Hard to believe the saga of Bruiser Brody's death is already three decades gone by now. Brody, real name Frank Goodish, was a real life Jekyll and Hyde in an entertainment sport that blended fantasy with reality. In this documentary, his wife Barbara (portrayed by Rebecca Grenier) states how she witnessed the transformation every time she dropped him off at the airport and he walked through the doors of the terminal. He changed from a loving family man into the barbarian who's ring persona turned him into one of the most brutal men who ever entered the squared circle.
During some time in 1988, Brody apparently bought into a small ownership position in the Puerto Rican World Wrestling Council (WWC), whose president was wrestler and promoter Carlos Colón. The wrestling scene on the island was noted for it's over the top mayhem and free flowing gore that were trademarks of the stars who topped the wrestling cards. They included men like Abdullah the Butcher, Tony Atlas, Jose Huertas Gonzalez and the Iron Sheik, along with Colón and Brody himself. Gonzalez was the number two man in the WWC, and had a personal animosity with Brody that extended outside the ring. With Brody's part ownership in the promotion, his intent to generate changes in the organization and it's story lines apparently was the impetus that led to his eventual demise.
The primary on screen contributors to this story are Abdullah the Butcher, Atlas, and wrestler Dutch Mantell. Atlas states undeniably that he witnessed Jose Gonzalez stab Brody with a knife in a dressing room prior to an upcoming match. The wounds proved fatal, and Brody was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after having arrived there. Remaining by Brody's side from the dressing room onto the ambulance and to the hospital, Atlas was determined to speak out about how Brody died. However word came back to Atlas that it wouldn't be safe for him to return to the arena, and he spent the night sequestered on a local beach until the following day.
The upshot of the investigation into Brody's death was that witness statements by friends and associates of Gonzalez contradicted Atlas, and a jury trial found Gonzalez not guilty in Brody's death. No murder weapon was ever discovered while Gonzalez affirmed his innocence. The whitewash that was maintained by the principals of WWC backed up Gonzalez's claim, and if the statements offered by Tony Atlas are to be believed, it appears that Jose Gonzales got away with murder.
During some time in 1988, Brody apparently bought into a small ownership position in the Puerto Rican World Wrestling Council (WWC), whose president was wrestler and promoter Carlos Colón. The wrestling scene on the island was noted for it's over the top mayhem and free flowing gore that were trademarks of the stars who topped the wrestling cards. They included men like Abdullah the Butcher, Tony Atlas, Jose Huertas Gonzalez and the Iron Sheik, along with Colón and Brody himself. Gonzalez was the number two man in the WWC, and had a personal animosity with Brody that extended outside the ring. With Brody's part ownership in the promotion, his intent to generate changes in the organization and it's story lines apparently was the impetus that led to his eventual demise.
The primary on screen contributors to this story are Abdullah the Butcher, Atlas, and wrestler Dutch Mantell. Atlas states undeniably that he witnessed Jose Gonzalez stab Brody with a knife in a dressing room prior to an upcoming match. The wounds proved fatal, and Brody was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after having arrived there. Remaining by Brody's side from the dressing room onto the ambulance and to the hospital, Atlas was determined to speak out about how Brody died. However word came back to Atlas that it wouldn't be safe for him to return to the arena, and he spent the night sequestered on a local beach until the following day.
The upshot of the investigation into Brody's death was that witness statements by friends and associates of Gonzalez contradicted Atlas, and a jury trial found Gonzalez not guilty in Brody's death. No murder weapon was ever discovered while Gonzalez affirmed his innocence. The whitewash that was maintained by the principals of WWC backed up Gonzalez's claim, and if the statements offered by Tony Atlas are to be believed, it appears that Jose Gonzales got away with murder.
