Pepper Gomez was my first wrestling hero in the early 60s. The humble promos, the cast-iron stomach- loved it! He and Ray Stevens had a series of death matches at the Cow Palace that drew big, big money...
Dick the Bruiser was a god in Indiana one of the biggest draws of all time, for some reason his legacy is not as remembered as it should be by the wrestling press.
Many years ago Pepper Gomez took on Mr. Fuji. During the battle while the ref was distracted Fuji pulled out a a bag of salt from his trunks and threw it in Gomez' face and thus getting the victory. Afterward the interviewer asked Fuji why he threw the salt in Gomez' face to which Fuji replied "Because if his name was Salt Gomez I would've thrown pepper!" And thus salt became Fuji's favorite weapon.
Just came across this video was looking up some old stuff. My Pop use to play football in the late 50's and became friends with Mr. Afflis. I can tell you first hand this guy was tough as nails!! Great looking at this stuff made some old memories come alive! R.I. P
Dick The Bruiser will forever remain legendary in Detroit for both wrestling reasons and the bar fight with Detroit Lions All-Pro Alex Karras at the Lindell A.C.
Alex managed not to get hurt. However, The Bruiser beat the hell out of several Detroit cops, and a few of them ended up suing Afflis. The bar patrons were hitting Dick with pool cues among other things. Alex at the time was a partner in the Lindell and wrestling. This incident was in April 1963 which was the year Karras was suspended for gambling.
Alex probably put on weight for wrestling. He was a little bit undersized for playing Defensive Tackle even back then weighing just under 250 lbs. Alex ended up wrestling Dick The Bruiser a few nights after the brawl at Olympia Stadium. Supposedly, Afflis was angry at Karras because Alex referred to the Bruiser as a "3rd rate football player". Dick was no star with the Packers in the 50's so it was true, but Afflis was probably the dirtiest player in the league at the time.
I remember having heard about this incident. My dad was a Det News guy, and it did happen. The Bruiser is the last guy I would "get going", so I side with him on this one. Karras? Love him, but no one should have messed with Dick the Bruiser, if so, see a psychiatrist immediately, because you are suicidal.
The sad part about Chilis Top 250 now that we are down to one last entry (has to Be Flair) is the Bruiser will not be on the list at all. I grew up watching him in the early 70's- he was my favorite. Sure he was beyond his prime by the 80's but he was still dominating the box office in the 70's. To include the Crusher and ignore the Bruiser...maybe Chili was the kid whose birthday cake Bruiser smashed when he was a heel.
If there were ever anyone man I tried to pattern my wrestling after that was Dick "the Bruiser" He was my Mentor My hero my friend..... Love you my brother I'll see you at the great match in the sky
Ref is the biggest fat ass on tv
wingfoot48 3 weeks ago
I saw Dick the Bruiser in Brown County Indiana, Brown co. High.
csizemore65 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
this is great film
imadman65 3 months ago in playlist Dick The Bruiser
So much better than today's crap.
clovisman 6 months ago
Pepper Gomez was my first wrestling hero in the early 60s. The humble promos, the cast-iron stomach- loved it! He and Ray Stevens had a series of death matches at the Cow Palace that drew big, big money...
andyr1313 7 months ago
Dick the Bruiser was a god in Indiana one of the biggest draws of all time, for some reason his legacy is not as remembered as it should be by the wrestling press.
Murphdogg4 8 months ago
pepper was at the sam houston coleseum many times
maniacmarklewin52 1 year ago
Dick Apples? Dick Apples? Who the hell is Dick Apples? The Man names was Dick Afflis.
MrMKH2010 1 year ago
Many years ago Pepper Gomez took on Mr. Fuji. During the battle while the ref was distracted Fuji pulled out a a bag of salt from his trunks and threw it in Gomez' face and thus getting the victory. Afterward the interviewer asked Fuji why he threw the salt in Gomez' face to which Fuji replied "Because if his name was Salt Gomez I would've thrown pepper!" And thus salt became Fuji's favorite weapon.
