Bugsy McGraw
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Bugsy McGraw started his career in the Detroit area, he wrestled originally under the name of The Big O in around late 1966 - early 1967. It was not long before he would appear in other territories as the first recorded match I can find for him took place on March 22, 1967 in Oakland, California, in a losing effort with Sky Low Low against Little Beaver and Irish Jackie, in this match he appeared as Mighty Brutus.
It would be in this early portion of his career he'd have a notable feud with Chico Garcia, there are very few recordings of him during this time. It is apparent he spent some time in Ohio during 1968, however, seemingly the majority of his focus was Detroit.
1969 would be the year he first appeared in Florida the territory where he would have probably the most famous of all his feuds against The Great Malenko in 1971, they are remembered as being especially bloody.
Through-out the years of 1969 - 1970 he would wrestle mainly for Florida and also for Calirfornia. It would be in 1971 he would visit Hawaii, whilst still competing for Championship Wrestling from Florida. This period of time would see him in the Georgia area appearing as the Spoiler.
He wrestled under many different names including Beautiful Brutus which was given to him by Boris Malenko, Mighty Brutus and the Skull. He would even travel over to Australia and proved successful there as an attraction wrestler just like he had done in America.
The year of 1975 would see him in California before finding his way back up north, this time to wrestle in the New York area. Bugsy would call the World Wide Wrestling Federation his home until the end of 1976. It would be Florida though that he holds one of his most well remembered feuds. Iin 1978 he won the Television Championship there from Dusty Rhodes.
Not too long afterward he'd make first appearance of Bugsy McGraw in Japan wrestling such greats as Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. 1979 would be a lucrative year for Bugsy as he would once again win more tag-team gold, this time in Florida and again capture the Television Championship from Dusty Rhodes. This would all occur after starting the year in Georgia.
Don Muraco would fall victim to McGraw in 1980, this would be Bugsy's biggest accomplishment, capturing the Heavyweight Championship. He would also win his third television championship. 1981 would see him win the American Heavyweight Championship from the Great Kabuki. Towards the end of 1981 he'd find himself in Texas and in Texas he would stay until the end of 1982.
From here on out Bugsy McGraws character would start to peter out after nearly 20 years in the business. He would leave World Class Championship Wrestling in early 1983 and head to Jim Crockett Promotions based in North Carolina. By the beginning of 1984 he'd be in Georgia again, followed by Memphis and finally Florida again.
After these relatively short stints for Bugsy Florida was once again his home until mid 1987. He would work his final stint from then until 1988 in North Carolina. This would not be the end of his career though, just his full time career after over 20 years.
The late 80's and early to mid-1990's would see Bugsy McGraw wrestle enough matches per month to support his income in various independent territories, the few that still survived. He confirmed in an interview that wrestling was his only, and full source of income right up until 1995.
After 1995 he says he slowed down his in ring career and as of the interview, in 2000, he just wrestles one or two matches a month in towns around his home town in Florida. Since 2000 he has slowed down on his in ring performances but still makes other fan fest appearances.
In 2000 he also started work as a full time nurse to support his income, as just noted that has not stopped him working wrestling events. He competed at Wrestle Reunion 1 and 3 in 2005, and was Mick Foley's appointed head of security on TNA Impact during 2009.
Mick McGraw has been active in the wrestling business for over 40 years and continues to do so in the Florida area whilst working as a nurse. He has entertained many fans all over the world for them 40 years and provided many with lasting memories never to be forgotten.
Bugsy McGraw started his career in the Detroit area, he wrestled originally under the name of The Big O in around late 1966 - early 1967. It was not long before he would appear in other territories as the first recorded match I can find for him took place on March 22, 1967 in Oakland, California, in a losing effort with Sky Low Low against Little Beaver and Irish Jackie, in this match he appeared as Mighty Brutus.
It would be in this early portion of his career he'd have a notable feud with Chico Garcia, there are very few recordings of him during this time. It is apparent he spent some time in Ohio during 1968, however, seemingly the majority of his focus was Detroit.
1969 would be the year he first appeared in Florida the territory where he would have probably the most famous of all his feuds against The Great Malenko in 1971, they are remembered as being especially bloody.
Through-out the years of 1969 - 1970 he would wrestle mainly for Florida and also for Calirfornia. It would be in 1971 he would visit Hawaii, whilst still competing for Championship Wrestling from Florida. This period of time would see him in the Georgia area appearing as the Spoiler.
He wrestled under many different names including Beautiful Brutus which was given to him by Boris Malenko, Mighty Brutus and the Skull. He would even travel over to Australia and proved successful there as an attraction wrestler just like he had done in America.
The year of 1975 would see him in California before finding his way back up north, this time to wrestle in the New York area. Bugsy would call the World Wide Wrestling Federation his home until the end of 1976. It would be Florida though that he holds one of his most well remembered feuds. Iin 1978 he won the Television Championship there from Dusty Rhodes.
Not too long afterward he'd make first appearance of Bugsy McGraw in Japan wrestling such greats as Riki Choshu and Yoshiaki Fujiwara. 1979 would be a lucrative year for Bugsy as he would once again win more tag-team gold, this time in Florida and again capture the Television Championship from Dusty Rhodes. This would all occur after starting the year in Georgia.
Don Muraco would fall victim to McGraw in 1980, this would be Bugsy's biggest accomplishment, capturing the Heavyweight Championship. He would also win his third television championship. 1981 would see him win the American Heavyweight Championship from the Great Kabuki. Towards the end of 1981 he'd find himself in Texas and in Texas he would stay until the end of 1982.
From here on out Bugsy McGraws character would start to peter out after nearly 20 years in the business. He would leave World Class Championship Wrestling in early 1983 and head to Jim Crockett Promotions based in North Carolina. By the beginning of 1984 he'd be in Georgia again, followed by Memphis and finally Florida again.
After these relatively short stints for Bugsy Florida was once again his home until mid 1987. He would work his final stint from then until 1988 in North Carolina. This would not be the end of his career though, just his full time career after over 20 years.
The late 80's and early to mid-1990's would see Bugsy McGraw wrestle enough matches per month to support his income in various independent territories, the few that still survived. He confirmed in an interview that wrestling was his only, and full source of income right up until 1995.
After 1995 he says he slowed down his in ring career and as of the interview, in 2000, he just wrestles one or two matches a month in towns around his home town in Florida. Since 2000 he has slowed down on his in ring performances but still makes other fan fest appearances.
In 2000 he also started work as a full time nurse to support his income, as just noted that has not stopped him working wrestling events. He competed at Wrestle Reunion 1 and 3 in 2005, and was Mick Foley's appointed head of security on TNA Impact during 2009.
Mick McGraw has been active in the wrestling business for over 40 years and continues to do so in the Florida area whilst working as a nurse. He has entertained many fans all over the world for them 40 years and provided many with lasting memories never to be forgotten.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Bugsy McGraw.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #96.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Biography of Bugsy McGraw.
Author: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: July 2014.
Biography: #96.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.