, Eddie Gilbert's one of them. Jim Cornette's one of them, Jerry Lawler's one of them, Robert Fuller's one of them. You know, some of these guys just. They get it. Some people know what they're doing. They don't know how to portray it or explain to somebody else. Those are some of the guys. There's others too, but those are some of the guys that really know how to. To create talent. [00:14:53] Speaker C: Right? You're exactly right. [00:14:56] Speaker B: I've always said, Bruno, I think that if. If Eddie were still around today, he would have been a huge part of like the Monday Night wars era as far as the creative side of wrestling. Like, he was ahead of his time. Like, if you go back and look a lot of those angles, they were great, but they were kind of ahead of their time. I think he would have been a even bigger impact on the business creatively in the 90s and on into the 2000s, even beyond what he did as a wrestler and the booking he did in the 80s. Do you agree with that or am. [00:15:24] Speaker A: I. Yeah, I don't. I don't dispute that one bit. You're right. You know. [00:15:29] Speaker C: You know, you know, the only thing br. That y' all probably rap, but could any deal with like four or five people booking how he liked to book his file. That's the only thing that. [00:15:43] Speaker A: That's the problem. You're right. I agree. That's a. You gotta one guy that wrote for Search for Tomorrow and then next guy that wrote for dad Gum, you know, Free's Company or whatever. [00:15:55] Speaker C: Yeah, right. But I mean, I. I think like, y' all saying Eddie could have done it and everything, but he wanted. He thought, bro, you know, Eddie and Jean, you didn't know it, but bro did. Eddie thought wrestling 24 hours a day, didn't he, Br. [00:16:15] Speaker A: Oh, my God. Yeah. Yeah. All the time. All the time. And which was good, because back then, I'll be honest with you, back in those days, we all did, you know. I don't know. [00:16:25] Speaker C: More exactly. I mean, you know, I mean, we thought it working wise and he thought it working wise, but he thought it booking wise all the time. That's right. [00:16:38] Speaker A: Right. Yeah. Oh, I know. I mean, Eddie used to tell me when he was A kid, he would make out, you know, make believe cars almost like the fantasy football they do now. Whatever, you know, do that. So. Yeah, believe me. And, you know, I'll tell you another thing too, since we're just going down memory lane. Tommy Gilbert, Doug's dad, he was down here doing some type of work after he got out of the business. [00:17:02] Speaker C: Yeah, Pipeline. Yeah, yeah. And he'd go see. [00:17:07] Speaker A: He'd go see every night. [00:17:09] Speaker C: Yeah, he'd go see Bruno. Him and Bruno would meet and everything. My dad loved Bruno. [00:17:17] Speaker A: Oh, I loved him. My Uncle Larry, who you met before he passed away. Now me and Tommy Gilbert and my Uncle Larry, every Friday night we would go down to Horseshoe Casino because George Klein was the head of. George. [00:17:32] Speaker C: Yes, sir. [00:17:33] Speaker A: Whatever there. And you know, buffet every week, you. [00:17:37] Speaker C: Know, hey, you know what? Last time I seen George Reno, me and my wife was on a flight to Las Vegas and we said in first class, and George was right across from me and. And I said, george. And he said, doug. And I said, yes, sir and everything. And George was such a cool guy, wasn't he, Bruno? [00:18:03] Speaker A: Oh, a super guy. Like I said, he got me and Uncle Larry and. And Tommy Gilbert free buffet every Friday night. That's like $35 buffet. [00:18:14] Speaker C: You can't beat that. Hey, Bruno can't be that. [00:18:17] Speaker A: We just sit and visit with him and laugh and talk to him, you know, super guy, you know. [00:18:26] Speaker C: What about the stories he had? He told George fine. He had great stories. [00:18:31] Speaker A: Oh, my God. Like, you know, Elvis kept him from going. Y' all know that, right? [00:18:38] Speaker C: Right. [00:18:38] Speaker B: Oh, wow. [00:18:39] Speaker C: Hey, what was that, that story, Bruno? [00:18:43] Speaker A: Well, this is all just what I'm hearing, you know what I mean? But basically, back years ago, I don't think it works that way now. All the streaming service, whatnot, everything was just the radio. So George was accused of taking money. He was a disc jockey in Memphis. Big major. [00:19:02] Speaker C: Oh, he was. He was the major. [00:19:05] Speaker A: Yeah, the main one. [00:19:07] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah. [00:19:08] Speaker A: So there was a thing called payola. Like different record companies would pay him. Make sure you play. Like if me and Doug had a group, play Bruno and Doug's record here, you know, X amount. Make sure you play brutal Bruno and Doug's record, you know, get it built up. So apparently that was illegal and he was accused of that. They were going to put him in prison or something for it. But somehow Elvis got him out of it. I don't know story, but. [00:19:34] Speaker C: If I want somebody to get me out of somebody, it would have been Elvis, wouldn't it? [00:19:39] Speaker A: You ain't Lying. [00:19:42] Speaker B: So, Bruno, you. You managed. I mean, everybody who's anybody throughout your career. I mean, and not to say one's better than the other, whatever. Who. Who are some of your favorites as far as. When you think back on, you know, just like the most fun. Who's some of the guys you manage? You had the most fun managing. [00:20:01] Speaker A: Here in Memphis. The most fun I ever had, without a doubt, was Phil Hickerson. Traveled together, we drank beer together. And back then I smoked cigarettes. Me and him would smoke cigarettes. That's all we did was drink, smoke, and eat. You know, me and him had a great rapport at ringside. In other words, he could look at me without even and just like nod his head a certain way. I know you want me to trip the guy or get the referee or whatever. Me and him had, like this ESP between. [00:20:37] Speaker C: Hey, Br. [00:20:38] Speaker A: Had a great night. [00:20:39] Speaker C: Hey, Bruno. Phil. You know, the first angle in the business that I did was with Phil, right? [00:20:48] Speaker A: I didn't know that. [00:20:49] Speaker C: Did you not, Gene? Did you know that? [00:20:53] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:20:54] Speaker B: That's like you as a teenager, right? You were out there taking pictures. Isn't that the deal? [00:20:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:20:58] Speaker C: Remember the new fabs? Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert again, right? The spoiler. And Phil Hickson. And I was taking pictures and. And everything, and Phil come out and went to grab my camera out of my hand and knocked it in my nose and busted my nose and. But feel was great. I love Phil. We traveled together and everything, Bruno, to a lot of shows and everything. He was. I love Phil. I mean, when they. [00:21:24] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. [00:21:26] Speaker C: I mean, I. I didn't. I didn't work against him or nothing, but when we. They did. The legend shows, when the hall of Fame shows, when they put him in that he wrote with M and everything. And I mean, I always stay in touch with him. Phil don't live about 20 miles from me, and Phil is. [00:21:46] Speaker A: Very close. [00:21:46] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, Phil. Phil's great. [00:21:49] Speaker B: I bet Phil's got a ton of stories. [00:21:52] Speaker A: And I'll tell you, they. They came to Memphis at one point, but never when I was here. But when I was in Kansas City, I managed these guys called the Batten twins. I love those guys. When I went to Kansas City. Yeah, Bart and Bart. Brad. [00:22:10] Speaker C: Brad. [00:22:10] Speaker A: Yeah, and Brad. God bless. He's passed away. [00:22:14] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:22:15] Speaker A: But in Kansas City, they were the big baby face team. When I came into Kansas City in 86 or 87, whatever it was, they went to Bob Geiger and said, please turn us heel. We want. Put Bruno to manage us, whatever. And I mean, that Was a big deal to me. Brand new guy to that territory. Two guys I never met before went to the owner and said, turn us. We want to be with him. And we had a great run against Rick McCord and Pork Chop Cash. Great run. [00:22:44] Speaker C: Hey, girl. [00:22:46] Speaker A: And we were doing okay there, you know. [00:22:48] Speaker C: Hey, do you remember the address of the office in Kansas City? [00:22:52] Speaker A: 9, 10, pan. [00:22:56] Speaker C: There you go, Gene. What did I say? I said the same thing. [00:23:00] Speaker B: Yes. [00:23:00] Speaker C: Hey, Bruno. [00:23:01] Speaker A: Hey, Bruno. [00:23:03] Speaker C: How do we not forget that? [00:23:06] Speaker A: I'm telling you, we have to go there every week to get our checks. And it was bad. The checks would hand us our checks sometimes and tell us, no, don't cast this right away. [00:23:23] Speaker B: Oh, that's great. [00:23:24] Speaker A: Yep. You know what? Me and the battens and Rick McCord and pork chop were drawing money. But then that Kansas City. [00:23:34] Speaker C: Hey, BR. [00:23:35] Speaker A: One guy, every angle there was named Bulldog Bob Brown. He was the worst piece of crap that ever inside a wrestling ring. [00:23:46] Speaker C: I knew you will say that. Hey, what other talent was there when y' all was there? [00:23:52] Speaker A: The Warlord, Mike George, Rufus R. Jones, Curtis Hughes, rip Rogers, Rick McCord, Pork Chop Cash, myself, the Batten Twins, Hercules Hernandez, the Freight. [00:24:07] Speaker C: The Freight Train. [00:24:12] Speaker A: Great guy. Great guy. Yeah, he's no longer with us. God bless. Great guy, right? [00:24:17] Speaker C: Hey, y', all. Y'. [00:24:18] Speaker A: All. [00:24:18] Speaker C: Y' all had a lot. Y' all had a lot of talent there. [00:24:22] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, a lot of talent. But Bulldog Bob Brown would. Would beat everybody. And he was horrible. And he just killed it. I don't what. He was the worst. He was absolutely the worst. [00:24:33] Speaker C: He. He was a Canadian, wasn't he? [00:24:36] Speaker A: Yeah, he was Canadian. That thought he knew he looked like Sergeant Carter from Gilmore Pile. Probably work. [00:24:42] Speaker B: Oh, my God, he did. [00:24:45] Speaker C: And you know what? He was partners with Eddie, with my brother for some. A bunch of matches. [00:24:51] Speaker B: I bet Eddie loved that. [00:24:54] Speaker A: What territory? What territory was that? [00:24:56] Speaker C: Kansas City. [00:24:58] Speaker A: Oh, I didn't know Eddie went there. It must have been a different time. [00:25:01] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Andy went there right somewhere at the start. [00:25:07] Speaker A: Well, I don't know if you know this or not, Doug. You probably do. Of course it was your dad. But you might have forgot right before Kansas City went out of business, my dad. Your dad was supposed to come in and take over the booking. [00:25:20] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, he did. And Bob Geiger wanted him to fly me and Eddie out there. And he flew me, Eddie and Dutch out there for a big show. And man, I really love that, just to go see my dad and everything. And it was great to do that. And that was when we was in Alabama. Bruno, we flew from Birmingham. [00:25:43] Speaker A: Okay, Kansas City. Yeah. Cause I was gonna go, I was gonna. I said, oh, my God, Tommy Gilbert, you know, but then it didn't. I guess the territory shut down right after that. [00:25:53] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, it shut down after that, Bruno. It had been bad for a good while, and that's when they called my dad and asked him to book it and to see if he could get it back going. But it had done fell off too far by then. [00:26:09] Speaker A: Right, right. And you know, I will tell you another thing that hurt it in every territory, in all honesty, if I'm being honest, is at that time is when WWF was expanding. [00:26:22] Speaker C: Oh, yeah, well, that. That's what killed everybody, Bruno, you know that. And. [00:26:27] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, you know, but, but look. [00:26:31] Speaker C: Me and Bruno are just chatting back and forth. Ask Bruno another question. Or me, or whatever you want to know. [00:26:43] Speaker B: Hey, it's Bob Smith. [00:26:45] Speaker C: And guess what? [00:26:45] Speaker B: The outdated wrestling hours now part of of the WrestleCopia Podcast Network. But hey, no fear, you're still going to hear the unique guests. Comedy, music, authors, journalists, funny people. [00:26:57] Speaker A: Who knows who's going to end up. [00:26:58] Speaker B: On the outdated wrestling? Remember, it's all new and all old, so check it out, WrestleCopia Podcast Network. And wherever you get your podcasts, listen if you know what's good for you. Hey, everybody, Gene Jackson here inviting you to check out the Retro Wrestling review, where each week I'm joined by some great co hosts who help me review classic episodes of USWA Championship Wrestling. And right now we are doing week by week reviews of 1993. But we don't just do reviews. Sometimes we get a chance to interview some of the people who were there and lived it. Plus, do watch alongs. It's a lot of fun. So check out new episodes that drop