Michael Davis (born November 1, 1944), best known by the ring names Bugsy McGraw and The Skull , is an American retired professional wrestler . [ 1 ] McGraw is known for his long beard and for his philosophical, crazed rants during wrestling interviews. He was a major star in significant territories during the 1970s and 1980s, including major runs in Vancouver, Australia, Florida, Dallas and Memphis. Professional wrestling career Early career (1967–1981) Davis started his career as "The Big O" in 1967 in Florida, Detroit, and Central States Wrestling, wrestling under a mask. In 1971, he competed in Florida as "Beautiful Brutus", first managed by The Great Malenko , who he would go on to feud with after firing Malenko as his manager. Beautiful Brutus went on to defeat Malenko for the NWA Brass Knuckles Championship . Their feud led to a bloody series of matches across the Florida territory. In the mid 1970's he wrestled as The Brute in Gene Kiniski's All Star Wrestling in British Columbia and held their version of the Canadian Heavyweight title. Under the name "Bugsy McGraw", he wrestled all over the world, including a brief stay in the World Wide Wrestling Federation . But his reputation was primarily built in Florida, where career highlights included beating Dusty Rhodes for the NWA Florida Television Championship and Don Muraco for the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship in 1980. McGraw also feuded with major Florida stars Barry Windham, Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk . Texas (1981–1982) In late 1981, McGraw moved to Texas and World Class Championship Wrestling became a huge star there, first as a babyface feuding with Great Kabuki and defeating him for the NWA American Heavyweight Championship . He also competed as a heel, feuding with Bruiser Brody , Kerry Von Erich , and Kevin Von Erich . He also wrestled in a Body Slam Battle Royal, losing to André the Giant at Texas Stadium in 1982. McGraw wrestled in Memphis in the early 1980s in CWA mostly as a member of Jimmy Hart 's heel First Family stable. For part of his run as a heel, he was part of the heel stable of wrestlers managed by the managerial team of H&H (Armand Hussein and Gary Hart ). McGraw made a face turn once again after both of his H&H managers turned on him, later defeating them in a handicap match at Wrestling Star Wars in August 1982. Jim Crockett Promotions (1983) After leaving Texas, McGraw would go to several territories, finally settling in Jim Crockett Promotions in North Carolina. He feuded with The Assassins , teaming mostly with Rufus R. Jones . McGraw and Jones won the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship and wrestled in the first Starrcade event, losing to The Assassins. Championship Wrestling from Florida (1985–1987) McGraw returned to the promotion he had the longest and most prominent run in, Championship Wrestling from Florida , and would start off in a big angle with the Fabulous Freebirds turning heel right away and jumping Mike Graham only to have him make the save and get the feud rolling often teaming with Mike Graham and Brian Blair and later Wahoo McDaniel . The Freebirds would eventually leave Florida and along with Blackjack Mulligan would feud with Percy Pringle , team of The Missing Link , The Assassin , and Abdullah the Butcher . He would have one more feud with Rip Rogers that would have Rip Rogers valet giving him a bottle with something in it to blind McGraw in early 1986. He would not be seen for over a year and would return in 1987 once again with Blackjack Mulligan feuding with Kevin Sullivan only to have Sullivan become a babyface to feud with Oliver Humperdink and Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk . Florida would later on merge and be absorbed by Jim Crockett Promotions and even with a brief teaming with Jimmy Valiant he would not be held on to by The Crocketts and would be let go. Later career (1987–1991, 2004–2005) He would show up for several independent promotions and would even join the reformed Florida Championship Wrestling as a heel and feud with old partner Blackjack Mulligan . He would retire from active competition in 1991. He would return to the ring a few times. On October 30, 2004 U of Virginia Children’s Medical Center Benefit Show Bugsy McGraw beat Masked Superstar . And January 29, 2005 at WrestleReunion participated in a Legends Battle Royal that was won by Greg Valentine. