Dick the Bruiser on The David Letterman Show, July 2, 1980

Preceded by: (1) Dave's 1989 appearance on "Later with Bob Costas," where both Dave and Bob discuss their boyhood love of professional wrestling; (2) Dave incorporating one of both his and Bob's favorite wrestling personality description to his introduction to a Will Lee performance; and (3) Dave introducing Bobby "The Brain" Heenan in the Radio City Music Hall audience during Late Night's 6th anniversary special, aired February 4, 1988.

1. January 12, 1989. Later with Bob Costas.
2. May 13, 1986. Intro to Will "From Parts Unknown" Lee.
3. February 4, 1988. Bobby "The Brain" Heenan takes a bow.

4. July 2, 1980. Richard "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis. With Edie McClurg as Mrs. Marv Mendenhall.

Dave's particular affinity with the phrase "The World's Most Dangerous ___" took root with Dick the Bruiser's moniker. It then continued during Dave's college years when he wanted to promote fellow Ball State student Mike Little, then known as "Fatty No Neck," as "Iron Mike, the World's Most Dangerous Human." (Source: _ The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi_ by Jeff Lewis, as quoted in Cincinnati CityBeat, Vol. 3, Issue 39; August 14-20, 1997.)

The phrase finally took hold when Dave referred to Paul Shaffer's Late Night ensemble as The World's Most Dangerous Band, detailed in full in my blog post here:
https://donzblog.home.blog/2021/03/01/the-most-dangerous-band/

Видео Dick the Bruiser on The David Letterman Show, July 2, 1980 канала Don Giller