The modern-day WWE is an inclusive place where wrestlers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds come together to be admired for their skill and showmanship. The only thing that matters is if you can wrestle and deliver a strong promo. But the recent death of James Harris, who wrestled as the character “Kamala” in the 1980s, is a reminder that things have not always been that way. Earlier times in professional wrestling heavily relied on poorly drawn stereotypes to easily curry the fans’ favor or — more likely — turn those stereotypes into heels. Here are 16 wrestlers from wrestling’s past that definitely would not fly in today’s world.
Billed as the “Ugandan giant,” Kamala became a name in 1980s WWF by wearing an African mask and loincloth, carrying a spear and applying plenty of bodypaint. He was portrayed by James Harris, who hailed from Mississippi.
Chief Jay Strongbow
Joe Scarpa was an Italian-American from Georgia who wore a Native American headdress into the ring and would “go on the warpath” against his enemies. No chance you’d see something like this in 2020.
Big Boss Man
The late Ray Washington Traylor Jr. made a name for himself and was eventually inducted in to the WWE Hall of Fame for his portrayal of Big Boss Man. The character was a police officer billed from Cobb County, Georgia with a knack for brutalizing opponents with his night stick.
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The Iron Sheik
The Iranian-born Sheik was a huge star as the WWF exploded into popularity in the early ’80s. He was also one of its biggest heels as Vince McMahon exploited anti-Iranian sentiment in the country. The Sheik’s battles with Hulk Hogan helped turn the latter into the ideal of an all-American hero.
Nikolai Volkoff
A stereotypical Russian at the height of the Cold War, Volkoff was paired with Iron Sheik and won the tag-team championship at WrestleMania I. He was played by Josip Peruzovic, who was actually from Croatia.
Little Beaver
A midget wrestler from Quebec, Lionel Giroux wore a Mohawk and buckskin into the ring. His biggest turn in the WWF came at WrestleMania III when he was part of a six-man match that involved Hillbilly Jim, King Kong Bundy and three other midget wrestlers.
Papa Shango
WWE Hall of Fame Charles Wright would later wrestle as “The Godfather,” a pimp who would enter the ring with “hos.” Before that, though, he was Papa Shango, a voodoo priest that was voted “Worst Gimmick” by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards in 1992.
Saba Simba
Pro wrestling and bodybuilding legend Tony Atlas was a WWF regular during the ’80s but fell victim to drug abuse and homelessness. He fortunately, turned his life around and returned as “Saba Simba,” a stereotypical warrior from an African tribe. After two years in the WWF, Atlas dropped the character and headed to WCW.
Miss Elizabeth
Today’s WWE is fortunately filled with strong and athletic women who hold their own in the ring and are some of the organization’s most popular performers. Miss Elizabeth was also popular, but her ringside presence existed mostly to be eye candy and an object for Hulk Hogan and Macho Man, her actual husband, to fight over.
Slick
The first African-American manager in WWE history, Slick is still described as a “greasy conman” on its website.
Mr. Fuji
Japan has always had a proud pro wrestling history but Mr Fuji was a thinly drawn stereotype who occasionally engaged in slurs toward wrestlers from other backgrounds.
The Mexicools
The Mexicools were a group of three luchadores that were portrayed as lazy and would ride riding lawnmowers to the ring. It’s honestly insane that this happened.
Virgil
A rich white guy who was always flanked by a black manservant named Virgil. Yes, that was just a tad problematic.
Akeem The Dream
A white Southerner, George Gray originally wrestled as “One Man Gang.” But when interest in that shtick started to wane, Gray announced that One Man Gang was actually African and started to speak in stereotypical “jive.” Not good.
Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka
Snuka was often the butt of racist bits, such as when Rowdy Roddy Piper hit him over the head with a coconut on an episode of “Piper’s Pit.”
Hillbilly Jim
The stereotype of a barefoot and dirt-poor wrestler from “Mud Lick Kentucky” really wasn’t out of place in the 1980s wrestling world. But it’s nothing you’d see in today’s wrestling world.
Kamala
16 politically incorrect pro wrestling characters from the ’80s and ’90s
In just about any culture, “lying, cheating, and stealing” are generally not held in esteem as instructive maxims for life. They were for Los Guerreros however, even though they acted as proxies for the entire Hispanic community.
Eddie and Chavo’s Mexican heritage was in no way coincidental to their act; the two had previously championed their ancestry as part of WCW’s Latino World Order, and they were just as forward about their ethnicity in the surrounds of Stamford. Unfortunately, it was conflated with their on-screen deviancy as if it were part and parcel of Hispanic culture. The ‘cholo’ stereotype was heavily invoked, with the pair emerging to ringside in a low-rider, whilst taking every shortcut possible to gain an advantage.
Despite his sensational talent, Eddie Guerrero felt he had no choice but to comply with the exploitative character in order to get ahead. It’s telling that even a man with his supreme ability was ultimately reduced to his race.