Curtis Hughes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curtis Hughes |
|
|---|---|
Hughes in 2001
|
|
| Born | December 7, 1964 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | The Big Cat Big Cat Hughes Curtis Hughes Gotch Gracie Mr. Hughes The Ruffneck |
| Billed height | 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) |
| Billed weight | 330 lb (150 kg) |
| Billed from | Kansas City, Kansas |
| Trained by | Sonny Myers Bob Geigel |
| Debut | 1983 |
Curtis Hughes (born December 7, 1964) is an American professional wrestler. He is also known by his ring name Mr. Hughes. He is famous for working in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He also wrestled for other groups like the American Wrestling Association and Extreme Championship Wrestling. For over ten years, he taught wrestling at the WWA4 wrestling school. Today, he still wrestles on the independent circuit, which means he works for smaller wrestling companies.
Curtis Hughes' Wrestling Journey
Starting Out (1988–1990)
Curtis Hughes briefly played football at Kansas State University. After leaving college, he started training to become a professional wrestler. His teachers were Sonny Myers and Bob Geigel. He began his wrestling career in 1988. He first wrestled for Central States Wrestling. Then, he moved to the American Wrestling Association (AWA). In the AWA, he was a good guy, known as Curtis "The Cat" Hughes.
Time in World Championship Wrestling (1990–1992)
In November 1990, Curtis Hughes joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW). There, he was first called Big Cat. At a big event called Starrcade 1991 in Tokyo Dome, he teamed up with the Motor City Madman.
Later, he became known as Mr. Hughes. He played a "bad guy" role, called a heel. His character was a tough bodyguard, often wearing a suit and looking serious. He was part of a group called The York Foundation.
Mr. Hughes then became the bodyguard for wrestler Lex Luger and his manager Harley Race. He helped Luger win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. Hughes and Race would often interfere in Luger's matches. This led to Hughes being banned from ringside for some of Luger's big title defenses. In 1992, he also teamed up with other wrestlers like Big Van Vader and Cactus Jack.
In the summer of 1992, he changed back to being a "good guy" (a face) and was called Big Cat again. He teamed with Junkyard Dog.
World Wrestling Federation Appearances (1993)
After a short time in another wrestling group, Hughes joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in March 1993. He was part of a story where he feuded with The Undertaker. Mr. Hughes stole The Undertaker's special urn. However, he lost all his matches against The Undertaker and had to give the urn back. He left the WWF in August 1993. His last TV match was against Tatanka, which he lost.
Extreme Championship Wrestling (1993–1994, 1996, 1998)
In October 1993, Hughes started wrestling for Eastern Championship Wrestling. This company later changed its name to Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW). In ECW, he became the bodyguard for Shane Douglas. He helped Douglas during his championship reigns. Hughes often teamed with Douglas and also wrestled in single matches. He was sometimes called "The Ruffneck."
During this time, he also wrestled in the American Wrestling Federation. He was part of a bad guy group led by Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissey. He also wrestled in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council.
Returning to the WWF (1997, 1999)
Hughes had two more short times in the WWF. In January 1997, he was a bodyguard for Hunter Hearst Helmsley. He was later replaced by Chyna.
In September 1999, he came back to the WWF as a masked wrestler named "Gotch Gracie." It was later revealed that this was a trick. He and Chris Jericho attacked Ken Shamrock, and "Gracie" showed himself to be Curtis Hughes, Jericho's new bodyguard. Hughes had lost a lot of weight by this time. He teamed up with Jericho, but Jericho later turned against him. Hughes then left the WWF again.
.jpg)
Independent Wrestling and Training (1999–Present)
After 1999, Curtis Hughes continued to wrestle for smaller, independent wrestling groups. He also became the head trainer at the WWA4 Wrestling School in Atlanta. In late 2003, Hughes worked for the All World Wrestling League/Big Time Wrestling. In 2006, WWA4 started a local wrestling TV show. Hughes co-hosted this show. While teaching at the WWA4 school, Hughes lost a lot of weight.
In 2007, Hughes had a big story in Memphis Wrestling. He had a feud with Jerry Lawler. This story ended in a match where Hughes apologized to Lawler, but then attacked him and his girlfriend, losing the match.
In March 2011, Hughes was a main wrestler at a show in Springfield, Illinois. He teamed with Pretty Boy Floyd and Beast to win a match.
On February 18, 2012, Hughes won a big match called a battle royal. This win made him the Peachstate Wrestling Alliance Heritage Champion.
On April 11, 2016, he stopped being the head trainer at WWA4. One of his students, AR Fox, took over the role.
Wrestling Achievements
Curtis Hughes has won several championships during his career:
- Galaxy Wrestling Federation
- GWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Independent Wrestling Network
- IWN Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- International Wrestling Union
- IWU Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Peachstate Wrestling Alliance
- PWA Heritage Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him #62 among the top 500 single wrestlers in 1993.
- PWI ranked him #412 among the top 500 single wrestlers of all time in 2003.
- Southern States Championship Wrestling
- SSCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Other titles
- ASW Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
See also
In Spanish: Curtis Hughes para niños