every Wednesday at wrestlecopia.com and to find links to everything associated to the podcast, you can go to uswapodcast.com well, you know, I. When I think of Bruno, like, original, when I first remember seeing Bruno in Memphis, was managing Big Bubba and Goliath. And I always thought that visually that was just like the most heat, because here you had Bruno next to these two huge guys, and Bruno's just talking all this crap comfortably because who's going to come mess with Bruno when he's got these two giants with him? And I always just thought visually that was just like the greatest heel thing ever, because Bruno could just say anything he wanted and he had these two enormous guys. But I know Fred Ottman was very, very green at the time, and you know, Goliath was from Philadelphia. Tell me, tell us about those two guys, Bruno. How were they to work with at that point in their careers? [00:28:37] Speaker A: I mean, I like both of them. I see, I still see Fred, you know, on these conventions or whatever sometimes. I don't know. Whatever happened to Goliath? [00:28:48] Speaker C: That's what I was going to ask you, Bruno or Gene. You probably know what Goliath. [00:28:52] Speaker B: Well, you know, he turned back up. He showed up back up in USWA as Moondog Splat. In like nine. [00:28:59] Speaker A: Yes. [00:29:00] Speaker B: And then once he disappeared from that, nobody seems to know where he went after that. I know he quit. You know, it's right as they were feuding with the Harlem Knights or whatever. [00:29:09] Speaker C: Parts unknown. [00:29:11] Speaker B: Yeah, he went back to parts unknown and stayed there. [00:29:14] Speaker A: Apparently it's Goliath to me is one of the guys that flipped through the cracks. Most of those big guys that were decent in the ring wound up in the nationwide, you know, WWE or something for some reason. I don't know what it was. I know he had a couple tryouts. [00:29:28] Speaker C: But, but I mean, was he a good worker? Bruno? [00:29:31] Speaker A: He was okay. I mean, he wasn't no, you know, John Michaels or nothing, but I mean, for his size he was. [00:29:37] Speaker C: Well, no, but, but I mean, I thought Fred was good, but I mean, I, I could, couldn't remember if he was good or not. [00:29:45] Speaker A: Yeah, he was, you know, he was above average for a big guy, to be honest with you. Some big guys just are terrible, you know, Like I thought some of the, the big guys, like Bam Bam Bigelow was probably the best big guy there. [00:30:00] Speaker C: Oh, he's, he, he's great. He was great. [00:30:03] Speaker A: I loved him. [00:30:06] Speaker C: And super nice. [00:30:09] Speaker A: Yeah. King Kong, Bundy, same way I love Bundy. Oh my God, Bruno. [00:30:15] Speaker C: You know, I, I was the last one to book Bundy in Japan, right? No, I know you didn't know that. I know, but yeah, I was last person ever booked Bundy in Japan and Bundy was a freaking huge star in. [00:30:30] Speaker B: Japan and he was like the world's largest stand up comedian, right? Like, Bundy was like for everything I've been told, like Bundy was hilarious. Like behind the scenes just kept everybody cracking up. [00:30:41] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, he was. [00:30:43] Speaker A: We were in some, some town one day up in New York area, spot show. And I was in the bathroom and I'll never forget, somebody tried to open the bathroom door, but I didn't have the door locked. And Bundy says, hey, leave that door alone. Bruno's in there blowing somebody. Hey, hey, Gene. [00:31:10] Speaker C: Only things that. That the boys would say, say. [00:31:15] Speaker B: Right, right. [00:31:16] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. I mean, so good. [00:31:20] Speaker C: And Bruno puts his hands over his face. [00:31:27] Speaker A: Of course, when anybody in our business dies, we don't like it, even if we didn't care for the guy. But some of them hit us harder than others. You know what I mean? Yeah. And the Bundy one, when he died, it hit me pretty. Pretty good. You know, me and him and Lombardi travel together quite a bit. [00:31:42] Speaker C: It's. It's Bruno, me and Gina talked about this. I mean, me and You've lost so many guys that we care about in this business. People just don't understand or wouldn't understand, would they? [00:31:59] Speaker A: Right? Honestly, I mean. I mean, obviously Tommy and Eddie, of course, but even going past that, Brian Christopher, who was right. [00:32:11] Speaker C: My best friend. [00:32:12] Speaker A: I mean, right? [00:32:13] Speaker C: And rental. [00:32:14] Speaker A: What? [00:32:14] Speaker C: We worked against each other about a year and a half, two years every night. And, I mean, but. And I said, gene, we never even talked about wrestling. I mean, you know what I mean? I mean, we had fun and. And everything. I mean, it was just. I mean, I don't want to get sad here, but we've lost so many people. We've lost so many people. [00:32:38] Speaker A: You know, I want to say this to you, too. I just found this out the other day. I know he wasn't none of our. One of our favorite guys, but you remember Jeff Gaylord? [00:32:49] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:32:50] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know. I didn't even notice till the other day. Somebody said, oh, you ought to check this story out from the Denver newspaper. And I Googled it or whatever. You know, when he died, he was sleeping in a bus shelter in Denver. He was completely homeless and destitute and drugged out and just. He was living in a. When he got out of prison, they put him in a place called the House of Hope that people, you know, they kept you sober and gave you religion and fed you and, you know, you had, like, a little job or whatever. But he kept being drunk and on drugs and everything, so. So they told him he had to leave, and his brother tried to take him in, and he said Jeff wouldn't stay off the stuff. And he literally, you know, his bus shows, like in Memphis. The Mattock is in Denver. It's dad or whatever. Literally. Here's a guy that was a pro football player, a pro wrestler, a collegiate athlete, died as a homeless guy in a. In a bus shelter. I mean, you know, he wasn't our. [00:33:51] Speaker C: Favorite guy, but what else could I say? The only thing, bro, I could never forgive him for jumping on my Brother from the back. And you know, I would never forgive anybody for doing anything with my family, but I mean, I hate for people to pass away, but when you see somebody hitting your brother back of the head and, you know, just. I just can't. [00:34:15] Speaker A: I didn't know about that. I didn't. Illuminate me. I don't know anything about that. [00:34:22] Speaker