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Brick Bronsky

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Brick Bronsky
Birth nameJeffrey Mark Beltzner
Born(1964-04-18)April 18, 1964
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
DiedAugust 23, 2021(2021-08-23) (aged 57)
Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Brick Bronsky
Brick Bronski
Jeff Beitzner
Jeff Bronsky
Jeffrey Belzner
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[2]
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)[2]
Billed fromPittsburgh, Pennsylvania[3][4][5]
Trained byBrad Rheingans[3]
Mr. Hito
Debut1985[3][4][5][6]
Retired1998

Jeffrey Mark Beltzner (April 18, 1964 – August 23, 2021), known by his ring name Brick Bronsky, was an American actor, film producer, professional wrestler and sports promoter. He gained particular notoriety for starring in a string of films for Troma Studios during the early-1990s, most notably, in Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990), Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991), and Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1994); he also had a small role in Jean-Claude Van Damme's The Quest (1996).

Beltzner was a bodybuilder prior to entering pro wrestling. He won a number of power lifting competitions in Pennsylvania and the Tri-State area as a teenager and qualified for the Mr. America bodybuilding competition after becoming Mr. Teen-age Pennsylvania in 1984. He eventually turned to professional wrestling after graduating from Pennsylvania State University and spent the late-1980s in Canada where he achieved some success wrestling for Stu Hart in Calgary Stampede Wrestling. He was among the small group of wrestlers trained by Mr. Hito and widely considered the strongest wrestler in the territory at the time.

Following the close of Stampede Wrestling, and the subsequent collapse of the NWA territory system, at the end of the decade, Beltzner returned to his home state where he became a mainstay for local independent promotions throughout the 1990s. He often teamed with Doug Flex during his wrestling career and, along with manager G.Q. Bronsky, were collectively known as The Brat Pack; he and Flex later ran the Harrisburg-based International Pro Wrestling together from 1996 until 2004. He and Flex expanded into other areas of sports promotion and, in 1992, they organized the first boxing matches held in the Lehigh Valley region in nearly ten years.

Early life and education

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Jeffrey Mark Beltzner was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania[1] and attended and graduated from Parkland High School in neighboring South Whitehall Township, where he developed an interest in bodybuilding and later won state and tri-state power lifting competitions.[7] In 1984, Beltzner won the Mr. Teenage Pennsylvania bodybuilding contest.[3] He went on to graduate from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in health and physical education.

Career

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Professional wrestling

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At Penn State, he met his future tag team partner Doug Flex. Both men shared a mutual interest in bodybuilding and professional wrestling and would eventually enter the business together. Following his graduation, he worked as a child-care worker for the Lehigh County detention home before enrolling in a wrestling camp run by Brad Rheingans, a champion amateur wrestler and competitor at the 1976 Summer Olympics. Beltzner subsequently traveled to Canada, where he wrestled as "Mr. Canada" for the next two and a half years. Flex later claimed that "Jeff was as popular as Hulk Hogan is in the United States".[3] He was most visible in Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, often appearing on its weekly television program, and was "probably the strongest guy in the territory at the time".[8] He received additional training from Mr. Hito, joining him in several six-man matches, and faced many of the toughest Stampede veterans such as Bad News Allen,[9] Gerry Morrow,[10] "Great" Gama Singh[11] and Steve DiSalvo in late-1987 and 1988.[12][13][14] According to Dave Meltzer, Beltzner was once ordered to "shoot" on another young wrestler, Brian Pillman, during a live match. After sucker punching Pillman, and "knock[ing] Pillman to the deck", his opponent "got up and tore him to shreds, but suffered a torn triceps in the melee". Pillman left the promotion shortly after this incident.[8]

Beltzner too soon returned to the United States and, at age 24, began working for the World Wrestling Federation. He was mainly used as a preliminary wrestler at various house shows, however, he did make an appearance on the April 29, 1989 edition of WWF Challenge where he and Terry Daniels lost to The Brain Busters (Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard) at the War Memorial in Syracuse, New York.[15][16] He was eventually offered a contract after six months. Unhappy with his experience in the WWF, he declined the offer. Critical of the sports entertainment aspect of the organization, he later commented the "WWF was a big letdown. Competition is completely eliminated. There's a lot more to professional wrestling than the phoney stuff you see on TV."[3]

