Dick the Bruiser & the Lisowski Brothers vs Verne Gagne, Wilbur Snyder & Argentina Rocca

Dick the Bruiser (William Fritz Afflis) and the Lisowski Brothers (Stan (Stan Holek) and Reggie) face Verne Gagne (LaVerne Clarence Gagne), Wilbur Snyder and Argentina Rocca (Antonino Biasetton) in a tag team match, Best 2 of 3 falls with a 60 minute time limit. Friday, September 14th, 1956 at the Chicago International Amphitheatre.
Original: 16mm., B&W, Optical Sound. F.2008-04-0121 + F.2008-04-0122.
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for this film and all films in the Russ & Sylvia Davis Collection.
For more information on CFA's wrestling films, visit the Russ & Sylvia Davis Collection page on our website: www.chicagofilm...

[@garypmarquis]

Ya can't beat this type of pro wrestling . Much different from todays.

[@HemiVic]

Its amazing how the Lisowski Brothers and Dick the Bruiser are “The Heels” in this match! Reggie Lisowski would become “The Crusher” and be Bruisers legendary Tag Team Partner!

[@coachoconnor1]

priceless film

[@sjames304]

Amazing footage!!!! The golden age of wrestling for sure.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Great channel. Thank you.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Highly entertaining match. Just another proof that Chicago had the best wrestling at the time, whoever booked that match was a genius (6 man tags were rather rare at the time). ✌👍

[@stewartberger7734]

One of the best matches that I have ever seen

[@nanakia99]

Stan Lisowski was great here - he was the guy feeding and bumping for the faces but had also the strenght spots with Snyder. GIANT SWING where his oppontent tag was so good. Verne Gagne and the Bruiser continues their feud (two matches from 1955-1956 are on tape).

[@briannettles669]

Wow, there were so many legends involved in this match!

[@timmytheimpaler]

Wow, the announcing back then was really...something.

[@jonathanharris5371]

God, Russ Davis was just so entertaining on commentary.

[@RichardM1366]

True legends! You all were the greatest. RIP guys and thank you.

[@mkl62]

In 1979, a new pro wrestling publication hit newsstands and magazine racks across the nation. It was Pro Wrestling Illustrated. When the first issue went to press, The Crusher (Reginald Lisowski) was ranked at #6 in the now defunct American Wrestling Association.

[@bookenight]

verne was balding in the 1950's..lol great upload and match. we need to go back to those days... get in hint vince

[@Pain-FreePosture]

REAL GREAT STUFF. I LOVE BEING UR SUBSCRIBER

[@Enigma049]

Now This Is Wrestling!!!

[@johnnyringo2842]

Peroxide fugitives, 🤣 hilarious!

[@derekmoss7286]

Brilliant! Puts the crappy work on TV these days to absolute shame...

[@christofl6523]

I love this announcer.

[@MrJoManFu]

A six man tag in the fifties. Pretty innovative.

[@jonathanturbide2232]

Totally! Whoever was in charge of these Chicago cards was obviously a genius and a pioneer.

[@Lfdjake91]

There is a lot of history between Gagne, Crusher, Bruiser and Synder.

[@indiandaeng]

They all worked for Gagne.

[@quadraticresidue]

Six absolute legends in the ring, seven counting Russ Davis. Bronco Lubich had flown in from Dallas to officiate this important match but he got hold of some bad shellfish that day at lunch and was unable to answer the bell so to speak. Russ and Ken Resnick were third cousins by the way.

[@BarekHalfhand]

I used to watch the bruiser and The crusher when I was a kid in Chicago during the 70s...

[@melbias5046]

look at all the names in this match, chicago had awesome matches with the top names in the 50 and 60's. now we see terrible wrestling and 20 minutes of guys talking what is going to happen on the next pay per view. bruiser looked like a piece of iron and that voice was tops.

[@juanramos6573]

We would travel from Milwaukee to Chicago to watch matches.

