Revealing Bad News Brown: Allen Coage's Secret Wrestling Journey

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Allen Coage was more than a pro wrestler in the main events; he was an Olympic judo champion, a force to be reckoned with for his frequ ently overmatched opponents. Learn more

He didn't accept disrespect, be it inside the ring, outside, or in the dojo. While recognized as Bad News Brown and Bad News Allen in the squared circle, to his family, he meant much more.

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From standing up to Andre the Giant’s intolerance on the road, his response to Roddy Piper’s infamous half-black face promo, to Arsenio Hall going against Vince McMahon, we share the secret history of a much-loved man with the aid of his beloved daughters, Frances and April.

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The Gospel According to Bad News Brown

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Early Years in Judo: Making History at the Olympics

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Upon graduation from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1962, Coage began working in a bakery.

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He entered the world of competitive judo at the relatively late age of 22 but quickly made up for lost time as he won the Chicago Invitational Tournament.

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