Tom Brandi
Encyclopedia
Tom Brandi is a professional wrestler
known for his work in World Wrestling Federation
as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East Coast.
wrestler King Kaluha. His first notoriety came in International World Class Championship Wrestling
where he won the IWCCW Television Championship
as "Chippendale" Tom Brandi a gimmick similar to the one used by The Fantastics
and The Fabulous Ones
in the 1980s.
and teamed with Tommy Dreamer
to capture the ECW Tag Team Championship
s. They captured the titles from Johnny Hot Body
and Tony Stetson
in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to Tasmaniac (later Tazz
) and Kevin Sullivan
.
on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he used the name "Johnny Gunn" and renewed his chippendales gimmick where he was a fan favorite. Brandi also teamed with Jim Powers
while in the AWF.
(WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of his most notable moments in his career while teaming with Tom Zenk
. On pay-per-view, Brandi teamed up Shane Douglas
and Tom Zenk to defeat Bobby Eaton
, Arn Anderson
, and Michael Hayes
.
In 1995, Brandi won the USWF Championship under the name Johnny Gunn. After losing the championship to his former trainer, King Kaluha, Brandi won the USWF Tag Team Championship from Damage Inc.
, debuting in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a stereotypical Italian/Mafioso character who falsely claimed to be sincere. He appeared at the 1996 Survivor Series
and In Your House: It's Time
, where he wrestled in dark matches. He briefly feuded with Marc Mero
over valet Sable
. During this storyline, Brandi began wrestling under his given name after Mero called him a jobber and said that he was "Tom Brandi", not Salvatore Sincere. Sincere later would go on to win a match against Mero by countout. After going by his real name, he participated in the 1998 Royal Rumble
match, lasting a matter of seconds before being eliminated by Cactus Jack
and Terry Funk
. Brandi left the WWF that April.
under both the Brandi name and the Sincere name. Since 2002, he also wrestled as "The Patriot", a gimmick to which he claims to have purchased the rights from their former owner, Del Wilkes
. In a recent interview, Del states that Brandi is simply using the gimmick and trademark without his permission. Wilkes says he has not communicated with Brandi nor has seen him since 1994.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
known for his work in World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
as Salvatore Sincere. He is also known for his current work as The Patriot, working for such companies as Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1, National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions on the East Coast.
Breaking in
Brandi debuted in 1985 after being trained by indyIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
wrestler King Kaluha. His first notoriety came in International World Class Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling
International World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
where he won the IWCCW Television Championship
IWCCW Television Championship
The IWCCW Television Championship was the short lived secondary championship of International World Class Championship Wrestling. The Title existed for a little over a year before being abandoned by the promotion...
as "Chippendale" Tom Brandi a gimmick similar to the one used by The Fantastics
Fantastics
The Fantastics are a professional wrestling tag team composed of Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers.-History:While in the Mid-Southern area, Terry taylor was teamed with a budding young wrestler named Bobby Fulton, who at the time was a jobber on TV but showed promise...
and The Fabulous Ones
The Fabulous Ones
The Fabulous Ones was a professional wrestling Tag team consisting of Stan Lane and Steve Keirn that was active between 1982 and 1987 with brief reunions during the 1990s...
in the 1980s.
Eastern Championship Wrestling and independent circuit
Brandi later joined Eastern Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling
Extreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
and teamed with Tommy Dreamer
Tommy Dreamer
Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
to capture the ECW Tag Team Championship
ECW Tag Team Championship
The Extreme Championship Wrestling World Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in Extreme Championship Wrestling...
s. They captured the titles from Johnny Hot Body
Johnny Weiss
Johnny Weiss is a retired American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Johnny Hotbody. He is best known for his work in the Tri-State Wrestling Alliance and Extreme Championship Wrestling where he became the first ECW Triple Crown Champion.-Career:Johnny Hotbody broke into...
and Tony Stetson
Tony Stetson
Tony Matteo is a semi-retired American professional wrestler, best known by his ring name "Hitman" Tony Stetson, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions during the late 1980s and 1990s...
in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to Tasmaniac (later Tazz
Tazz
Peter Senerchia is a retired American professional wrestler and current color commentator best known by his ring name Tazz, originally Tazmaniac and later shortened to simply Taz...