C: Gene, you'll tell him? [00:34:25] Speaker B: Well, I mean, you know, you know the story better, better than I do. But down in, down in Global or in Dallas, during Global, Jeff jumped Eddie from behind in the dressing room. And now there's a couple of different versions of why he did it, but he, he jumps Eddie. Doug comes in and he's drinking a Coke and a glass bottle, sees this bust Jeff in the face with his glass bottle and just beats him all the way out, out the building. But the story is Jeff claims that some promoter offered him like a thousand dollars to, to jump Eddie because he was mad at Eddie over some, some promoter from up north. I forget what the guy's name is, but nobody really cooperate corroborate if that was true or not. Then he changed the story years later because he tried to say that. [00:35:24] Speaker C: It. [00:35:24] Speaker B: Was all a work, that he didn't really jump Eddie, that they were gonna say he jumped Eddie and they were going to split the money. But then the story came out. I heard that after all that blew over, the next time Eddie saw him, Eddie was like, hey, dummy, you could have just come up and told me some guy was offering you a thousand dollars and we could have worked the scuffle in the dressing room and we could have split the money. Like, why would you attack me from behind? [00:35:47] Speaker A: And Joe, well, see, no wonder I never heard it. I never worked for Global. I didn't know. Damn, that's the first I heard that story. [00:35:53] Speaker B: Yeah, and I'm sure I screwed it all up. [00:35:55] Speaker C: Doug, it was a bad deal, but I mean it. Never talked to him after. [00:36:02] Speaker B: Okay, I didn't figure. But that's like I say, there's a million versions of that story after that. [00:36:07] Speaker C: But Bruno, I walked out of a room and right here's the thing, you know, how much, how Eddie stayed in shape and everything. And me and Eddie just worked about a 35 minute match and I was blowed up as could be. And I sat down and when Eddie was coming back, which I was the heel and Eddie was baby face, and I heard something out in the hall, I heard Eddie's voice. And when I turned the corner, Gator was punching him in the back of the head. And when he did, I grabbed it and pulled him out of the way and busted the bottle right across his eye. And good for you. It busted his eye. But I mean, it's just. I just can't ever give somebody that'd be like, if somebody done something to you, I jump on them, you know. [00:36:52] Speaker A: My friends, you and me's family. Let me tell you something. I. I hate even brought his name up because I didn't know that. But I'm gonna tell you this. My whole point of the story, before I even knew what y' all just told me, was that here's a guy, Gaylord, as you even put that terrible thing he did aside, he wasn't the smartest tool in the shed anyway, if y' all remember, he wasn't very. For a guy that had the potential, the, the body and the, you know, he wasn't a bad looking guy. [00:37:23] Speaker C: He had to look. [00:37:24] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, look. End up homeless in the street. [00:37:27] Speaker B: That's he. He got arrested twice for robbing the same bank. He robbed the same branch of the same bank multiple times and went to prison. Like, how do you rob the same bank more than once? [00:37:41] Speaker A: Did y' all hear how he got arrested the first time? [00:37:45] Speaker B: Please tell it. [00:37:47] Speaker A: Okay. Like here, next to my phone, my desk, I've got notepad, you know, like I wrote down earlier. Right here, like Doug Gilbert, you know, 7:00pm you know, I. I write, you know, I didn't want to forget the. Whatever. So anyways, daylord had a notepad like this next to his phone, and he had wrote on it, give me all your money and nobody gets hurt. And he brought that note to the bank. Well, he did it with a pan. And when the cops came to his apartment or whatever, you could see the indentations of it on the next sheet. That's the true story. [00:38:31] Speaker C: Say, br. I've never heard nothing about any. I mean, I knew rob banks and went to prison, but I never heard any of the stories. [00:38:39] Speaker A: Had you G. Yeah. That's the truth. In. [00:38:42] Speaker B: In recent years, I had, I heard that like, it had made like, you know, you say had those bits on the radio like dumbest criminals and stuff like that, that he had made a bunch of those shows back in the day when all that. [00:38:51] Speaker A: Yeah. I'll tell you another thing. The second time he robbed the same bank after he got a prison for the first one, he had put pillows or something under his shirt and then put a fake beard on to make him look like a big fat guy so they couldn't identify him. [00:39:06] Speaker B: So they wouldn't be looking for him. They'd be looking for some fat, bearded. My ass would have went to jail if I'd have been around there. [00:39:13] Speaker A: Yeah, so what he did was he did all that with the fake, you know, fat thing, whatever. He drove his own effing vehicle with the license plate right there. They just wrote his license plate down. They went to his apartment and got him. They found the freaking beard and the fat suit or whatever it was all in the apartment. He wasn't no Tony Soprano, that's for sure. [00:39:39] Speaker B: No, no. [00:39:40] Speaker C: Hey, I think we've talked about him. [00:39:42] Speaker B: All right, We. We spent enough time dunking on Jeff Gaylord. We'll. We'll move on. [00:39:46] Speaker D: Hey, guys, Ray Russell here, curator of the Wrestlecopia Podcast Network, inviting you guys to listen to many of the programs here as part of the Wrestlecopia brand, including but not limited to the Wrestling Memory Grenade, currently covering the 1988 in the WWF project. You can also listen to the regional wrestling podcast where we talk the territories, whether it's Jamie Ward with Georgia 81, Roman Gomez with the UWF in 1986, or Gene Jackson covering Memphis in 85. Three projects going on right now over there at regional wrestling. You can also listen to the Wrestling Stoop with the legend himself, Bob Roop. Bob goes back in time each and every week, covering not just his career, but countless stories and interactions with hundreds of wrestling names spanning his two decades in the business. But that's not all. You can also check out the Puro Wrestling Academy with the professor of Puru, Mr. Dan Guene. Dan and I go back in time and cover the history of Japanese professional wrestling in the English language, and you can listen to all of those shows and more. All part of the Wrestlecopia Podcast Network located [email protected] that's wrestlecopia.com and and anywhere your podcast streaming needs