[@curthennig9448]

What years?

[@courtneytownsel4268]

Boy! Those guys were fast. I've never seen Dick the Bruisrr handled so easily. A whole lot of leg sweeps. And I never knew the Crusher had a brother.

[@richardweiler3966]

Not his real brother. A wrestler named Stan Holek.

[@longjohn526]

Those leg sweeps were all Bruiser selling ..... All 6 of these guys sold their asses off for each other .... Dick the Bruiser was so agile back then for a big man

[@michaellocke48]

Since when they had two referees

[@adcolt54]

Notice the arm drags look real and not so obviously fake like they do nowadays. Two refs, cool. Early Brusier and Crusher.

[@bulldogbrower6732]

How can anyone say that wrestling from the 1950s can’t compare with today’s is out of their minds. That was one fantastic exhibition of skill and agility. Not one moment of dead air. Solid action throughout the match. I don’t know if all of today’s lineup could roll that long. Take a lesson WWE.

[@lindenbyass6902]

I very rarely watch professional wrestling now and AEW is pure acrobatics. This was a good match. BROWER POWER!!!!!

[@rsuriyop]

The Bruiser and Crusher moved much better here than they did by the 1970’s.

[@PhoenixNoKiseki]

Bruiser was trying to reach for Verne’s hair… mate I’ve got bad news.

[@HepCatJack]

One major difference is how quickly the wrestlers get out of Dodge when they're in a hostile corner. Most matches today seem to borrow from the Rock n' Roll express formula of crawling to the friendly corner after having been beaten to a pulp. Perhaps that particular recipe was taken from someone earlier. It's rare now for a wrestler to quickly get out of a hostile corner.

[@mcoleman6834]

All these years, Reggie Lisowski had a brother who received ZERO MENTION on tv during the '70's and '80's.

[@zoezulma594]

He had no brother. It was a gimmick. As mentioned in the Description the "brother" was Stan Holek.

[@alanwhite8266]

Big Verne Gagne Fan All these Legends Very Tough Men Great Black an White Footage

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Those 3 guys y mentioned helped save Chicago wrestling from ruin when they bought off long time promoter Fred Koehler.

[@SwaggaLeo]

Holy Shit....I have now seen Antonio Rocca....and he is all he has been cracked up to be.

[@georgejohnson1064]

Crusher and bruiser were absolutely stacked with muscle. I would love to know what their weight lifting regimen was like.

[@curthennig9448]

Polish sausage, beer, and heavy women!

[@scoh840]

@@curthennig9448 When you say heavy women, do you mean the Dolly sisters? Or bar maids, bar rags, and bar stools?

[@curthennig9448]

@@scoh840 Not Hennig and Race but Stella Wendowski. Crusher's father may have actually owned a bar.

[@scoh840]

@@curthennig9448 Yes, I remember Stella from his interviews! Curt could help me with a question? I was listening to an AWA podcast, and the trivia question of the week was , "Who did Crusher defeat in the Missouri Donkey match, in which the loser had to leave the auditorium on a Donkey?" I was never able to find the answer to that question. My best guess would have been Harley Race as I believe he hailed from Kansas City Missouri. Do you have any memory of that event? I think they said it was in the 1960's. Thank you in advance.

[@curthennig9448]

@@scoh840 I am slightly familiar with this story but don't remember exactly. That's a good guess with Harley Race though. I'll look into it and get back to you. I think I remember seeing this covered in a Minneapolis newspaper.

[@JackJones-ke8mo]

Yeah dude 😎 good match 👍 What is up? Man on man action 🔥 R U man enough? 6 man tag action 🔥 lots of options for multiple men working on a man 🔥. Great 👍

[@HepCatJack]

The upside-down backbreaker appears to have inspired the Styles Clash.

