Brody was a major star in the
United States, having competed as a freelancer in several companies including the
National Wrestling Alliance, World Wrestling Federation, American Wrestling Association and
World Class Championship Wrestling. In the States, he had numerous classic feuds with the likes of Kamala the Ugandan Giant, Abdullah the Butcher, and Jerry Blackwell. He was revered in Japan and made a dominant tag team with Stan Hansen. Brody was perceived as both an asset and a liability by promoters because he was a major draw wherever he competed, but he also had a reputation for refusing to
job to other wrestlers. He also competed under the moniker of
Red River Jack in Texas, during an angle against
Gary Hart's men and
Skandor Akbar's Army in World Class Championship Wrestling. Brody also competed as the Masked Marauder for one time in the AWA.
Brody achieved his now-legendary status in Japan and Puerto Rico. In 1985, he became the highest paid wrestler in the world at one point, as he was earning $14,000 per week over a bidding war between
New Japan and
All Japan Pro Wrestling. He had a very short stint with New Japan in a feud with Antonio Inoki, where both men were apparently unwilling to put the other over (Inoki was wary of someone who had put over old dojo classmate and rival promoter
Giant Baba), and many of their matches ended in no contests or disqualifications.
In January of 1987, Brody was involved in a now infamous steel cage match against a young and inexperienced
Lex Luger. Luger had been told by a number of veterans (mostly as a gag) that Brody was violent and dangerous in the ring, and Brody had issues with Luger's ego concerning putting other wrestlers over. Shortly after the match began, Brody began standing still and no-selling Luger's punches and other offense, and a confused Luger decided to exit the cage and walk away from the match.
In 1987, Brody began working primarily for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico, after getting fired from New Japan Pro Wrestling. Brody would continue his feud with
Abdullah the Butcher, as well as engaging in a feud with homeland hero
Carlos Colon. He briefly returned to AJPW to win his last
NWA International Heavyweight Championship. On
April 15, 1988, the first attempt to form what became the
AJPW Triple Crown was done when Brody faced off against
NWA United National and
PWF champion
Genichiro Tenryu; the result was a double countout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAnfDfUinrI. Brody ended up losing the title back to
Jumbo Tsuruta four days later.