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2009) On the June 18, 2009, edition of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling 's Impact! television show Davis appeared as the new head of security hired by Mick Foley . [ 1 ] After retiring from full-time wrestling, Davis enrolled in nursing school in 1988 and subsequently worked as a registered nurse for more than 20 years before retiring from nursing in 2014. While working as a nurse, he assisted with the care of Jack Brisco during the former world champion's health difficulties following open-heart surgery. [ 2 ] On March 26, 2019, the release of Bugsy McGraw's autobiography was announced through a partnership between WOHW Publishing and the Darkstream Press imprint. The book was coauthored by Ian Douglass, the writer of Dan Severn 's autobiography and a contributing writer of Hornswoggle 's autobiography. It also included a foreword by Rocky Johnson and an afterword from Brian Blair . Davis insisted on using the two-G spelling of his wrestling name on the cover of the book, which he said he always tried to use in place of the one-G spelling for the sake of "being different." [ 3 ] The book finished sixth in the voting for the Wrestling Observer Newsletter 's Best Pro Wrestling Book of 2019. In the process, it received the highest number of votes of any independently published pro wrestling autobiography released during that year. [ 4 ] Championships and accomplishments American Wrestling Association AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) AWA Midwest Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) NWA United States Heavyweight Championship ( San Francisco version ) ( 1 time ) [ 5 ] [ 6 ] NWA United States Heavyweight Championship ( San Francisco version ) ( 1 time ) [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) ( 1 time ) [ 7 ] NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) [ 8 ] NWA Florida Tag Team Championship ( 2 time ) - with Pak Song (1) and Thor The Viking (1) [ 9 ] NWA Florida Television Championship ( 3 times ) [ 10 ] NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) ( 1 time ) - with Dusty Rhodes [ 11 ] NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) ( 1 time ) [ 7 ] NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) [ 8 ] NWA Florida Tag Team Championship ( 2 time ) - with Pak Song (1) and Thor The Viking (1) [ 9 ] NWA Florida Television Championship ( 3 times ) [ 10 ] NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) ( 1 time ) - with Dusty Rhodes [ 11 ] Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship ( 1 time ) - with Rufus R. Jones [ 12 ] NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship ( 1 time ) - with Rufus R. Jones [ 12 ] NWA All-Star Wrestling NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ( Vancouver version ) ( 3 times ) - with Mike Webster (1), Gene Kiniski (1) and Mr. X (1) [ 13 ] NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) ( 1 time ) [ 14 ] NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ( Vancouver version ) ( 3 times ) - with Mike Webster (1), Gene Kiniski (1) and Mr. X (1) [ 13 ] NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) ( 1 time ) [ 14 ] NWA Big Time Wrestling / World Class Championship Wrestling NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) [ 15 ] [ 16 ] NWA American Tag Team Championship ( 1 time ) - with King Kong Bundy [ 17 ] [ 18 ] NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) ( 3 times ) [ 19 ] WCCW Television Championship ( 1 time ) [ 20 ] [ 21 ] NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship ( 1 time ) [ 15 ] [ 16 ] NWA American Tag Team Championship ( 1 time ) - with King Kong Bundy [ 17 ] [ 18 ] NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) ( 3 times ) [ 19 ] WCCW Television Championship ( 1 time ) [ 20 ] [ 21 ] NWA Tri-State NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) ( 1 time ) [ 22 ] NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) ( 1 time ) - with Dr. X [ 23 ] NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) ( 1 time ) [ 22 ] NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) ( 1 time ) - with Dr. X [ 23 ] World Championship Wrestling NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship ( 2 times ) - with Butcher Brannigan (1) and Mario Milano (1) [ 24 ] World Brass Knuckles Championship [ 25 ] NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship ( 2 times ) - with Butcher Brannigan (1) and Mario Milano (1) [ 24 ] World Brass Knuckles Championship [ 25 ] Wrestling Observer Newsletter Worst On Interviews (1987) Worst Tag Team (1987) with Jimmy Valiant Worst On Interviews (1987) Worst Tag Team (1987) with Jimmy Valiant Other titles (Montreal) International Tag Team Championship (1 time) SWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jumping Jack Flash [ 1 ] (Montreal) International Tag Team Championship (1 time) SWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Jumping Jack Flash [ 1 ] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Wrestler Profiles: Bugsy McGraw" . Online World of Wrestling . Retrieved May 5, 2008 . ↑ Russo, Ric (December 22, 2000). "WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO . . . BUGSY MCGRAW?" . OrlandoSentinel.com . ↑ "411MANIA" . Buggsy McGraw Autobiography Now Available . ↑ @BulletClubIta (March 6, 2020). "5. The Mid Atlantic Championship by Dick Bourne 20 6. Brute Power by Bugsy McGraw 17 7. Behind the Curtain by Jim…" ( Tweet ) – via Twitter . