Bruce Prichard

{{short description|American professional wrestling executive and podcaster}}
{{Infobox person
 | name             = Bruce Prichard 
 | image            = 
 | caption          = 
 | birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1963|3|7}}
 | birth_place      = [[El Paso, Texas]], U.S.
 | occupation       = [[Professional wrestling]] executive
 | years_active     = 1973–present
 | relations        = [[Tom Prichard]] (brother)
 | family           = Prichard
 | title            = Executive Director - CWT
 | organization     = [[Houston Wrestling]] (1973–1987)<br>[[World Wrestling Federation]] / [[WWE]] (1987–1991, 1992–2008, 2018–present)<br>[[Global Wrestling Federation]] (1991–1992)<br>[[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] / [[Impact Wrestling]] (2010–2013, 2017)<br>[[Major League Wrestling]] (2018)
 | spouse           = {{marriage|Stephanie Prichard|1996}} 
 | children         = 2
 | education        = 
 | module           =
{{Infobox professional wrestler|child=yes
 | names             = Brother Love<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br>'''Bruce Prichard'''<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br>Juicie Brucie<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br>Bruce Prickhard<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br>Reo Rodgers<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/><br>The Wizard<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
 | height            = 6 ft 0 in<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
 | weight            = 249 lb<ref name="Kreikenbohm"/>
 | billed            = El Paso, Texas
 | trainer           = [[Tom Prichard]]
}}
}}
'''Bruce Prichard ''' (born March 7, 1963) is an American [[professional wrestling]] executive, [[Booker (professional wrestling)|booker]], and [[road agent (professional wrestling)|producer]] and a former [[Manager (professional wrestling)|manager]], [[Sports commentator|commentator]], and occasional professional wrestler who works for [[WWE]] as Executive Director - CWT. In addition to his corporate roles with WWE, Prichard has also appeared as an on-screen character under the [[ring name]] '''Brother Love'''. As Brother Love, Prichard was the original manager of [[The Undertaker]], and hosted a talk show segment, ''The Brother Love Show''.<ref name="Hoffman"/> 

Prichard has also previously worked for [[Houston Wrestling]], the [[Global Wrestling Federation]], [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]], and [[Major League Wrestling]]. Since 2016, Prichard has co-hosted the ''[[Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard]]'' podcast with [[Conrad Thompson]].

== Professional wrestling career ==

=== Houston Wrestling (1973–1987) ===
Prichard began his career in 1973 working for [[Paul Boesch]]'s [[Houston Wrestling]] promotion out of [[Houston, Texas]]. At 10 years old, he sold posters at the [[Sam Houston Coliseum]] with great success. He worked as assistant director of television at age 12 and acted as a ring announcer at age 14.<ref name="Polisher"/> Due to Boesch's working relationship with Bill Watts' [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|Universal Wrestling Federation]] in the 1980s, Prichard would also act as ring announcer for some UWF shows. As Houston Wrestling became defunct in 1987, Prichard was hired by the [[World Wrestling Federation]].<ref name="Polisher"/>

=== World Wrestling Federation (1987–1991) ===
==== Early years (1987–1988) ====
After entering the [[WWE|World Wrestling Federation]] in 1987 shortly after [[WrestleMania III]], he first occasionally worked as an announcer for the WWF's television programs alongside [[Mike McGuirk]] and [[The Duke of Dorchester|"The Duke of Dorchester" Pete Doherty]] and occasionally [[Bobby "The Brain" Heenan]], before creating the Brother Love character.

