Bad News Brown is the latest name to join this year’s WWE Hall of Fame class.
Brown, also known as Allen Coage, had a 21-year in-ring career, including a notable run as part of the WWF.
After earning a bronze medal in Judo at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Brown transitioned to a career in professional wrestling. Trained by Antonio Inoki, he made his in-ring debut just a year later, wrestling for NJPW under the name Buffalo Allen.
Brown would continue to wrestle with NJPW for the next decade, also working dates for Stampede Wrestling as Bad News Allen and around the U.S. territories as well. He had a feud with Bret Hart in the 80s as part of a run that saw him put together four reigns as the Stampede North American Heavyweight Champion.
Brown joined the WWF roster in 1988, beginning what would be a three-year run in total. He was featured in numerous big spotlights during that time, winning a battle royal at Wrestlemania IV, having a brief world title rivalry with Randy Savage, and appearing on a pair of Survivor Series cards.
Brown left the WWF in 1990. He would continue to wrestle for the next decade, briefly returning to NJPW and performing around North America. He was part of a Stampede Wrestling revival in 1999, where he served as a member of the broadcast team alongside Mauro Ranallo.
The wrestler passed away at 63 years old in 2007 after suffering a heart attack.
Brown is joining a Hall of Fame class that also includes Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, Demolition, Sycho Sid, and Dennis Rodman. The ceremony will take place on April 17 at the Dolby Live theater in Las Vegas, Nevada.
