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Bruce Prichard

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Bruce Prichard
File:Bruce Prichard (cropped).jpg
Prichard in the 90s
Born (1963-03-07) March 7, 1963 (age 61)
El Paso, Texas, United States
Spouse(s)
Stephanie Prichard
​
(m. 1996)​
Children2
FamilyTom Prichard (brother)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)The Artful Dodger
Brother Love
Bruce Prichard
Reo Rodgers
The Wizard
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Billed weight235 lb (107 kg)
Billed fromEl Paso, Texas
Trained byTom Prichard
Debut1986[citation needed]

Bruce Prichard (born March 7, 1963) is an American podcaster and professional wrestling booker, commentator, manager, and producer. As of August 2020, Prichard is employed by WWE, where he is a Senior Vice President and working as the Executive Director of SmackDown and Raw. As a manager for the promotion, Prichard performed under the ring name Brother Love and served as the original manager of The Undertaker.[1] During Prichard's run as Brother Love, he hosted his own segment, The Brother Love Show where he would usually support the heel wrestlers. After leaving WWE in 2008, Prichard served as the Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now Impact Wrestling).

Since 2016, Prichard has co-hosted the Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard podcast with Conrad Thompson.

Professional wrestling career

Beginnings

Prichard began his career working for Paul Boesch out of Houston, Texas. At 10 years old, he sold posters with great success. At 12, he worked as a ring announcer and sometimes referee. Due to Boesch's working relationship with Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation in the 1980s, Prichard would also act as ring announcer for some UWF shows.

After Boesch sold his Houston territory to the WWF, Prichard would move there, initially as a color commentator for televised WWF events from the Houston area.

World Wrestling Federation

Early years (1987–1988)

After entering the World Wrestling Federation in 1987, he first occasionally worked as an announcer for the WWF's television programs alongside Mike McGuirk and "The Duke of Dorchester" Pete Doherty and occasionally Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, before creating the Brother Love character.

Brother Love Show (1988–1991)

In June 1988, Prichard debuted as Brother Love, a red-faced, smarmy, dishonest, effusive and boisterous "preacher" character dressed in a conspicuous white suit, tight red shirt and white tie, who claimed to preach not the word of God, but "the word of love." He was best known for his disingenuous catchphrase "I love you!",[2] during which he would enunciate each word for several seconds in a thick Southern accent. The character was inspired by controversial televangelists of the time, with Prichard specifically citing Robert Tilton as his most direct inspiration.[3] Introduced to the WWF by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Love hosted a segment on the World Wrestling Federation's syndicated and cable television programs called "The Brother Love Show", in which he would interview wrestlers. The segment debuted on the June 19, 1988 airing of Wrestling Challenge, and would be "promoted" to the WWF's "A-show," Superstars of Wrestling, first appearing on the October 8, 1988 edition.

The segment was patterned largely after Piper's Pit,[2] where Brother Love would berate face wrestlers (especially Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior) and openly support such heels as "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and Bobby Heenan. It was explained that DiBiase was Brother Love's main "benefactor." More than once, a wrestling feud was set up because of what occurred on "The Brother Love Show" (including Hulk Hogan's feuds vs. Big Boss Man (1988–1989) and Earthquake (1990),[2] and the Jake Roberts-Rick Martel feud from late 1990 to early 1991). The Brother Love Show was also the setting for the unveiling of Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Championship belt and Rick Martel's "Arrogance" cologne. Brother Love made his pay-per-view debut at the inaugural SummerSlam event in 1988 at Madison Square Garden when he interviewed face wrestler "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. He later featured prominently in WrestleMania V in 1989 where Rowdy Roddy Piper in his first appearance in the WWF since his 'retirement" after WrestleMania III, "de-skirted" Brother Love of his "kilt" after taking over Piper's Pit. A year later, Sgt. Slaughter bestowed a medal upon Brother Love during SummerSlam for being the "greatest American."

Occasionally, Brother Love provided color commentary for the WWF's televised events; unlike during his early WWF run under his real name and using his natural voice (as Prichard), where he was pro-face, Brother Love was pro heel. His most famous assignment was alongside Sean Mooney for the WWF's televised event at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 1991, where he was roughed up by the Ultimate Warrior on his way to the ring to face "Macho Man" Randy Savage in a steel cage just two days after Savage had caused the Warrior to lose the WWF World Heavyweight Championship to Sgt. Slaughter at the Royal Rumble. In a 2016 podcast with Stone Cold Steve Austin, Prichard recalled that he had long been a fan of evangelist preachers, more for their theatrics than their religion. When Prichard first pitched the idea of Brother Love to WWF owner Vince McMahon, Vince generally liked the idea but did not believe that Prichard "had the face" for the role. Determined to get himself into the role that he had created, Prichard, dressed as Brother Love (minus the red face paint he would appear on television with), invaded a meeting at the WWF's headquarters between McMahon, the head of WWF International and the WWF's chief financial officer.