==== ''The Brother Love Show'' (1988–1991) ====
In June 1988, Prichard debuted as "Brother Love", a red-faced, smarmy, dishonest, effusive and boisterous "preacher" character, dressed in a conspicuous white suit, tight red shirt and white tie, who claimed to preach not the word of [[God]], but "the word of ''love''." He was best known for his disingenuous catchphrase "''I love you''!",<ref name=Encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|last1=Shields|first1=Brian|last2=Sullivan|first2=Kevin|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/47 47]|publisher=[[Dorling Kindersley|DK]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/47}}</ref> during which he would enunciate each word with exaggerated [[prolongation]]s in a thick [[drawl|Southern accent]]. The character was inspired by controversial [[televangelism|televangelists]] of the time, with Prichard specifically citing [[Robert Tilton]] as his most direct inspiration.<ref>{{cite book|title=André the Giant: A Legendary Life|last=Krugman|first=Michael|page=225|publisher=[[Pocket Books]]|year=2009|isbn=978-1-4165-4112-7}}</ref> However, shortly after the character debuted, similarities were also noted between Brother Love and controversial pastor [[Jimmy Swaggart]]'s style of preaching.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19881028&id=0vAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A_wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1086,7233545|title=Wrestlers having grudge match|publisher=Lakeland Ledger|date=October 28, 1988|access-date=December 2, 2021}}</ref> Though Prichard has credited Tilton as the main inspiration for the Brother Love character, he has also credited Swaggart, [[Jim Bakker]] and even [[Oral Roberts]] as inspirations for the character as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/culture/main/article/Bruce-Prichard-shares-stories-from-the-wrestling-12363814.php|title=Bruce Prichard shares stories from the wrestling ring in popular podcast|first=Andrew|last=Dansby|publisher=Houston Chronicle|date=November 16, 2017|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P0ACIRRG7w|title=Bruce Prichard shoots on the creation of the Brother Love character|author=Something to Wrestling With Bruce Prichard|publisher=YouTube|date=May 22, 2018|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref> Months before Brother Love debuted, Swaggart and Bakker were involved in controversial scandals which tarnished their public images and resulted in networks cancelling their television shows.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1988/02/25/jimmy-swaggart-and-the-snare-of-sin/d07127d2-c412-4738-98d9-3b186d1b92f9/|title=Jimmy And The Snare Of Sin|first=Art|last=Harris|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 25, 1988|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref> Introduced to the WWF by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Love hosted a segment on the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]'s [[television syndication|syndicated]] and cable television programs called ''"The Brother Love Show"'', in which he would interview wrestlers. The segment debuted on the June 19, 1988 airing of ''[[WWF Wrestling Challenge|Wrestling Challenge]]'', and would be "promoted" to the WWF's "A-show", ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling|Superstars of Wrestling]]'', first appearing on the October 8, 1988 edition.

The segment was patterned largely after [[Roddy Piper|Piper's Pit]],<ref name=Encyclopedia/> where Brother Love would berate [[face (professional wrestling)|face]] wrestlers (especially [[Hulk Hogan]] and the [[Warrior (wrestler)|Ultimate Warrior]]) and openly support such [[heel (professional wrestling)|heels]] as [[Ted DiBiase|"The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase]] and Bobby Heenan. It was explained that DiBiase was Brother Love's main "[[benefactor (law)|benefactor]]". More than once, a wrestling [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] was set up because of what occurred on "The Brother Love Show" (including Hulk Hogan's feuds vs. [[Big Boss Man (wrestler)|Big Boss Man]] (1988–1989) and [[John Tenta|Earthquake]] (1990),<ref name=Encyclopedia/> and the [[Jake Roberts]]-[[Rick Martel]] feud from late 1990 to early 1991). The Brother Love Show was also the setting for the unveiling of Ted DiBiase's [[Million Dollar Championship]] belt and Rick Martel's "Arrogance" cologne. Brother Love made his [[pay-per-view]] debut at the [[SummerSlam 1988|inaugural]] [[SummerSlam]] event in 1988 at Madison Square Garden when he interviewed face wrestler [[Jim Duggan|"Hacksaw" Jim Duggan]]. He later featured prominently in [[WrestleMania V]] in 1989 where [[Rowdy Roddy Piper]] in his first appearance in the WWF since his 'retirement" after [[WrestleMania III]], "de-skirted" Brother Love of his "[[kilt]]" after taking over ''Piper's Pit''. A year later, [[Sgt. Slaughter]] bestowed a medal upon Brother Love during [[SummerSlam (1990)|SummerSlam]] for being the "greatest American".

Occasionally, Brother Love provided color commentary for the WWF's televised events; unlike during his early WWF run under his real name and using his natural voice (as Prichard), where he was pro-face, Brother Love was pro heel. His most famous assignment was alongside [[Sean Mooney]] for the WWF's televised event at Madison Square Garden on January 21, 1991, where he was roughed up by the Ultimate Warrior on his way to the ring to face [[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]] in a steel cage just two days after Savage had caused the Warrior to lose the [[WWF World Heavyweight Championship]] to Sgt. Slaughter at the [[Royal Rumble (1991)|Royal Rumble]]. In a 2016 podcast with [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]], Prichard recalled that he had long been a fan of evangelist preachers, more for their theatrics than their religion. When Prichard first pitched the idea of Brother Love to WWF owner [[Vince McMahon]], Vince generally liked the idea but did not believe that Prichard "had the face" for the role. Determined to get himself into the role that he had created, Prichard, dressed as Brother Love (minus the red face paint he would appear on television with), invaded a meeting at the WWF's headquarters between McMahon, the head of WWF International and the WWF's chief financial officer. 

