Big Bully Busick
Big Bully Busick | |
---|---|
Birth name | Nick Busick |
Born |
Steubenville, Ohio, United States | June 1, 1954
Residence | Weirton, West Virginia, United States |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) |
Big Bully Busick Comrade Busick Powerhouse Busick |
Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[1] |
Billed weight | 265 lb (120 kg)[1] |
Billed from |
"Pittsburgh by way of Steubenville, Ohio" Weirton, West Virginia (WWF)[1] "Powerhouse Hill" |
Trained by |
Mike Padiousis Bulldog Plechich |
Debut | 1977 |
Retired | 1992 |
Nick Busick (born June 1, 1954) is an American retired professional wrestler and police officer, better known by his ring name, Big Bully Busick. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation in 1991, where he portrayed a stereotypical bully from the 1920s with a "turtleneck, bowler hat and king-sized cigar.".[2] Busick is also known for his appearances with Georgia All-Star Wrestling and the Global Wrestling Federation.[2]
Professional wrestling career
Busick was an accomplished powerlifter and former high school wrestler before becoming a police officer in 1973, at age 19. Growing up in the Steel Town Tri-State area of Pittsburgh, Busick was a fan of Pittsburgh’s Studio Wrestling. Busick talked Mike Paidousis into giving him a one-week professional wrestling training course. He wrestled his first match for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) on May 12, 1978, losing to Billy Red Lyons in the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. Over the next two years, Busick had several more matches with the WWWF (renamed WWF in 1979) when they held shows in the Pittsburgh area, usually as a jobber, though he won at least two matches.[3] He learned the ropes in the ring, not in a wrestling school.
In 1984, Busick transferred to the Atlanta Police Department and found himself back in the ring with the Jerry Blackwell giving him his first push. Busick launched the Bully character in Georgia Championship Wrestling and then ESPN. Busick was involved in many feuds with the likes of Abdullah the Butcher, Bruiser Brody, Mr. Wrestling II, Joel Deaton and a host of other well known wrestlers.
World Wrestling Federation (1991)
In 1991, Busick debuted in the World Wrestling Federation, where he utilized the gimmick of a vintage town bully, complete with derby hat, cigar, and bushy handlebar mustache. In addition to bullying his opponents, Busick (along with his manager Harvey Wippleman) would antagonize fans at ringside, committing such acts as popping a child's balloon[1] with his cigar. He even harassed ring announcer Mike McGuirk, which eventually led to a save from opponent Sid Justice in a quick loss for Busick. After having spent weeks primarily squashing enhancement talent, Busick entered into a small feud with the Brooklyn Brawler after the Brawler challenged Busick to match to see who was the real bully of the WWF. The Brawler defeated the Bully[1] by countout and in a rematch one week later saw the Brawler failed attempt to dominate the Bully with Wippleman grabbing the Brawler's leg leading to a controversial win for the Bully. Busick would spend his time in the WWF wrestling popular talent such as Bret Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Kerry Von Erich, and Jimmy Snuka before leaving the company in November 1991.
Busick worked as a Senior Investigator for a Gaming Casino Company until 2008 and then launched his Big Bully Sports Nutrition & Events featuring Nitric Oxide Protein Bars along with promoting MMA events in Ohio. Busick, now affectionately referred to as "Bully" can occasionally be found at autograph signings and returned to the ring in 2011 at a Georgia Wrestling All Star reunion. In November 2012 the now WWE named the Bully as having the #1 rated mustache in the Top 10 mustaches ever in the history of the WWE.[4]
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bully Bender (Stump Puller) - WWF[2]
- Bully Blaster (Heart punch) - GWF
- Managers
Championships and accomplishments
- North Georgia Wrestling Alliance
- NGWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
- 1 2 3 Linder, Zach and Melok, Bobby. "What a maneuver! 15 moves that really exist". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved 2013-08-14.
- ↑ Nick Busick's match history, from WrestlingData.com
- ↑ http://www.wwe.com/classics/classic-lists/kaitlyns-top-10-superstar-mustaches
- ↑ "Bruno Lauer's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-08-03.