Bulldog Brower

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Bulldog Brower
Bulldog Brower.jpg
Birth nameRichard Gland[1]
Born(1933-09-17)September 17, 1933[2]
Delaware, United States[1]
DiedSeptember 15, 1997(1997-09-15) (aged 63)[1]
Cause of deathComplications from hip surgery
Spouse(s)Susan Gland (his death)
Children3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Bulldog Brower
Delaware Destroyer
Dick Brower
The Gestapo
Billed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Billed weight270 lb (120 kg; 19 st)
Debut1958[1]
Retired1988[1]

Richard Gland (September 17, 1933 – September 15, 1997) was an American professional wrestler who used the ring name Dick "Bulldog" Brower.

Professional wrestling career[]

Gland started his career in the Delaware territory in 1958 under the ring name the Delaware Destroyer.[1] In 1961, Brower traveled to Canada to wrestle for Stu Hart in his wrestling promotion Stampede Wrestling.[1] After his run in Stampede Wrestling, Brower wrestled for Frank Tunney in Toronto from 1961 to 1974. There, Brower won the NWA International Tag Team Championship (Toronto version) five times from 1962 to 1968. Also he worked for American Wrestling Association, NWA St. Louis, Big Time Wrestling (Detroit) and All-Star Wrestling in Montreal.

Then in 1966, Brower got a call from Vincent J. McMahon to be a heel in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (Northeast territory) where he feuded with WWWF Heavyweight Champion Bruno Sammartino where Brower headlined main events against Sammartino in 1966, 1969 and 1970. He also feuded with Pedro Morales who was WWWF Heavyweight Champion in 1971. Afterwards Brower left New York.

Brower also wrestled for National Wrestling Federation (NWF), where he won the NWF North American Heavyweight Championship in 1970. Brower went on to wrestle for another wrestling promotion this time World Championship Wrestling (Australia) where he won the NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship in 1972 defeating Spiros Arion. He wrestled for the short-lived International Wrestling Association in the New York City area, where he was recognized as North American Champion, feuding with Johnny Powers and Mighty Igor.

After his run in the NWF, Brower return to the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) now called the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979. There, he was managed by Lou Albano.[3] He left WWF in 1982.

Brower then traveled to Puerto Rico, where he competed for the World Wrestling Council (WWC). In WWC, he won the NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Puerto Rico/WWC version).

He retired from professional wrestling in 1988.[1] During his career Brower faced wrestlers such as Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Valentine, Mil Máscaras, Tiger Jeet Singh, Bob Backlund, Whipper Watson, The Sheik, The Fabulous Kangaroos, Johnny Powers, Spiros Arion, Bobby Duncum, Sr., and Ernie Ladd.

Personal life[]

Gland dropped out of chiropractic school to pursue a career as a professional wrestler.[1]

After living with diabetes, Gland died in September 1997 from complications from hip surgery.[1] At the time of his death, Gland was married to Susan and had two daughters and a son, as well as four grandchildren.[4]

Championships and accomplishments[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Dick 'The Bulldog' Brower". SLAM! Wrestling. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  2. ^ "Wrestler Profiles: Dick "The Bulldog" Brower". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved July 22, 2010.
  3. ^ Dick Brower profile, from WrestlingData.com
  4. ^ Cole, Glenn (September 17, 1997). "Bulldog Brower a legend". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "(Dallas) Texas: NWA American Tag Team Title [Fritz Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories. Archeus Communications. ISBN 978-0-9698161-5-7.
  7. ^ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "World Brass Knuckles Title (Australia)".

External links[]

  • Brower at Online World of Wrestling
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