) and Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
.
American Wrestling Federation
In 1994, he competed for the short lived American Wrestling FederationAmerican Wrestling Federation
The American Wrestling Federation was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Paul Alperstein.-History:Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company....
on the TV series Warriors of Wrestling where he used the name "Johnny Gunn" and renewed his chippendales gimmick where he was a fan favorite. Brandi also teamed with Jim Powers
Jim Powers
James Manley , better known by his ring name Jim Powers is a retired American professional wrestler. He most notably wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s...
while in the AWF.
World Championship Wrestling and United States Wrestling Federation
In World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of his most notable moments in his career while teaming with Tom Zenk
Tom Zenk
Thomas Erwin "Tom" Zenk is a former Mr. Minnesota Bodybuilder, and most notably a American professional wrestler, also known by his nickname Z-Man.-Early career:...
. On pay-per-view, Brandi teamed up Shane Douglas
Shane Douglas
Troy Alan Martin is an American professional wrestler and promoter, better known by his ring name "The Franchise" Shane Douglas. In the course of his career, which has spanned nearly three decades, Douglas has wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling and briefly...
and Tom Zenk to defeat Bobby Eaton
Bobby Eaton
Robert Lee "Bobby" Eaton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, who made his debut in 1976. Eaton is most famous for his work in tag teams, especially his days as one-half of the team the Midnight Express. Under the management of Jim Cornette, Eaton originally teamed with Dennis...
, Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
, and Michael Hayes
Michael Hayes (wrestler)
Michael Seitz is a retired American professional wrestler and former musician. Seitz is best known for leading The Fabulous Freebirds under the ring name Michael "P.S." Hayes and for his role as the announcer Dok Hendrix in the World Wrestling Federation...
.
In 1995, Brandi won the USWF Championship under the name Johnny Gunn. After losing the championship to his former trainer, King Kaluha, Brandi won the USWF Tag Team Championship from Damage Inc.
World Wrestling Federation
He then went to the WWFWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
, debuting in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a stereotypical Italian/Mafioso character who falsely claimed to be sincere. He appeared at the 1996 Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1996)
Survivor Series was the tenth annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on November 17, 1996 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York....
and In Your House: It's Time
In Your House 12: It's Time
In Your House 12: It's Time was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on December 15, 1996 at the West Palm Beach Auditorium in West Palm Beach, Florida.-Background:...
, where he wrestled in dark matches. He briefly feuded with Marc Mero
Marc Mero
Marc Mero is an American retired amateur boxer and professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation as Marc Mero and with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Johnny B. Badd...
over valet Sable
Rena Mero
Rena Marlette Mero Lesnar , better known as Sable, is an American model, actress, and former professional wrestler. She is primarily known for her stints in World Wrestling Entertainment....
. During this storyline, Brandi began wrestling under his given name after Mero called him a jobber and said that he was "Tom Brandi", not Salvatore Sincere. Sincere later would go on to win a match against Mero by countout. After going by his real name, he participated in the 1998 Royal Rumble
Royal Rumble (1998)
Royal Rumble was the eleventh annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on January 18, 1998 at the San Jose Arena in San Jose, California....
match, lasting a matter of seconds before being eliminated by Cactus Jack
Mick Foley
Michael Francis "Mick" Foley, Sr. is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, actor, voice actor and former color commentator. He has worked for many wrestling promotions, including WWE, WCW, ECW and TNA. He is often referred to as "The Hardcore Legend", a nickname he...
and Terry Funk
Terry Funk
Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...
. Brandi left the WWF that April.
