Dick the Bruiser Death – Internal Bleeding
Dick the Bruiser (left) – Dead at 62 after suffering internal bleeding.
1929-1991 (Age 62)
Richard Afflis earned his nickname “The Bruiser” while playing professional football, but he would become better known in the world of professional wrestling as “Dick the Bruiser,” a gravely-voiced fire hydrant who well, bruised his opponents.
Dick the Bruiser was a regular star in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as well as his own promotion, the World Wrestling Association (WWA).
Long before “Stone Cold” Steve Austin entertained fans with his beer-drinking and brawling, there was Dick the Bruiser, a cigar-smoking, beer-drinking roughneck. Whether he wrestled in singles action, or in his famous team with the Crusher, Dick the Bruiser entertained wrestling fans wherever he laced up a pair of boots.
From Green Bay Packer to Midwest Mauler
Dick the Bruiser and his tag team partner Crusher Lisowski
The future wrestling legend developed a reputation for roughing up opponents on the gridiron, playing college football for Purdue and Nevada. During the early 1950’s, Afflis played as an offensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers where his propensity for punishing opponents earned him the nickname, “The Bruiser.”
Afflis injured his esophagus during his football career, resulting in his trademark gravelly voice.
Afflis eventually jumped to wrestling. The move paid off both figuratively and literally. Afflis became a wrestling sensation, rivaling Buddy Rogers as wrestling’s top heel.
Dick the Bruiser was known for his toughness and brawling style, along with his determination to steamroll over all opponents. Bruiser won the National Wrestling Alliance’s Detroit version of the United States Championship on multiple occasions.
Although he wrestled as a heel, Bruiser had his share of fans. Similar to how Steve Austin got himself over in the late 90s, some wrestling fans couldn’t help but admire the one-of-a-kind no-nonsense brawler. Over time, the Bruiser became a celebrity in the Midwest.
A heel who was rivaled by very few: Dick the Bruiser
A One-Man Army
Dick the Bruiser was a natural heel with his gravely voice, burly body, and ability to administer and receive tremendous amounts of punishment. Unfortunately, the Bruiser’s temper and lack of restraint got him into trouble from time to time.
One such incident occurred in Capitol Wrestling (the precursor to the WWWF) at Madison Square Garden. On November 20, 1957, Dick the Bruiser teamed with Dr. Jerry Graham to take on the beloved babyface duo of Antonino Rocca and Edouard Carpentier. The two heels (particularly the Bruiser) enraged the Garden fans by beating the babyfaces mercilessly. Finally, the fans could stand no more and a full-scale riot broke out.
Reportedly, over 300 people were hurt, including law enforcement.
Needless to say, the New York State Athletic Commission was upset and Capitol Wrestling nearly got kicked out of the Garden. The Commission imposed several punishments, one of which was banning Dick the Bruiser from New York indefinitely. Undaunted, Bruiser became involved in another infamous incident several years later.
One of Dick the Bruiser’s regular opponents, Dusty Rhodes.
In 1963, Dick the Bruiser was involved in an angle with NFL star Alex Karras to set up a match between the two. Dick the Bruiser was supposed to brawl with Karras at Lindell’s Bar, a drinking establishment co-owned by Karras and the Butsicaris brothers. What was supposed to be a worked shoot turned into a real-life donnybrook when one of the Butsicaris boys’ uncles attacked Dick the Bruiser, unaware the event was staged. Dick the Bruiser proceeded to destroy the bar as well a number of police officers who showed up to the melee. In the end, eight officers subdued Dick the Bruiser. The Bruiser/Karras match was held with Dick the Bruiser prevailing. Unfortunately for the Bruiser, whatever profits he made from the match had to cover the $50,000 in damages for the two policemen he injured.
Singles and Tag Team Success
In 1964 Dick the Bruiser and Wilbur Snyder purchased the NWA’s Indianapolis promotion, renaming it the World Wrestling Association (WWA). The WWA shared talent with Verne Gagne’s AWA and the WWA continued operations until 1989. The WWA featured a number of wrestling’s top stars as well as future stars such as Scott Steiner and Al Snow.
Dick the Bruiser worked in the AWA, battling the promotion’s Verne Gagne as well as a variety of other babyfaces.
The Bruiser won the promotion’s World Heavyweight Championship, defeating “Mad Dog” Vachon on November 12, 1966 for a seven-day reign before dropping the title back to “Mad Dog.”
Dick the Bruiser formed a rugged team with his brawling doppelganger, the Crusher.
The two battled some of the AWA’s toughest and craftiest teams, including the Texas Outlaws (Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch).
The duo also routinely battled Ray Stevens and Nick Bockwinkel, Blackjack Lanza and Bobby Duncum, and Larry “The Ax” Hennig and Harley Race.
Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher would hold the AWA World Tag Team Championship five times, for a combined reign of 1,325 days.
A Fitness Fanatic to the End
Although Dick the Bruiser retired from wrestling, he maintained a robust workout regimen, lifting weights and performing calisthenics.
Sadly, a workout is believed to have caused his death after he ruptured a blood vessel in his esophagus while weightlifting, subsequently bleeding to death on November 10, 1991.
Mr. Afflis was 62 years old at the time of his passing.
He is buried at the Washington Park North Cemetery in its Garden of Resurrection Mausoleum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
After the loss of Bruiser, several other notable wrestling stars passed away in the 90s including Art Barr, Buddy Rogers, Bobo Brazil, Dick Murdoch, Eddie Gilbert and Kerry Von Erich.
Dick the Bruiser’s grave in Indianapolis, Indiana. photo: Chrystal Anders
