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{{short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{for|the wrestler who performed as "The Patriot" in the 1990s|The Patriot (wrestler)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Salvatore Sincere
|name = Salvatore Sincere
|birthname = Tom Brandi
|birthname = Thomas Brandi
|image = SalvatoreSincere.jpg
|image = SalvatoreSincere.jpg
|caption = Salvatore Sincere in May 2009.
|caption = Sincere in 2009
|names = Johnny Gunn<br />'''The Patriot'''<br />'''Salvatore Sincere'''<br />Tom Brandi
|names = Johnny Gunn<br />'''Salvatore Sincere'''<br />Tom Brandi <br /> The Patriot
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}<ref name=OWOW/>
|height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}}<ref name=OWOW/>
|weight = {{convert|270|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=OWOW/>
|weight = {{convert|270|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=OWOW/>
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|7|9|mf=y}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|7|9|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/tom-brandi.html|title=Tom Brandi's Online World of Wrestling profile}}</ref>
|birth_place = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.<ref name=OWOW>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/t/tom-brandi.html|title=Tom Brandi's Online World of Wrestling profile}}</ref>
|resides = [[Dover, New Hampshire]]
|billed = [[Italy]] <br />By way of [[The Bronx]]
|trainer = [[King Kaluha]]
|billed = "[[Italy]]" (as Salvatore Sincere)<br>[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
|trainer = King Kaluha<ref name=OWOW/>
|debut = 1985<ref name=OWOW/>
|debut = September 1985<ref name=OWOW/>
|retired =
|retired =
}}
}}
'''Tom Brandi''' (born July 9, 1966) is an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. He is best known for his appearances in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] from 1996 to 1998 under the [[ring name]] '''Salvatore Sincere'''. Brandi is also known for his appearances with the [[American Wrestling Federation]], [[World Championship Wrestling]] and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] as '''Johnny Gunn''' and for his appearances on the [[independent circuit]] as '''The Patriot'''.
'''Thomas Brandi''' (born July 9, 1966) is an American [[Professional wrestling|professional wrestler]]. He is best known for his appearances in the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] from 1996 to 1998 under the [[ring name]] '''Salvatore Sincere'''. Brandi is also known for his appearances with the [[American Wrestling Federation]], [[World Championship Wrestling]] and [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] as '''Johnny Gunn'''.


==Professional wrestling career==
==Professional wrestling career==


===Early career (1985-1992)===
===Early career (1985–1992)===
Brandi debuted in 1985 after being trained by [[independent circuit|indy]] 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 [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick|gimmick]] similar to the one used by [[The Fantastics]] and [[The Fabulous Ones]] in the 1980s.
Brandi debuted in 1985 after being trained by [[independent circuit|indy]] 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 [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick|gimmick]] similar to the one used by [[The Fantastics]] and [[The Fabulous Ones]] in the 1980s.


===World Championship Wrestling (1992) ===
===World Championship Wrestling (1992-1993)===
[[File:Patriot vs. Virgil.jpg|thumb|Brandi as The Patriot in a wrestling match against [[Mike Jones (wrestler)|Virgil]] in 2009.]]
In [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of the most notable moments in his career while teaming with [[Tom Zenk]]. At [[Halloween Havoc 1992]], Brandi partnered with [[Shane Douglas]] and Tom Zenk to defeat [[Bobby Eaton]], [[Arn Anderson]], and [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]].
In [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of the most notable moments in his career while teaming with [[Tom Zenk]]. At [[Halloween Havoc 1992]], Brandi partnered with [[Shane Douglas]] and Tom Zenk to defeat [[Bobby Eaton]], [[Arn Anderson]], and [[Michael Hayes (wrestler)|Michael Hayes]].


===American Wrestling Federation (1994)===
===Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993)===
Brandi later joined [[Extreme Championship Wrestling]] and teamed with [[Tommy Dreamer]] to capture the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]]s. They captured the titles from [[Johnny Hotbody]] and [[Tony Stetson]] in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to [[Tazz|The Tazmaniac]] (later [[Taz (wrestler)|Taz]]) and [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]]. Having suffered an injury, Gunn was replaced with Shane Douglas for a night, who turned on Dreamer to cost them the tag belts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/defending-another-competitors-title/|title = Kaye, Griffin (2022-06-22). "10 Times Wrestlers Defended Another Competitor's Title". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved 2022-07-25| date=June 22, 2022 }}</ref>
In 1994, he competed for the short lived [[American Wrestling Federation]] 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.


