Danie Brits was a South African
professional wrestler
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
and former
South African Heavyweight Champion, known for his work in many of South Africa's major promotions in the past and for his 1980s stint as ''The Masked Tornado''.
Career
Early career
Danie Brits was an accomplished
amateur wrestler
Amateur wrestling is a variant of wrestling practiced in collegiate, school, or other amateur level competitions. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games: freestyle and Greco-Roman. Both styles are under the ...
and
judoka
is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyclopedia Nipponica, "Judo"). ...
before entering
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
. Prior to the 1990s, doing professional wrestling and amateur wrestling at the same time in South Africa was forbidden. Due to his devotion to both
sports
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, th ...
and being one of the top amateur wrestling competitors in the country, Brits wrestled under a mask upon his professional wrestling debut in 1983, going by the names ''Tornado'' and ''The Masked Tornado''.
Bronco Universal Promotions/Interworld Wrestling Promotions (1983–92)
Danie Brits made his ring debut in 1983 for Bronco Universal Promotions which was operated by legendary
promoter Bull Hefer. On 28 November 1987, Danie Brits challenged unsuccessfully for the World Middleweight Title against
Gama Singh
Gadowar Singh Sahota (Punjabi: ਗਦੋਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ); born December 8, 1954) is an Indo-Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler known as Gama Singh (Punjabi: ਗਾਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ) and Great Gama Sahota was a villa ...
.
On 21 September 1989, Danie Brits teamed up with Danie Voges for the first time in over three years to take on Munro and Big Ox Baker at the Portuguese Hall for Interworld Wrestling Promotions.
He won the
South African Heavyweight Title from Danie Voges in June 1990, becoming the sixth champion in the title's history.
Just prior to winning the championship he unmasked and started using his real name. The ''Tornado'' mask and gimmick was passed on to
Steve Debbes
Steve Debbes (born April 3, 1966), better known by his ring name Tornado, is a South African professional wrestler performing for World Wrestling Professionals. He is a 2-time WWP Heavyweight World Champion and the longest-reigning title holder ...
, who became ''Tornado II''.
All Stars Wrestling/International Wrestling Federation (1993–2004)
On 12 April 1993, he defeated
Gama Singh
Gadowar Singh Sahota (Punjabi: ਗਦੋਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ); born December 8, 1954) is an Indo-Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler known as Gama Singh (Punjabi: ਗਾਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ) and Great Gama Sahota was a villa ...
.
On 21 May 1994, Danie Brits teamed up with Giant Warrior who was his arch-rival at the time to defeat
Gama Singh
Gadowar Singh Sahota (Punjabi: ਗਦੋਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ); born December 8, 1954) is an Indo-Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler known as Gama Singh (Punjabi: ਗਾਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ) and Great Gama Sahota was a villa ...
and Danie Voges in a tag team match.
On 22 July 1994, Danie Brits teamed up with Danie Voges, losing to the American Wrecking Crew of
Robbie Rage
Robert J. Knapik (born 1970) is an American former professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Robbie Rage and as a part of the tag team High Voltage with Kenny Kaos.
Early life
...
and
Mike Fury at the
Sun City Superbowl in an inter-promotional supercard.
In September, 1995, Danie Brits received an injury to the eye after having an object thrown at him by a spectator in his All Stars Wrestling match with Giant Warrior, after which he was forced to have a major operation.
On 20 September 1996, Danie Brits wrestled the American
Man Mountain Rock
Darryl Peterson (born October 3, 1961) is an American musician, actor and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling as Maxx Payne, and in the World Wrestling Federation as Man Mountain Rock.
E ...
at an All Stars Wrestling show promoted by Paul Lloyd, father of
WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vario ...
star
Justin Gabriel
Phillip Paul Lloyd (born 3 March 1981) is a South African-American professional wrestler. He is best known for his time in WWE, under the ring name Justin Gabriel. He is currently wrestling under the ring name P. J. Black.
A second-generation ...
.
On 29 November 1997, Danie Brits took on and lost to Rage at the famed Orient Theatre in
East London
East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth.
Etymology
As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...
.
On 30 March 1999, Danie Brits faced
Gama Singh
Gadowar Singh Sahota (Punjabi: ਗਦੋਵਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਸਹੋਤਾ); born December 8, 1954) is an Indo-Canadian semi-retired professional wrestler known as Gama Singh (Punjabi: ਗਾਮਾ ਸਿੰਘ) and Great Gama Sahota was a villa ...
at the Orient Theatre in what would be their very last encounter.
World Wrestling Professionals (2004–07)
In 2004, he joined
World Wrestling Professionals
Champions Pro Wrestling (formerly World Wrestling Professionals) is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The promotion was televised in South Africa from 2004 to 2009 and internationally in 2009. CPW is owned by Mar ...
and was billed Danie ''"The Legend"'' Brits. He took part in the first and second seasons of
WWP Thunderstrike
Champions Pro Wrestling (formerly World Wrestling Professionals) is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The promotion was televised in South Africa from 2004 to 2009 and internationally in 2009. CPW is owned by Mar ...
, which was airing on national television in South Africa. He teamed up with his nephew Ananzi and won the
WWP Tag Team World Title
The WWP World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the South African professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving profession ...
. During a house show in
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
they caused a legitimate
riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property, or people.
Riots typically involve destruction of property, public or private. The property targete ...
and were forced out of the building by
police escort
A police escort, also known as a law enforcement escort, is a service offered by police and law enforcement to assist in transporting important individuals or resources.
This is done by means of assigning police vehicles, primarily cars or motor ...
.
Danie Brits failed to show up at one of the second season tapings due to illness and was thus relieved of his title status. In 2007, Danie Brits retired after a 20-year career in professional wrestling.
Personal life
Danie Brits is the uncle of
World Wrestling Professionals
Champions Pro Wrestling (formerly World Wrestling Professionals) is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The promotion was televised in South Africa from 2004 to 2009 and internationally in 2009. CPW is owned by Mar ...
wrestler Ananzi and is the half-brother of former tag team partner and rival Danie Voges.
In July 2009, he was honoured at an African Punishment Wrestling Association event at Danie van Zyl Recreation Centre for his achievements in South African
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring o ...
. He donated the original Tornado mask to the promotion's academy.
He died on 3 September 2020 at 55.
Championships and accomplishments
*All Stars Wrestling/International Wrestling Federation
**IWF Heavyweight Title
**IWF Tag Team Titles (w/ Danie Voges)
*Bronco Universal Promotions
**
South African Heavyweight Title
*Universal Wrestling Federation
**UWF South African Heavyweight Title
**UWF Middleweight Title
*World Confederation of Wrestling
**WCA World Title
*
World Wrestling Professionals
Champions Pro Wrestling (formerly World Wrestling Professionals) is a South African professional wrestling promotion created in 2002. The promotion was televised in South Africa from 2004 to 2009 and internationally in 2009. CPW is owned by Mar ...
**
WWP Tag Team World Title
The WWP World Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling championship in the South African professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving profession ...
(w/ Ananzi)
*
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American internationally sold professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publish ...
**PWI ranked him #302 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in 1994
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brits, Danie
South African male professional wrestlers
2020 deaths
1965 births