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Rusty Brooks

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Kurt Koski
BornFebruary 7, 1958
Denton, Texas, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Rusty Brooks
Masked Assassin
Super Duper Mario
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Billed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Trained byJim Isler and Boris Malenko
DebutOctober 31, 1982
Retired2002

Kurt Koski (b. February 7, 1958), better known by his ring name Rusty Brooks, is an American professional wrestler who has competed in North American independent promotions including International World Class Championship Wrestling, Florida Championship Wrestling, the National Wrestling Alliance and also appeared in the World Wrestling Federation during the mid-1980s as a preliminary wrestler. Trained by "Gentleman" Jim Isler and Boris "The Great" Malenko, he would later operate the "School of Hard Knocks" wrestling school with Malenko in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida whose students include Luna Vachon, Maximum Capacity, Billy Fives, Gangrel and Norman Smiley. Although still the owner, former students Flex Magnum, Big Daddy Gonzo and J.J. Kodiak run the day-to-day operations in Hollywood, Florida. He is also the father of Jeff "J-Dawg" Brooks who wrestles on the independent circiut in Florida.

A former foolball player for North Texas State, Brooks made his wrestling debut in Buddy Gilbert's World Wrestling Association against Steve Brody on October 31, 1982. Within two years, he signed with the World Wrestling Federation facing many of the top stars in the company including Tony Parisi, Junkyard Dog, Ricky Steamboat and then World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan as well as then World Tag Team Champions Barry Windham & Mike Rotundo and the British Bulldogs.

After leaving the WWF in late-1985, he competed on the independent circuit including a stint in ICW as Super Duper Mario. He would spend the next decade in various independent promotions winng numerous tag team titles with Dr. Red Roberts, Matt Otto, Jumbo Baretta, "Pretty Boy" Aldo Lane (Ricky Santana), "Soulman" Alex G. and Gangrel. In 1986-1987 he competed in Florida for Global Champ ionship Wrestling capturing the Global tag team titles with Jumbo Barretta from Dean and Joe Malenko. Brooks and Barretta where managed by the legendary Ox Baker and later Boris Malenko, fueding with The Soul Patrol and Malenko brothers.

He would meet with success with Future of Wrestling winning its heavyweight and hardcore titles during the late 1990s and was later presented the "wrestler of the Year" award by FOW. In 2001, he began teaming with Bobby Brooks as The Brooks' and later The Masked Assassins in FOW and the Independent Professional Wrestling Association. During his time in southern Florida, he also faced Hack Myers and former WWF wrestlers Barry Horowitz and Greg "The Hammer" Valentine before his retirement in 2002. Kurt now works at Premier Beverage Company in the shipping/receiving department.


Championships and accomplishments

  • PWI ranked him # 478 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1999
  • PWI ranked him # 469 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1994
  • PWI ranked him # 391 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993
  • FOW Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • FOW Hardcore Champion (1 time)
  • Other titles
  • WWA Atlantic Coast Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • DSWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • IPWA Southern Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • IPWA Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)