The Russian Brute

Good friend and member of the Board of Directors of the CAC, The Destroyer, was operated on this past Wednesday to correct some problems in his shoulder. He is recovering very well and would love to hear from all his fans. He expects to be sidelined for a few months. You can e-mail him through his website at www.thedestroyer.com

I was sitting in my den not long ago, and my private line rang. It was Big Ox Baker calling to tell me that he was coming on a private jet to get me and meet with him and the Russian Brute in Las Vegas.

I was excited because of the trip to Las Vegas but more excited to be able to sit down with one of the most unique men that ever came out of the frozen tundra that used to be known as the U.S.S.R., or Russia.

I was at the private airfield about 20 miles south of where I live when this silver 15-passenger Lear Jet touched down, taking the entire landing strip to stop. I grabbed my briefcase and laptop computer and entered the cabin door on the left side of the aircraft. A huge man with big eyebrows and a set of chin whiskers that would make Angus jealous met me.

Big Ox Baker is a sight to behold when he comes up on you unannounced. He will leave you with an empty feeling in your gut and wanting to run away. I stated once before that the sight of Ox Baker is enough to scare the devil into going to church.

As I strapped myself into one of the huge leather-armed side chairs in the plane, we began to taxi to the far end of the longest runways that bellied up to I-75 on the far end. The pilot received his instructions from the tower at Toledo some 20 miles away only because the private airstrip is just that … private and unmanned. Soon, we were airborne and headed west as the Lear climbed to a healthy 25,000 feet, before leveling off.

Ox began to tell me of his latest find in the wrestling business, The Russian Brute. I learned from Ox that this young athlete had achieved a plateau in education at three different colleges. He was also a master in four languages and fluent in a total of 12. His first college, the University of Moscow, came to this gifted athlete at age 13. He had been passed forward because of his IQ and learning ability. He was far ahead of his peers.

I listened to nearly three hours of Ox telling how great this young man was and that he intended to teach him all the winning ways that he had in the wrestling rings. He spoke of how huge this guy was and that he was undeniably unbeaten in the nearly three years of private training that he had been doing with him.

As I glanced out the side window of the plane, I saw Las Vegas coming into view. McCarran Airport serves the gambling and entertainment capitol in Nevada. We touched down and taxied to a private hangar used by some of the casinos as a stopping point for huge whales (customers that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at a single setting) that come to take the riches of Las Vegas back with them. Most leave their fortunes there. A large limo with the Gold Lettering of Caesar's Palace on the rear window awaited us as we exited the aircraft.

Standing beside the limo was nearly seven feet of The Russian Brute. He greeted us both with big handshakes and hugs, and, soon, we were whisked away from the airport to an awaiting suite at Caesar's Palace on the Las Vegas Strip. The main room was bigger than my home and was adorned with many amenities such as a butler and a complete staff. I can say this much for Ox Baker … when he does something, it is only first cabin and first class.

As I sat down in one of the big eight-foot couches on the side wall, I glanced out the window to the Strip some 14 floors below. You have never seen such beauty in your life until you look out the window from one of these suites. Unbelievable!

In speaking with the Russian Brute, he first started to speak in his native Russian tongue and soon shifted to French and then to Spanish and finally to English when he saw that he had me outnumbered. He began by telling me that as a young lad, he and his father would fish for Caviar and Sturgeon in the Bering Straits between Russia and Alaska. He said that some days he would come home with hands nearly torn apart by catgut lines from the nets they used.

He told me that his father said to him, "George, this is my only way to make a living, and I want to teach this to you so that you can survive." Little did his father realize that his young man that he called "George" would go on to achieve success in education and business. Little did his father know that a world famous wrestler named Ox Baker would guide his son toward a great career.

I was also amazed to find out that Ox had taught the Russian Brute his Heart Punch that had ended the lives of two men and also sent countless others to the hospital. Ox also taught the Brute some of the most vicious moves that made men scared to get into the ring with him.

I ended the evening by saying goodbye to them as I retired to the king size bed in the back bedroom of the suite. Ox and the Brute continued to talk and review strategy into the wee hours of the morning. The butler awakened me, and he informed me that breakfast was being cooked in the kitchen area. I quickly showered and joined Ox and the Brute as they dined on some pretty expensive Lobster, Bagel's and Lox, sweet rolls and bacon for Ox.

Soon, we were off again to McCarran and headed Eastbound to return home. I thanked the Brute for his wonderful hospitality in getting the suite and food and all the other things. He said, "Any friend of Ox's is a friend of mine forever. You are welcome here anytime … this is my town ... this is my adopted state of Nevada ... and all that I own is at your disposal anytime you and Ox need it."

I later found out that the aircraft that we were given transportation in was, in fact, a corporate plane that belonged to The Brute as part of his TRB Corporation. As he humbly spoke, he said that this was just one of the businesses that he was involved in, but his first love was professional wrestling.

I know that, under the guidance of two-time World Champion Ox Baker, this young, gifted man will achieve his dream of being a World Champion also. If only I could have had this young man under my wing 30 years ago ... what a champion he would have made for me.