[@animal5977]

W・スナイダーはD・ホッジとのコンビて猪木、馬場からインタータッグを奪ってますね。ブル・クラもBIコンビを破った事ありますね。この6メンタッグはレベル高い。

[@HepCatJack]

The ropes appear to be a lot less taut then now closer to the 1970's & 1980's as they drop quite a bit when weight is put upon them. This is probably why high flyers from this time period like Edward Carpentier did their flips from the corners. The back body drops look a lot more realistic. In the WWF in the 1980's they were pretty much always done after a long bounce off the ropes. Done the way that Gagne did them makes them look a lot more practical as a move. I liked how the hand would sweep a leg off causing the wrestler to fall down. Still seen in modern times but not so very often. Saw a move similar to the last Chancellery but less practical because it required the hand to have a choke hold on the throat area.

[@indiandaeng]

The Bruiser never lived in Las Vegas nor Green Bay, he was an Illinois native. He did hower have a brief stint with the GB Packers.

[@jpcfit]

Wilbur Snyder isn't in the Hall of Fame? If not; why not?

[@larryfloyd4993]

come on ! wrestling observer... watch this match.. Wilbur synder arm drags... he belongs in the hall of fame...if ricky steamboat and randy savage are in... no excuse

[@SlowMotionAtomicBomb]

You need to convince the (diminishing) list of historians on the committee to vote for him (if he's even on the ballot).

[@RSR423]

Wrestling Observer is the biggest pile of shit.

[@philburpalooza8]

Just curious is STACH just an earlier creation AKA Nick Bockwinkel?

[@custer2449]

Dick The Bruiser and Verne Gagne were top notch. In my humble opinion, Gagne was the best wrestler of them all.

[@sin8821]

ウィルバー.シュナイダーは日プロに復帰した猪木が負けたしまった程の実力者❗(東プロではバレンタインを倒してる)、馬場も場外へのトップロープ越しのショルダースルーで何とか勝つた相手❗♥️

[@MrAugustoLobo]

Does anyone knows the name of the wrestler that rides até 11 min?

[@ernestospironellijunior4803]

Verne Gargene e seus dois amigos sao tao lindos e super másculo ❤️❤️❤️

[@melbias5046]

the peroxide fugitives, never heard it said that way

[@philburpalooza8]

"The World's MOST Scientific Wrestler" Wilbur Snyder.

[@scoh840]

I grew up on AWA. Snyder was indeed very scientific, perhaps the equal of Gagne. However,I found Snyder a touch dry, lacking in ring psychology. He didnt play to the audience much. He trained his son in law (Steve Regal) the same way. Regal could apply a toe hold 6 different ways, but the only way I knew if Regal was a face or a heel was by identifying his opponent.

[@drackkor725]

Reggie Lisowski when I saw the title I said hey that's "The Crusher" :)

[@bobwatson1162]

Gagne hit that ringpost really hard

[@DiesalAZ]

Da One, Da Only, Da Crusher!!

[@肥桶担ぎの助]

なんて豪華なカートだろう!リソワスキー兄弟?クラッシャーにレスラーの兄弟がいたなんて、まるで知らなかった。

[@marbanak]

Reggie Lisowski later became "Crusher" Lisowski, who later teamed with Bruiser as the "Wrestling Cousins" Tag Team. All fake. Fun when I was a kid.

[@kennethjohnson5179]

I thought that was the Crusher.

[@bruuzar]

凄い面子❗️

[@ny4433]

リソワスキーに兄弟がいたなんて、今の今まで知らなかった。凄いメンツと試合してるなぁ、さすが本場アメリカ。リソワスキーはブルーザーと来日した時は存在感があったけど、単独で来日した時はアレッ、という感じの体たらくやったような。こんなリソワスキーなら怖くない、と思ったもん。

[@telephotousa]

Wow- cool match. When I was a kid I was fortunate enough to see some of these guys near the end of their careers. Never saw Gagne in person but I remember a match at a local high school gym when I was about 12 or 13...featuring Dick the Bruiser, Wilbur Snyder, Spike Huber and Baron Von Raschke beating each other bloody for a good 45 minutes. Bruiser & Baron won dirty (natch). The midcard had Bobo Brazil- can't remember who he worked that night but he won. All those legends and more for a $4 admission fee. Good times.

