HeadLocker — Jay Shannon
Greatest Black Wrestlers in History
February is Black History Month, so our resident ring philosopher Jay Shannon salutes the top 10 African American wrestlers in the history of pro wrestling.
The world of professional wrestling has, for most of its existence, been a multi-cultural industry. While some early African American wrestlers faced discrimination, especially in the southern US, the men and women profiled here rose above prejudice to become stand-outs.
They all deserve honor and praise for being some of the best in the wrestling industry.
10. Tony Atlas
Billed as The Black Superman, Atlas was a former body-builder who decided to try his hand at wrestling. Atlas formed a successful team with Rocky Johnson. They held the WWF Tag Team Championship just a few months before the Hulkamania era in the WWF began.
After his first run in the WWF, Atlas began working the southern US territories and Puerto Rico. Atlas also had successful runs in the World Class territory and WCW.
Atlas alienated a large number of fans when he refused to testify in Puerto Rico about the events that he witnessed regarding the brutal and cowardly murder of Bruiser Brody by Jose Huertas Gonzalez (Invader I). Due to Atlas’ refusal to testify, Gonzalez was never convicted. Atlas has stated that he was in fear for both his life and career. He felt that if he were to testify against Gonzalez, he would have been “Black-Balled” in the industry.
Atlas returned to the WWF for a short stint as Saba Simba (which meant seven lions). The crowds were unimpressed with the repackaged Atlas, and he quickly faded into semi-retirement.
Atlas was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. A large number of fans expressed their disappointment that Atlas was inducted, while his partner, Rocky Johnson, was snubbed.
9. Abdullah the Butcher
Billed from the Sudan, Abdullah the Butcher is actually a transplanted Canadian. Larry Shreve created his Sudanese character in the mid-60s.
Abdullah was supposedly unable to speak Englisn. so he used managers to speak for him. Abdullah actually holds the record for being managed by the most number of managers. 25 different people managed Abdullah during his career, officially. The count may actually be higher, as Abdullah worked a large number of independent cards, around the world.
Abdullah is a legend in the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Japan, and his home country of Canada. After going into semi-retirement, Abdullah/Larry opened a successful restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia.
Abdullah/Larry recently signed a Legends contract with Jakks and the WWE. An action figure was recently released. It did not include his trademark fork (his favorite weapon to sneak into the ring).
8. Junkyard Dog
Sylvester Ritter was one of the most beloved wrestlers of the Hulkamania era of wrestling. After spending some time in the Stampede (Calgary, Alberta) area, Ritter moved to the Mid-South area. It was there that Big Daddy Ritter was renamed the Junkyard Dog. The name came from a line in the Jim Croce song, Bad Bad Leroy Brown. JYD worked the southern territories including World Class and the NWA for several years.
JYD was brought to the WWF, from Mid-South, along with Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Butch Reed, Jim Duggan, and Ted DiBiase. While JYD never held gold in the WWF, he was still considered one of the top stars of the era.
After his WWF days, JYD worked some independent shows and did a run in WCW. Sadly, JYD died in a car accident on June 2, 1998. JYD has been attending a family function and fell asleep at the wheel while driving home.
JYD’s legacy is being continued through Rodney Mack. Mack was trained by JYD. Mack actually uses the name Redd Dogg, from time to time, as a tribute to the man who trained him.
7. D-Von Dudley aka Brother Devon
He is one of the most successful tag team specialists in the history of wrestling. As a member of the Dudley Boyz, he and his “brother”, BuhBuh Ray (or Bubba Ray), tore through the ECW, WCW, and WWE tag team scenes.
After leaving the WWE, the team had to re-invent themselves, due to the WWE owning the rights to the various ECW-created names (Dudley, BuhBuh Ray, D-Von, etc…). They became Team 3D. The two main members of the team created derivations of their original names. BuhBuh Ray just changed to being “Brother Ray”. Devon simply resorted to using his given name, which Vince had no rights to. He also tacked on the “Brother” name to create a sense of unity.
Devon, in addition to his in-ring performaances, has recently become one of the top trainers of new talent. He and Ray have opened the Team 3D Academy, based in Kissimmee, Florida. Their school is an “unofficial” training ground for TNA.
6. Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline has a lot of “firsts” to her credit. She was the first woman to be trained by Skandor Akbar. She was also the first African American woman to ever hold the WWE Women’s Title. She was also the first woman to hold the WWE Cruiserweight title.
