Kerry Brown (wrestler)

Kerry Brown (February 3, 1958 – September 10, 2009)[2][3] was a Canadian professional wrestler. Brown was best known for working in Stampede Wrestling in the 1980s under his real name, but also wrestled in Puerto Rico, Montreal and the Maritimes using the ring name Rick Valentine.[2][3][4]

Kerry Brown
BornFebruary 3, 1958
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[1]
DiedSeptember 10, 2009 (aged 51)[2][3]
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada[2]
Cause of deathLiver failure
FamilyBob Brown (uncle)
Doug Brown (uncle)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Kerry Brown
Kerry Lee Brown
Rick Valentine
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Billed weight266 lb (121 kg)[2]
Trained byBob Brown
Debut1979[2]
RetiredJanuary 2009[2]

Career

Beginning and Canadian promotions

Brown began wrestling in 1979 in promotions located in Winnipeg. The following year, in 1980, began working in Kansas City, in the same promotion that his uncle "Bulldog" Bob Brown worked for. He then began working for Stampede Wrestling, a promotion based in Calgary.[2] He quickly became known as a tag team wrestler in Stampede, teaming up with Duke Myers to win the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship for the first time on September 25, 1981.[1] They won the championship for the second time on March 23, 1983, by defeating Leo Burke and David Schultz in a tournament final for the vacant championship.[1] Four months later, in July 1982, Brown won the Atlantic Grand Prix Wrestling (AGPW) United States Heavyweight Championship, his first singles championship in professional wrestling.[2][1] Later that year, on December 8, he and Myers defeated Bret Hart and Leo Burke to win the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship for the third time.[1]

It was during this time that Brown gained infamy when he refused to lose to Owen Hart while working with Stampede Wrestling.[5] According to Mike Shaw, Brown was supposed to start a scripted rivalry with Hart, but refused to lose a match to Hart, so the card was switched, and Shaw replaced Brown in the rivalry.[2] Brown went on to wrestle in Montreal-based Lutte Internationale under the name Rick Valentine. He teamed with Sailor White, and the pair were managed by Tarzan Tyler.[2]

On May 18, 1983, Brown won the AGPW United States Heavyweight Championship for the second time. Later that year, Brown won the AGPW North American Tag Team Championship when he teamed with Frenchy Martin to defeat Vic Rossitani and Bull Johnston in September. On December 21, 1985, Brown won the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship by defeating Davey Boy Smith. The following year, on June 6, Brown and his long-term tag team partner Myers won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship again by defeating Keith Hart and Chris Benoit. Over a year later, he won the AGPW North American Tag Team Championship for the second time when he and his uncle Bob defeated Kid Dynamite and Dino Ventura. Two years later, on June 9, 1989, Brown won the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship with his uncle, when they defeated Biff Wellington and Benoit.[2][1][4]

Puerto Rico and later career

In the World Wrestling Council (WWC), Brown wrestled using the name Rick Valentine, and was used predominantly in the mid-card and tag team ranks.[2] He won the WWC World Tag Team Championship with Lance Idol on August 4, 1990 when they defeated Super Medic I and Super Medic III, and the two also held the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship later that year.[2][1] He also won the WWC Caribbean Tag Team Championship twice with Eric Embry in 1990, once by defeating Miguelito Perez and Hurricane Castillo, Jr. on September 23 and the second time by defeating Super Medic I and Super Medic III on December 15.[2][1] He won the championship on one occasion with Gran Mendoza in 1991, when they defeated Super Medic I and Super Medic III on January 23.[2][1]

In 2003 and 2004, Brown wrestled for the Canadian Wrestling Federation (CWF) and Premier Championship Wrestling, where he teamed with Jason Gagne as The Dog Pound.[5] Brown's last match was in January 2009.[2]

Personal life

Brown was the nephew of wrestler "Bulldog" Bob Brown, but was occasionally billed as his son.[1][6]

Brown was found unresponsive in his home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on September 10, 2009. The cause of death was apparent liver failure.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Kerry Brown profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  2. Oliver, Greg (2009-09-10). "Kerry Brown dead at 51". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  3. Caldwell, James (2009-09-10). "Other News: Canadian wrestler Kerry Brown dies at age 51 today". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  4. May, Vern. "SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Kerry Brown". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  5. "Local wrestler dies; Liver failure kills Kerry 'Pitbull' Brown at 51". Winnipeg Sun. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  6. "Former North American champ passes away". Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online. 2009-09-11. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  7. Whalen, Ed (host) (December 15, 1995). "Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame: 1948-1990". Showdown at the Corral: A Tribute to Stu Hart. Event occurs at 27:55. Shaw Cable. Calgary 7.
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