While there, he gave an impromptu two minute sermon before quickly departing. When he arrived back at his office at the WWF's television studios five minutes later, he discovered that he had two missed calls from McMahon who he was relieved to find had liked what he had seen. However, Vince wanted to see how it worked on camera. Thus, the Brother Love character became a reality. Prichard also told that the bright red face make up was unknown to him the first time he appeared on television as Brother Love. As it was a television taping, Prichard thought it was just normal make up being applied and he did not look in the mirror, not knowing that Vince McMahon had ordered that he be given the red face.[4]

Manager of The Undertaker (1990–1991)

On November 19, 1990, Brother Love managed The Undertaker, who at the time was known as "Kane the Undertaker," for his in-ring debut during a taping of WWF Superstars of Wrestling. That match, and another one for a taping of WWF Wrestling Challenge the following night, aired on television after his appearance live at the 1990 Survivor Series in which he was part of a Survivor Series style match between a team led by Dusty Rhodes and a team led by Ted DiBiase. DiBiase would reveal the mystery partner as The Undertaker. This was the first time Brother Love appeared on television as The Undertaker's manager. Brother Love continued to manage The Undertaker until February 1991, when he sold his contract to Paul Bearer.[2]

Controversy and release (1991)

The character of Brother Love was controversial by its design and nature, since it was introduced around the time of the late 1980s scandals involving televangelists including Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. In its antics bearing it was an artistic hyperbole and apparently played off of aforementioned figures. As such several of the segments on the "Brother Love Show" that was featured on WWF TV program was explicitly offensive and exploitative and bordered on the lines of bad taste. One such particular segment involved Brother Love playing the part of a charlatan "faith healer", where he induced an actor, pretending to be blind and crippled, to "see" and "walk" on command. Prichard was released from the WWF in May 1991, shortly after the "I Can See!" segment aired. He was "offed" i.e., the on-screen demise of Brother Love was brought about when The Ultimate Warrior attacked him and beat him nearly unconscious, breaking his ribs, and destroyed The Brother Love Show set, slamming the lectern, tearing the curtains and knocking down a light. Prichard's release, however, was actually due to personal and private issues that he had at the time and not because of the "I Can See" segment and he would eventually be re-hired and return to the WWF the following year (1992), albeit in a different capacity not reprising the Brother Love role.

Global Wrestling Federation (1991–1992)

After his release from the WWF, Prichard eventually joined the Dallas-based Global Wrestling Federation, where he worked as a manager and ringside interviewer between 1991 and 1992, using his real name.

He began as a babyface color commentator, but eventually turned heel right in the middle of calling an ESPN televised match with GWF play-by-play announcer Craig Johnson. He managed Barry Horowitz in the GWF, and gave him the nickname "The Winner." Horowitz and Prichard feuded with GWF Light Heavyweight champion Chaz Taylor. Prichard said mockingly of Taylor, "He may be a lightweight but he's no champion!" After failing to win the title from Taylor, both Horowitz and Prichard left the GWF.

Return to WWF/E (1992–2008)

Prichard returned to the WWF in September 1992 and portrayed two short-lived characters. He first appeared as The Wizard, a heel color commentator on All-American Wrestling (who never appeared on camera during the character's brief run), and then as Reo Rodgers, a satire on Dusty Rhodes. Rodgers did commentary from time to time in his short stint, and his interview segment, "Reo's Roundup," lasted only two segments before the character was dropped. After this, he remained behind the scenes, working as Vince McMahon's "right-hand man" and also as a writer for some of WWE's shows. However, Prichard has reprised his Brother Love character on occasion. Brother Love returned to the WWF in November 1995. He hosted the Brother Love Show once again, this time on Monday Night Raw. In what would prove to be a monumental moment in WWF history, Brother Love hosted Ted DiBiase introducing The Ringmaster into the World Wrestling Federation. The Ringmaster would eventually transform into Stone Cold Steve Austin. Brother Love then quietly disappeared from the WWF again soon after. Brother Love resurfaced once again for one night in January 1997, making a surprise appearance on the debut episode of Shotgun Saturday Night, helping the Flying Nuns defeat The Godwinns. Love then named the team The Sisters of Love. The gimmick was quickly scrapped, with the team later finding success as The Headbangers.

