Jim Brunzell

Jim Brunzell wrestled for American Wrestling Association (AWA) throughout the 1970s, primarily as a mid-card talent. In 1973, he made a cameo appearance sparring with Billy Robinson in the film, The Wrestler. On July 7, 1977, Greg Gagne and Brunzell defeated 'Black Jack' Lanza and 'Big Bad' Bobby Duncum, managed by Bobby Heenan, to win their first AWA World Tag Team Championship. They held the titles until September 1978, when they were stripped of the belts due to an injury that Brunzell incurred while playing in a charity softball game. The titles were awarded to Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens.
During the later half of the 1970s, he signed to wrestle for the Mid-Atlantic region and won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship twice, a significant title at the time.
Upon returning to AWA, Brunzell reformed his tag team with Greg Gagne, known as the "High Flyers", and was elevated to main event status. The tandem of Brunzell and Gagne held the AWA World Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions, feuding with teams like Jesse Ventura and Adrian Adonis and Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera. Brunzell remained with the AWA in both tag team and singles competition until 1985.
Brunzell then signed to wrestle with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as they continued their national expansion. Here, he formed the popular tag team, The Killer Bees, with another WWF newcomer, Brian Blair. Apparently, Verne and Greg Gagne felt somewhat betrayed by the move. Gagne even expressed his displeasure during an AWA broadcast, making subtle references to Brunzell's departure and his new gimmick.
Brunzell and Blair experienced moderate success while with the WWF. The two feuded with the likes of The Hart Foundation as well as the Funks, Jimmy Jack Funk & Hoss Funk, who they faced in front of over 74,000 fans at The Big Event. Their stay was also highlighted by a against Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik as part of WrestleMania III and a win at the inaugural Survivor Series on Thanksgiving Day 1987. The Killer Bees teamed together until Blair left the promotion in 1988. Brunzell continued in singles competition for a time, being used to put over newer talent like Curt Hennig and Damien Demento as later as a Raw episode in April 1993.