While there, he gave an impromptu two minute sermon before quickly departing. When he arrived back at his office at the WWF's television studios five minutes later, he discovered that he had two missed calls from McMahon who he was relieved to find had liked what he had seen. However, Vince wanted to see how it worked on camera. Thus, the Brother Love character became a reality. Prichard also told that the bright red face make up was unknown to him the first time he appeared on television as Brother Love. As it was a television taping, Prichard thought it was just normal make up being applied and he did not look in the mirror, not knowing that Vince McMahon had ordered that he be given the red face.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx0t_0KzpNU Bruce Prichard on the Brother Love Gimmick]</ref>

====Manager of The Undertaker (1990–1991)====
On November 19, 1990, Brother Love began managing [[The Undertaker]] (who at the time was known as "Kane the Undertaker", the add-on of "Kane" inspired by Prichard). The November 19 appearance was The Undertaker's debut into the company and later used as an episode of ''[[WWF Superstars of Wrestling]]'', which did not air on television until after his on-screen debut at the [[Survivor Series (1990)|1990 Survivor Series]]. On November 20, The Undertaker had another off-air match that would later air as part of an episode of ''[[WWF Wrestling Challenge]]'', also aired on television after his appearance live at the Survivor Series. At the Survivor Series, The Undertaker performed in a Survivor Series-style elimination tag match on a team led by [[Ted DiBiase]] against a team led by [[Dusty Rhodes]]. It was at this event that DiBiase would reveal his mystery partner as The Undertaker. This was the first time Brother Love appeared on television as The Undertaker's manager. Brother Love continued to manage The Undertaker until January 28, 1991 (shown on TV in February) when he sold his contract to [[Paul Bearer]].<ref name=Encyclopedia/>

====Controversy and release (1991)====
The character of Brother Love was considered controversial by some given its apparent roots in religion and televangelism. It was introduced around the time of notable scandals involving such televangelists as [[Jim Bakker]] and [[Jimmy Swaggart]]. Occasionally, segments involving the Brother Love character would lean further into these religious roots and would engender negative reactions from some audience members. One such segment involved Brother Love playing the part of a [[charlatan]] "faith healer," during which he was portrayed as having healed an actor pretending to be blind and crippled to again be able to see and walk. 
The Brother Love character was retired from the WWF in March 1991 after being attacked and beaten by [[The Ultimate Warrior]], who also destroyed The Brother Love Show set. The actual reason for this change was Prichard being offered the choice of continuing to work on-screen as Brother Love, or working solely in a production role.
While the company did receive some complaints regarding the Brother Love character, Prichard's release from the WWF was due to personal and private issues he had at the time. He would be re-hired by the WWF the following year in a resumption of his production role.

=== Global Wrestling Federation (1991–1992) ===
After his release from the WWF, Prichard moved home to Texas where he joined the Dallas-based [[Global Wrestling Federation]], where he worked as a manager and ringside interviewer between 1991 and 1992, using his real name. He began as a babyface color commentator, but eventually turned heel right in the middle of calling an ESPN televised match with GWF play-by-play announcer Craig Johnson. He managed Barry Horowitz in the GWF, and gave him the nickname "The Winner". Horowitz and Prichard feuded with GWF Light Heavyweight champion Chaz Taylor. Prichard said mockingly of Taylor, "He may be a lightweight but he's no champion!" After failing to win the title from Taylor, both Horowitz and Prichard left the GWF.

