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Post by dlg3000 on Feb 5, 2010 20:15:09 GMT -5
In commemorating black history month (sadly it is only 28(or 29) days), who in your opinion are the greatest black/African American wrestlers of all time?
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Tapout
Hank Scorpio
WWE Creative(TM)
W.W.W.Y.K.I.
Posts: 6,919
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Post by Tapout on Feb 5, 2010 20:48:40 GMT -5
"The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd (RIP)
Rocky Johnson (and his son Dwayne if you count him)
Ron Simmons (the first black WCW champion)
For heat alone, Sherri Martel (RIP), though she seemed to make most of her impact as a valet, not as an actual wrestler.
For being arguably the biggest success story in the last 5 years, maybe, maybe Booker "T" Huffman, though his highlights are a lot more impressive than his current situation.
While there has been a whole lot of outstanding black wrestling talent over the years, sadly, not many have reached great heights.
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Post by strykerdarksilence on Feb 5, 2010 21:10:43 GMT -5
Ernie Ladd and Bobo Brazil are the first names that spring to mind.
Abdullah the Butcher is in the mix, mostly due to notoriety.
Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas.
Johnny Kwango and Masambula were both big names in the UK.
Junkyard Dog was MASSIVE in Mid South and really over in his WWE run too.
Rufus Freighttrain Jones was a NWA title contender.
Iceman Parsons and Porkchop Cash are forgotten legends (who still work occasionally).
Kofi has a real chance in WWE now.
And I'm assuming Sherri was a joke mention. Being a valet does not change your race as far as I remember.
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Post by Kash Flagg on Feb 5, 2010 21:18:12 GMT -5
Sheri's black?
At the top of the list IMO is the Big Cat Ernie Ladd.
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Post by Nacho STAYS Hyped on Feb 5, 2010 21:19:33 GMT -5
Too Cold Scorpio is EXTREMELY underrated.
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Post by wcwfboss on Feb 5, 2010 21:23:37 GMT -5
New Jack should be on that list for being the opposite of a man I respect: Pez Whatley. I met the man a few times when WCW came to Universal for PRO, and he was awesome to talk to about the business, I followed Pistol Pez in Tampa for years. He's how I got to meet Sonny Onoo and Fit Finlay.
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Post by Kash Flagg on Feb 5, 2010 21:33:46 GMT -5
Pez "Shaska" Whatley was a very talented worker and worked hard to make guys look good.
Brickhouse Brown was underrated as well. His team with Parsons as the Blackbirds was gold.
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Post by ________ has left the building on Feb 5, 2010 21:42:20 GMT -5
"The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd (RIP) Rocky Johnson (and his son Dwayne if you count him) Ron Simmons (the first black WCW champion) For heat alone, Sherri Martel (RIP), though she seemed to make most of her impact as a valet, not as an actual wrestler. For being arguably the biggest success story in the last 5 years, maybe, maybe Booker "T" Huffman, though his highlights are a lot more impressive than his current situation. While there has been a whole lot of outstanding black wrestling talent over the years, sadly, not many have reached great heights. True. Wrestling still has a long way to go. There has been more diversity in the roster with a lot of races and cultures recognized. In the olden days, wrestlers were given pushes mainly due the ethnic population in the territory. |
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DavidArquette
Don Corleone
The actor formerly known as avanteproject
Posts: 1,542
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Post by DavidArquette on Feb 5, 2010 22:19:48 GMT -5
I'd have to say Ron Simmons.
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TuneinTokyo
Hank Scorpio
The Mountain from Stone Mountain
Posts: 6,431
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Post by TuneinTokyo on Feb 5, 2010 22:22:44 GMT -5
JYD
Pistol Pez Whatley
SD Jones?
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Post by calmlikeabomb420 on Feb 5, 2010 22:40:23 GMT -5
simmons or booker t.. and yead 2 cold was cool 2. best 3
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Big L
Grimlock
Posts: 13,883
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Post by Big L on Feb 5, 2010 23:05:30 GMT -5
Ladd
Simmons
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Post by Joe Neglia on Feb 5, 2010 23:37:28 GMT -5
Allen Coage, aka Bad News Brown. Judo champ and a prototype for Stone Cold.
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TuneinTokyo
Hank Scorpio
The Mountain from Stone Mountain
Posts: 6,431
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Post by TuneinTokyo on Feb 5, 2010 23:41:35 GMT -5
How about Tony Atlas? I liked him but don't remember him being a very good worker.
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El Pollo Guerrera
Grimlock
His name has chicken in it, and he is good at makin' .gifs, so that's cool.
Status: Runner
Posts: 14,737
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Post by El Pollo Guerrera on Feb 6, 2010 0:13:53 GMT -5
Bobo Brazil was the first one I thought of, then the Junkyard Dog. Both were HUGE draws wherever they wrestled. The same can be said for "Sailor" Art Thomas.
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NOwave
Don Corleone
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Post by NOwave on Feb 6, 2010 0:53:48 GMT -5
Great idea for a thread.
If you count The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, then he is without a doubt the best ever. Multi-time world heavyweight champion in the biggest promotion in history during wrestlings' peak of popularity.
If you don't count him, then my choice would be Ron Simmons. He was the first black world heavyweight champion of any major federation(WCW), and had a great career in WWF/E as a multi-time world tag team champion in one of the most popular and respected tag teams of all time, the A.P.A. He went on to be a veteran singles star who took a one word gimmick(Damn!) and made it one of the most popular ever. He was always hugely over and highly respected in the locker room as a standup guy and great legit athlete and tough guy.
Ernie (The Cat) Ladd would be next in my opinion. Another terrific legit athlete with great size(6'9", 300+) and speed.(he supposedly ran the 40 yd dash in 4.5 seconds at Grambling, according to teammates-NFL running back speed!) Ernie was hugely over in multiple promotions and held several titles, but never a world championship.
Rocky Johnson is next-a great regional star who became the first black world tag team champion in the WWF(then WWWF). Rocky's feuds with Jerry Lawler in Memphis were legendary-a black man taking on the resident white champion in a racially divided city, and yet Rocky was perhaps more over with the white blue collar wrestling crowd than he was with the black audience.
Junkyard Dog-another great athlete and former NFL star. He headlined several regional promotions before joining the WWF at the beginning of Hulkamania and becoming immensely popular nationwide. At the time, WWF ran "A' shows with Hogan and "B" shows headlined by JYD vs Terry Funk at the same time in different cities. Both were routinely sold out, with the B show sometimes out-drawing the A show.
Honorable mention: Tony Atlas(WWF tag champ and Rocky Johnson's partner); Koko B. Ware(insanely over despite being primarily a jobber-now in WWF Hall of Fame); Kamala(incredibly politically incorrect but got away with it because he was so in character)
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Post by i.Sarita.com on Feb 6, 2010 2:42:14 GMT -5
Harlem Heat are one of the greatest Tag Teams in the history of wrestling.
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Post by kennerado on Feb 6, 2010 2:58:21 GMT -5
Bearcat Wright
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Post by rawthentic on Feb 6, 2010 5:07:11 GMT -5
Booker T
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2010 9:20:19 GMT -5
Bobo Brazil was the first one I thought of, then the Junkyard Dog. Both were HUGE draws wherever they wrestled. The same can be said for "Sailor" Art Thomas. Just bringing up the name "Sailor" Art Thomas gets you my admiration. One of his matches was on one of those "Golden Age Of Wrestling" tapes, and my dad would tell me all about how over he was in Wisconsin/Chicago. Handsome man, great build for a man of that time, and he was pretty good in the ring. People loved the man. |
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