Boo: Beefcake's Identity Crisis

The Zodiac
Photo from WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperer & @my123cents on Twitter

Ed Leslie has played several characters through his wrestling career.  No doubt, Brutus Beefcake was the most successful and recognizable of his gimmicks.  When he left the WWF after nearly a decade, he continued the character, under the name Brother Bruti and teamed with Hulk Hogan.  After turning on the Hulkster he went through a series of personality changes, including one of the most ridiculous of all time, The Zodiac.

The character was a member of Kevin Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom.  Zodiac had oddly spiked hair and wore black and white face paint, tights, and arm guards (I'm drawing a blank on what the gear is actually called).  Honestly, he looked silly, but it was that era of gimmicky wrestler.  The Dungeon was supposed to be a band of monsters all hell bent on destroying Hulkamania, but they were more laughable than scary in my opinion.

The Zodiac & The Giant
Photo from WWE

When he was introduced to the world, the Master said Zodiac didn't know pleasure or pain.  He walked in the dark and the light.  Zodiac was said to be the key of the Dungeon.  It was hinted that he was Beefcake, as he was also described as the "brother of light", implying the relationship between Hogan and Beefcake through the years (or maybe I read to much into the character)

Other than a series of tag team and multi-man matches, I don't remember much of Zodiac's in ring career.  He eventually left the group and turned face, becoming the Booty Man.  I've said it before, I'll say it again, I don't understand why WCW pulled him away from that Barber image.  He was extremely popular in WWF, but I felt like he floundered at best when he signed with WCW.  I'll admit I was a big Beefcake fan back in the day, but could never get behind any of his many personas in WCW, especially the Zodiac.