=== Return to the World Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment (1992–2008) ===
Prichard returned to the WWF in August 1992 and portrayed two short-lived characters. He first appeared as "The Wizard", a heel [[color commentator]] on ''[[WWF All American Wrestling|All-American Wrestling]]'' (who never appeared on camera during the character's brief run), and then as "Reo Rodgers", a satire on Dusty Rhodes. Rodgers did commentary from time to time in his short stint, and his interview segment, "Reo's Roundup", lasted only two segments before the character was dropped. After this, he remained behind the scenes, working as [[Vince McMahon]]'s "right-hand man" and also as a writer for some of WWE's shows. However, Prichard has reprised his Brother Love character on occasion. Brother Love returned to the WWF in November 1995. He hosted the Brother Love Show once again, this time on ''[[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]]''. In what would prove to be a monumental moment in WWF history, Brother Love hosted Ted DiBiase introducing The Ringmaster into the World Wrestling Federation. The Ringmaster would eventually transform into [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]]. Brother Love then quietly disappeared from the WWF again soon after. Brother Love resurfaced once again for one night in January 1997, making a surprise appearance on the debut episode of ''[[WWF Shotgun Saturday Night|Shotgun Saturday Night]]'', helping the Flying Nuns defeat [[The Godwinns]]. Love then named the team The Sisters of Love. The gimmick was quickly scrapped, with the team later finding success as [[The Headbangers]].

Prichard (as himself) once again managed The Undertaker for a match in [[Michinoku Pro Wrestling]] (MPW) on October 10, 1997, where he defeated [[Jinsei Shinzaki]]. Through the remainder of the Attitude Era, Prichard was occasionally seen on-screen as himself, either cleaning up between matches at ringside, or as one of the people called in to break up a backstage fight. During the fall of 1998 and into early-1999, he provided colour-commentary on Shotgun Saturday Night. He was also the only backstage employee to have an interview segment on the ''[[Raw Is Owen|Raw is Owen]]'' memorial broadcast. In 2001, Brother Love participated in the gimmick [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]] at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]]. He was eliminated by Sgt. Slaughter. On the February 6, 2003 airing of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'', Brother Love confronted The Undertaker, then portraying a biker gimmick, in his feud against [[Paul Wight|The Big Show]]. Brother Love pleaded with The Undertaker to forgive Big Show for his recent actions, but The Undertaker, however, was not pleased and gave Brother Love a [[chokeslam]], followed up by a [[Tombstone Piledriver]] in the middle of the ring. Love later appeared in the Bar Room Brawl at [[Vengeance (2003)|Vengeance 2003]], lasting all the way to the end before being knocked out by [[John Layfield|Bradshaw]].

''The Brother Love Show'' made a short-term return on a couple of [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown!]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]] [[house show]]s in the summer of 2003 as a replacement for planned ''[[Piper's Pit]]'' segments ([[Roddy Piper]] had been released from his contract). These segments saw Love and Mr. McMahon attempt to humiliate [[Zach Gowen]], only to get their comeuppance in the end.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/liveevent/030802s.html|title=WWE SmackDown live event results - 8/2/03|website=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=2017-01-01}}</ref> 

On December 1, 2008, Bruce Prichard was released from WWE by [[Stephanie McMahon]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2008/1202/513587/update-bruce-prichard-wwe-firing/|title=Update: Bruce Prichard's WWE Firing, & More |newspaper=WrestlingInc.com|access-date=2016-12-29}}</ref>

=== Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2010–2013, 2017) ===
It was reported on October 7, 2010, that Prichard had been hired by TNA to presumably reprise the role he had in WWE working as a backstage agent and producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1286478154|title=Former WWE staff member joins TNA Wrestling|date=2010-10-07|access-date=2010-10-07|last=Martin|first=Adam|work=WrestleView|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011091237/http://www.wrestleview.com/viewnews.php?id=1286478154|archive-date=2010-10-11}}</ref> On October 6, 2011, Prichard took over the role of TNA head writer from [[Vince Russo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_54011.shtml|title=TNA News: Creative team shake-up – Russo out as head writer, when will the change take effect?|last=Caldwell|first=James|date=October 6, 2011|access-date=2011-10-06|work=Pro Wrestling Torch}}</ref> In May 2012, Prichard was promoted to Vice President of Talent Relations to replace [[Terry Taylor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.impactwrestling.com/news/item/2825-IMPACT-WRESTLING-Signs-Austin-Aries-More-Stars-Coming-To-The-X-Division |title=IMPACT WRESTLING Signs Austin Aries - More Stars Coming To The X Division |website=ImpactWrestling.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715201124/http://www.impactwrestling.com/news/item/2825-IMPACT-WRESTLING-Signs-Austin-Aries-More-Stars-Coming-To-The-X-Division |archive-date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref> On October 17, 2012, Prichard was promoted to Senior Vice President, Programming & Talent Relations. In this new role, Prichard oversaw talent relations, talent scouting and development as well as the creative direction of the company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_54361.shtm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105943/http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TNA_News_1/article_54361.shtml |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title=TNA News: Press Release – Bruce Prichard appointed to Senior VP role, TNA looking to expand roster, Prichard & Dixie Carter quoted |work=Pro Wrestling Torch |last=Caldwell |first=James |date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=October 19, 2011}}</ref> In May 2013, Prichard began appearing as a judge alongside Al Snow and Taz in the monthly Gut Check segment on ''[[TNA Impact]]''.<ref name="WWE3May">{{cite web|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/tnaimpact/article_61084.shtml|title=Turner's WWE world wrestling entertainment Results 5/3: Roode and RVD pick opponents for each other, Gut Check fall-out, Flair calls out Hogan|author=Turner, Scott|publisher=[[Pro Wrestling Torch Newsletter|PWTorch.com]]|date=May 4, 2015|access-date=2012-09-29}}</ref> TNA released Prichard on July 17, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/79006/two-more-execs-including-head-of-creative-gone-from-tna.html?p=1|title=Two more execs, including head of creative, gone from tna |author=Johnson, Mike|publisher=Pro Wrestling Insider|date=July 16, 2013|access-date=July 16, 2013}}</ref>