===Extreme Championship Wrestling and independent circuit===
===American Wrestling Federation (1995)===
In 1995, he competed for the short lived [[American Wrestling Federation]] (AWF) 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.
Brandi later joined [[Extreme Championship Wrestling|Eastern Championship Wrestling]] and teamed with [[Tommy Dreamer]] to capture the [[ECW Tag Team Championship]]s. They captured the titles from [[Johnny Hotbody]] and [[Tony Stetson]] in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to [[Tazz|The Tazmaniac]] (later [[Tazz]]) and [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]].


===United States Wrestling Federation===
===United States Wrestling Federation (1995)===
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.
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 (1996-1998)===
===World Wrestling Federation (1996–1998)===
He then went to the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|WWF]], debuting in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a stereotypical Italian/[[Sicilian Mafia|Mafioso]] character who falsely claimed to be sincere and to "love" everyone. He appeared at the [[Survivor Series (1996)|1996 Survivor Series]] and [[In Your House 12: It's Time|In Your House: It's Time]], where he wrestled in [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Dark match|dark matches]]. He briefly feuded with [[Marc Mero]] over valet [[Sable (wrestler)|Sable]]. During this storyline, Brandi began wrestling under his given name after Mero called him a [[Job (professional wrestling)#Jobbers|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 [[Royal Rumble (1998)|1998 Royal Rumble]] match, lasting a matter of seconds before being eliminated by [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Terry Funk]]. Brandi left the WWF that April. He lost to [[Jeff Jarrett]] in his last televised match on March 17, 1998 episode of Monday Night Raw.
He then went to the [[World Wrestling Federation]]. He was one of a series of "jobbers with gimmicks" brought into the WWF in 1996 to help elevate the company's stars, alongside [[Alex "The Pug" Pourteau]], [[Freddie Joe Floyd]], [[Bill Irwin (wrestler)|the Goon]], and [[T. L. Hopper]]. He debuted in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villainous]] stereotypical Bronx Italian/Mafioso character clad in pink and white who falsely claimed to be sincere and to "love" everyone. He appeared at the [[Survivor Series (1996)|1996 Survivor Series]] and [[In Your House 12: It's Time|In Your House: It's Time]], where he wrestled in [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Dark match|dark matches]]. He also worked matches with some of the WWF's top names at the time, including [[Shawn Michaels]], [[The Undertaker]], and [[Dwayne Johnson]] (billed as "Rocky Maivia" during his debut match in the WWF with Salvatore).


He briefly feuded with [[Marc Mero]] over valet [[Sable (wrestler)|Sable]] in 1997. During this storyline, Brandi began wrestling under his given name after Mero called him a [[Job (professional wrestling)#Jobbers|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 [[Royal Rumble (1998)|1998 Royal Rumble]] match, lasting a matter of seconds before being eliminated by [[Mick Foley|Cactus Jack]] and [[Terry Funk]]. He lost to [[Jeff Jarrett]] in his last televised match on March 17, 1998 episode of ''Monday Night Raw''. Brandi left the WWF that April.
===Return to the independent circuit (1998-present)===
Since leaving the WWF, Brandi has wrestled on the [[independent circuit]] under both the Brandi name and the Sincere name. Since 2002, he has also wrestled as "The Patriot", a gimmick to which he claims to have purchased the rights from the original Patriot, [[Del Wilkes]]. Brandi continues to don the Patriot mask as of 2012, wrestling for New Jersey's National Wrestling Superstars, and other independent promotions. In a 2008 interview, Wilkes stated 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.<ref>http://www.wrestlezone.com/article.php?articleid=230333126</ref>


===Return to the independent circuit (1998–present)===
==In wrestling==
[[File:Tom Brandi as the Patriot, July 2019.jpg|thumb|250px|Brandi performing as the Patriot in 2019]]
*'''Finishing moves'''
Since leaving the WWF, Brandi has wrestled on the [[independent circuit]] under both the Brandi and Sincere names, and sometimes wrestles or does autograph signings under a mask as [[The Patriot (wrestler)|The Patriot]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=TOM BRANDI RESPONDS TO DEL WILKES OVER USAGE OF 'THE PATRIOT' CHARACTER ON INDEPENDENTS {{!}} PWInsider.com|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=35042|access-date=2022-02-05|website=www.pwinsider.com}}</ref> although without the permission of the original Patriot, Del Wilkes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/del-wilkes-discusses-tom-brandi-stealing-the-patriot-gimmick/|title = 411Mania}}</ref>
**'''As Salvatore Sincere'''
***''Sincerely Yours'' ([[Professional wrestling throws#Full nelson slam|Full nelson slam]])<ref name=OWOW/><ref name=OtherArena/>
**'''As Johnny Gunn'''
***[[Professional wrestling attacks#Lou Thesz press|Thesz press]]<ref name=OtherArena>{{cite web|url=http://www.otherarena.com/nCo/finish/finish.html|title=Other arena's finishing movelist}}</ref>
***[[Professional wrestling throws#Tilt-a-whirl mat slam|Tilt-a-whirl slam]]<ref name=OWOW/>

