Dark Side of the Ring - The Assassination of Dino Bravo FULL RECAP
Many may remember ‘Canada’s Strongest Man’ Dino Bravo from his run in the World Wrestling Federation in the late ’80s and early ’90s, but few could have ever predicted that his life would come to a horrific end due to a mafia-style execution. While not widely known as the tales of Chris Benoit or even Jimmy Snuka, this is one that has baffled fans for decades, making it a perfect tale for the newest episode of Dark Side Of The Ring.
As always, we are once again treated to the narration of Le Champion Chris Jericho.
Interview subjects include Jimmy Hart, Jacques Rougeau, Dino’s daughter Claudia Bresciano , her mother and Dino’s wife Diane Rivest, wrestling historian Patric Laprade, International Wrestling promoter Tony Mule, former wrestler and International Wrestling promoter Gino Brito, crime reporter Andre Cedilot, crime reporter Claude Poirier and in archive shoot interview footage, Rick Martel.
The early part of the documentary focuses on Dino’s early wrestling career in Montreal.
Rivest discusses how they met when he would come to the restaurant she worked at.
Discussion is moved to International Wrestling, the promotion based out of Quebec.
They discuss how, in the ’80s, Dino Bravo was the biggest star in a promotion that also featured King Tonga (aka Haku and Meng), the Rougeaus, Rick Martel, and at times Andre The Giant.
Dino was not only the top draw in the territory but also the co-owner and head booker.
Rougeau discusses tension in the promotion due to Bravo booking himself as the main attraction and star.
Rougeau discusses his frustration leading to his exodus to the WWF.
Laprade discusses how Vince McMahon knew he needed to have Bravo on board if he wanted to draw well in Quebec.
It is revealed that a match between Dino Bravo and Hulk Hogan was pitched in late 1985/early 1986 to take place in Montreal.
It would eventually fall apart due to the fear that Dino would be more popular than Hulk Hogan in his home territory.
Due to this, Dino was angry with the WWF and wanted to build International Wrestling to a level he could compete with the WWF, despite being unable to in any feasible way.
With all of the main stars leaving for the bright lights of the WWF, International Wrestling would fold, and Dino would join the WWF.
Dino wanted to take care of his family and signed a deal with the WWF worth a guaranteed $300,000 with the possibility of over $1 million.
Rougeau talks about how any issues between Dino and the others from his territory immediately went away upon his WWF arrival.
Bresciano discusses Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts coming to the house with his snake.
The discussion moves to Dino’s pairing with Jimmy ‘The Mouth Of The South’ Hart as his manager.
Rougeau calls Hart one of the best guys in the business.
Mule discusses building a house next to Dino and his family.
With Dino succeeding, he begins living a lavish lifestyle for himself and his family.
The discussion moves to Vince McMahon's character changes, including bleaching his hair and turning his heel.
Dino was ticked off and embarrassed at having to bleach his hair because the boys laughed at him.
Due to Dino’s broken English, it was clear that he would not succeed as a character and big merch seller.
As Dino got older, he was unhappy with his push and job with anyone who wasn’t conceived as a top star.
At the end of his contract in 1992, it was not renewed, and he left the business.
Jimmy Hart talks about how leaving the WWF was like going from the major leagues to a minor league contract (no mention of WCW, which was around at the time)
Dino did not want to give up his decadent lifestyle and would begin looking into other avenues of making money.
The discussion moves to the large organized crime syndicate in Montreal, initially run by Vic Cotroni.
Cotroni was a former wrestler in the ’30s and was Dino’s uncle.
The Cotroni family participated in alcohol and cigarette smuggling heavily.
They looked at Dino’s imposing figure and wanted him to work for them.
Dino became an Enforcer and Debt Collector for the mafia.
Dino’s temper is discussed, as he had a boiling temper.
A story about Dino beating up a member of the Quebec Nordiques as he and Rougeau were both die-hard Montreal Canadiens fans.
Brito claims that Dino was the kind of guy who, if he had a gun pointed at his head, would tell you to fire it because he would be coming for you if you didn’t.
Rivest discusses her serious worries about Dino’s new provocation.
Rougeau talks about getting a call from Dino to come to see him, which is odd as they are not close as friends. He told Dino that he would come to see him the next day.
That same night Dino was murdered, with Rougeau finding out about it on his way to see him.
The night of the murder, Diane had taken Claudia to ballet, returning at 12:30 AM and finding Dino’s body.
Upon finding Dino, Diane ran over with Claudia to tell Mule that Dino had been shot.
The discussion turns to his execution and how it seemed like Dino knew it was coming.
Dino was shot in the head seven times and in the body four times.
A handgun and machine gun are found at the scene. There was no sign of forced entry, and the door was unlocked.
The discussion moves to Dino’s funeral, with Claudia drawing a photo of her father’s casket.
Despite all the evidence pointing to a mafia-style execution, no leads were followed to a conclusive end.
Seventeen bullet casings were found on the floor.
In the same area where Bravo lived, there had been two other mafia-style executions. A mafia accountant and cigarette smuggler.
Poirier claims in the 48 hours following the murder, not a single piece of evidence was brought to the attention of the police.
Three days after, a container was found in the house containing contraband cigarettes and $55,000.
Poirier claims around that time, a truck was robbed containing roughly $50,000 and wonders if this could be linked to his death.
The discussion turns to Dino’s ties to the Native Reserves, where the contraband cigarettes came from.
Everyone around him knew that he was involved in cigarette smuggling.
Laprade claims Rick Martel was the only wrestler Dino told about his crime ties.
Martel declined to be interviewed for the documentary, but archive footage from a 2007 shoot interview is shown.
Martel discusses how someone in a rival crime group dealing in cocaine met with Dino about working together.
There was a $400,000 shipment that landed in a warehouse, and the police ended up seizing the warehouse.
When the group dealing with cocaine went to pick it up, they were stung by the police.
Dino claimed it would not have happened if they had gone on the first day, but Dino knew he screwed up and was expecting the worst.
Rougeau believes that the person who killed him had to be a friend.
Poirier believes it was the Natives from the Reserve.
Cedilot claims in all his years, he never saw the Natives execute someone off the reserve and believes it was a motorcycle gang possibly executing the contract on behalf of the Natives.
Claudia discusses her mother got rid of everything related to Dino’s wrestling career to purge themselves free of the grief.
The rest of the documentary moves to his loved ones and family discussing never having found out what happened and whether that is good or bad.
The Quebec police were asked to participate in the documentary but declined as the investigation is still considered open.
Likely the weakest episode so far of season two, but also understandable as the attempt to make a full-hour documentary on a crime that has almost nothing to it in terms of unfolding information is incredibly difficult. It’s clear that Dino was a loved figure among those in his life, and everyone seemed to like him, but sadly his life ended in a way leaving more questions than answers and nothing to discover to help with the questions. At this point in history, Dino is more remembered for how he died than anything he did in his wrestling career, which is sad as he had a relatively successful 22-year career.