Wrestling Brutus Beefcake in Florida-A Surreal Moment in My Career: By Andy Baker aka Andreas Rossi.

Looking back on my time in Tampa, Florida, one experience still stands out as completely surreal — and that was the night I ended up wrestling WWE legend Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.

At the time, I was working in Florida Underground Wrestling (NWA FUW) and holding the tag team titles with my partner. But wrestling doesn’t always go to plan. When my tag partner couldn’t make the show, I had to find a last-minute replacement. I ended up teaming with a young up-and-comer named Bucky, and what started as a simple title defense turned into one of the wildest nights of my wrestling career.

Before the match, I was invited to the ring for an interview with Brutus himself. Growing up watching WWF, I’d seen Brutus on TV alongside my childhood hero Hulk Hogan — so standing in the same ring with him felt surreal enough. But then it got heated. I declared that Bucky and I would defend the tag titles that night against James Alexander and JD Maverick, and warned Brutus to stay out of my business.

Naturally, he didn’t.

During the match, I saw a chance to secure the win and tried to hit JD Maverick with one of our belts — but Brutus intervened, snatched the belt, and clocked me with it. We lost the match and the titles because of him.

Fuming, I went after Brutus post-match. But he was ready. He locked me in his classic sleeper hold and, true to his gimmick, gave me an impromptu haircut right there in the ring.

Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake shop with Andreas Rossi (Andy Baker) Plus NWA FUW Tag Title Match 2013

That moment led to a one-on-one match between us a couple of weeks later. I gave it everything I had. I even managed to lift Brutus for a slam, but he countered with a roll-up and scored the pinfall.

Andy Baker aka Andreas Rossi Vs WWE Legend Brutus The Barber Beefcake 2013 Tampa, FL. FUW Wrestling.

Although I lost, it was a moment I’ll never forget. Out of character, it meant the world to me to share the ring with someone I grew up watching. Not long after I moved to Tampa, I was also lucky enough to meet Hulk Hogan backstage at a TNA Impact Wrestling taping in Orlando. For a lad from the UK who dreamed of wrestling, it felt like everything was coming full circle.

To top it off, Brutus’ wife reached out to me the week after our match and said he had spoken very highly of me. That he thought I was talented. That message meant a lot. I never considered myself the flashiest in-ring performer, but I always prided myself on knowing the business and telling a story.

Wrestling has given me some amazing experiences, and this one was right up there. It’s just a shame I couldn’t stay in Florida longer, as life took me back to the UK after my marriage ended. Still, I’ll always be grateful for moments like this — when the kid who grew up watching WWF got to wrestle one of the legends he used to cheer for.

Life can be strange sometimes… but I’ve always believed what you put into the world comes back to you.

Andy

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Andy Baker aka Andreas Rossi

Former Pro Wrestler and Wrestling Coach.

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