Rusty Brooks
| Rusty Brooks | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kurt Koski |
| Born | February 7, 1958 Denton, Texas, United States |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Masked Assassin Rusty Brooks Super Duper Mario |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Billed weight | 345 lb (156 kg) |
| Trained by | Jim Isler Boris Malenko |
| Debut | October 31, 1982 |
| Retired | 2002 |
Kurt Koski (born February 7, 1958) is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Rusty Brooks. He has competed in several North American independent promotions, including International World Class Championship Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance. He also appeared in the World Wrestling Federation during the mid-1980s as a preliminary wrestler.
Early years
Trained by "Gentleman" Jim Isler and Boris Malenko, he later operated the "School of Hard Knocks" wrestling school with Malenko in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Students trained in the school include Chasyn Rance, Luna Vachon, Maximum Capacity, Billy Fives, Gangrel and Norman Smiley. Although Koski is still the owner, former students Flex Magnum, Big Daddy Gonzo and J.J. Kodiak run the day-to-day operations in Hollywood, Florida. Koski is also the father of Jeff "J-Dawg" Brooks, who wrestles on the independent circuit in Florida.
A former foolball player for North Texas State, Brooks made his wrestling debut in Buddy Gilbert's World Wrestling Association against Steve Brody on October 31, 1982.
Within two years, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was used extensively on the WWF Championship Wrestling television show against many of the company's top stars including Tony Parisi, André the Giant, Junkyard Dog and Ricky Steamboat. In 1985 Brooks even had a nationally televised match with then WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan, though the match was used more to push the Hogan vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage rivalry and Brooks lost in a squash match. On television he also faced then World Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda and future Tag Team Champions The British Bulldogs.
In the WWF, Brooks primarily played a heel jobber (a wrestler who was used to make the top stars look good). Brooks often teamed with fellow preliminary wrestlers Steve Lombardi, Barry O, and Mr. X in tag team competition, and Brooks also scored upset wins over his former partners.
Independents
After leaving the WWF in late-1985, he competed on the independent circuit, including a stint in International Championship Wrestling as Super Duper Mario. He spent the next decade in various independent promotions, where he won several tag team titles with Dr. Red Roberts, Matt Otto, Jumbo Baretta, "Pretty Boy" Aldo Lane (Ricky Santana), Soulman Alex G. and Gangrel. From 1986 to 1987, he competed in Florida for Global Championship Wrestling, capturing the Global tag team titles with Jumbo Barretta from Dean and Joe Malenko. Brooks and Barretta were managed by wrestling veteran Ox Baker and later Boris Malenko. They feuded with The Soul Patrol and Malenko brothers.
He later met with success while wrestling for Future of Wrestling, where he won the heavyweight and hardcore titles during the late 1990s and was named "Wrestler of the Year" by FOW. In 2001, he began teaming with Bobby Brooks as The Brooks' and later The Masked Assassins in FOW and the Independent Professional Wrestling Association. During his time in southern Florida, he also faced Hack Meyers and former WWF wrestlers Barry Horowitz and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine before his retirement in 2002.
On July 31, 2004, Brooks refereed a match during the HCW Incredible 8 Tournament in Davie, Florida. He called a bout between his son, Jeff "J-Dawg" Brooks and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling/Ring of Honor competitor Jimmy Rave. On February 4, 2006, he was honored by Nick Mayberry with an HCW Award, along with three other Florida wrestling legends.
Life after retirement
Currently, Rusty Brooks is the Commissioner of L.I.V.E. Pro Wrestling. He is also the former Director of Authority for Independent Championship Wrestling and has also managed a few of his students in the now defunct Division 1 Pro Wrestling (D1PW). He has since passed his academy to son, J-Dawg Brooks. Other stars that have trained at Brooks' wrestling academy include: MVP, Bruno Sassi, Soulman Alex G, Barry Houston, Jeff "J-Dawg" Brooks, Big Daddy Gonzo, Gangrel, Luna Vachon, Kassidy, Angel Rose and others. On April 11, 2014, he was inducted into Championship Wrestling Entertainment's "Hall Of Honors" in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Personal life
Rusty Brooks is currently undergoing kidney dialysis treatments at Davita Kidney Center in South Florida but has opened up The School of Hard Knocks once again and has independent wrestlers such as Soul Man Alex G, Jeff "J-Dawg" Brooks, and Chasyn Rance come by and help with the students.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Rusty Bomb (Corner slingshot splash)
- Signature moves
Championships and accomplishments
- Florida Wrestling Alliance
- FWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- Future of Wrestling
- Global Championship Wrestling
- GCW Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Jumbo Barretta
- Independent Pro Wrestling Association
- IPWA Southern Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
- IPWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
- IPWA Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with David Heath (2), Bobby Brooks (2), and Soulman Alex G
- Other titles
- WWA Atlantic Coast Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- DSWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 391 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993