Butcher Brannigan
Joseph Novo (September 3, 1948 – September 6, 2009) was an American professional wrestler. He is known for his appearances with promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Florida, IWA Australia, World Wide Wrestling Federation and Stampede Wrestling in the 1970s and early 1980s. Professional wrestling career. Early career (1970-1971). Novo made his wrestling debut in 1970. In the summer of 1972 he went to Japan to work for Japan Wrestling Association World Wide Wrestling Federation (1971-1972). In 1971 he made his debut as in the New York for the World Wide Wrestling Federation as Joe Nova who  worked as a jobber. He would have matches against Gorilla Monsoon, Jimmy Valiant, and Chuck O'Connor. Championship Wrestling from Florida (1972-1973). Novo would wrestle as Joe Nova from Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1972. He would feud with Bob Orton Jr., Tony Garea, and Frank Hester. World Class Championship Wrestling (1973). In 1973 he went to Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling in Texas. He wrestled as Butcher Brannigan. He scored a victory over the Khosrow Vaziri on October 23 who later became known the Iron Sheik. Return to World Wide Wrestling Federation (1973-1975). He would  return to the Northeast as Butcher Brannigan and later Butcher Nova. He feuded with Spiros Arion. He wrestled at Madison Square Garden on April 14, 1975 as he lost to Édouard Carpentier. He left the company later that year. Stampede Wrestling (1975-1976). In 1975 he went to Calgary, Alberta for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling. On December 12, he lost in the tournament final to Frankie Laine for the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship. In 1976 he also appeared briefly in the television series "Starsky and Hutch" (Season 1 Episode 2 - "Texas Longhorn"). He is credited as "The Wrestler