[@yankee_tango]

Those were the days. I remember going to the International Amphitheater in Chicago as a kid and seeing Bruiser, Crusher, Dick Murdoch, Dusty Rhodes, Ray Stevens and many others. My ring side seat was $7.00 and we could go to the ring during intros to get autographs on our programs. Which was made of paper and was $.50, God it was such a good time. Now it is way to entertainment oriented.

[@edwardkennedy2257]

When I was a kid ( 64 ) my buddies dad would clean up the Amphitheater and bring Me programs. I still have them

[@MrChristopherHaas]

WOW! I had no idea there were TWO Lisoowski brothers.

[@yankee_tango]

Stan Volek was a work brother of Reggie. The were not related in any way. Just like Bruiser and Crusher were not cousins either.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

@@yankee_tango thanks. I saw another WWA broadcast where Pertty Boy HEENAN signed a contract wherein he thought he was facing Sam Mennaker and Bruisers brother but it was really Bruiser. Did Bruiser have a brother in the biz?

[@johnnyringo2842]

Kayfab

[@ojiima58]

そーなんです、クラッシャーとしてビッグネームになる前のレジーは、スタンと共に リソワスキー・ブラザースを名乗っていたんですよねぇ〜 その昔、東京12チャンネルでやっていた「プロレス・アワー」で見たものです！

[@ojiima58]

さすが ブルーザー、若い頃から 貫禄のダミ声！

[@ojiima58]

ブルーザー、1本目の決まり手は、スタンプホールド！

[@SRG1966]

What could be better? What a fireplug Bruiser was. Lesnar looks just like him.

[@dankmiec]

My older brother told me Bruiser and Crusher were heels but I only remember them as the ultimate good guys

[@yankee_tango]

They were always heels, they didn't change what they did in the ring, the Brusier and da' Crusher were organically turned by the crowds. Verne and company figured why not let them be faces but they still did the heelest of things. LOL

[@richardwakefield5569]

September 14, 1956.

[@dilungmoveityafool777]

This was when pro wrestling was becoming entertainment.

[@oh-zs4gm]

凄いメンバーた、まあスタンは 1枚もおちるが、ガニア、スナイダー、ブルーザーとAWAの立役者、 そこへ、アルゼンチンロッカが 特出、クラッシャーもまだ長髪でしたね。

[@col.murphy8946]

Wow!!!

[@libra42ful]

The refs were totally bonin under their trousers, talk about "tenting"....how fn GREAT is that to see....

[@mda1218]

balding one showin bulge

[@johnnyb6989]

did the announcer fart at 730 into the video?? lol

[@scooter167]

it's surprising to see verne submitt at 16:37

[@libra42ful]

I wonder how many of the heels at this time left the ring after a match with a satisfying, manly, load in their trunks, and feeling like a winner....I bet there were a few....had to feel grrreat

[@mda1218]

seen a few walk out with trunk stain : front AND back

[@benjaminharrisongray9079]

Two refs? What a great idea!

[@leemclaury6251]

Dick the Bruiser was a mountain of muscle

[@zoezulma594]

Great match! It would have been better with any other announcer though. The guy sounds like a bored heckler. Chicago had some great matches in the 50s marred by the horrible announcer.

[@joemax6916]

この試合は昔、テレビ東京の「プロレス・アワー」で見ました。ロッカがアルゼンチン・バックブリーカーを出すと、解説者が「この技で日本人を殺したという伝説があるのですね」と言いました。梶原一騎の創作らしいけど。

[@dennishanson5254]

Da Crusher!