In the 1980s, Troma Studios experienced a surge in popularity due in part to creating its own stars such as The Toxic Avenger and Sgt. Kabukiman. As its financial troubles worsened in the early-1990s, however, Lloyd Kaufman attempted to recreate his earlier success in the form of Jeff Beltzner and later Jane Jensen (Tromeo and Juliet).[17] Beltzner would become the lead star in the Class of Nuke 'Em High series.[18]

Partnership with Doug Flex

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Beltzner reunited with his college friend Doug Flex, who had made his wrestling debut the previous year, and won a number of tag team titles in the NWA's Mid-Atlantic territory and elsewhere including the Canadian International Tag Team Championship in 1988 and 1989, the Galaxy Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championship in 1990 and the North American Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championship in 1991.[3]

Both men were also involved in volunteer work with local youths in the Lehighton area during this time and counseled high school students across the United States about the dangers of drug and steroid abuse. The two would often give lectures at the local high schools of wherever they were wrestling and would donate to a local charity if the promoters received a fee for their appearance. They had both used steroids for several years before serious health risks and side effects forced them to stop. After five years of steroid use, Beltzner developed degenerative connective tissue disease and eventually tore the short head of his biceps off the bone.[3] He was subsequently forced to take 12 to 16 months off to recover from this injury.[18]

In 1996, Beltzner and Doug Flex formed their own promotion, International Pro Wrestling, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was there that they formed the heel stable "The Brat Pack" with Beltzner's "younger brother" and manager G.Q. Bronsky. The trio eventually made appearances in other promotions throughout the Northeastern United States.[1] Beltzner himself would feud with "Handsome" Frank Stalletto in both IPW and American Commonwealth Wrestling[6] before becoming the promotion's first heavyweight champion on November 30, 1996,[1] in New Britain, Connecticut by defeating Dave Powers in a one-night tournament.[4]

Beltzner was one of the top stars of the promotion during its run and his fans called themselves the "Brick Clique".[5] He remained champion for over a year[1] and defended the title against a number of independent stars including Frank Staletto[19][20] and 911; while champion, he was the first man to draw blood from 911.[21] On December 5, 1997, Beltzner lost the title to King Kong Bundy in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania[22] after G.Q. Bronsky turned on Beltzner[23] by hitting him with a steel chair and causing the breakup of "The Brat Pack".[5]

Sports promotion

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Beltzner, Flex and John O'Mara, who was a local standout athlete, began promoting sporting events from their Lehighton, Pennsylvania gym The Racquet and Fitness Factory in early 1992. On February 9, 1992, they also held their first boxing card featuring the Twin Mountain Boxing Club of Bowmanstown as well as clubs from Lebanon, Shenandoah, Scranton, Bethlehem, Allentown and Reading for 9–12 bouts. These were the first boxing matches held in the area since October 1984.[24] They also held a wrestling show at the gym on March 22 to raise money for the Carbon County Association of Retarded Citizens. Flex faced Satanic Warrior while Beltzner wrestled Morgus the Maniac. The card also featured wrestlers from the Wrestling Independent Network and independent wrestlers including The Cheetah Kid, J.T. Smith and Cream Team (Dino Casanova & Rip Sawyer).[25]

That summer, he and Flex became involved in a local zoning controversy involving their gym. On August 17, local building inspector Peter Kropf sent a certified letter to Keith Boyer and the four people leasing the building that the building had numerous violations and that Boyers had 45 days to bring it into compliance with state and local codes or face daily fines of up to $1,000. Kropf also claimed that Boyer never secured a necessary permit when he opened a gym in the former silk mill in 1983. The three-story brick building housed a furniture-stripping business as well as the gym. Town officials raised concerns that the building may be unsafe, such as the absence of proper fire exits, to accommodate the hundreds of people that the gym was bringing in on the weekends. Flex was the first to sign and acknowledge the town's letter.[26]

