SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Silent Brian Mackney
|
|
Silent Brian Mackney on the way to the ring in the late '80s.
|
REAL NAME: Brian Mackney
BORN: September 10, 1948 in Hamilton, Ontario
5'10", 250 pounds
Silent Brian Mackney is best known for his silence.
The Hamilton-born Mackney is mute, you see.
It didn't stop him from getting into the pro wrestling game, however.
He started wrestling in 1972 under the guidance of Love Brother Johnny Evans. Mackney had always been a wrestling fan, particularly of
Johnny Powers.
During his 26 years in the business, he wrestled in the U.S., Japan, Canada, often dressing in kilts to show off his Scottish heritage. Mackney was primarily booked out of
Frank & Jack Tunney's Toronto wrestling office.
Mackney was really never more than an opening match wrestler, but was a well-known figure around the southern Ontario wrestling circle.
Memories
About the only memories I have of "Silent" Brian are those of watching him
get pummelled almost every week on the WWF's "Maple Leaf Wrestling" show
during the '80s. Though my friends and I joked about his apparent
ineptitude in the ring back then, I now have a newfound respect for the
man, knowing that he is mute, but still managed to become a pro wrestler in
a big-name promotion. I had always wondered why Brian was "Silent"...now I
know, and all I can say is, "Well done."
Sean W.
I remenber every Saturday I would watch Maple Leaf Wrestling on CHCH
(now known as OnTV) in the mid 80's and seeing Brian Mackney getting the
crap kicked out of him week after week. Most of the matches resulted in
the Silent One getting pumbled without as much as one move on his part.
But there was one match in particular where Brian faced Terry Funk and
he managed to mount a comeback. He actually woke the crowd up and they
(the Brantford wrestling fans) were cheering and going nuts because all
Brian was known for was being a punching bag. Anyways, his comeback was
short lived as Terry Funk put out Brian with his finisher ....The
Sleeperhold. I can't remember any wrestler on that program who had the
tar beat out of him more then Silent Brian. I don't know who made me
laugh the hardest Johnny K-9 or Silent Brian.
Yardape_99@webtv.net
P.S. Brian didn't seem to have a fondness for the sun. In the winter he
was sooooo pasty white and in the summer he had a farmer's tan. Man that
guy made me laugh.
Brian Mackney A.K.A Punching bag
I really admire the heart of Brian. Yes he made me laugh a lot in the
Brantford wrestling days, but he went in there week after week and got
demolished. What I really remember is his wild hair. Big bushy hair and a
part at the side.
I wonder what he's up to today? I say bring back "the silent one"
one more time,say against the "Rock".
But thanks for the memories and the heart of a lion Brian.
Kevin Galloway
Of all the horrible punching bags I have ever witnessed, Brian Mackney has
to be one of them. In the 15 years that I watched him wrestle, I don't think
that he even came close to winning a bout. I think that the man has one of
the worst winning percentages in all of pro wrestling. The only tan that
Brian ever received was from the hot, bright lights that shone down while he
was lying on his back in the middle of the ring.
Mackneys's bouts were grouped into two categories: horrible and brutal. A
horrible Mackney bout would consist of him throwing one punch or missing a
flying dropkick and lasting under 2 minutes. A brutal bout occurred when
Mackney lasted over 2 minutes, which did not occur often! Opponents like the
late John Studd, King Kong Bundy, Paul Orndorff, Ox Baker, The Original
Sheik, and Brute Bernard usually used poor Brian to wipe up the floor.
Mackney's greatest claim to fame in wrestling was probaly his "acting
career". Silent appeared in the classic 1978 wrestling cult movie "Blood and
Guts". He joined fellow wrestlers Reginald Love, Terry Yorkston, Danny
Johnston, and Farmer Pete in this Canadian "classic".
Thanks Brian for giving me many laughs over your wrestling career!...
You also made my all time punching bag top ten!!
1. Frankie Williams
2. Alex Girard
3. Brian Mackney
4. Jim Waddell
5. Rudy Diamond
6. Jeff Craney
7. Tim Gerrard
8. Big Mac
9. Bobby Blaine
10.Lee Wong
Robert B.