are met, from Apple to Spotify, Pocket Cast and beyond. And while you're at it, why not subscribe to our social media guys for all the latest goings on here at the Wrestlecopia Podcast Network. Plus, I'm constantly adding old school video clips and pictures from throughout wrestling history. You can follow us over on X formerly Twitter @WrestlingGrenade, that's @Rassli and Grenade. Also follow and like me Facebook.com SL Wrassing Grenade. And why not subscribe to YouTube.com Wrestling Grenade. So if you're looking to support that next upand cominging podcast brand, please consider making it wrestlecopia Speaking of, Speaking of. [00:41:40] Speaker B: Guys we lost, not, not to make this a sad thing, but me and Doug has talked about this, this gentleman at least, at least once during one of our episodes. But he's a guy that, that you worked with and that I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the times you guys work together. Scott Bowden. What's of your memories of working with Scott Bowden, Bruno? [00:41:57] Speaker A: Well, I mean, I'm nothing against him as a person, but as far as they had me wrestling here in the ring a lot of times now I'm not no damn Gilbert or Shawn Michaels, but I know what the hell I'm doing with my limitations. I've had easier bar fights. Here's a guy that can't work. Couldn't work. [00:42:24] Speaker C: Bruno, that was when you was a baby face, right? [00:42:28] Speaker A: Yeah, I was the baby face, yes. Working with Scott Bowden. Jesus Christ. That made working with Howard Finkel almost like the ring with dad. Come. You know, I don't, you know, Bret Hart, you know, Scott Bowden. God. And it's a sad thing because his sister died of a drug overdose and he was always anti drug. I'm against drugs. I hate drugs. Then he moved to Los Angeles to become a Hollywood script writer or something and died of drugs. That's, that's what's a sad thing. Wasn't it cocaine overdose? [00:43:03] Speaker C: Cocaine or fentanyl or something, which, I mean, you know, Bramble, you managed me and Eddie and Scott did also and everything and, and I mean, me and Jeans talked before about the different styles and everything, but man, it just. When I heard that about the, the him dying, I just couldn't believe it because he was always the straight guy and everything. [00:43:30] Speaker A: That's what I thought too. That's what really shocked me. And don't get me wrong, I didn't dislike him. I just liked working with him, but I didn't dislike him. He was, he was a sharp guy, you know, I liked him, okay? [00:43:43] Speaker C: That's what I told Gene. He was a really smart guy and, and everything. I mean, I mean, he was really smart, but he would try to. I told Gene that they would tell him not to do something at times and he'd do it anyway and, and they'd fire him and then they'd bring him back a few weeks later. [00:44:01] Speaker A: Yeah, exactly. [00:44:02] Speaker C: Well, but, but I mean, when you don't have to pay some. When you don't have to pay some. Somebody something, it's, you know, it's easy to bring them back. [00:44:12] Speaker A: Right, right, right. But I mean, yeah, that angle I worked with him went on and on. I was like, jesus Christ, what. What are y' all trying to do to me? Because, I mean, it couldn't work. He would punch me in the ear or hit me. I mean, God, it was just awful. Awful. But I mean, it's not blessing for me. [00:44:34] Speaker C: He must have never had anybody tell him the stories that my dad and brother, when they trained to me. No ears, no nose, no mouth and everything. But I mean, that. That's the guys that couldn't work. If you could work, you could do that. But I mean, not right here, but everything else. But I mean, now, you know, I'll tell you. [00:44:52] Speaker A: Talk about that years ago. I'm gonna tell y'. All, this is. If you remember this, Doug. I don't think you were in the business yet, but you. I'm sure you was watching it. Remember, they had. There was a guy named Jerry Bryant, Emily Arthur, to work with me. You remember that? [00:45:08] Speaker B: Yes. [00:45:09] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:45:09] Speaker C: And Reynold, you know. You know, who broke in with Jerry Bryant, who trained together with Jerry Bryant. Jerry Lawler had a. Jerry Lawler had a guy, which was Jerry Bryant and Jerry Jarrett had a guy. And you don't know who that guy was? [00:45:26] Speaker A: No. [00:45:27] Speaker C: Tommy Rich. [00:45:28] Speaker A: Oh, really? Okay. [00:45:30] Speaker C: That they. They trained together and broke in at the same time. [00:45:34] Speaker A: Okay, but. [00:45:35] Speaker C: But right. Jerry Bryant was Lawler's guy and Tommy Rich was Jerry. Jerry's guy. [00:45:41] Speaker A: Okay. But yeah, Brian was a good worker, a good guy. [00:45:44] Speaker C: Oh, yeah. Hey, hey. My dad loved him too. Bruno, say it again. I said, my dad loved Jerry Bryant. [00:45:53] Speaker A: Oh, it was a great guy, great guy. But he brought in this girl named Emily Arthur. Good looking girl. They did a deal where they pretend she was out of the audience. They're picking somebody to wrestle me. So they taught her a little, few different moves, would have our match, whatever, but she couldn't work. Now, people that can't work, and I mean. So we're in Jonesboro one night and I'm supposed to go over. She put her knees in my. Right in my shoulder sockets and I couldn't kick out. And they had to count me out. 1, 2, 3. So we got Marlin and them got all over me. You don't ever. And I didn't know they were ribbing me on the square. Hey, you can't let some girl beat you. Let me tell you. You're in Nashville with her tonight. We're gonna tell her she's going over. You're gonna beat her. You get in the ring, just pin her and blah, blah, blah. So anyway, we get up to Nashville that night. Calhoun was there refereeing in Nashville that night for. Probably because Lawler was on the card front. [00:46:59] Speaker C: Exactly. [00:47:00] Speaker A: So we're in there, I'm wrestling the girl and call goes, Jesus Christ. What are you supposed to beat her? Just beat her? I says, calhoun, I can't. I kept trying to, I said it. I'm just gonna laid out. I could not beat this girl. She wasn't a mean girl or nothing. She just didn't know how to work and she freaking beat me two nights in a row. [00:47:29] Speaker B: Oh, that's fun in those days. Like to what extent? Like somebody like that, they're kind of bringing in peripherally like that. Like, to what extent did they get smartened up and trained for that matter, little or none. [00:47:43] Speaker C: Well, I was fixed to say Brenda. What did you say her name was? Emily Arthur. Huh? [00:47:49] Speaker A: Yeah, Emily Arthur. [00:47:50] Speaker C: And she, she hadn't