Prichard (as himself) once again managed The Undertaker for a match in Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW) on October 10, 1997, where he defeated Jinsei Shinzaki. Through the remainder of the Attitude Era, Prichard was occasionally seen on-screen as himself, either cleaning up between matches at ringside, or as one of the people called in to break up a backstage fight. During the fall of 1998 and into early-1999, he provided colour-commentary on Shotgun Saturday Night. He was also the only backstage employee to have an interview segment on the Raw is Owen memorial broadcast. In 2001, Brother Love participated in the gimmick battle royal at WrestleMania X-Seven. He was eliminated by Sgt. Slaughter. On the February 6, 2003 airing of SmackDown!, Brother Love confronted The Undertaker, then portraying a biker gimmick, in his feud against The Big Show. Brother Love pleaded with The Undertaker to forgive Big Show for his recent actions, but The Undertaker, however, wasn't pleased and gave Brother Love a chokeslam, followed up by a Tombstone Piledriver in the middle of the ring. Love later appeared in the Bar Room Brawl at Vengeance 2003, lasting all the way to the end before being knocked out by Bradshaw.

The Brother Love Show made a short-term return on a couple of SmackDown! brand house shows in the summer of 2003 as a replacement for planned Piper's Pit segments (Roddy Piper had been released from his contract). These segments saw Love and Mr. McMahon attempt to humiliate Zach Gowen, only to get their comeuppance in the end.[5] On December 1, 2008, Bruce Prichard was released from the WWE by Stephanie McMahon.[6]

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010–2013)

It was reported on October 7, 2010, that Prichard had been hired by TNA to presumably reprise the role he had in WWE working as a backstage agent and producer.[7] On October 6, 2011, Prichard took over the role of TNA head writer from Vince Russo.[8] In May 2012, Prichard was promoted to Vice President of Talent Relations to replace Terry Taylor.[9] On October 17, 2012, Prichard was promoted to Senior Vice President, Programming & Talent Relations. In this new role, Prichard oversaw talent relations, talent scouting and development as well as the creative direction of the company.[10] In May 2013, Prichard began appearing as a judge alongside Al Snow and Taz in the monthly Gut Check segment on TNA Impact.[11] TNA released Prichard on July 17, 2013.[12]

Return to TNA/Impact Wrestling (2017)

In March 2017, it was announced that Prichard would be making his return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.[13] Shortly after re-signing with the company, Prichard began appearing in an onscreen role for the recently renamed Impact Wrestling.[14] Prichard left the company in August 2017. To explain Prichard's departure on screen, the story saw Jim Cornette brought in by Anthem, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, to fire him.[15]

Major League Wrestling (2018)

On March 8, 2018, it was announced that Prichard had been hired as a senior producer by Major League Wrestling, a wrestling promotion founded by former WWE writer, Court Bauer, in 2002.[16]

Second return to WWE (2018–present)

On January 22, 2018, Prichard returned to the WWE for a one-off appearance as Brother Love on the WWE Raw 25 Years anniversary special. In April 2018, Prichard and podcast co-host Conrad Thompson began doing a video version of their podcast titled Something Else to Wrestle, airing exclusively on the WWE Network.[17] On February 23, 2019, it was reported that WWE had officially signed Prichard on to join their creative team.[18] In March, it was reported that Prichard would be working as WWE's Senior Vice President.[19] On October 15, 2019, it was announced that he would take over as Executive Director of SmackDown, assuming the role from Eric Bischoff.[20] On June 11, 2020, it was reported that after Paul Heyman had been removed from the executive director position of Raw, Prichard would lead both the Raw and Smackdown writing teams into one group as executive director of both shows.[21] Prichard made a cameo appearance as Brother Love at the 2020 Money in the Bank pay-per-view, during the titular ladder match.[22]

Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard (2016–present)

Main article: Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard

In August 2016, Prichard and co-host Conrad Thompson began the internet podcast Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. Prichard and Thompson discuss a wide variety of subjects from Prichard's time with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment and his time in TNA and the GWF have been topics as well. The show has spun-off into a companion video show, titled Something Else to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard, which debuted on the WWE Network on April 18, 2018.

