The wrestling community lost a legend on Thursday August 1st 2019, as WWE Hall of Famer Harley Race passes away at age 76 after his battle with lung cancer. The news broke earlier yesterday on Race’s Twitter page. The man who once referred to himself as “King” Harley Race made a huge impact in the wrestling world throughout his career. His career goes back to 1960 with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now the WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
During his time in the ring, he squared off with other legendary wrestlers such as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and the Funk Brothers. After joining the WWF, Race faced off again Junkyard Dog at WrestleMania III at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Bobby “The Brain” Heenan by his side as his manager.
Race’s biggest accomplishment was winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship eight times with his first title win in May 1973. He was in the main event of the inaugural Starrcade event in November 1983. Race lost the title to Ric Flair in a steel cage match. The former champion was also crowned the first NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. The title now known in the WWE as the United States Championship.
Although Race retired from active competition in 1990. His presence was still felt for years to come as a manager, promoter and trainer. He founded World League Wrestling (WLW) in 1999.
WLW is currently operated in Troy, Missouri, where they have their house shows.
Race continued to run the promotion until his death. The legends contributions to the sport were recognized with inductions into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994; the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. He is also part of the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005.