Return to the independent circuit
Since leaving the WWF, Brandi has wrestled on the independent circuitIndependent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
under both the Brandi name and the Sincere name. Since 2002, he also wrestled as "The Patriot", a gimmick to which he claims to have purchased the rights from their former owner, Del Wilkes
Del Wilkes
Del Wilkes is a former American professional wrestler. Over the span of 14 years, he performed in various promotions such as American Wrestling Association, All Japan Pro Wrestling...
. In a recent interview, Del states that Brandi is simply using the gimmick and trademark without his permission. Wilkes says he has not communicated with Brandi nor has seen him since 1994.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- As Salvatore Sincere
- Sincerely Yours (Full nelson slam)
- As Johnny Gunn
- Thesz press
- Tilt-a-whirl slam
- As Salvatore Sincere
- With Buff BagwellBuff BagwellMarcus Alexander Bagwell is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling between 1991 and 2001, where he was a five time World Tag Team Champion.-Professional wrestling career: Bagwell...
- Simultaneous vertical suplex / diving crossbody combination
- ManagerManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Jim CornetteJim CornetteJames Mark "Jim" Cornette is an American professional wrestling manager, commentator, promoter, and booker. As a manager, he has worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation and from 1991 to 1995, was the owner of Smoky Mountain Wrestling...
- Kenny CasanovaKenny CasanovaKenny Casanova, born in May 1971, is a professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager with international success in semi retirement, and also a DJ...
- Jim Cornette
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Chippendale" Tom Brandi
- "The Big Italian"
Championships and accomplishments
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Buff BagwellBuff BagwellMarcus Alexander Bagwell is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name, Buff Bagwell. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling between 1991 and 2001, where he was a five time World Tag Team Champion.-Professional wrestling career: Bagwell...
- AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Buff Bagwell
- Eastern Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...
- ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy DreamerTommy DreamerThomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment...
- ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy Dreamer
- Independent Wrestling Alliance
- IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Independent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-SouthIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-South is an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Louisville, Kentucky.- History :...
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight ChampionshipIWA Mid-South Heavyweight ChampionshipThe IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship was the major title in the Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South based in Louisville, Kentucky...
(1 time)
- IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship
- International Pro Wrestling
- IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- International World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship WrestlingInternational World Class Championship Wrestling was an independent professional wrestling promotion based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was promoted by Angelo Savoldi and his sons Mario, Tom, and Joseph Savoldi....
- IWCCW Tag Team ChampionshipIWCCW Tag Team ChampionshipThe ICW / IWCCW Tag-Team Championship was the top tag-team championship of International World Class Championship Wrestling between 1984 and 1995 where IWCCW closed down operations...
(1 time) – with King Mike Kaluah - IWCCW Television ChampionshipIWCCW Television ChampionshipThe IWCCW Television Championship was the short lived secondary championship of International World Class Championship Wrestling. The Title existed for a little over a year before being abandoned by the promotion...
(1 time)
- IWCCW Tag Team Championship
- International Wrestling Association
- IWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- National Championship Wrestling
- NCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jimmy SnukaJimmy SnukaJames William "Jimmy" Reiher is a semi-retired Fijian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka. Originally from the Fiji Islands, Snuka wrestled for several promotions in the 1970s and 1980s. Snuka is a two-time world heavyweight champion, having been a...
- NWA 2000National Wrestling AllianceThe National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
- NWA National Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA National Heavyweight ChampionshipThe original version NWA National Heavyweight Championship was the major singles title in the NWA-affiliated Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980 until 1986...
(1 time)
- NWA National Heavyweight Championship
- Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1/Premier Wrestling Federation
- PWF Universal Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Kehner
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #478 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
- Steel City Wrestling
- SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- United States Championship Wrestling
- USCW Pacific Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- United States Wrestling Federation
- USWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- USWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steve CorinoSteve CorinoSteven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...
- Wrestling Independent Network
- WIN North American Championship (1 time, first)