Titles Held--

WWA World Heavyweight Title (10 times)
WWA World Tag Team Title (14 times)
AWA World Heavyweight Title
AWA World Tag Team Title (5 times)
NWA World Tag Team Title
NWA Missouri Heavyweight Title
NWA International Tag Team Title
NWA U.S. Heavyweight Title-Chicago/Detroit Version (5 times)

Bio--

Richard "Dick The Bruiser" Afflis was an ex-NFL football star turned pro wrestler and without a doubt one of the most influential brawlers ever. Dick The Bruiser invented wrestling's beer-guzzling, cigar-chomping, tough-as-nails bar room brawler toughguy character. From the 1950's through the mid-1980's, Dick the Bruiser major force in pro wrestling. He faced (and beat the crap out of) nearly every wrestling superstar for over 30 years.

He was 260 lbs. of solid muscle. His trademark gravelly voice was the result of a crushed esophagus he received during his NFL career). He was arguably the single most hated villian in wrestling during the 50's. The Bruiser was known and feared for his merciless brutally. He'd beat the crap out of his opponents before finishing them off with his top rope knee drop. Dick The Bruiser became one of the most well known wrestling personalities.

His first title was the N.W.A. U.S. Heavyweight title (Detroit/Chicago version) which was a national respected title. He won that title for the first time in 1957. He dominated the title from 1957-1962, winning it 5 times during that period. He also ruled the tag team division. In 1960, he and Gene Kiniski won the NWA World Tag Team title (Chicago version) shortly before several midwestern promoters broke away from the NWA. The championship was renamed the A.W.A. World Tag Team title. Dick The Bruiser won the A.W.A. World Tag Team title 5 times between 1963 -1975, with both Wilber Snyder, and Bruiser's longtime partner The Crusher, Reggie Lisowski.

Dick The Bruiser also won the A.W.A. World Heavyweight championship in 1966, and the W.W.A. World Heavyweight title10 times between 1964-1985.

After more than a decade of being one of wrestling's most feared villians, Bruiser eventually became a incredibly popular fan favorite. He still guzzled beer and chewed on his trademark cigar, but now he -- and his new partner, The Crusher -- kicked the butts of the "bad guys" instead of trying to cripple the "good guys". Bruiser and Crusher dominated tag team wrestling in the midwest. For 10 years, no one beat The Bruiser and The Crusher and many didn't make it out of the ring without being bloodied. Bruiser and Crusher were so dominant during their matches that once their match was over, they would often start to beat each other up to the thunderous roar and delight of the sold-out crowds. Dick The Bruiser and The Crusher won the W.W.A. World Tag Team title 6 times between 1967 and 1976.

Dick also held the WWA straps with other partners including Bruno Sammartino. They held the belts for nearly 6 months before losing a tainted match to The Valiant Brothers.

In the 1980's, Bruiser wrestled primarily in the W.W.A., which he also owned, but he did compete for other midwestern promotions like Central States and longtime promoter and friend Sam Muchnick in St. Louis. Even though he was a bit older, Bruiser still kicked the butts of some of the best men in wrestling including Harley Race, Ernie Ladd, and Bruiser Brody. In1985 he won and lost his last W.W.A. World Heavyweight title. Soon after, he retired after over 30 years of competition. The W.W.A.lost much of it's talent and market to the invading WWF but continued to groom young champions (Scott Steiner, Spike Huber, Greg Wojokowski,etc.), until it eventually ceased operations in 1985.

After retiring, Dick Afflis worked as a talent agent for WCW. He died of a heart attack after completing his daily morning workout on November 10,1991 at the age of 62.

Dick The Bruiser influenced generations of wrestling brawlers -- from Bruiser Brody to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Dick "the Bruiser" Afflis was truly the original meanest and toughest S.O.B. in pro wrestling. He is truly a legend of pro wrestling.