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PWInsider.com is sad to report the passing of Rusty Brooks, who wrestled for a number of promotions over the course of his career. Brooks, who just turned 63 a few days ago, had recently undergone surgery a few weeks ago and had been dealing with some health issues. There is no word yet on Brooks' cause of death as of this writing.
Brooks was a fixture on WWF TV in the 1980s as an enhancement talent working as a heel against a number of babyfaces, including then-WWF Champion Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, Ricky Steamboat, Jake Roberts and The Junkyard Dog. He was a great enhancement talent at the time.
Brooks was initially trained by Boris Malenko and Jim Isler and worked a number of different areas including Championship Wrestling from Florida and The Savoldi family's IWCCW, where he wrestled as Super Duper Mario. He was renowned for having a great dropkick despite being a bigger competitor and was considered a smart worker who knew how to get a reaction out of the crowd.
Originally from Texas, Brooks settled in Florida and was a regular fixture as a wrestler and later a trainer in the Sunshine State. He was one half of the Global Championship Wrestling Tag Team Champions alongside Jumbo Barretta, a duo that was managed by Ox Baker and feuded with Dean and Joe Malenko. He was also a top fixture for the Future of Wrestling promotion, where he held the FOW title as well as the FOW Hardcore title before retiring in 2002.
Brooks' school in Florida helped break a number of names into the business, including Dave "Gangrel" Heath, Norman Smiley, the late Luna Vachon, Konnor of The Ascension and MVP. He was very much a mentor figure in the Florida area and was very much a beloved figure and veteran in that scene.
PWInsider.com expresses our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans of Rusty Brooks.
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