This shows loads more proof that Geno was supposed to be in Brawl but wasn't allowed by Square Enix...
Square Enix are really Squares and P-Enixes...
Yeah, it DOES suck. I'll be honest. Despite my newfound fondness for the character Ike, I have never played his games (except Sacred Stones, which I've got my hands on) and despite my fondness for Geno, neither have I played Super Mario RPG, but sure as hell I've grown the same fondness for Geno ever since, and I wanted him in brawl.
I guess it just grew on me. Who knows?
Out of the 5 brawl characters I'd be happy with, only 2 made it. Hence, Toon Link and Lucario, but no Midna, Geno, or Ridley

And by Ridley, I mean playable.