Ray Candy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ray Candy |
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Candy, circa 1988
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| Birth name | Ray Canty |
| Born | December 3, 1951 Decatur, Georgia |
| Died | May 23, 1994 (aged 42) Decatur, Georgia |
| Cause of death | Myocardial infarction |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Blackstud Williams Commando Ray Kareem Muhammad Masked Superfly Ray Candy Super Mario Man |
| Billed height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) |
| Billed weight | 341 lb (155 kg) |
| Billed from | Decatur, Georgia, US |
| Trained by | Dory Funk Jr. |
| Debut | 1973 |
| Retired | 1990 |
Ray Canty (born December 3, 1951 – died May 23, 1994) was a famous American professional wrestler. Most people knew him by his wrestling name, Ray Candy. He wrestled all over the world, including the United States, Japan, and Puerto Rico.
Ray Candy also used other wrestling names. These included Blackstud Williams, Super Mario Man, Commando Ray, and Masked Superfly. He was also known as Kareem Muhammad. As Kareem Muhammad, he formed a tag team called "The Zambuie Express." His partner was Elijah Akeem. Ray Candy also helped train other wrestlers, like New Jack.
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Ray Candy's Wrestling Journey
Ray Canty started his wrestling career in 1973. He was trained by a wrestling legend, Dory Funk Jr.. When he first started, he used the name "Ray Candy." This was a slightly changed version of his real name.
Early Matches and Championships
Ray Candy began wrestling in his home state of Georgia. He quickly won the ASWA United States Championship. Later, he wrestled for Dory Funk Sr.'s company, Western States Sports. There, he won the NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship. He also won the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship with his trainer, Dory Funk Jr.
By 1976, Ray Candy was a regular wrestler in Florida. He also wrestled for NWA Mid-America. He won the NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship twice with his partner, Pez Whatley.
Wrestling in Japan
In 1979, Ray Candy got to wrestle in Japan for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). He toured Japan many times. On October 12, 1979, Ray Candy and Abdullah the Butcher won the NWA International Tag Team Championship. They beat famous wrestlers Giant Baba and Jumbo Tsuruta. They held the title for one week before Baba and Tsuruta won it back.
Ray Candy also competed in the 1980 Champion Carnival tournament. He won several matches and finished in eighth place.
The Zambuie Express Tag Team
In 1983, Ray Candy teamed up with Leroy Brown. Ray Candy took on the name "Kareem Muhammad." Leroy Brown was called "Elijah Akeem." Together, they became "The Zambuie Express." Sometimes, they were called "The Muslim Connection."
They wore camouflage clothes to the ring. They acted like military-style characters. Fans in the southern United States really disliked them. This made them great villains in wrestling. They were often managed by Sir Oliver Humperdink.
In Florida, The Zambuie Express won the NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship. They beat Mike Graham and Scott McGhee on July 31, 1983. They held the title for a few months. Then, it was replaced by the NWA United States Tag Team Championship. The Zambuie Express were named the new champions. They were said to have won a tournament.
Two months later, they lost the championship. Dusty Rhodes and Blackjack Mulligan defeated them.
More Tag Team Success
The Zambuie Express then went to Memphis. They wrestled for the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA). They quickly started a rivalry with The Fabulous Ones. On January 24, 1984, The Zambuie Express were given the AWA Southern Tag Team Championship. This happened when The Fabulous Ones did not show up for a match.
However, the titles were then made vacant. The CWA held a tournament to find new champions. The Zambuie Express won the tournament. They beat the Pretty Young Things in the final. Just one week later, the Pretty Young Things won the championship from them. Eight days after that, The Zambuie Express won the championship back again. They held the belts until March 12, 1984. They lost them to Jerry Lawler and Jos LeDuc.
The team also toured Japan in 1984. Then, they joined Jim Crockett Promotions. They became part of Paul Jones' team. They fought against Jimmy Valiant and his friends. The Zambuie Express wrestled at Starrcade in 1984. They lost to Buzz Tyler and The Masked Assassin #1. This was one of their last matches together. The team broke up soon after.
Later Career and Other Names
Ray Candy later formed a team called "The Shock Troops" with Ed Gantner. They wrestled for CWF. On November 25, 1986, Ray Candy, still as Kareem Muhammad, won the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship. He beat Barry Windham for the title. He lost it to Ron Simmons on December 2.
He also teamed with Hacksaw Higgins. They won the NWA United States Tag Team Championship. But they only held it for one day. In late 1986, Ray Candy wrestled in Japan as "Super Mario Man." This name was a bit funny for a tall, strong wrestler.
In 1987, he went to Puerto Rico. He wrestled for the World Wrestling Council (WWC). He won the WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship on June 6. He held it for about six months. In 1988, he became "Commando Ray." He teamed with "Commando Boone." They were known as "The Commandos." Ray Candy's last big match was at Starrcade in 1988. He was in a large "Battle Royal" match.
Life After Wrestling
Ray Canty stopped wrestling in 1990. He went back home to Decatur, Georgia. He worked as a dispatcher and supervisor for a transport company. He also helped train other wrestlers. These included Glenn Jacobs, who later became "Kane" in WWE, and New Jack.
On May 23, 1994, Ray Canty passed away at his home. He died after having a heart attack.
Championships and Accomplishments
Ray Candy won many championships during his wrestling career:
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- NWA International Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Abdullah the Butcher
- All-South Wrestling Alliance
- ASWA Georgia Championship (1 time)
- ASWA United States Championship (1 time)
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Elijah Akeem
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (2 times) – with Elijah Akeem (1) and Hacksaw Higgins (1)
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA Georgia Television Championship (2 times)
- NWA Mid-America / Continental Wrestling Association
- AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Elijah Akeem
- NWA Mid-America Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Pez Whatley
- NWA Tri-State
- NWA Arkansas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (2 times) – with Steven Little Bear
- Oregon Wrestling Federation
- OWF Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 334 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in 1991
- Southeastern Championship Wrestling
- NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Southeastern Heavyweight Championship (Northern Division) (1 time)
- Western States Sports
- NWA Western States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dory Funk Jr.
- NWA Tri-State
- NWA Louisiana Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Steven Little Bear
- World Wrestling Council
- WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
See also
- List of premature professional wrestling deaths
