Matt Jewell

Len Rossi and Bearcat Brown

Bearcat Brown. Under another name, Matt Jewell, Bearcat Brown worked “colored” matches for promoters Nick Gulas and Roy Welch in the mid-60s. He played the heel and Price Pullins was often his babyface opponent.

In 1969, as Bearcat Brown, he became one of the most popular wrestlers to ever appear in Birmingham when he formed a tag-team with Len Rossi and broke the color barrier on Boutwell Auditorium wrestling cards. They won the World Tag Title and packed Boutwell for the next three years with both black and white fans.

After Len Rossi’s career-ending accident in 1972, his son Joey began teaming with Bearcat. He also won titles with Don Carson and Johnny Walker.

Bearcat Brown also wrestled under the name Fatback Brown.

• Kayfabe Memories website
• Wrestling Classics website
• Wrestling Data website