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA United States Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 295– 296. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Hoops, Brian (January 15, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/15): Big John Studd wins 1989 Royal Rumble" . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . Retrieved January 18, 2019 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 159– 160. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Florida Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 158– 159. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Florida Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 160– 161. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Television Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 159– 160. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA United States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 163. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Atlantic Coast Tag Team Title / NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 115. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Canadian Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 332– 333. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Pacific Coast Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 334. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Texas: NWA / World Class American Heavyweight Title [Von Eric]". Wrestling Title Histories . Archeus Communications. pp. 265– 266. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ "NWA United States Heavyweight Title (1967-1968/05) - American Heavyweight Title (1968/05-1986/02)" . Wrestling-Titles . Retrieved December 26, 2019 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 267– 268. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ "N.W.A. American Tag Team Title" . Wrestling-Titles.com . Retrieved January 19, 2020 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "World Class Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 270. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2000). "Texas: WCWA Television Title". Wrestling Title Histories . Archeus Communications. p. 396. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ "World Class Television Title" . Wrestling-titles.com . Retrieved November 19, 2016 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "North American Title / MSWA Mid-South Wrestling Association North American Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 231– 232. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA United States Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 232– 233. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Title". Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 425– 426. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4 . ↑ "World Brass Knuckles Title (Australia)" . www.wrestling-titles.com . Bugsy McGraw's profile at Cagematch The Dusek Family (Ernie Dusek and Emil Dusek) The Internationals ( Al Costello and Karl Von Brauner) The Von Erichs ( Fritz Von Erich and Waldo Von Erich ) Brute Bernard and Mike Paidousis Gary Hart and The Spoiler Billy Red Lyons and Fritz Von Erich The Spoilers ( Spoiler #1 and Spoiler #2 ) Fritz Von Erich and Grizzly Smith Dan Miller and Fritz Von Erich Fred Curry and Fritz Von Erich Thunderbolt Patterson and Wahoo McDaniel Baron von Raschke and Dusty Rhodes Boris Malenko and Lord Charles Montagne Antonio Pugliese and Wahoo McDaniel Great Malenko and Killer Karl Kox Killer Karl Kox and Mike York The Outlaws ( Dick Murdoch and Dusty Rhodes ) George Scott and Mr. Wrestling Bronko Lubich and Chris Markoff Johnny Valentine and Wahoo McDaniel Thunderbolt Patterson and Toru Tanaka Johnny Valentine and Thunderbolt Patterson Dean Ho and Fritz Von Erich Dean Ho and Red Bastien Brute Bernard and The Missouri Mauler Mark Lewin and The Spoiler Ivan Putski and José Lothario Black Gordman and Great Goliath José Lothario and Mil Máscaras The Blackjacks ( Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan ) Ken Patera and Tex McKenzie Johnny Valentine and Tex McKenzie The Von Erichs ( David Von Erich and Kevin Von Erich ) El Halcón and José Lothario El Gran Markus and Gino Hernandez José Lothario and Tiger Conway Jr. Mr. Hito and Mr. Sakurada El Halcón and Kevin Von Erich Gary Young and Gino Hernandez Bruiser Brody and Kerry Von Erich Al Madril and Brian Blair Killer Tim Brooks and Armand Hussein Chan Chung and The Great Kabuki Kerry Von Erich and Terry Orndorff Al Madril and Kerry Von Erich Bugsy McGraw and King Kong Bundy