[@Steve4206]

i think the Lisowski bros deserve to be in the mount Rushmore of bros Tag teams right along with Jack and jerry Brisco's and The Funks

[@Steve4206]

and youuur probuly going to think im crazy for saying this but i think are still 2 current tag tteam of brothers that could cpmpete with those .. The Hardys and theUsos

[@lindenbyass6902]

@@Steve4206Yes, I think you’re crazy. It’s a whole different style of wrestling

[@philburpalooza8]

The Packers ORIGINAL #15... Dick Afflis

[@alexsheahan3627]

Dick the bruiser was my hero for years he can beat like bad dog because he can kicks your ass to death and beating the best Dick the bruiser was the man who beating your heros And then madders the and then died in1991 aged 87 He was the best heels of all time

[@Al-rs2rr]

Its so odd to hear the announcer call these guys by their real names.

[@lindenbyass6902]

Stan Lisowski’s real name is Stan Holek The Crusher’s, Reggie Lisowski’s kayfabe brother

[@carlagorrell8123]

bruiser was the best

[@utopiakorea9021]

Verne Gagne is a sexy handsome gentleman. I respect him.

[@scoh840]

Ive been watching wrestling for about 55 years. This is the first time Ive ever heard Verne called Sexy.

[@utopiakorea9021]

@@scoh840 When Verne Gagne was young, he was a handsome gentleman like a his son Greg Gagne. Maybe You are an Asian Indian American. I lived in New York City and New Jersey from 1986 to1994. We are Minority people in USA. That`s why I came back to my country South Korea.

[@scoh840]

@@utopiakorea9021 I am a typical American, who grew up in America. Thank you for adding to my wrestling perspective, and I hope all is well in South Korea.

[@utopiakorea9021]

​@@scoh840In your picture, you are an Asian Indian American. In USA, Caucasian is a Majority. Asian, African, Hispanic are Minority people. Good Luck in USA.

[@utopiakorea9021]

@@scoh840 In USA, Caucasian is a Majority and Asian, African, Hispanic, Native Indian, Native Hawaiian are Minority people. Good Luck in USA.

[@KRex1961]

The announcer is a bit of a homer......

[@mda1218]

damn! Bruiser gettin face full of hairy Argentine ass at 12:05... handstand showin off his furtrail at 23:46 awesome... Gagne in his prime: pure testosterone...

[@DylanT4478]

Fun history lesson Dick The Bruiser has killed 4 people. One as a wrestling incident 3 in retaliation for the raping of his daughter

[@TheRomundus]

Verne with a little hair yet.

[@mda1218]

less hair : more testosterone

[@kurtvanderbogarde8402]

What a dreadful lousy commentator Russ Davis was, just snidely poking fun at the whole thing.

[@jolietdave3750]

2 refs? That's different.

[@theoxley]

+jolietdave3750 All tag team matches back then had 2 refs plus a three foot rope at each opposing turnbuckle...the person being tagged had to hold the rope before the guy in the ring could leave the mat. Two refs ment that there was a little more control.

[@jolietdave3750]

+theoxley WWE still uses a tag rope. I'm really surprised they still bother.

[@ham539]

back then only had magazines and local stations. the wrestler, inside wrestling were the best

[@HepCatJack]

Maybe sometimes they had a heel refs who never saw anything illegal except when the faces did something illegal and had something in their eye when the villains cheated balanced with a face ref who called it down the middle.

[@Steve4206]

I liked this match but the Anouncer really sucked made fun of all the wrestlers and wrestling moves. The whole time I don't think one move was actually called right the whole match ...when did announcers stop making everything a joke and actually call a match ....he'll back then. They even treated Boxing matches a joke to i

so it's always been fake as hell

[@肥桶担ぎの助]

ロッカて、変なレスラーだよね。ムーブも、体型も、筋肉の付き方も、どれもはずれている。

[@markbleichwehl]

Gagne sucked

[@mda1218]

sired champion