James Brunzell

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James Brunzell (born August 13, 1949) is a professional wrestler better known by his stage name of "Jumping" Jim Brunzell.

Contents

[edit] Career

Jim Brunzell wrestled for the AWA throughout the 1970s, primarily as a mid-card talent. In 1973, he made a cameo appearance sparring with Billy Robinson in the movie The Wrestler.

During the later half of the 1970's, he would sign to wrestle for the Mid-Atlantic region and go on to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship twice, a significant singles title at the time. Upon returning to the AWA, Brunzell would reform his tag team with Greg Gagne, known as the "High Flyers", and be elevated to main event status.

The tandem of Brunzell and Gagne would go on to hold the AWA World Tag-Team Championship on two separate occasions feuding with teams like Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis and Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera. Brunzell would remain with the AWA in both tag team and singles competition until early 1985.

Brunzell then signed to wrestle with the WWF as they continued their national expansion, forming the popular tag team the "Killer Bees" with another WWF newcomer, B. Brian Blair. Apparently, Verne and Greg Gagne felt somewhat betrayed. Greg even expressed his displeasure during an AWA broadcast, making subtle references to Brunzell's departure and his new gimmick.

Brunzell and Blair experienced moderate success while with the WWF. Their stay was highlighted by a match against Nikolai Volkoff and the The Iron Sheik in front of 93,000 people at the Pontiac Silverdome as part of WrestleMania III and a win at the inaugural Survivor Series on Thanksgiving Day 1987. They would go to team together until Blair left the promotion in 1988. Brunzell continued in singles competition for a time, being used to put over newer talent like Curt Hennig.

He would leave the WWF in early 1989 and compete on the independent circuit, primarily in the Chicago area. Brunzell would resurface in Herb Abram's UWF in 1991 and reunite with B. Brian Blair, winning the tag titles twice.

After the UWF closed, Brunzell would return to the independent circuit and continue to wrestle until the mid 1990s, even making occasional appearances in the WWF as a jobber.

In 1994, he made an appearance in the American Wrestling Federation as a guest referee in a bout for the AWF Heavyweight Championship, in which Tito Santana won over Bob Orton, Jr., to win the title.

In 2006, Brunzell became involved in a highly-publicized "interview feud" after his former tag team partner, B. Brian Blair, was insulted by The Iron Sheik in a series of shoot interviews that received heavy circulation on the internet. Brunzell received high praise from the Sheik for his athletic and high-jumping prowess.

Currently Brunzell works as a financial planner for Focus Financial in the Minneapolis Area.

[edit] Profile

  • Height: 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
  • Weight: 234 lb (106 kg)
  • Birthday: August 13, 1949
  • Hometown: White Bear Lake, MN
  • Debut: 1972
  • Managers:
  • Trained By: Verne Gagne
  • Other Gimmicks:
  • Finisher: Dropkick

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • PWI ranked him # 180 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003. He was also ranked # 49 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" with Greg Gagne.
    • 1977 Tag-Team of the Year, 2nd runner-up (Brunzell & Greg Gagne)
    • 1978 Most Inspirational Wrestler, 3rd Runner-Up
    • 1981 Tag-Team of the Year, 3rd Runner-Up (Brunzell & Greg Gagne)
    • 1982 Tag-Team of the Year (Brunzell & Greg Gagne)
    • 1991 PWI 500 Ranking: #151
    • 1992 PWI 500 Ranking: #142
    • 1993 PWI 500 Ranking: #334
    • 1994 PWI 500 Ranking: #409

[edit] References

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