Rocky King facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rocky King |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | William Boulware Jr. |
| Born | January 30, 1958 Richburg, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | March 27, 2022 (aged 64) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Little Richard Marley Rocky King Rocky Smith |
| Billed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Billed weight | 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st) |
| Debut | 1985 |
| Retired | 1998 |
William Boulware Jr. (born January 30, 1958 – died March 27, 2022) was a famous American professional wrestler. Most people knew him by his exciting ring name, Rocky King. He also worked as a referee in big wrestling companies like Jim Crockett Promotions and World Championship Wrestling.
Contents
Rocky King's Wrestling Journey
William Boulware Jr. started his wrestling career in 1985. Before that, he faced some challenges. He would often be around wrestlers, hoping to get a chance to join them. Jim Crockett Jr., who ran a wrestling company, eventually hired him.
Starting Out as Rocky King
When he began wrestling, William Boulware Jr. used the name Rocky King. He started in National Wrestling Alliance's Jim Crockett Promotions in North Carolina. At first, he was a "jobber." This means he often wrestled against more famous wrestlers and usually lost. Even so, he quickly got better. He was often allowed to show off his wrestling moves during his matches. He frequently wrestled against the famous group known as the Four Horsemen.
New Roles and Challenges
After wrestling in Florida for a while, King came back to North Carolina. There, he continued to wrestle under promoter Pez Whatley. In 1987, he teamed up with another wrestler named George South.
In early 1990, Rocky King was briefly connected with a group called the Dudes With Attitudes. They were in a rivalry with the Four Horsemen. Later in 1990, Jim Crockett Promotions was bought and renamed World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Rocky King then got a new wrestling character. He became "Little Richard Marley." In this role, he was a manager for the wrestling team Fabulous Freebirds, made up of Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin.
He helped the Freebirds in their rivalry against the Southern Boys. At a big event called Starrcade in 1990, he accidentally caused the Freebirds to lose their match. After that, the Freebirds attacked him. Following this, he went back to wrestling as Rocky King. Later, he became a referee for WCW before he retired from wrestling in 1998.
Beyond the Ring: Helping Kids
After his wrestling career, Rocky King wanted to help others. In July 1999, he started his own wrestling company called BWA Professional Wrestling. He wanted to offer wrestling shows that families could enjoy together. He also created Boulware Enterprises, Inc. to run his BWA shows.
The BWA put on shows for churches, charities, and private groups along the East Coast. Rocky King also worked with Bill Heard III in Atlanta, Georgia. They created a program called Kids Nite Out. This program helped keep kids safe and off the streets. King also partnered with Frank Aldridge's World Wrestling Alliance 4 - WWA4. Together, they put on many wrestling shows every year.
Rocky King's Legacy
William Boulware Jr., known as Rocky King, passed away on March 27, 2022. He was 64 years old. He is remembered for his wrestling career and his efforts to help communities.
