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Edward "Bearcat" Wright (January 13, 1932 – August 28, 1982) was an African-American professional wrestler who became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s. He wrestled during the time of Bobo Brazil, and despite racial tension in the United States became wildly popular as both a heel and a babyface. Wrestling in either singles competition or in tag team competition (often matched with Bobo Brazil), thousands of fans would pack arenas to see him.〔(GARY WILL: 1959 RESULTS: Gorgeous George shaved bald - Toronto Wrestling History )〕 He was the son of boxer Ed "Bearcat" Wright, and had an 8-0 record as a professional boxer himself in the early 1950s, boxing as "Bearcat Wright Jr." The Arizona Wrestling Legends website says, "He was seen in Australia, in Canada, throughout the south, in the midwest, in Texas, always winning the support of the fans as he battled the likes of The Sheik, Johnny Valentine and Kenji Shibuya. A tall and lanky man, he was usually noted for flying dropkicks, spin kicks and leaps off the rope."〔(Arizona Wrestling Legends - Legend Profile: Bearcat Wright )〕 He adopted a "claw hold" for his finisher, and was famous for desegregating wrestling. Wright declared before an audience in Gary, Indiana, that he would no longer participate in segregated wrestling. Although suspended for a short time by the Indiana State Athletic Commission for his stand, shortly afterwards professional boxing desegregated. Bearcat Wright defeated Killer Kowalski in April 1961 to win the Big Time Pro Wrestling title and become, in effect, the world heavyweight wrestling champion."〔(African Americans in Sports )〕 Five days before Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech, Wright won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship from "Classy" Fred Blassie.〔Blassie, Fred. ''Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks.'' Pocket Books: New York, 2003. pp. 110-111.〕 Known for behemoth strength (he would rip phone books in half during promotional interviews for his matches) he also was blackballed by Worldwide Wrestling Associates for refusing to drop the WWA championship to Edouard Carpentier and then back to Fred Blassie on December 13, 1963. He is one of the few wrestlers who legitimately would not drop their title—and so WWA had to hire Gene LeBell (a known judo champion and shooter—or one who knew how to legitimately wrestle to defend themselves if needed) to substitute for Blassie at a rematch. When Wright refused to enter the ring, WWA stripped him of his title and awarded it to Carpentier.〔(403 Forbidden )〕 Although creating controversy, promoters soon forgot about his negative sides. Wright continued to draw money and therefore wrestled even into the 1970s. Wright died at the age of 50 years on August 28, 1982. == Championships and accomplishments == *Big Time Wrestling * *BTW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Big Time Wrestling World Heavyweight Title )〕 *Championship Wrestling from Florida * *NWA Brass Knuckles Championship ''(Florida version)'' (1 time)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Florida Brass Knuckles Title )〕 * *NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Shane〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Florida Tag Team Title (Detroit) )〕 *Mid-Pacific Promotions * *NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Luther Lindsay and Sam Steamboat〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Hawaii Tag Team Title )〕 *Midwest Wrestling Association * *MWA Ohio Heavyweight Championship (1 time)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Ohio Heavyweight Title )〕 *NWA All-Star Wrestling * *NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship ''(Vancouver version)'' (1 time) – with Enrique Torres〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Canadian Tag Team Title (Vancouver) )〕 * *NWA Pacific Coast Tag Team Championship ''(Vancouver version)'' (1 time) – with Whipper Billy Watson〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Pacific Coast Tag Team Title )〕 *NWA San Francisco * *NWA United States Championship ''(San Francisco version)'' (2 times)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. United States Heavyweight Title (San Francisco) )〕 *Pacific Northwest Wrestling * *NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Shag Thomas (2) and Billy White Wolf〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=N.W.A. Pacific Northwest Tag Team Title )〕 *World Championship Wrestling (Australia) * *IWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=I.W.A. World Heavyweight Title (Australia) )〕 * *IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mark Lewin〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=I.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Australia) )〕 *Worldwide Wrestling Associates * *WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=W.W.A. World Heavyweight Title )〕 * *WWA International Television Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Mr. Moto〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=W.W.A. International Television Tag Team Title )〕 *Other titles: * *Arizona Heavyweight Championship (1 time)〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Arizona Heavyweight Title )〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bearcat Wright」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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