wrestling / News

Brutus Beefcake Reflects on Life After Wrestling, Wrestling 500 Matches in Three Years in the 1980s, Says the Business Needs Competition to be Successful

August 11, 2019 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
Brutus Beefcake WWE Hall of Fame Image Credit: WWE

WrestlingInc.com recently interviewed WWE Hall of Famer Brutus Beefcake for its WINCLY podcast. Below are some highlights from WrestlingInc.com.

Beefcake on how he’s doing physically: “I’m doing great and I try to hit the gym when I can. I’ve been traveling and am going back to Scotland later in the year. My knee [replacement] is doing fantastic and I was worried about my other knee…so I’m not wanting to replace my other knee like a lot of guys have had to. That was my first surgery after 42 years in the ring which is an amazing feat in itself. The fans stepped up to help make it possible and I’m just grateful. The response everywhere I’ve been has been tremendous since the Hall of Fame. I’m just excited to go out and go to new places that I’ve never been because the receptions have been amazing.”

Beefcake on his schedule in the 1980s: “It’s a whole different type of wrestling now. They are closer to being gymnasts than we ever were. We did less high-risk moves although we worked way more than they ever have. We worked seven days a week, sometimes twice on the weekends doing TV tapings. I checked my books when being interviewed by CBS Sports and had basically 500 matches in 1985-87. That’s another feat in itself.”

His thoughts on Eric Bischoff becoming Smackdown executive director: “I wish him the best of luck. That’s gonna be a tough position as they have a lot of people coming and going. With everything being scripted, it makes things way more difficult. Back in our day, guys handled their characters and didn’t have to be told what to do. We knew our job and knew how to do it well. So, he’s got his hands full. I wasn’t really in the office so I didn’t see him much. I’m not real close with him but I know his son and we’ve done projects together. Everything’s always been great.”

Beefcake on not doing much with wrestling anymore: “Since I’m not doing wrestling events, sometimes I’ll do a live Barber Shop with people. I’m enjoying being home, hanging out with friends and cooking out. I’m a little burned out on wrestling [laughs]. It’s been my life for 45 years so sometimes it’s just cool to go to the beach, go fishing, ride my motorcycle, go to the gym and just not think about wrestling.”

His thoughts on AEW: “I did both [Starrcast] events with Conrad who always said ‘Brutus Blanking Barber Beefcake.’ I wish them luck. It’s been too long and our business hasn’t had any competition and a business needs competition to be successful. I wish them the best of luck and I hope it means more people can have better jobs.”