The Boston Herald is reporting that Brutus ‘The Barber’ Beefcake, whose real name is Ed Leslie, has checked himself into rehab after a terror scare at a Massachusetts Bay subway station.
Leslie, whose most noted in the wrestling industry for his friendship with, Hulk Hogan, and his run in the WWE as the ‘Dream Team’ with partner Greg “The Hammer” Valentine, was working for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority as a part-time fare collector at a ticket booth in the subway.
According to the Herald, Leslie left a bag of cocaine in the booth and a subway rider thought that it was anthrax. Due to terrorism fears, the building was evacuated.
MBTA Deputy Police Chief, Thomas McCarthy, told Laurel J. Sweet of the Herald that Leslie came clean to spare MBTA costumers and co-workers any more trouble.
They also reported that he was co-operative with the police.
Leslie worked in the then WWF now WWE in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. He was known for cutting the hair of his opponents after pinning them in the ring. In August 1985, he teamed with Greg “The Hammer” Valentine to win the WWF Tag Team Titles from Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo. The Dream Team lost the belts to the British Bulldogs after seven months.
In a parasailing accident he broke the bone structure in his face. He had to have surgery to repair it using over 100 metal plates. Brutus Beefcake reappeared on the scene of the WWF. He began a talk show through WWF called “The Barber Shop”. It featured many great moments including the break-up of the Rockers where Shawn Michaels threw his partner Marty Jannetty through the Barber Shop window.
He started wrestling with a special “mask” to secure his face. He even teamed with a formerly “retired” Hogan to wrestle against Ted DiBiase and I.R.S. (Michael Rotunda) at Wrestlemania IX. In 1993, Hogan went to WCW and Leslie followed.
He turned on Hogan and became “The Butcher” for a while, joining the Three Faces Of Fear. It was unsuccessful. Leslie then became The Zodiac, a member of the Dungeon of Doom. After that failed Leslie left WCW for a brief hiatus, before returning in 1996 as The Booty Man.
In February 1998, the Disciple appeared by the side of Hollywood Hogan. He had a brief feud with Diamond Dallas Page. His job was to save Hogan. After that he joined the Ultimate Warrior in a feud against Hogan. In December of ’98 all three were gone from the WCW.
In May ’00 Leslie appeared in the Extreme Wrestling Federation (EWF). He had a 25-minute match with their new Television Champion, Rex Diamond, which ended in a no contest. He is supposed to appear at the Wrestlemania 1 tribute held by Fan Slam Fest.
“I didn’t hear anything about Ed,” said Tommy Fierro, Promoter of Fan Slam. “He would notify me if he was unable to attend.”
The tribute is the day before Wrestlemania 20, March 13, in New Jersey.
There is no word yet from his wife or from fellow wrestlers.
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