Bearcat Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bearcat Wright |
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Bearcat Wright in 1972
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| Birth name | Edward M. Wright |
| Born | January 13, 1932 Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Died | (aged 50) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Bearcat Wright Bearcat Wright Jr. The Black Panther |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
| Billed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
| Billed from | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Debut | 1952 |
| Retired | 1975 |
Edward M. Wright (born January 13, 1932 – died August 28, 1982) was a famous American professional wrestler. He was best known by his ring name, Bearcat Wright. He became very popular in the late 1950s and 1960s. Even though there was a lot of racial tension in the United States, fans loved him. He was often seen as a "babyface," which means he was the good guy in wrestling.
Thousands of fans would pack arenas to watch him wrestle. He competed in single matches and also in tag team matches. He often teamed up with another famous wrestler named Bobo Brazil. Bearcat Wright was also a boxer before he became a wrestler. His father, Ed "Bearcat" Wright, was also a boxer. Bearcat Wright himself had an undefeated record of 8 wins and 0 losses as a professional boxer. He boxed as "Bearcat Wright Jr." in the early 1950s.
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Bearcat Wright's Wrestling Journey
Bearcat Wright traveled all over the world for his wrestling career. He wrestled in Australia, Canada, and many parts of the United States. He always won the support of the fans. He battled against famous wrestlers like The Sheik, Johnny Valentine, and Kinji Shibuya.
Wrestling Style and Moves
Bearcat Wright was a tall and lean wrestler. He was known for his exciting moves. These included flying dropkicks, spin kicks, and leaps off the ropes. His special finishing move was called the "claw hold." This move made it hard for his opponents to escape.
Standing Up for Fairness
Bearcat Wright is famous for helping to end segregation in wrestling. Segregation meant that people of different races were kept separate. One day, in Gary, Indiana, he told the audience he would no longer wrestle in segregated matches.
Because of his strong stand, he was suspended for a short time. This suspension came from the Indiana State Athletic Commission. But soon after, professional boxing also became desegregated. Bearcat Wright helped change sports for the better.
Winning Championships
In April 1961, Bearcat Wright defeated Killer Kowalski. He won the Big Time Pro Wrestling title. This made him, in a way, the world heavyweight wrestling champion.
Just five days before Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, Bearcat Wright won another big title. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship. He defeated "Classy" Freddie Blassie in Los Angeles, California.
A Champion's Strong Will
Bearcat Wright was known for his incredible strength. He would even rip phone books in half during interviews to show how strong he was. He also showed his strong will outside the ring. He refused to give up his WWA championship title. The wrestling organization, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (WWA), wanted him to lose the title to Edouard Carpentier and then to Freddie Blassie.
Wright refused to do this. He was one of the few wrestlers who truly would not give up their title. Because of this, the WWA brought in Gene LeBell. LeBell was a famous judo champion. When Wright refused to enter the ring for the match, the WWA took his title away. They then gave it to Edouard Carpentier.
Even though this caused some trouble, promoters soon forgot about the negative parts. Bearcat Wright continued to be a popular wrestler. He kept wrestling into the 1970s.
Hall of Fame Recognition
On March 31, 2017, Bearcat Wright was honored after his death. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. This was part of the Legacy wing, which honors important figures from wrestling history.
Bearcat Wright's Passing
Bearcat Wright passed away at the age of 50. He died on August 28, 1982. His death was due to complications from sickle cell anemia.
Championships and Achievements
Bearcat Wright won many wrestling championships throughout his career. He held titles in various wrestling organizations across the United States and Australia.
- WWE
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2017)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2019)