been trained anyhow. [00:47:53] Speaker A: Well, I'm sure Brian showed her how to do something or whatever. [00:47:59] Speaker B: He worked on some pen maneuvers with her, I'm sure. But. [00:48:04] Speaker A: But you know, she's. [00:48:05] Speaker B: But yeah, you guys stuck with a lot of people like that, right? [00:48:08] Speaker C: What? [00:48:08] Speaker A: Yeah, what about what? [00:48:10] Speaker C: What other women did you work with, Bruno? [00:48:14] Speaker A: Stacy, of course. Lawler's third wife, Ms. Jacqueline Moore. [00:48:25] Speaker C: Now, now, that had to be a rough match, didn't it? [00:48:29] Speaker A: Jesus Christ. I used to say to her, are you freaking mad at me or something? What have I done? Jesus Christ. It's a work I'll sell for you. And I don't like to use the F words. I won't use it, but y' all know what I mean. I just thought all reason I got this business is because it was, you know what I'm saying? I mean, talk about somebody stiff and snug. You don't have to make me sell. You don't have to. I know how to sell. That's one thing I do know how to do is sell. You don't have to beat the shit out of me. I worked with Doug, like Alundra Blaze, I loved her, she was great, you know, Medusa, you know, she was good to me in the ring. We always got along. Really. [00:49:11] Speaker C: Bruno, you know, that was my sister in law for a while, right? [00:49:18] Speaker A: Well, I know, and I'm gonna tell you, Doug, and this is a little sad, but I have to. I'm the one that told her about Eddie's passing. We were in Birmingham, Alabama for wwf. [00:49:33] Speaker C: Is that right about. [00:49:34] Speaker A: Well, auditorium that day. And I'm the one that, you know, because obviously being a Memphis guy. I'm the one that got the messages about our dear Eddie's passing. When she came in, I knew that she was married to him at one point, and I'm the one that broke it to her. Even though they weren't together no more, she still cared for him. It wasn't no hateful thing. You would know more than me, but I don't think it was no hateful thing. It was just. They didn't work out basically. [00:50:07] Speaker C: Right. Well, I mean, what does in the wrestling business as far as guys and women that marry? I mean, there's very seldom that. And, and two, when a guy's a booker like Edie is and the women are in the business, you know what I'm saying? That's where I think that's the. The cross is. But, but I mean, she was always good to me, Bruno. We go like when Global was going in Dallas, me and her getting ring and work and she worked like a man. I mean, I mean, me and her would do spots like, you know, I mean, she done all Japanese stuff and I went to Japan and everything and man, she was real cool to me always. She was my favorite of and his wives. [00:50:55] Speaker B: And she was hugely over in Japan, right? [00:50:58] Speaker C: Oh, she was over. She was like the most over woman in Japan, right? [00:51:05] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:51:07] Speaker C: Hey, let's talk about something Happy now? What else you got Gene for Bruno? [00:51:13] Speaker B: All right, well, since we. Since we brought up Alundra Blaze, I've had people tell me whenever you talk to Bruno, they want to hear your stories about managing bera Fay in WWF. [00:51:24] Speaker A: How was that Bertha Faye 100 negative. God bless her. She's no longer with us. [00:51:36] Speaker C: Was that Bertha F. Was that. That was the one that I was with in Puerto Rico. [00:51:40] Speaker A: Wasn't. [00:51:40] Speaker C: Wasn't she the big woman? [00:51:42] Speaker A: No, she wasn't from Puerto Rico. She's from Calgary. [00:51:45] Speaker C: Yes, she was from Calgary, but I worked with her. She grew up, was in Puerto Rico with. With me, I think. [00:51:51] Speaker A: Oh, you was? Okay. I didn't know. I didn't know she was there. I didn't know. Yeah. [00:51:56] Speaker C: And what else did she work. Hey, what else did. Did she work by, for some reason, Ripper. [00:52:02] Speaker A: Ripper sing or something like that? [00:52:04] Speaker C: Yeah, yeah, yeah, something. But they put her with me in Puerto Rico and I thought, oh my God. And. And the biggest real was Tony Anthony and. And Bradley was the Hollywood Blondes. And they would tell her that she needed to tell me stuff because I always like for people to tell me stuff. And we'd be at the ring and she'd be hollering stuff at me at the ring and I thought, what is this woman doing? And then we'd go the back and she'd start doing it again. And I told them guys, I said, what's wrong with this woman? And they was telling her to do it. What a freaking rib on me. [00:52:42] Speaker B: That was always so funny to me. The dirty white boy is a Hollywood blonde down there is good stuff. [00:52:47] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, and they drew money. I mean, and Bruno knows Brian Lee real well. I mean, and Bruno, have you heard from Brian Lee or know where he's at or anything? [00:53:00] Speaker A: No, I don't have a clue. I've had several people ask me even at the other day at that thing in Jackson. I don't know whatever happened to him. [00:53:09] Speaker C: Well, he had a stroke and I didn't know that. And hear a while back, Jim, did you hear that? [00:53:15] Speaker B: Yeah. What was it, about three months ago? [00:53:17] Speaker C: Yeah, about three months ago he had stroke. [00:53:19] Speaker A: I'd like to. [00:53:20] Speaker C: I mean, I always like Brian. He was always cool to me. Would you like me too? [00:53:24] Speaker A: Well, I was in Alabama with him too. I forgot to mention him when we were there. He was part of the crew. I mean, he was, he was like a smart ass guy, but in a good way, you know, like it was a funny. [00:53:35] Speaker C: Yeah, well, that, and you're right, he. He was, was kind of like that, but it was kind of like ribbon, I think Bruno, that's why the way I took it anyway. But I mean like. [00:53:45] Speaker A: Oh, yeah, he wasn't a dick, he was a smart ass. [00:53:48] Speaker C: Yeah. Kind of like a little air to him or something like that. [00:53:52] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I always got along real good with him. Yeah, I hate him. Stroke. He's younger than us. [00:53:59] Speaker C: Oh, you ain't kidding. And, and the, the funny thing, he had a Rock Wilder. You remember the rottweiler he had? He, he'd bring the rottweiler to the matches and in Nashville he tell that. I could forget what his name was, but he tell the dog watch me. And the dog would just, would just look at me and growl. And I was scared to move. I thought, oh my God, I was gonna kill me. [00:54:22] Speaker A: I don't remember that. I swear I don't. I'll be damn. You know who else