William Afflis

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Dick the Bruiser


Statistics
Ring name(s)	Richard Afflis Dick Afflis Dick the Bruiser
Billed height	6 ft 1 in
Billed weight	261 lb.
Born	June 27, 1929 Delphi, Indiana
Died	November 10, 1991
Billed from	Reno, Nevada
Trained by	Verne Gagne, Joe Pazandak

William Richard Afflis (June 27, 1929–November 10, 1991) was an American professional wrestler best known as Dick the Bruiser.

Born in Delphi, Indiana, Afflis grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Shortridge High School. Afflis played varsity football at Purdue University and played for the Green Bay Packers in the early 1950s, as a lineman, before he became a pro wrestler. In the late 50's, Dick the Bruiser wrestled live every Thursday on TV in the Detroit area. His typical opponent was "an up and coming young (unknown) wrestler" who would be pulverized by the Bruiser. His matches and interviews were so effective he became a household name in the Detroit area. His only defeat on live TV was at the hands of Cowboy Bob Ellis. However, in two rematches with Ellis at the Olympia in Detroit, Bruiser was victorious.

Afflis would later become the boss of an Indiana wrestling territory, the World Wrestling Association and promoted himself as its champion. His WWA territory lasted from 1964 into the mid-late 1980s. He became something of a hero to the area. Indianapolis native, David Letterman, who would later name his television show's band "The World's Most Dangerous Band", a take-off of Dick the Bruiser's nickname, "The World's Most Dangerous Wrestler." He also famously gave Bobby Heenan the nickname "Weasel."

Dick the Bruiser is often remembered as one-half of a legendary tag team with The Crusher.

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.

Afflis also spent time in the 1980's co-hosting the morning drive show on Detroit rock radio station WRIF-FM, using the moniker of Dick the Bruiser.