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Ernie Ladd

Nickname: The Big Cat; The Cat

Height: 6' 9"

Weight: 320 lbs

From: Orange Grove, TX

Birthday: Nov 28th

Pro Debut: January 4, 1963

Aliases: Black Assassin

Feds Worked For: MSW, NWA-West, TSW, WCCW, AWA, NWA, WWF, WWWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All South Wrestling Alliance (GA), All Star Wrestling (NE), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (AL), International Championship Wrestling (KY/TN), International Wrestling Alliance (GA),International Wrestling Association (FL/NC/NJ/NY/OH), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), National Wrestling Federation (NY/OH), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), NWA Big Time Wrestling (CA), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Hollywood (CA), Southwest Sports (TX), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), World Wrestling Association (IN), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico)

Finisher: Kick To The Head

Signature Moves: Thumb to the Throat, Abdominal Stretch, Guillotine Leg Drop, Big Boot, Neck Hanging Tree, Dropkick, Diving Body Press

Career Highlights: -ASWA United States Tag Team Champion (w/ Tom Renesto)
-MSW Louisiana Champion (3x)
-MSW North American Champion
-MSW Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Leroy Brown)
-NWA American Champion
-NWA Americas Champion (3x)
-NWA Arkansas Champion
-NWA Central States Tag Team Champion (w/ Bruiser Brody)
-NWA Florida Champion
-NWA (Florida) Southern Champion
-NWA Georgia Tag Team Champion (w/ Ole Anderson)
-NWA Georgia Television Champion
-NWA Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
-NWA Texas Champion
-NWF Champion (4x)
-NWF North American Champion (2x)
-TSW North American Champion (4x)
-TSW United States Tag Team Champion (w/ The Assassin)
-WWA Champion
-WWA International Television Tag Team Champion (w/ Edouard Carpentier)
-WWA Tag Team Champion (w/ Baron Von Raschke)
-WWC North American Champion

Affiliates: The Wild Samoans, Leroy Brown, The Assassin, Mike Sharpe, Bobby Heenan, Thunderbolt Patterson, Bruce Swayze, The Grand Wizard, Tom Renesto, Bruiser Brody, Ole Anderson, Edouard Carpentier, Baron Von Raschke

Notable Feuds: Bruno Sammartino, Gene Kiniski, Jay Strongbow, Abdullah the Butcher, The Sheik, Dick the Bruiser, Bobo Brazil, Dusty Rhodes, Rufus R. Jones, Ox Baker, Junkyard Dog, Dick the Bruiser, Tony Atlas, Ray Candy, Ricky Steamboat, André the Giant, Bob Ellis, Gorilla Monsoon, Karl Kox, Paul Orndorff, Ivan Putski, Giant Baba, Dominic DeNucci

Other Facts: -Real name was Ernest Ladd
-Brother of wrestling promoter James Ladd
-Played football professionally in the American Football League from 1961-1968 for the San Diego Chargers, Houston Oilers, and Kansas City Chiefs. He was a Defensive Tackle. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 1981.
-Was an executive in a Louisiana based petroleum and chemical firm. Also spoke to groups of prison inmates about finding a better future.
-A longtime friend and confidante of the Bush family, Ladd had a seat of honor at the inaugurations of both George Bush and George W. Bush.
-Appeared in an episode of "That 70s Show" entitled "That Wrestling Show" in 1999
-Believed to have been the first African-American booker in the wrestling business
-Former member of The Heenan Family (Georgia version)
-Former member of The Soul Patrol
-In his retirement, he owned and operated "Big Cat Ernie Ladd's Throwdown BBQ" in New Orleans until 2005 when the restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina
-Inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994
-Inducted into the WWE (then WWF) Hall of Fame in 1995
-Inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame in 1996
-Posthumously inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2013
-Posthumously inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018
-Passed away on March 10, 2007 due to cancer
-Buried in Franklin Cemetery in Franklin, LA