Jacqueline began her career (as Sweet Georgia Brown) in the World Class territory in 1989. She moved on to the USWA, as Miss Texas.
She was brought into WCW by J.J. Dillon to assist Kevin Sullivan in his feud with Chris Benoit and Woman (Sullivan’s soon-to-be ex-wife, Nancy). When Sullivan lost a Retirement Match, Jacqueline was shifted into the role of manager of Harlem Heat. She eventually left WCW to take a lucrative offer from the WWF.
Jacqueline spent six years working for the WWE. She held several titles and feuded with numerous competitors, both male and female. When her contract expired in 2004, she chose not to renew it.
Jacqueline moved on to TNA. She has battled most of the Knockouts in the organization, as well as serving as the valet of “Cowboy” James Storm.
Jacqueline is a trail-blazer for the women’s division of wrestling. She is often over-looked or dismissed, but her role in history is undeniable.
5. Booker T
The five-time WCW champion has been a sensation in every promotion that he has worked for. He began working in the various Texas promotions. He worked with his brother, Stevie Ray, as the Ebony Experience in the GWF (Dallas) promotion. They would move on the WCW, where they would be re-named Harlem Heat.
After an injury side-lined Stevie Ray, Booker was given a solo push in WCW. The previously silent Booker was a natural on the mike. In December, 1997, Booker won the WCW Television Title from Glenn Gilberti (Disco Inferno). Booker would move up to the United States Championship before finally winning the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
When WCW was purchased by WWE, Booker was one of the first wrestlers to make an appearance on WWE television. Booker would capture virtually every title in the WWE during his five years with the company. He would also meet and marry his wife, Sharmell, who also worked for WCW and WWF.
In 2007, Booker was suspended by the WWE. It was assumed that Booker failed the Wellness Program, but Booker flatly denied that. He was so offended by what he saw as an unfair suspension that he requested, and received, a release from WWE.
Booker is now settling into a position in TNA. It is only a matter of time before Booker claims gold. He is a solid wrestler that will continue to be successful. He is also branching out into promoting. Booker currently owns a wrestling promotion based out of Houston, Texas.
4. Ron Simmons
A former All-American, Ron entered the world of pro wrestling in 1986. Ron was trained by Hiro Matsuda, the man who trained Lex Luger and Hulk Hogan.
Simmons has been listed as the first African American World Champion. That honor is in dispute, however, because Bobo Brazil did upset Buddy Rogers in 1962 for the NWA World Championship (though the NWA did not recognize the title change). Simmons held the WCW World Heavyweight title for five months in 1992. He also held the World Tag Team titles with Butch Reed.
After leaving WCW, Simmons had a short run in ECW. His run with ECW was unimpressive and he soon left to take an offer from the WWE.
Simmons first arrived in the WWE as Faarooq Asad. He was supposed to be some sort of African Gladiator. Simmons had gained a great deal of weight and was almost unrecognizable to fans. Faarooq was briefly managed by Sunny, before being re-packaged.
The new Faarooq (often spelled Farooq) was a radical who created a racially-oriented stable known as the Nation of Domination. The original version did include a caucasian (Crush) and a Puerto Rican (Savio Vega), but they were eventually booted out of the group. The second version was the first all-Black stable. It included Faarooq, Rocky Maivia (The Rock), Kama Mustafa (The Godfather), D’Lo Brown, Ahmed Johnson, and Mark Henry. The racially-oriented rants issued by the group was considered offensive, and the group’s image was quickly toned down.
To further the change, Rocky Maivia took over as the leader of the Nation and ejected Faarooq from the group. Faarooq eventually moved on from his feud with the Nation of Domination to join the Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness stable. He was partnered with Bradshaw aka JBL. They were known as the Acolytes. They worked together as minions of Undertaker, providing the muscle for various feuds.
When Undertaker was shelved in 1999, due to an injurt, The Acolytes were re-packaged as “guns for hire”. They were then re-christened the Acolyte Protection Agency. This name would eventually be shortened to the APA. The APA had a very successful career, until age and injury forced Simmons to retire. Simmons and Bradshaw had a nasty break-up on-screen, but it was just a work. JBL and Ron have remained friends for many years.