The Von Erichs ( Kerry Von Erich and Kevin Von Erich ) Bill Irwin and King Kong Bundy Fabulous Freebirds ( Terry Gordy and Michael Hayes ) Bulldog Brower and Roddy Piper The Super Destroyers /The Long Riders ( Super Destroyer #1/Bill Irwin and Super Destroyer #2/Scott Irwin ) Brian Adias and King Parsons Rock 'N Soul ( Buck Zumhofe and King Parsons ) Fantastics ( Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers ) The Midnight Express ( Bobby Eaton and Dennis Condrey ) Chris Adams and Gino Hernandez Buzz Sawyer and Matt Borne Dingo Warrior and Lance Von Erich Brian Adias and Al Madril Eric Embry and Frank Lancaster The Simpson Brothers ( Shaun Simpson and Steve Simpson ) Brian Adias and Frank Lancaster Iceman Parsons and Terry Taylor Samoan SWAT Team ( Fatu and Samu ) Michael Hayes and Steve Cox Robert Fuller and Jimmy Golden Jeff Jarrett and Kerry Von Erich Cactus Jack and Super Zodiac II Jeff Jarrett and Mil Máscaras Brian Lee and Robert Fuller Jeff Jarrett and Matt Borne Cactus Jack and Scott Braddock The Great Kabuki Kevin Von Erich Billy Jack Haynes Mark Youngblood Lance Von Erich Fritz Von Erich Johnny Valentine Baron von Raschke Billy Red Lyons The Missouri Mauler Blackjack Lanza Kevin Von Erich Kerry Von Erich The Masked Superstar The Great Kabuki King Kong Bundy Iceman King Parsons Tatsumi Fujinami Magnificent Zulu The Executioner Whipper Watson Jr. Gorgeous George Jr. The Dream Machine Jimmy Jack Funk Jacques Rougeau Sabu the Wildman Korstia Korchenko Man Mountain Link Bota the Witch Doctor The Great Kabuki Jeremiah Plunkett (current) Verne Gagne and Wilbur Snyder Bill Longson and Ike Eakins El Médico and Pepper Gomez The Fabulous Kangaroos ( Al Costello and Roy Heffernan ) Pepper Gomez and Rito Romero Duke Keomuka and Mr. Moto Ciclone Anaya and Pepper Gomez Joe Christie and Man Mountain Managoff Adnon Kaisy and Hogan Wharton Danny McShain and Joe Christie Pepper Gomez and Torbellino Blanco Pepper Gomez and Wilbur Snyder Dory Dixon and Rito Romero Duke Keomuka and Tony Martin Dory Dixon and Pepper Gomez The Dalton Brothers (Jack Dalton and Jim Dalton) Ciclón Negro and Dory Dixon The Kozak Brothers (Jerry Kozak and Nick Kozak) The Alaskan and Tarzan Tyler Duke Keomuka and Taro Miyake Mike Clancy and Red McKim Ciclon Negro and Oscar Salazar Ivan the Terrible and Tony Borne Bull Curry and Lucas Pertano Rip Hawk and Rock Hunter Von Brauners (Karl Von Brauner and Kurt Von Brauner ) Ciclon Negro and Ricki Starr Fritz Von Erich and Killer Karl Kox Duke Keomuka and Kanji Inoki The Destroyer and Golden Terror Duke Keomuka and Fritz Von Erich The Internationals ( Al Costello and Karl Von Brauner ) Danny Miller and Nick Kozak Nick Bockwinkel and Ricky Romero Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk The Infernos ( Inferno #1 and Inferno #2) Chati Yokouchi and Mr. Ito Ali Mustafa and Hercules Ayala Von Erichs ( David Von Erich and Kevin Von Erich ) Chan Chung and The Great Kabuki Kerry Von Erich and Terry Orndorff Bill Irwin and Frank Dusek Al Madril and Kerry Von Erich Bill Irwin and Bugsy McGraw 20th-century male professional wrestlers 20th-century American professional wrestlers American male professional wrestlers American nurses NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Champions NWA Brass Knuckles Champions (Florida version) NWA Florida Heavyweight Champions NWA Florida Tag Team Champions NWA Florida Television Champions NWA United States Tag Team Champions (Florida version) Professional wrestlers from Florida WCWA Brass Knuckles Champions World Brass Knuckles Champions NWA World Tag Team Champions (Texas version) WCWA Television Champions WCWA World Heavyweight Champions WCWA World Tag Team Champions NWA United States Heavyweight Champions (San Francisco version) NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Champions Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use American English from February 2023 All Wikipedia articles written in American English Use mdy dates from February 2023