Bearcat Wright

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Bearcat Wright, circa 1960

Ed "Bearcat" Wright (the professional wrestler, not the boxer: b. 1932-died August 28, 1982). He was an African-American professional Wrestler who became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s. He wrestled during the time of Bobo Brazil, and despite racial tension in the United States became wildly popular as both a heel (a bad guy) and a babyface (a good guy). Wrestling in either singles competition or in tag team competition (often matched with Bobo Brazil), thousands of fans would pack arenas to see him.[1]

The Arizona Wrestling Legends website says, "He was seen in Australia, in Canada, throughout the south, in the midwest, in Texas, always winning the support of the fans as he battled the likes of The Sheik, Johnny Valentine and Kenji Shibuya. A tall and lanky man, he was usually noted for flying dropkicks, spin kicks and leaps off the rope."[2] He adopted a "claw hold" for his finisher, and was famous for desegregating wrestling. "Edward "Bearcat" Wright declared before an audience in Gary, Indiana, that he would no longer participate in segregated wrestling. Although suspended for a short time by the Indiana State Athletic Commission for his stand, shortly afterwards professional boxing desegregated. Bearcat Wright defeated Killer Kowalski in April 1961 to win the Big Time Pro Wrestling title and become, in effect, the world heavyweight wrestling champion."[3]

Five days before Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech, Wright won the WWA Championship from "Classy" Fred Blassie.[4] Known for behemoth strength (he would rip phone books in half during promotional interviews for his matches) he also was blackballed by the National Wrestling Alliance for refusing to drop the WWA championship to Edouard Carpentier and then back to Fred Blassie on December 13, 1963. He is one of the few wrestlers who legitimately would not drop their title--and so the WWA had to hire Gene LeBell (a known judo champion and shooter--or one who knew how to legitimately wrestle to defend themselves if needed) to side with Blassie during a rematch. When Wright refused to enter the ring, the WWA stripped him of his title and declared it vacant.[5]

Although creating controversy, promoters soon forgot about his negative sides. Wright continued to draw money and therefore wrestled even into the 1970s.

Wright died at the age of 50 years old on August 28, 1982.


[edit] Title History

(specific dates needed)[6]

BTW (Big Time Wrestling)

BTW Heavyweight Champion

WWA (World Wrestling Association)

WWA Heavyweight Champion

WWA International Television Tag Team Champion

NWA (National Wrestling Alliance)

NWA Florida Tag Team Champion

NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion(3)

NWA Hawaii Tag Team Champion(2)

NWA (San Francisco) United States Champion(2)

NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Champion

NWA Canadian Tag Team Champion

NWA (Vancouver) Pacific Coast Tag Team Champion

IWA (International Wrestling Alliance)

IWA Heavyweight Champion(2)

IWA Tag Team Champion

Arizona Arizona Heavyweight Champion

[edit] References

  1. ^ GARY WILL: 1959 RESULTS: Gorgeous George shaved bald - Toronto Wrestling History
  2. ^ Arizona Wrestling Legends - Legend Profile: Bearcat Wright
  3. ^ African Americans in Sports
  4. ^ Blassie, Fred. Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks. Pocket Books: New York, 2003. pp. 110-111.
  5. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=2MDgz2o0ly0C&pg=PA112&lpg=PA112&dq=Bearcat+wright&source=web&ots=S0dp58e1aN&sig=JM4Rc0gZBBE_glPaUeBOsx1xi6M&hl=en#PPA105,M1
  6. ^ Deceased Superstars - Bearcat Wright