Brian Rogowski
Encyclopedia
Brian Rogowski is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Bryant Anderson, who formerly competed in Southeastern independent promotions including Smoky Mountain Wrestling
during the mid 1990s and, in 1994, had a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling
.
A second generation wrestler, he is the son of Ole Anderson
.
, he wrestled in high school having a successful amateur career. His father often took time from his wrestling schedule to attend his matches and was the given reason for Ole Anderson's dismissal from the Four Horsemen
in 1987. Ole Anderson had missed some shows to watch his son wrestle, and Tully Blanchard called Bryant a "snot nosed kid". Ole attacked Blanchard, and was kicked out and eventually replaced by Lex Luger
.
During the early 1990s, Bryant was trained at the WCW Power Plant
by his father and the Masked Assassin before making his debut on WCW television as a heel in 1993 having a similar build, general look and submission-based wrestling style resembling Ole and Gene Anderson.
However, WCW did not have plans for him: other than teaming occasionally with "Diamond" Dallas Page
, he mostly wrestled as a preliminary wrestler during his last months with the promotion eventually being fired by new WCW head Eric Bischoff
before the end of the year.
's World Wrestling Network
, he teamed with Tully Blanchard
before turning up in Smoky Mountain Wrestling
in late 1994, where promoter Jim Cornette
used him as a mid-card heel; his father briefly managed him but left after a few appearances.
After fighting to a draw with Tracy Smothers
on October 1, he became a main rival of Smothers following his winning the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television title from Scott Studd in Morganton, North Carolina
two days later. Fighting to a series of draws with Smothers in early October, he finally lost to Smothers in an 8-man tag team match with Boo Bradley, Chris Candido
and Bruiser Bedlam
against Smothers, "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony
, Brian Lee
and Lance Storm
in Everts, Kentucky on November 4, 1994.
Losing to Smothers in Morristown, Tennessee
the following night, the two would again fight to a time limit draw and later that night participated in another 8-Man tag team match with Boo Bradley, Chris Candido and Bruiser Bedlam again losing to Smothers, Tony Anthony, Brian Lee and Lance Storm in Hyden, Kentucky
on November 6, 1994.
Successfully defending his title against James Adkins
, George South
and The Nightmare
, he was forced to vacate the championship belt on November 7 after a five week reign. Anderson continued to face Smothers in indecisive draws before losing to him on November 10 and, in a "no time limit" match on November 12. However, Anderson soon avenged his loss defeating Smothers four times at the 4-day Thanksgiving Thunder supercard on November 24–27, 1994.
He eventually lost to Smothers three times in "I Quit" matches during the 3-day Christmas Chaos supercard from December 25–27 and continued to lose to him in rematches later that month.
Continuing his feud with Smothers into early 1995, he also participated in a 16-man battle royal on January 2 and scored victories over Mike Furnus, Ted Allen
, Tommy Pitner and The Nightmare. He later faced Smothers in late January, losing to him in a singles match on January 20 and in two "I Quit" matches on January 21 and January 27, before leaving the promotion shortly before its close in November 1995 and retired shortly thereafter.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
during the mid 1990s and, in 1994, had a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
.
A second generation wrestler, he is the son of Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson
Alan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
.
Early life and career
Born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, he wrestled in high school having a successful amateur career. His father often took time from his wrestling schedule to attend his matches and was the given reason for Ole Anderson's dismissal from the Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
in 1987. Ole Anderson had missed some shows to watch his son wrestle, and Tully Blanchard called Bryant a "snot nosed kid". Ole attacked Blanchard, and was kicked out and eventually replaced by Lex Luger
Lex Luger
Lawrence Wendell "Larry" Pfohl , better known by his ring name Lex Luger, is an American former professional wrestler and football player currently working with WWE on their wellness policy...
.
During the early 1990s, Bryant was trained at the WCW Power Plant
WCW Power Plant
The WCW Power Plant was a professional wrestling school located in Atlanta, Georgia and owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling. The Power Plant, which was developed from a school operated by Jody Hamilton, was in operation throughout the 1990s...
by his father and the Masked Assassin before making his debut on WCW television as a heel in 1993 having a similar build, general look and submission-based wrestling style resembling Ole and Gene Anderson.
However, WCW did not have plans for him: other than teaming occasionally with "Diamond" Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
, he mostly wrestled as a preliminary wrestler during his last months with the promotion eventually being fired by new WCW head Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
before the end of the year.
Smokey Mountain Wrestling
Briefly competing in Jim CrockettJim Crockett, Jr.
Jim Crockett, Jr. is a former professional wrestling promoter. From 1973 to 1988, he owned Jim Crockett Promotions , a wrestling company affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance...
's World Wrestling Network
World Wrestling Network
The World Wrestling Network was a short-lived National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated professional wrestling promotion which was owned by promoter Jim Crockett, Jr., his last attempt to rebuild a national wrestling promotion after selling Jim Crockett Promotions to Ted Turner in 1988...