was a damn good guy? Lot of people don't like him, but I always did was Scott Steiner. [00:54:34] Speaker C: Oh, Scott was always really nice to me, which, I mean, you know, 80 was one. Hey, you know, 80 was one that brought him to WCW. [00:54:43] Speaker A: Oh, Eddie brought him to WCW too. [00:54:45] Speaker C: Yeah. [00:54:47] Speaker A: Oh, Good. I remember Scott Steiner like the killed. Now, this guy was a prick and I'm sorry, I have to say, he might have been your friend. I don't know, Scott sounded like the kill. Gary Young. One night in the rain. Gary Young, Remember Gary Young? [00:55:05] Speaker C: Gorgeous Gary Young, Yeah. [00:55:09] Speaker A: He was a prick with a capital P. I'm sorry. He was a guy that would rib you in shitty ways. He's a guy that would be cocky and arrogant. I mean, he was a prick. He was a prick. I can't stress it enough. He's the one that would a rib is Doug's in the shower. I had one of his shoes or something. Gary Young would like, you know, put Ben Gay in your underwear or, or, or throw your shoes in the toilet or, you know, whatever. Right. It wasn't funny, right? He was. Well, he told me one night, go Scott Steiner, he needs out of work. So Scott Steiner said, don't tell Gary Young he's learned how to shoot. He tied him up like a dead gum pretzel. Almost killed him. [00:56:01] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:56:02] Speaker A: I mean, Gary Young was always jerk. Why do you have to be mean to people? He was just a jerk. [00:56:10] Speaker C: You don't have to and you shouldn't be. [00:56:13] Speaker A: Right? There was no reason for it. Well, he, he told me, go tell Scott Steiner, learn how to work. Scott says, go tell him to learn how to shoot and then come to me. Why the hell did you tell him that? Because you told me to tell him that. Aio Sato, one of my dearest friends in the business. KTO said, Gary Young, you mess with my friend Bruno, that means you mess with me. He leave him alone. You in the wrong. And that was it. Hey tells you that that's it, Bruno. [00:56:49] Speaker C: I love Aio Sato. I, I went to Japan with him about 20 times. [00:56:55] Speaker A: What a great guy. [00:56:57] Speaker C: Oh, oh, great. I mean, I mean, intelligent, a smart guy. And he still, he lived in Kansas City or something. Rap brand. [00:57:06] Speaker A: Yeah. Kansas City. Yeah. [00:57:10] Speaker C: It's funny how many, how many of those guys stayed there. [00:57:13] Speaker A: Yeah. And I'm gonna tell you, Tato's the one that gave me the, the little gimmick. You know, I'm downtown Bruno. He's the one that gave me Downtown good looking Bruno that one day we were doing. For some reason I was man me and told you I was co managing him and somebody I was partners with. It might have been Hickerson, I don't remember, remember. [00:57:35] Speaker C: And right. [00:57:35] Speaker A: We all were doing our interview and Sato goes, yes, I'd be at ring with Downtown good looking Bruno. I never forgot that. I've been using it ever since. [00:57:46] Speaker C: Can't beat that. [00:57:48] Speaker A: Yeah, I love Sato. Love the Sato. [00:57:53] Speaker C: Hey, Bruno, me and Gina will know that who. Who's making your chicken that you're eating during the show? [00:58:01] Speaker A: Oh, I don't make them out. No. There's a place here in Walls called Old School Hot Wings. [00:58:06] Speaker B: There you go. [00:58:07] Speaker A: My Chicken Wings. Walls, Mississippi Go to Old School Hot Wings on Highway 61 and tell them downtown Bruno sent you. [00:58:18] Speaker C: I got you good deal. [00:58:19] Speaker A: We'll do that. [00:58:20] Speaker C: Hell, I'll just come and get you. Me and you're going. [00:58:22] Speaker B: For everybody listening Doug in downtown Bruno are going to be be a part of the show me showdown throwdown on Saturday, October 12th at the American Legion building. Not only is Doug and Bruno going to be there, but Ricky Morton and the King Jerry Lawler is going to be there as well. Guys, that should be a good one. [00:58:42] Speaker A: Shoot. [00:58:43] Speaker C: It'll be. [00:58:43] Speaker A: Yeah, it's gonna be great. I can't wait to hang out again with my good friend and. And meet all the fans. So. Yeah, it's October 12th, Kennet, Missouri. The old American Legion building that we used to be there for the USWA. Hey, that's a big deal. And then October 19th, me and Doug and the rest of the Memphis legendary crew is going to be at the Liberty Bowl Stadium for the Simmons Simmons Liberty Bow Stadium for before the Memphis State or the University of Memphis football game against the University of North Texas. We're going to have a meet and greet and matches before the big football game where we're going to root Memphis State University of Memphis. [00:59:27] Speaker C: Hey, Bruno. Tiger Lane. The. The ring will be set up on Tiger Lane. So we'll be right. You'll be there, I'll be there. The King will be there. Tommy Rich will be there. There's gonna be a lot of guys from the past to be there. And. And last year it was great and I'm figuring this year it'll be even better. [00:59:49] Speaker A: I love meeting people at these conventions. It's wonderful. This convention this past weekend with Randy Hales and all of us. I give Randy thumbs up. He did a great job. Great, great job. It was a wonderful weekend. As Ewan. Right? [01:00:11] Speaker C: Br. [01:00:11] Speaker A: What about. Right. [01:00:14] Speaker C: What about D. Danny Davis? What about getting to see Danny Davis? What. What about getting. Getting to see. What about getting to see Tony? Well, I mean, yeah, Tony and everybody, but I was trying to think of Dean Hill, the. Remember the announcer at Louisville Gardens? Dean Hill? [01:00:33] Speaker A: Bruno. Yeah, Dean Hill. I didn't even recognize it because he shaved off his mustache. [01:00:36] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:00:37] Speaker A: Oh, I love. [01:00:38] Speaker C: I love. [01:00:38] Speaker B: I bet I walked past him a bunch of times. I didn't know it without the mustache. [01:00:41] Speaker C: Did you not see him? [01:00:42] Speaker B: No, I didn't know he was there. [01:00:44] Speaker C: Yeah, I tried to get him to come in the back and he wouldn't. [01:00:49] Speaker A: Oh, my God. He's a really good guy. And we seen Pat Rose. We seen. Which Pat Rose. You know, somebody went see in years. Of course, Tom Pritcher. We're all friends with him. [01:01:01] Speaker C: Right? [01:01:01] Speaker A: Just Coco. Beware Reggie. Yeah, yeah. [01:01:12] Speaker C: All the guys we traveled with and. And work with. Bruno, that was so cool. That. That's so cool to me. I mean, and everything. But like I said, Dean Hill. I love Dean Hill in Louisville was like, kind of my. I mean, I