*'''With [[Buff Bagwell]]'''
**[[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Suplex, flying attack combination|Simultaneous vertical suplex / diving crossbody combination]]<ref name=OtherArena/>

*'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]'''
**[[Jim Cornette]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/jim-cornette.html|title=Jim Cornette profile|accessdate=2009-11-20|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
**[[Kenny Casanova]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/k/kenny-casanova.html|title=Kenny Casanova profile|accessdate=2010-06-09|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>

*'''[[Nickname]]s'''
**"Chippendale" Tom Brandi
**"The Big Italian"


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Wrestling Superstars Live|AWA Superstars of Wrestling]]'''
**[[WSL World Tag Team Championship|AWA Superstars of Wrestling World Tag Team Championship]] ([[WSL World Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Buff Bagwell]]

*'''Americas Wrestling Federation (Puerto Rico)'''
*'''Americas Wrestling Federation (Puerto Rico)'''
**AWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time, last)
**AWF International Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**AWF World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**AWF World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**AWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Ray Gonzalez]]
**AWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Ray González]]
*'''Big Time Wrestling'''

**BTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*'''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling|Eastern Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling|Eastern Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[ECW World Tag Team Championship|ECW Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Tommy Dreamer]]
**[[ECW World Tag Team Championship|ECW Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of ECW World Tag Team Champions|1 time]]) – with [[Tommy Dreamer]]

*'''Devastation Wrestling Federation'''
*'''Devastation Wrestling Federation'''
**DWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**DWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

*'''Independent Pro Wrestling'''
*'''Independent Pro Wrestling'''
**IPW Americas Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**IPW Americas Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
*'''[[Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance]]'''

**[[IPWA Heavyweight Championship (United States)|IPWA Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IPWA Heavyweight Championship (United States)#Title history|4 times]])
*'''Independent Superstars of Pro Wrestling'''
**ISPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with The Winner's Club (King Kaluha & Michael Mars)
*'''Independent Wrestling Alliance'''
*'''Independent Wrestling Alliance'''
**IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**IWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''[[Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance]]'''
**[[IPWA Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IPWA Heavyweight Championship#Title history|4 times]])

*'''[[Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South]]'''
*'''[[Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South]]'''
**[[IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/iwams/iwams-h.html|accessdate=2009-04-26|title=Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South Heavyweight Title|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
**[[IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship]] ([[IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/iwams/iwams-h.html|access-date=2009-04-26|title=Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South Heavyweight Title|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>

*'''International Pro Wrestling'''
*'''International Pro Wrestling'''
**IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**IPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''[[International World Class Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[International World Class Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[IWCCW Tag Team Championship]] ([[IWCCW Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with King Mike Kaluah
**[[IWCCW Tag Team Championship]] ([[IWCCW Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with King Mike Kaluah
**[[IWCCW Television Championship]] ([[IWCCW Television Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**[[IWCCW Television Championship]] ([[IWCCW Television Championship#Title history|1 time]])

*'''International Wrestling Association'''
*'''International Wrestling Association'''
**IWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**IWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''National Championship Wrestling'''
*'''National Championship Wrestling'''
**NCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**NCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Jimmy Snuka]]<ref name="Titles"/>
**NCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with [[Jimmy Snuka]]<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA 2000]]'''
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA 2000]]'''
**[[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA National Heavyweight Championship#Title history|1 time]])
**[[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA National Heavyweight Championship#Reigns|1 time]])

*'''Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1/Premier Wrestling Federation'''
*'''Pro-Wrestling WORLD-1/Premier Wrestling Federation'''
**PWF Universal Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Kehner
**PWF Universal Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Kehner
*'''''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''''

*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
**PWI ranked him #'''478''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003
**PWI ranked him #'''478''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

*'''[[Steel City Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Steel City Wrestling]]'''
**SCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**[[Steel City Wrestling Heavyweight Championship|SCW Heavyweight Championship]] (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**[[SCW Television Championship (Steel City Wrestling)|SCW Television Championship]] (1 time)

*'''United States Championship Wrestling'''
*'''United States Championship Wrestling'''
**USCW Pacific Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**USCW Pacific Heavyweight Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''United States Wrestling Federation'''
*'''United States Wrestling Federation'''
**USWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**USWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**USWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [[Steve Corino]]
**USWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [[Steve Corino]]

*'''Virginia Wrestling Association'''
*'''Virginia Wrestling Association'''
**VWA American Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>
**VWA American Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles"/>