FerretJohn 1 year ago
This is a great match! WOW!!! Dick the Bruiser was one tough man. Pepper was fantastic as well. Thanks!
RangerRob2009 2 years ago
Just came across this video was looking up some old stuff. My Pop use to play football in the late 50's and became friends with Mr. Afflis. I can tell you first hand this guy was tough as nails!! Great looking at this stuff made some old memories come alive! R.I. P
DR
Dionysis62 2 years ago 2
I was born in '71 but, still remember when wrestling was like ths. How I wished it was like this again.
CadillacL 2 years ago 4
I saw Dick The Bruiser many times at the Indiana, Fairgrounds Coliseum back in the 1960s. It was always great entertainment. He's one of a kind.
battleground51 2 years ago 4
Dick The Bruiser will forever remain legendary in Detroit for both wrestling reasons and the bar fight with Detroit Lions All-Pro Alex Karras at the Lindell A.C.
mcparla1 2 years ago 6
who won that fight?
outbackdakota 2 years ago
Alex managed not to get hurt. However, The Bruiser beat the hell out of several Detroit cops, and a few of them ended up suing Afflis. The bar patrons were hitting Dick with pool cues among other things. Alex at the time was a partner in the Lindell and wrestling. This incident was in April 1963 which was the year Karras was suspended for gambling.
mcparla1 2 years ago 8
Thank you for that reply. Karras was a big fellow himself. The Bruiser was something else. I saw him wrestle as Bruno Sammartino's partner years ago.
outbackdakota 2 years ago 3
Alex probably put on weight for wrestling. He was a little bit undersized for playing Defensive Tackle even back then weighing just under 250 lbs. Alex ended up wrestling Dick The Bruiser a few nights after the brawl at Olympia Stadium. Supposedly, Afflis was angry at Karras because Alex referred to the Bruiser as a "3rd rate football player". Dick was no star with the Packers in the 50's so it was true, but Afflis was probably the dirtiest player in the league at the time.
mcparla1 2 years ago 4
@outbackdakota, that's when they were W.W.A. Tag Team champions (the W.W.A. was Dick The Bruiser's promotion).
vividwatch47 2 years ago
I remember having heard about this incident. My dad was a Det News guy, and it did happen. The Bruiser is the last guy I would "get going", so I side with him on this one. Karras? Love him, but no one should have messed with Dick the Bruiser, if so, see a psychiatrist immediately, because you are suicidal.
teden20 2 years ago 4
Bruiser, of course. 7 vops injured trying to subdue him.
BaronTurco 2 years ago
Pepper Gomez owns a victory over the Nature Boy Ric Flair
WOOOOOO!
ECWnWWF 2 years ago
The immortal Dick The Bruiser and the underratred Pepper Gomez were tough, very, very tough. 5 stars.
lumpagogo 2 years ago 3
This is an old time wrestling match! Great! Look at the shape of Dick.
TonySpargo 2 years ago
The sad part about Chilis Top 250 now that we are down to one last entry (has to Be Flair) is the Bruiser will not be on the list at all. I grew up watching him in the early 70's- he was my favorite. Sure he was beyond his prime by the 80's but he was still dominating the box office in the 70's. To include the Crusher and ignore the Bruiser...maybe Chili was the kid whose birthday cake Bruiser smashed when he was a heel.
LJARSONBECK 2 years ago 2
Remember Gomez and his "cast iron" stomach? : ) This match does show the style of the Bruiser, hair pulling, punches, kicks and stomps!!
Oldbluehere 3 years ago
jajaja goog pin
conbusken2007 3 years ago
Fantastic stuff. What city & what year? If I had to guess I'd say Chicago circa 1962?
woodyt56 3 years ago
I think I heard it was Philadelphia somewhere in there. Not sure on the year, but it had to be around that time or even earlier
jswags 3 years ago
Great stuff, thanks for the post!!!!
brizilla72 3 years ago
If there were ever anyone man I tried to pattern my wrestling after that was Dick "the Bruiser" He was my Mentor My hero my friend..... Love you my brother I'll see you at the great match in the sky
JESSEJAMESTURNER 3 years ago