love little. The Little Garden. [01:01:28] Speaker A: Yeah, Bruno. [01:01:30] Speaker C: I mean, I love the. [01:01:31] Speaker A: Oh, my God. But you know what? My two favorite places, besides the Coliseum, of course. Louisville International, you know. Right. Evansville, you know. [01:01:41] Speaker C: Yeah. [01:01:44] Speaker A: Louisville and Nashville were always the hottest. That gum. [01:01:48] Speaker C: Hey, Gene started to laugh because I kind of said the same thing on episode four, and I felt bad about it and everything. [01:01:57] Speaker B: He said, you can't put that out, Gene. I can't say nothing bad about Evansville. And I said, all right, we'll just let Bruno do it when he comes home. [01:02:05] Speaker A: I mean, I think the reason they gave us our paychecks on Wednesdays in Evansville. So show up. [01:02:15] Speaker C: But anyway. [01:02:15] Speaker A: Hey. [01:02:16] Speaker C: Hey, Jean. [01:02:17] Speaker A: What? [01:02:17] Speaker C: Have you got some more questions you'd like to ask Bruno? [01:02:21] Speaker B: Well, you know, we'll have Bruno on again. You know, we're. We're about to our limit of where we usually try to end these, so we'll. We'll cut this one off. But we talked about where you guys are going to be, and you guys will get to hang out again soon. [01:02:33] Speaker C: And, and, and, and like you said, Bruno, we might just stop by your place one day. I'll call you and stop by and take a tour around your museum, buddy. [01:02:44] Speaker A: You're always welcome, you know, your family. Doug, I'll give you a key to my house. [01:02:49] Speaker C: I know you would, but anyway. Hey, bro, we love you, man. And I sure appreciate you agreeing to come on here with us. And, you know, if you ever need anything, holler at me. [01:03:00] Speaker A: I had a blast. Hey, and the $5,000 y' all are giving me has nothing to do with it. It's strictly because I know. [01:03:06] Speaker B: Hey, Fab. [01:03:08] Speaker C: Not a thing to do with it right now. Now we have to pay everybody 6,000. [01:03:12] Speaker B: Yeah, I was gonna say don't go putting that out there because Tommy. Tommy's gonna call us and go, hey, wait a minute. [01:03:17] Speaker A: Yeah, there you go. [01:03:19] Speaker C: But anyway. [01:03:21] Speaker A: You call me tomorrow and I'll do your USWA podcast. [01:03:25] Speaker B: Awesome. I will, man. I sure will. [01:03:29] Speaker A: Hey, love both y'. All. God bless you and stay in touch. [01:03:34] Speaker B: Love you too, buddy. We'll talk to you soon. [01:03:36] Speaker A: Hey, one more thing. You know I can't end a podcast without saying this. [01:03:42] Speaker C: You say it. [01:03:43] Speaker A: It's like Mama says it. Be that way sometimes. [01:03:49] Speaker C: You're the man, Bruno. [01:03:58] Speaker B: Now, by the way, before we get out of here, I just want to let everybody know if you have an upcoming wrestling event, autograph signing, collector's show, Comic Con, or any event or booking that you would like to inquire about the services of Dangerous Doug Gilbert and or Tommy Wildfire Rich, just send us an email at Doug Gilbert podcastoutlook.com and someone will get back to you as soon as possible to find out more information about your event and we'll do our best to make that happen for you. Also, if you're interested in advertising your event, business or product to the listeners of Dangerous Conversations with Dangerous Doug Gilbert, as well as across all our social media platforms, you can send in those inquiries to Doug gilbert [email protected] as well and we'll get back to you about trying to make that happen. Also. So Remember, check out douggilbertpodcast.com there you can find links to all things related to this podcast and Doug himself. There are links to the Dangerous Conversations Facebook page where we we post all sorts of great content regularly involving Doug and his whole family. We've got the Dangerous Conversations X formerly known as Twitter. Plus we've got the Dangerous Doug Gilbert Facebook and X pages as well where you can keep up with everything Doug has on going on personally, like upcoming shows, signings, conventions, you name it. You can keep up with all of it by following Doug on social media. He appreciates the support. And if you really want to show your support, check out the Gilbert Family Pro Wrestling Tees Store featuring a tremendous array of T shirts featuring Doug, Eddie and their father, the late great Tommy Gilbert as well. And if you've enjoyed the show that you just listened to, please subscribe, rate and review the show on whatever platform you're listening to it at. We greatly appreciate it helps a lot towards building up the podcast in the future. And if you want to just not hear about the Gilbert family, if you want to actually see their matches, promos and angles from over the years, you can check out the YouTube channel at Retro Wrestling Archive. That's YouTube.com Retro WrestlingArchive. But you don't have to remember that. All you got to remember is Doug Gilbertpodcast.com and there's a tons of matches featuring Doug and Eddie and Tommy Gilbert and Tommy Wildfire Rich that you heard on this podcast. There's a whole playlist of his matches as well. You can just go and check out the playlist for everybody. Plus there's tons and tons of old school Wrestling. Com content. Plus almost every episode of USWA Championship Wrestling from 1990 through the end of 1997. Plus multiple years of the CWA Memphis Wrestling throughout the 80s. So make sure you check all that out over at the YouTube page. Plus don't forget you can find all things related to my popular retro wrestling review uswa [email protected] and last but certainly not least, we are proud to be a part of the Russell Copia Podcast Network. Going over to wrestlecopia.com to check out all the great pro wrestling related podcasts and other content that our friend Ray Russell provides over there. You'll be glad you did and we will catch you here next week for another episode of Dangerous Conversations with Dangerous Doug Gilbert. [01:07:28] Speaker C: This is Wrestling Nostalgia, the podcast that dives into wrestling history. Hey wrestling fans, I'm Dave Dynasty and if you enjoy podcasts that are knowledgeable and history driven, then Wrestling Nostalgia Nostalgia is for you with great guests and fun interviews. There are over 200 episodes in our archives. We chat with several first time guests and often cover topics not discussed on other podcasts. Look up Wrestling Nostalgia on your favorite podcast platform and visit all of our links at linktree wrassellpod I.e. l I n k t r dot e e slash r a s S L E O Go deep and remember wherever you go, whatever you do, be good, be safe and keep on growing.