, he teamed with Tully Blanchard
Tully Blanchard
Tully Arthur Blanchard is a semi-retired second generation American professional wrestler. He is best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen....
before turning up in Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling
Smoky Mountain Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that held events in the Appalachian area of the United States from October 1991 to December 1995, when it was run by Jim Cornette...
in late 1994, where promoter Jim Cornette
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
used him as a mid-card heel; his father briefly managed him but left after a few appearances.
After fighting to a draw with Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers
Tracy Smothers is an American professional wrestler.-Early career:Tracy started his career in the Memphis promotion on Saturday morning TV. Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers started teaming as The Southern Boys in Florida Championship Wrestling in 1987 where they feuded with The New Breed...
on October 1, he became a main rival of Smothers following his winning the SMW "Beat the Champ" Television title from Scott Studd in Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton, North Carolina
Morganton is a city in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. Reader's Digest included Morganton in its list of top ten places to raise a family. The town was recently profiled in The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The population was 17,310 at the 2000 census...
two days later. Fighting to a series of draws with Smothers in early October, he finally lost to Smothers in an 8-man tag team match with Boo Bradley, Chris Candido
Chris Candido
Christopher Raul Candito was an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Chris Candido...
and Bruiser Bedlam
Ion Croitoru
Ion William Croitoru is a Canadian former professional wrestler of Romanian descent. He was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. To wrestling fans, Croitoru is better known by his ring names, Johnny K-9 and Bruiser Bedlam...
against Smothers, "Dirty White Boy" Tony Anthony
Tony Anthony
Darrell W. "Tony" Anthony is a semi-retired American professional wrestler best known as Dirty White Boy, who wrestled primarily for independent promotions in the Southeastern United States...
, Brian Lee
Brian Lee
Brian Lee Harris is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name "Prime Time" Brian Lee...
and Lance Storm
Lance Storm
Lance Timothy Evers known professionally by his ring name Lance Storm, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He is best known for his work in World Wrestling Entertainment, Extreme Championship Wrestling, and World Championship Wrestling...
in Everts, Kentucky on November 4, 1994.
Losing to Smothers in Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown, Tennessee
Morristown is a city in, and the county seat of, Hamblen County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 29,137 at the 2010 United States Census. It is the principal city of the Morristown, Tennessee Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Grainger, Hamblen and Jefferson counties...
the following night, the two would again fight to a time limit draw and later that night participated in another 8-Man tag team match with Boo Bradley, Chris Candido and Bruiser Bedlam again losing to Smothers, Tony Anthony, Brian Lee and Lance Storm in Hyden, Kentucky
Hyden, Kentucky
Hyden is a city in Leslie County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 365 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Leslie County. It is located at the junction of U.S. Route 421 and Kentucky Route 80, along the Middle Fork of the Kentucky River....
on November 6, 1994.
Successfully defending his title against James Adkins
James Adkins
James Edward Adkins is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.He played baseball at the University of Tennessee prior to being drafted by the Dodgers in the 1st round in the 2007 MLB Draft...
, George South
George South
George South is a professional wrestler who has appeared as a preliminary wrestler in World Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation.-Professional wrestling career:...
and The Nightmare
The Nightmare
The Nightmare is a 1781 oil painting by Anglo-Swiss artist Henry Fuseli . Since its creation, it has remained Fuseli's best-known work. With its first exhibition in 1782 at the Royal Academy of London, the image became famous; an engraved version was widely distributed and the painting was parodied...
, he was forced to vacate the championship belt on November 7 after a five week reign. Anderson continued to face Smothers in indecisive draws before losing to him on November 10 and, in a "no time limit" match on November 12. However, Anderson soon avenged his loss defeating Smothers four times at the 4-day Thanksgiving Thunder supercard on November 24–27, 1994.
He eventually lost to Smothers three times in "I Quit" matches during the 3-day Christmas Chaos supercard from December 25–27 and continued to lose to him in rematches later that month.
Continuing his feud with Smothers into early 1995, he also participated in a 16-man battle royal on January 2 and scored victories over Mike Furnus, Ted Allen
Ted Allen
Ted Allen is an American writer and television personality. He was the food and wine connoisseur on the American Bravo network's Emmy-winning television program Queer Eye. He now is the host of the prime-time series on Food Network Chopped, a culinary competition in which four chefs per episode...
, Tommy Pitner and The Nightmare. He later faced Smothers in late January, losing to him in a singles match on January 20 and in two "I Quit" matches on January 21 and January 27, before leaving the promotion shortly before its close in November 1995 and retired shortly thereafter.
Championships and accomplishments
- Smoky Mountain Wrestling
- SMW Beat the Champ Television ChampionshipSMW Beat the Champ Television ChampionshipThe SMW "Beat the Champ" Television Championship was the secondary singles championship for the Smoky Mountain Wrestling professional wrestling promotion. The title was created in 1992 and was active until SMW closed its doors on November 26, 1995. The storyline concept of the title was that the...
(1 times)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 295 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1994
External links
- Bryant Anderson at WrestleWiki
- CageMatch.de - Bryant Anderson
- The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, photo of Bryant Anderson in a match with Tracey Smothers