Legacy

According to PWInsider.com, Prichard has been described as the most powerful person in WWE other than a McMahon family member. Creatively, everything flows through Prichard and his word has been described as ‘very much the Gospel’ for Vince McMahon.[23][24]

In 2020, Professional wrestling creative writer, Vince Russo who worked with Prichard in WWE and TNA, has been critical of Prichard during his current run in WWE as Executive director of both Raw and Smackdown shows and during his time working with Prichard in TNA stating "Prichard hasn’t been paying attention to anything that’s been going on” in the wrestling industry over the last few years and called out the fact that Prichard is presiding over record-low Raw ratings, adding, “It just shows that he hasn’t been paying attention, kind of like when he was running TNA, he wasn’t paying attention, he was asleep”.[25][26] [27]

Personal life

Bruce Prichard is the brother of professional wrestler Tom Prichard and guitarist Chris Prichard. Bruce also has two other brothers, Jerry and Ken. He has a son, Kane, whom he named after the professional wrestler, and a daughter Amber.[28]

Prichard suffered two heart attacks in 2012.[29]

References

  1. ^ "Brother Love leaps from ring to stage". Houston Chronicle. November 23, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. ^ Krugman, Michael (2009). André the Giant: A Legendary Life. Pocket Books. p. 225. ISBN 978-1-4165-4112-7.
  4. ^ Bruce Prichard on the Brother Love Gimmick
  5. ^ "WWE SmackDown live event results - 8/2/03". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2017-01-01.
  6. ^ "Update: Bruce Prichard's WWE Firing, & More - WrestlingInc.com". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 2016-12-29.
  7. ^ Martin, Adam (2010-10-07). "Former WWE staff member joins TNA Wrestling". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2010-10-11. Retrieved 2010-10-07.
  8. ^ Caldwell, James (October 6, 2011). "TNA News: Creative team shake-up – Russo out as head writer, when will the change take effect?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-10-06.
  9. ^ "IMPACT WRESTLING Signs Austin Aries - More Stars Coming To The X Division". ImpactWrestling.com. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011.
  10. ^ Caldwell, James (2011-10-18). "WWE News: Press Release – Bruce Prichard appointed to Senior VP role, TNA looking to expand roster, Prichard & Dixie Carter quoted". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2011-10-19.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ Turner, Scott (May 4, 2015). "Turner's WWE world wrestling entertainment Results 5/3: Roode and RVD pick opponents for each other, Gut Check fall-out, Flair calls out Hogan". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 2012-09-29.
  12. ^ Johnson, Mike (July 16, 2013). "Two more execs, including head of creative, gone from tna". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
  13. ^ http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/810979-bruce-prichard-reportedly-returning-to-tna-impact-wrestling-backstage-news-on-his-new-role-in-the-company Bruce Prichard Reportedly Returning to TNA Impact Wrestling, Backstage News on His New Role in the Company - WrestleZone
  14. ^ "Bruce Prichard Appears At Impact Wrestling Taping … Says The Name TNA Is Dead". Pro Wrestling Sheet. March 2, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2017.
  15. ^ https://www.cagesideseats.com/2017/8/17/16165020/jim-cornette-returns-impact-fires-bruce-prichard
  16. ^ "Bruce Prichard Joins Major League Wrestling". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  17. ^ ""Something Else to Wrestle With Bruce Prichard" Coming to WWE Network". Pro Wrestling Sheet | Insider Wrestling News and Reports. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
  18. ^ "Bruce Prichard Returning to WWE Creative Team". f4wonline.com. February 23, 2019.
  19. ^ "BRUCE PRICHARD, JIM ROSS LEAVING WWE, JUSHIN LIGER AND MORE". PWInsider.com. March 7, 2019. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "Bruce Prichard named Executive Director of SmackDown". WWE.com. October 15, 2019. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  21. ^ Staszewski, Joseph. "Paul Heyman out as Raw boss, WWE names new head of creative". Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  22. ^ https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/05/vince-mcmahon-670160/
  23. ^ "BACKSTAGE NOTES FROM LAST NIGHT'S RAW TAPING". December 1, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  24. ^ "WWE Creative Woes Resulting In 'A Lot Of Frustration' Among Superstars". December 2, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  25. ^ . August 19, 2020 https://411mania.com/wrestling/vince-russo-accuses-bruce-prichard-intentionally-misusing-mickie-james/. Retrieved September 3, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ^ "Russo Says Bruce Prichard is Taking Out His Venom on Mickie James". August 20, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  27. ^ "Vince Russo Thinks Bruce Prichard Intentionally Misused Mickie James On RAW". August 19, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  28. ^ https://411mania.com/wrestling/identity-of-janitor-from-money-in-the-bank/
  29. ^ Meltzer, Dave (2012-03-23). "Prichard suffers heart attack". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
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