Sputnik Monroe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sputnik Monroe |
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Sputnik Monroe
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| Birth name | Rosco Monroe Merrick |
| Born | December 18, 1928 Dodge City, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | November 3, 2006 (aged 77) Florida, U.S. |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Elvis Rock Monroe Pretty Boy Roque Rock Monroe Sputnik Monroe |
| Billed height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Billed weight | 229 lb (104 kg) |
| Billed from | Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Trained by | Jack Nazworthy |
| Debut | 1945 |
| Retired | 1988 |
Roscoe Monroe Brumbaugh (born Rosco Monroe Merrick; December 18, 1928 – November 3, 2006) was an American professional wrestler. He was best known by his ring name Sputnik Monroe. He was also an important civil rights supporter. Sputnik was a very popular wrestler in many places. He was especially famous in Memphis, Tennessee. There, he and another wrestler named Billy Wicks set a record for how many people came to watch them. This record lasted for a very long time.
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Early Life
Sputnik Monroe was born in Dodge City, Kansas. His father passed away in a plane crash before he was born. He spent his early years living with his grandparents. Later, his mother got married again. His stepfather, whose last name was Brumbaugh, adopted him when he was 17. So, his legal name became Roscoe Monroe Brumbaugh.
He had a brother named Gary "Jet" Monroe. Gary sometimes helped manage Sputnik's wrestling career.
Wrestling Career
Sputnik Monroe started wrestling in 1945. He first used the name "Rock Monroe" and wrestled at traveling carnivals. In 1949, he changed his name to "Rocky Monroe." Then, in 1957, he got the nickname "Sputnik." This was because of the Russian satellite Sputnik 1 that launched that year.
His Wrestling Style
Monroe played a "bad guy" character, known as a heel in wrestling. He liked to make the crowd upset. Once, he pretended to hold an opponent in a special move. He said he wouldn't let go until the opponent gave up. A local sheriff told him to release the wrestler. Sputnik eventually let go when the sheriff counted to three. He would also brag, saying he was made of "twisted steel and appeal." This made fans boo him even more.
Fighting for Fairness
Sputnik Monroe became very important in Memphis, Tennessee, for reasons beyond wrestling. In 1957, he started to challenge the rules of segregation. Segregation meant that Black people and white people had to be kept separate in public places. For example, at wrestling shows, white fans sat on the main floor. Black fans had to sit far away in the balcony.
Monroe saw that this rule was unfair. He also noticed that many Black fans wanted to see wrestling. He started to visit bars in Black neighborhoods in Memphis. He would dress in fancy clothes, like a purple gown, and carry a special cane. He would talk to Black people and give them tickets to his shows. Because of this, police often arrested him on minor, unfair charges. But each time, he would hire a Black lawyer, pay a small fine, and then go right back to what he was doing.
This made him very popular with the Black community. Even though he was a "bad guy" in the ring, his shows became packed. The balcony, where Black fans sat, would be full. Many people couldn't even get in because it sold out. Meanwhile, the main floor for white fans was often half empty.
Changing the Rules
Sputnik Monroe became the most popular wrestler in the area. He then refused to wrestle unless everyone, no matter their race, could sit anywhere they wanted at the Ellis Auditorium. The wrestling promoter had to agree because Monroe was such a big draw. After this, his shows completely sold out. Black fans filled the entire auditorium, sometimes over 15,000 people!
Soon, other sports events in the South saw how much money they could make. They also started to allow people of all races to sit together. Sputnik Monroe helped change things for the better.
He stopped wrestling in 1975. But he came back for one last match in 1988.
Personal Life
Monroe had three children. His youngest son, Quentin Bell, also became a professional wrestler. Sputnik Monroe helped train him. Quentin Bell passed away in 2022.
Death and Legacy
Sputnik Monroe died peacefully in his sleep on November 3, 2006. He was 77 years old and passed away in Florida.
In 2007, HBO announced they planned to make a movie about Sputnik Monroe's life. The script for the film was confirmed to be finished later that year.
Awards and Honors
Sputnik Monroe received many awards for his wrestling career and his impact.
- He was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2000.
- He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2017.
- He received a Humanitarian Award from the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame in 2012.
- He was inducted into the Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994.
- He was also inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as part of the Legacy class of 2018.
