BANKIE'S HOT TAKE #116: Let's Rename the Side Suplex to the "Dino Bravo"

Recently, I began doing commentary for Matt Pro Wrestling. Sitting in their “Mobile Studio” for events, I began with their show Thunderstruck on January 9, 2026. It was a lot of fun.

There was one moment in particular calling a match for this show where I had a brief moment of clarity. And it was for the most minute thing.

Just as the masked wrestler Rex Gryphin ran in for a headscissors, Mark “the Shark” Garofolo caught him midway and dropped him with a side suplex.

Inexplicably, I said that Rex was dropped with the old “Dino Bravo”. And it hit me. It was something I was thinking of for a very long time, and maybe subconsciously, I put my thought into the ether.

What is that you ask?

That we, as a wrestling community, officially rename the side suplex to the Dino Bravo officially.

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Born in Italy, Adolfo Bresciano migrated to Montreal, Quebec, Canada in his childhood. At the age of 22, he became DINO BRAVO and began his wrestling career.

You wouldn’t think it, but Bravo, as many of the old school performers of the 1970s and 1980s, traveled the territory system to make a name of himself, performing in Grand Prix Wrestling, NWA Hollywood, the IWA, Mid-Atlantic Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling, and the AWA. Across the way, Bravo held several championships as both a singles and tag team performer.

But it wasn’t until 1985 when Bravo became a full-time performer with the World Wrestling Federation and really became known. In August, he became the inaugural (and only) Canadian Heavyweight Champion, supposedly during a house show in Montreal. Although during my research of Bravo didn’t pull that up, he did successfully defend the championship on other occasions, defeating Moondog Spot in Toronto on October 27, Nikolai Volkoff in Toronto on November 10 during an episode of Prime Time Wrestling, “Macho Man” Randy Savage in Montreal on December 1 via countout, Tiger Chung Lee in Toronto on December 15, and Jim “the Anvil” Neidhart on December 28 in Toronto.

1986 began somewhat of the same, as he then defeated the Macho Man on January 12 in Toronto via disqualification, but then, after a 8 month hiatus, Bravo returned to WWF television in October, this time linking up with Luscious Johnny V. Although the Canadian Heavyweight Championship was quietly removed from the WWF, Bravo began 1987 with bigger aspirations, becoming a member of The Dream Team with Greg “the Hammer” Valentine at WrestleMania III, once Brutus Beefcake was excommunicated following a tag team win against the Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.

After small feuds with the Rougeaus and the Killer Bees, Luscious Johnny V retired from wrestling late in 1987 and sold Bravo’s contract to Frenchy Martin, a loudmouth anti-American Quebecois. Coincidentally, Bravo really began to lean into his physique, dying his hair blonde, packing on the muscle and becoming the “Canadian Strongman”. At the Royal Rumble in 1988, Bravo, with “alleged” help from the legendary Jesse “the Body” Ventura, bench-pressed 712 lbs, cemented that he was indeed the WWF’s strongest man.

It was also around the same time that Bravo really started implementing his finishing maneuver, the Side Suplex.

Bravo seemingly could use that move against anyone. It didn’t matter if it was on enhancement talent, Magnificent Muraco, Rugged Ronnie Garvin, Ultimate Warrior, or Hulk Hogan, you knew a Side Suplex was coming for you.

One of my all-time favorite Dino Bravo moments was on the last WWF Superstars of Wrestling of the 1980s. On December 30, 1989, Bravo faced off with enhancement talent Reno Riggins. With the Canadian Earthquake and the “Mouth of the South” Jimmy Hart at ringside, Bravo dominated Riggins, and then started to utilize the Side Suplex. After the referee counted for two, Bravo lifted Riggins off the canvas. The “Canadian Strongman” then delivered his second Side Suplex. Second verse, same as the first - Bravo again picked up Riggins after a two-count.

Following the third Side Suplex, the Ultimate Warrior, who had been embroiled in a rivalry with Bravo and Earthquake, made his way down to the ringside area. Stopping Bravo’s arrogant onslaught, it was a total ruse. Warrior got suckered in by both men and they laid waste to the Intercontinental Champion with a steel chair.

Another moment that started after a Dino Bravo Side Suplex was on the July 21, 1990 edition of Superstars. Paul Roma, who was looking for an opportunity post-Young Stallions, faced off with Bravo, and almost pulled off an upset. However, one Side Suplex later, and Roma lost. Minutes later, Roma, still feeling the effects of the Side Suplex, was in the ring while the Rockers made their way to ringside for their upcoming match. Roma unexpectedly started a beef with Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. Hercules, who had teams with Roma on some Wrestling Challenges, made his way to ringside to defend Roma. The official birth of Power And Glory took place that night.

I give full credit to the Side Suplex.

Dino’s reign as a full-time competitor in the WWF ended at WrestleMania VII. Following a loss to the “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich, which included a kick-out of the Side Suplex, Bravo took a few months off from television and made one more appearance on the August 5, 1991 edition of Prime Time Wrestling from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

With his hair back to its natural brown and a more serious demeanor, Bravo faced off with Louie Spiccoli (who would be Rad Radford in the WWF in 1995). Bravo made quick work of Spiccoli, finishing him with the Side Suplex for a three.

For my record, it was the last time we would see the “Canadian Strongman” of WWF television.

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A few years later, Bravo was murdered in his Montreal home in March 1993. He had fallen on hard times financially and made some wrong choices, which led to his untimely death.

I don’t think that Bravo’s legacy should be remembered for how he went. I do believe that he should be remembered in a different way.

In my opinion, Dino Bravo made the Side Suplex famous. I don’t believe many others had done it prior to him. And, to be far, long after his career ended, many other competitors started using the Side Suplex, such as Kevin Nash, Big Cass, and, as we say on the match from Matt Pro, Mark Garofolo.

I truly believe that we should forever call the Side Suplex the “Dino Bravo” going forward. Let’s remember what the “Canadian Strongman” did while in the industry and not for what he will be eternalized for, thanks to a Dark Side of the Ring episode.

He meant a lot more than that. He helped establish the Earthquake as a threat in the early 1990s. He worked on top with both the Ultimate Warrior and the Hulkster. Also, he was a reason for a big match at WrestleMania 3 and will always be the only and inaugural Canadian Heavyweight Champion.

Let’s make it be known: the Side Suplex will forever be known, at least to me going forward, as the Dino Bravo.

#BANKONIT

Bankie Bruce

BankieBruce@gmail.com