In March 2017, it was announced that Prichard would be making his return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.<ref name="wrestlezone.com">http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/810979-bruce-prichard-reportedly-returning-to-tna-impact-wrestling-backstage-news-on-his-new-role-in-the-company Bruce Prichard Reportedly Returning to TNA Impact Wrestling, Backstage News on His New Role in the Company - WrestleZone</ref> Shortly after re-signing with the company, Prichard began appearing in an onscreen role for the recently renamed Impact Wrestling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/bruce-prichard-impact-tna-dead/#.WM3uvPnyvIU|title=Bruce Prichard Appears At Impact Wrestling Taping … Says The Name TNA Is Dead|date=March 2, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2017|work=[[Pro Wrestling Sheet]]}}</ref>  Prichard left the company in August 2017. To explain Prichard's departure on screen, the story saw Jim Cornette brought in by Anthem, the parent company of Impact Wrestling, to fire him.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/2017/8/17/16165020/jim-cornette-returns-impact-fires-bruce-prichard|title = Jim Cornette returns to Impact, fires Bruce Prichard|date = 17 August 2017}}</ref>

=== Major League Wrestling (2018) ===
On March 8, 2018, it was announced that Prichard had been hired as a senior producer by [[Major League Wrestling]], a wrestling promotion founded by former WWE writer, Court Bauer, in 2002.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2018/03/08/bruce-prichard-major-league-wrestling|title=Bruce Prichard Joins Major League Wrestling|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=2018-07-03}}</ref>

=== Second return to WWE (2018–present) ===
On January 22, 2018, Prichard returned to the WWE for a one-off appearance as Brother Love on the ''[[WWE Raw 25 Years]]'' anniversary special. In April 2018, Prichard and podcast co-host [[Conrad Thompson]] began doing a video version of their podcast titled ''Something Else to Wrestle'', airing exclusively on the [[WWE Network]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.prowrestlingsheet.com/bruce-prichard-wwe-network/|title="Something Else to Wrestle With Bruce Prichard" Coming to WWE Network|date=2018-04-06|work=Pro Wrestling Sheet {{!}} Insider Wrestling News and Reports|access-date=2018-04-16|language=en-US}}</ref> 

On February 23, 2019, it was reported that WWE had officially signed Prichard on to join their creative team.<ref name=PrichBack>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/wwe-news/bruce-prichard-returning-wwe-creative-team-277751%3famp|title=Bruce Prichard Returning to WWE Creative Team|work=f4wonline.com|date=February 23, 2019}}</ref> In March, it was reported that Prichard would be working as WWE's Senior Vice President.<ref name=BPSVP>{{cite web|url=https://pwinsider.com/article/124690/bruce-prichard-jim-ross-leaving-wwe-jushin-liger-and-more.html?p=1|title=BRUCE PRICHARD, JIM ROSS LEAVING WWE, JUSHIN LIGER AND MORE|work=PWInsider.com|date=March 7, 2019|access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> On October 15, 2019, it was announced that he would take over as Executive Director of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]'', assuming the role from [[Eric Bischoff]].<ref name=SMACKDOWN>{{cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/article/bruce-prichard-executive-director-smackdown?sf221533929=1|title=Bruce Prichard named Executive Director of SmackDown|work=WWE.com|date=October 15, 2019|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> On June 11, 2020, it was reported that after [[Paul Heyman]] had been removed from the executive director position of Raw, Prichard would lead both the Raw and Smackdown writing teams into one group as executive director of both shows.<ref>{{cite web|last=Staszewski|first=Joseph|title=Paul Heyman out as Raw boss, WWE names new head of creative|url=https://nypost.com/2020/06/11/paul-heyman-bruce-prichard-get-new-roles-in-wwe-creative-shakeup/|access-date=June 11, 2020}}</ref> Prichard made a cameo appearance as Brother Love at the [[Money in the Bank (2020)|2020 Money in the Bank]] pay-per-view, during the title ladder match.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2020/05/vince-mcmahon-670160/|title=Vince McMahon, Brother Love and Others Make Cameos During WWE Money in the Bank Match|date=10 May 2020 }}</ref>