Beltzner also continued acting and returned to star in the third and final film in the Class of Nuke 'Em High series, Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid (1994). In his last feature film for Troma Studios, he played both the character of Roger Smith and those of his twin sons, Adlai and Dick Smith.[27] That same year, with fellow professional wrestler Tony Halme, he also had a minor role in Joe Coppoletta's independent action film Death Match (1994), starring Ian Jacklin, Martin Kove and Matthias Hues.[28] Two years later, he appeared in Jean-Claude Van Damme's The Quest (1996), portraying the champion fighter brought to the underground fighting tournament from Russia.

Acting

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While recovering from his bicep injury, Beltzner auditioned for Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. (1990) then being shot by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in New York.[18] His first film role resulted in a standout performance as the thug-for-hire "Jughead".[29] The following year he starred in Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (1991), alongside co-star Leesa Rowland, as student journalist Roger Smith.[30][31][32] Though the film received mixed reviews, Beltzner's performance gained favorable receptions from critics.[3] Beltzner himself, who performed all his own stunts, credited Troma with making him a better performer when he resumed his pro wrestling career in the mid-1990s.[18]

Suffering back and neck injuries resulting from G.Q. Bronsky's attack, Beltzner moved to California to resume his acting career.[5] In 2000, he reprised his role as "Jughead" from Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. on Troma's Edge TV. He also began producing his own film projects with independent film studio Evolving Pictures Entertainment. As vice president of the studio, he was the executive producer on Love Conquers Paul (2002) and Where's Angelo? (2003), and starred in Spin Cycle.

In January 2012, Beltzner gave an interview for Troma's official website discussing his experiences working with the studio. He also introduced his wife Donna and their four children.[18] Six months later, Troma announced plans for a Return to Nuke 'em High sequel.[33] Fans of the previous movies became very vocally active about Bronsky reprising his role from the sequels.[34]

As of 2017, he has been attached as a co-producer to its latest film Mad Monster Party Re-make. He was also attached to produce Sadako and the Magic of Paper Cranes, written by Malcolm Clarke, and The 'Necroscope' 4-D Motion Picture, for Evolving Pictures Entertainment.

Death

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Beltzner went into a coma on August 22, 2021, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The following day, Hannibal TV reported that Beltzner died at the age of 57 from COVID-19 in the morning hours of August 23. His death was also confirmed by fellow Stampede Wrestling alumnus Jonathan Holliday.[35][7]

Filmography

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Film
Year Film Role Notes
1990 Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. 'Jughead'
1991 Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown Roger Smith
1994 Class of Nuke 'Em High 3: The Good, the Bad and the Subhumanoid Roger Smith / Adlai Smith / Dick Smith
1994 Death Match Vinnie's Bodyguard
1996 The Quest Russian Fighter
2004 Spin Cycle Officer Shasta
2013 Return to Nuke 'Em High Volume 1 Dick Smith

Championships and accomplishments

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  • Galaxy Wrestling Federation
    • GWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Flex[3][22]
  • International Pro Wrestling
    • IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time, first)[22]
  • North American Wrestling Federation
    • NAWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Doug Flex[3][22]
  • Other
    • Canadian International Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Doug Flex[3]
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • PWI ranked him # 442 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1998
    • PWI ranked him # 354 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1997
    • PWI ranked him # 377 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1996
    • PWI ranked him # 394 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1992