*'''Wrestling Independent Network'''
*'''Wrestling Independent Network'''
**WIN North American Championship (1 time, first)<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
**WIN North American Championship (1 time)<ref name="Titles">{{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | year=2000|edition=4th | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}</ref>
*'''[[World Wrestling Council]]'''
**[[WWC Television Championship]] ([[WWC Television Championship#Title history|1 time]])
*'''Xtreme Maximum Championship Wrestling'''
**XMCW Legends And Superstars Championship (1 time)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Tom Brandi}}
{{Portal|Professional wrestling}}
* {{IMDb name|0104658|Tom Brandi}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}
*{{IMDb name|0104658|Tom Brandi}}


{{Navboxes|
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
|list1=
| NAME = Brandi, Tom
{{ECW World Tag Team Championship}}
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Sincere, Salvatore; Patriot, The; Gunn, Johnny
{{IWA Mid-South Heavyweight Championship}}
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = professional wrestler
{{NWA National Heavyweight Championship}}
| DATE OF BIRTH = July 9, 1966
{{WWC World Junior Heavyweight Championship}}
| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
{{WWC Television Championship}}
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sincere, Salvatore}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sincere, Salvatore}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:21st-century American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American people of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers of Italian descent]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers of Italian descent]]
[[Category:ECW World Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:NWA National Heavyweight Champions]]
[[Category:Entertainers from Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:WWC Television Champions]]

Latest revision as of 05:28, 13 November 2024

Salvatore Sincere
Sincere in 2009
Birth nameThomas Brandi
Born (1966-07-09) July 9, 1966 (age 58)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Johnny Gunn
Salvatore Sincere
Tom Brandi
The Patriot
Billed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Billed weight270 lb (120 kg)[1]
Billed fromItaly
By way of The Bronx
Trained byKing Kaluha
Debut1985[1]

Thomas Brandi (born July 9, 1966) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation from 1996 to 1998 under the ring name Salvatore Sincere. Brandi is also known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling as Johnny Gunn.

Professional wrestling career

[edit]

Early career (1985–1992)

[edit]

Brandi debuted in 1985 after being trained by indy 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.

World Championship Wrestling (1992-1993)

[edit]

In World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Brandi went by Johnny Gunn. He achieved some of the most notable moments in his career while teaming with Tom Zenk. At Halloween Havoc 1992, Brandi partnered with Shane Douglas and Tom Zenk to defeat Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, and Michael Hayes.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993)

[edit]

Brandi later joined Extreme Championship Wrestling and teamed with Tommy Dreamer to capture the ECW Tag Team Championships. They captured the titles from Johnny Hotbody and Tony Stetson in only nine seconds. Less than a month later, the pair would lose the titles to The Tazmaniac (later Taz) and Kevin Sullivan. Having suffered an injury, Gunn was replaced with Shane Douglas for a night, who turned on Dreamer to cost them the tag belts.[2]

American Wrestling Federation (1995)

[edit]

In 1995, he competed for the short lived American Wrestling Federation (AWF) 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.

United States Wrestling Federation (1995)

[edit]

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 (1996–1998)

[edit]

He then went to the World Wrestling Federation. He was one of a series of "jobbers with gimmicks" brought into the WWF in 1996 to help elevate the company's stars, alongside Alex "The Pug" Pourteau, Freddie Joe Floyd, the Goon, and T. L. Hopper. He debuted in July 1996 as "Salvatore Sincere," a villainous stereotypical Bronx Italian/Mafioso character clad in pink and white who falsely claimed to be sincere and to "love" everyone. He appeared at the 1996 Survivor Series and In Your House: It's Time, where he wrestled in dark matches. He also worked matches with some of the WWF's top names at the time, including Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, and Dwayne Johnson (billed as "Rocky Maivia" during his debut match in the WWF with Salvatore).

He briefly feuded with Marc Mero over valet Sable in 1997. 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. He lost to Jeff Jarrett in his last televised match on March 17, 1998 episode of Monday Night Raw. Brandi left the WWF that April.

Return to the independent circuit (1998–present)

[edit]
Brandi performing as the Patriot in 2019

Since leaving the WWF, Brandi has wrestled on the independent circuit under both the Brandi and Sincere names, and sometimes wrestles or does autograph signings under a mask as The Patriot,[3] although without the permission of the original Patriot, Del Wilkes.[4]

Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Tom Brandi's Online World of Wrestling profile".
  2. ^ "Kaye, Griffin (2022-06-22). "10 Times Wrestlers Defended Another Competitor's Title". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved 2022-07-25". June 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "TOM BRANDI RESPONDS TO DEL WILKES OVER USAGE OF 'THE PATRIOT' CHARACTER ON INDEPENDENTS | PWInsider.com". www.pwinsider.com. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  4. ^ "411Mania".
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^ "Independent Wrestling Association Mid-South Heavyweight Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
[edit]
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