=== Legacy ===
According to PWInsider.com, Prichard has been described as the most powerful person in WWE other than a McMahon family member. Creatively, everything flowed through Prichard and his word had been described as "very much the Gospel" for [[Vince McMahon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/141795/backstage-notes-from-last-nights-raw-taping.html?p=1|title=BACKSTAGE NOTES FROM LAST NIGHT'S RAW TAPING|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakeoestriecher/2020/12/02/wwe-creative-woes-resulting-in-a-lot-of-frustration-among-superstars/?sh=2352ab1fd1ef|title=WWE Creative Woes Resulting In 'A Lot Of Frustration' Among Superstars|website=[[Forbes]] |date=December 2, 2020|access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref>

== ''Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard'' ==
{{main|Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard}}
In August 2016, Prichard and co-host Conrad Thompson began the internet podcast ''Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard''. Prichard and Thompson discuss a wide variety of subjects from Prichard's time with the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment and his time in TNA and the GWF have been topics as well. The show has spun-off into a companion video show, titled ''Something Else to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard'', which debuted on the [[WWE Network]] on April 18, 2018.

==Personal life==
Bruce Prichard is the brother of professional wrestler [[Tom Prichard]] and guitarist Chris Prichard. Bruce also has two other brothers, Jerry and Ken. Ken died in February 2022. He has a son, Kane, whom he named after the [[Kane (wrestler)|professional wrestler]], and a daughter Amber.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/identity-of-janitor-from-money-in-the-bank/|title = 411Mania}}</ref>

Prichard suffered two heart attacks in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.f4wonline.com/more/more-top-stories/118-daily-updates/24821-prichard-suffers-heart-attack |title=Prichard suffers heart attack |date=2012-03-23 |access-date=2012-03-23 |last=Meltzer |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Meltzer |work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="Hoffman">{{cite news|title=Brother Love leaps from ring to stage|publisher=[[Houston Chronicle]]|date=November 23, 2009|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/6735939.html|first=Ken|last=Hoffman}}</ref>

<ref name="Kreikenbohm">{{cite news|title=Bruce Prichard|work=Cagematch.net|access-date=October 5, 2021|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1927|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm}}</ref>

<ref name="Polisher">{{cite news|title=Written podcast recap: Prime Time with Sean Mooney w/ Bruce Prichard on how his WWF career started, the creation of Brother Love, the wrestlers who thought the gimmick went too far (ep. 19)|work=PWPodcasts.com|access-date=October 5, 2021|url=https://www.pwpodcasts.com/2017/10/29/written-podcast-recap-prime-time-sean-mooney-w-bruce-prichard-wwf-career-started-creation-brother-love-wrestlers-thought-gimmick-went-far-ep-19/|first=Evan|last=Polisher|date=October 25, 2017}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* {{Twitter|bruceprichard}}
* {{Professional wrestling profiles|cagematch=1927|wrestlingdata=2677|iwd=bruce-prichard-324}}
* {{IMDb name|nm0698013|Bruce Prichard}}
* [http://www.westwoodonepodcasts.com/pods/something-to-wrestle-with-bruce-prichard/ Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard on Westwood One Podcast Network]

{{The Undertaker}}
{{WWE personnel}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Prichard, Bruce}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:American color commentators]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male television writers]]
[[Category:American television writers]]
[[Category:American podcasters]]
[[Category:Fictional clergy]]
[[Category:Total Nonstop Action Wrestling executives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from El Paso, Texas]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Texas]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling announcers]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling managers and valets]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling podcasters]]
[[Category:Professional wrestling writers]]
[[Category:The Undertaker]]
[[Category:WWE executives]]