Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake to be Inducted into the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame
Back in the mid-80’s when everyone in WWE had a profession for a character there were many who couldn’t make it work. Then there were others who turned something outrageous and made it successful. Prior to becoming “The Barber” Ed Leslie worked the territories as Hulk Hogan’s brother before finally making to WWE in 1984. He came into the company as a heel and feuded with David Sammartino, Hillbilly Jim and his lifelong friend Hulk Hogan. After a short stint as a singles competitor, he began teaming with Greg “the Hammer” Valentine and they were collectively known as the Dream Team. On August 24, 1985 the Dream Team defeated the U.S. Express to win the World Tag Team Championships. They defended the belts for eight months until they lost them at Wrestlemania 2 to the British Bulldogs. The Dream Team made their finally WWE apperance together at Wrestlemania 3, where they defeated the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers. On that same night, Beefcake would help Roddy Piper shave the head of Adrian Adonis which led to the nickname “The Barber.”
Beefcake would spend the next three years feuding with the likes of The Honky Tonk Man, Mr. Perfect, Outlaw Ron Bass and others. In 1989, he spent the majority of the year teaming with Hulk Hogan to take on Randy Savage and Zeus. In early 1990, he was in the hunt for Intercontinental Championship and went one on one Mr. Perfect at Wrestlemania. Beefcake was schedule to take on Perfect at Summerslam 1990, but he had a horrific accident that required 100 metal plates to put him back together. Throughout 1991 and into 1992, he had a TV segment called The Barbershop, which led to singles career of Shawn Michaels breaking out. The time came in 1993, where Beefcake returned to the ring and feuded with Ted Dibiase and I.R.S. This resulted in Beefcake teaming with Hogan at Wrestlemania 9 to challenge Money Inc. for the WWE Tag Team Championships. The Mega Maniacs would continue to team together until Hogan departed WWE in July of 1993. Beefcake departed WWE around the same time Hogan did, but that would be the last time we saw him.
Leslie showed up in WCW in 1994 as Brother Bruti, who was still an associate and close friend of Hulk Hogan. During Hogan’s feud with Ric Flair, a masked man kept attacking Hogan from behind every chance they got. At Halloween Havoc 1994, the masked man was revealed and it was Brother Bruti who was than renamed The Butcher. I truly believe that WCW didn’t know how good of a talent that had in Leslie because in five years he was The Butcher, The Zodiak, The Booty Man and The Disciple. Like many former WWE talent who went to WCW, he was not utilized to the best of the abilities. After his departure from WCW he continued to wrestle on the independent scene very sporadically. He had 11 championship reigns in various promotions and also appeared as a coach on Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling. Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake was a larger than life character with a larger than life personality. His comeback in 1993 was miraculous and inspirational, and that alone makes him a Hall of Famer in my book. Congratulations to Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake on his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame!