Ron makes occasional appearances on screen. Over time, the Faarooq persona was replaced by Ron’s given name. The WWE created and promoted a shirt for Ron to take advantage of Ron’s Damn catchphrase. Ron had a brief feud with Santino Marella in 2007-08. While the crowds adore Ron, a full-time return is unlikely. He is, however, a historical figure in the world of professional wrestling.
3. Bobo Brazil:
He was known as the Master of the Coco-Butt. He is also referred to, in many circles, as the Jackie Robinson of professional wrestling. Bobo broke down many of the racial barriers that plagued the wrestling industry, prior to 1970.
Brazil began his career by being pitted against other African-American wrestlers. Eventually, Brazil’s popularity with the fans led to many interracial bouts against top stars like: Bruno Sammartino, Buddy Rogers, Dick The Bruiser, Johnny Valentine and The Sheik.
As mentioned earlier, Bobo Brazil did win the NWA World Title in 1962. Brazil initially refused the title because of an injury that Rogers claimed to have. When the injury was proved bogus, Brazil accepted the title. For some strange reason, the NWA never acknowledged Brazil’s run as champion.
After retirement, Brazil began to mentor to several up-and-coming wrestlers, including Rocky Johnson.
Brazil was one of the first men to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame(1994). Brazil was a role model for racial harmony and a credit to the wrestling industry.
2. Ernie Ladd
The Big Cat began his sports career playing professional football (San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers). In 1961, Ladd was approached by several wrestlers in the San Diego market to see if he would be interested in working as a wrestler during the off-season. While it was originally meant as a publicity stunt, Ladd’s appeal in the ring led to an on-going relationship with pro wrestling.
Ladd was one of the first African American wrestlers to be portrayed as a heel. Ladd refused to be subjected to racially-oriented gimmicks. He was known to say “I am not a black wrestler. I am a wrestler, that just happens to be black”. Ladd had an extended run with the WWE, beginning in 1968. For 12 years, Ladd battled every face in the company. He challenged Bob Backlund, Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino for the WWE World Championship.
Ladd never held gold in the WWE, but he did win titles all around the world. Ladd retired from wrestling in 1986. He would make occasional appearances after retirement. He holds the honor of being the only man to be inducted into two wrestling Hall of Fame in the same year (WCW and WWE-both in 1994).
1. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson)
He is considered one of the top stars in the history of the WWE. Johnson is the son of Rocky Johnson and the grandson of Peter Maivia.
After a successful college football career, Johnson was tapped to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. Johnson began working for OVW as Flex Kavana. After proving himself in the then-developmental territory, Johnson was brought up to the WWE.
Johnson wanted to show respect to both his father and grandfather, so he chose the name Rocky Maivia. His initial character was a big goofy kid with a smile permanently etched on his face. The crowds rejected his clean-cut, bubble-gum sweet persona. Eventually, Maivia moved on to a spot in the Nation of Domination. The minute that Rocky Maivia embraced the heel mentality, the crowds began to accept him. They hated him, but they accepted him.
Maivia converted his ring name to The Rock during his run as leader of the Nation of Domination. Rock would gravitate back and forth between heel and face. Rock held almost every WWE title, multiple times, during his WWE wrestling career.
Johnson had the unique opportunity to portray his own father on television. On an episode of That 70’s Show, Dwayne Johnson appeared as “Soul Man” Rocky Johnson. Johnson would go on to appear in numerous television shows and films. Johnson is considered, by many, as “The Next Arnold Schwarzenegger”. Much like Hulk Hogan, Johnson have acted in both action and comedy films. Johnson is scheduled to co-star in Get Smart and Shazam!. He will play a Control agent in Get Smart. He is set to play the evil Black Adam in Shazam!.
Dwayne “The Rock Johnson is a third generation star that eclipsed the careers of both his father and grandfather. He is possibly the most successful wrestler-turned-actor in the history of pro wrestling. Johnson is the most influential African American in the history of sports entertainment.
In Conclusion:
The world of professional wrestling has been a multi-cultural sport that embraces all races, for many years. There are dozens of wrestling personalities that were not included in this list. That does not make them any less important to the history of wrestling. Rocky Johnson, Monty Brown, Leroy Brown, Ray Candy, Bad News Brown, Jazz, Rodney Mack, and Kama Mustafa (among others) all have their place in the history of pro wrestling. Each man or woman should be honored for their abilities in the ring. They are all credits to the world of professional wrestling.
–Jay Shannon
Boxworld@SBCGlobal.net
(2/13/08)
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