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Simpson, Greg. "Mindbender's Wrestling Greats: "B"". Mindbenders Wrestling Greats. Mindbenders.ca. Archived from the original on April 16, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "Brick Bronsky Facts Wrestlingdata". wrestlingdata.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l McKee, Katherine (November 7, 1991). "Matmen Making Many Muscular Cover Story". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Holiday 1997): pg. 51.
  5. ^ a b c d e "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Holiday 1998): pg. 73.
  6. ^ a b "The PWI 500." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (Winter 1996): pg. 53.
  7. ^ a b "Jeffrey Beltzer (1964-2021) obituary, Legacy.com, August 27, 2021
  8. ^ a b Meltzer, Dave. Tributes: Remembering Some of the World's Greatest Wrestlers. Winding Stair Press, 2001. (pg. 17) ISBN 1-55366-085-4
  9. ^ Nevada, Vance; Mike Rodgers (June 30, 2005). "Bad News Allen". SLAM! Wrestling: Wrestlers Results Archive. SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Nevada, Vance (May 15, 2008). "Gerry Morrow". SLAM! Wrestling: Wrestlers Results Archive. SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ Nevada, Vance (May 11, 2008). "Gama Singh". SLAM! Wrestling: Wrestlers Results Archive. SLAM! Sports. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ "Calgary Stampede Wrestling". CoreysTapes.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  13. ^ "Calgary Stampede Television Listings". Professional Wrestling Territories (Pre-1990's). PWChronicles.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  14. ^ Stampede Wrestling (Producer) (January 1988). Stampede TV (DVD). Calgary, Alberta: Fouladkar, Assad. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  15. ^ Cawthon, Graham. "WWF Wrestling Challenge: 1989". WWE TV Results. Graham Cawthon's TheHistoryofWWE.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  16. ^ "1989". WWF Wrestling Challenge. PWChronicles.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  17. ^ Kaufman, Lloyd and James Gunn. All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger. Berkley Boulevard Books, 1998. (pg. 140) ISBN 0-425-16357-1
  18. ^ a b c d e Troma Entertainment (January 29, 2012). "An Interview With Brick Bronsky, Star of Class of Nuke'em High Parts 2&3!". Troma.com. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  19. ^ "Pro Matmen on Tap at Lehighton Bam Bam Bigelow To Face 911 in Feature Bout on March 22". The Morning Call. March 14, 1996. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  20. ^ "Pro Mat Action at Flagstaff Hall * 7:30 pm Start For Ipw Wrestlers, Including East Debut of John Rambo". The Morning Call. June 26, 1997. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  21. ^ "911". Wrestler Biographies. TWNPnews.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  22. ^ a b c d Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  23. ^ Walker, Timothy A. and Michael J. DiMuzio. "Arena Reports." Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Fort Washington, Pennsylvania: London Publishing Company. (May 1998): pg. 51.
  24. ^ Flexer, Robert (February 6, 1992). "Three Twin Mt. Fighters To Make Debuts Sunday". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  25. ^ "Matt Gursky Awarded 1st Bnosky Memorial". The Morning Call. March 12, 1992. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  26. ^ Todd, Susan (August 21, 1992). "Lehighton Building Owner Faces Fines". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
  27. ^ Burt, Richard, ed. Shakespeares After Shakespeare: An Encyclopedia of the Bard in Mass Media and Popular Culture. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2007. (pg. 147) ISBN 0-313-33116-2
  28. ^ Pallot, James. The Motion Picture Guide 1995 Annual: The Films of 1994. New York: CineBooks, 1994. (pg. 92) ISBN 0-933997-35-3
  29. ^ Kane, Joe. The Phantom of the Movies' Videoscope: The Ultimate Guide to the Latest, Greatest, and Weirdest Genre Videos. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000. (pg. 451) ISBN 0-8129-3149-1
  30. ^ Vidcassette Review. "Class of Nuke 'Em High 2: Subhumanoid Meltdown (Horror Spoof – Color)." Variety and Daily Variety TV Reviews, 1991–1992. Apr 2 (1992).
  31. ^ Lentz, Harris M. Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Supplement 2, through 1993. Volume 4. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 1994. ISBN 0-89950-927-4
  32. ^ Martin, Mick and Marsha Porter. Video Movie Guide 2001. New York: Ballantine Books, 2000. (pg. 204) ISBN 0-345-42099-3
  33. ^ "Lloyd talks about the new Nuke Em High movie, the future of Toxie 5, Father's Day and more!". News. LloydKaufman.com. June 5, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2012.
  34. ^ "@lloydkaufman" on Twitter
  35. ^ "Wrestler turned actor Brick Bronsky dies". Slam Wrestling. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
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