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Harley Race : Wrestling Legend Now Instructor Extrodinaire

Posted: May 20th 2016 By: Don Laible - UticaOD.com

Alright, I'll start the argument. Harley Race was the very best to have claimed the NWA heavyweight championship, this side of Lou Thesz.

I've seen a lot of pro wrestling matches over the past 45 years. From watching the best of the heavyweights on TV ( beginning on black and white TV), in person, on tape, DVD, and viewing tons of photographs ? oh, and on Super 8 mm film,too. In total, I am quite familiar with 15 champs who wore the once most recognized and respected strap in the wrestling business.

Harley Race could beat the snot out of most, if not all, who represented the NWA.

This is not say that I'm not a fan of nearly all who wore the NWA belt. But, when it came to work rate, shoot, if necessary, or work, Race sold the business like few have. When Harley entered the ring, you knew there was going to be anything but a hold-fest,once the bell rang. His matches created an air of ?realism? on the canvas.

Even at 73-years-old today, Race hasn't given up on the business that he rose to superstardom in. One week from today, exactly 43 years ago, on May 24 in Kansas City, Missouri, Race began what would be his first of eight reigns as NWA pinking. Wrestling today isn't what Race, of Quitman, MO, experienced when he started in the game in the early 1960′s, but he seems to be okay with that.

?Sometimes I look back at what I've done (in wrestling), and say, Holy Christ ? I don't believe it?, says Race. ? There have been a lot of changes in the business. You learn to learn, to go on.?

Some of the names of his former opponents are a bit fuzzy for Race to rapidly recall. There have been more than any self-appointed mat historian could name, as well. Staying active in passing on some of his experiences to possible future world champions allows Race to remain excited about his sport. Based in Troy,MO, Race has a training school, and an arena where shows are presented, with many of his students filling out the bill.

The World League Wrestling group spotlights the students of Race, who very well could be headliners for the WWE in the future. There are two training rings inside a 7,000 sq ft facility. Some of Race's ?old-school? wisdom comes out, and hopefully absorbed by his students for the long haul. ?When I was involved in a wrestling match, fans understood that once I was in the ring, it was time to preform?, Race explains.

Long before Harley was named to the WWE, NWA, and PWHF halls of fame, and decades back when squaring off against the game's cream of the crop in main events, with Jack Brisco, Ric Flair, ?Superstar? Billy Graham, and Bob Backlund, there was Happy Humphrey.

Well, once Race saw his first match on TV as a 13-year-old, he later connected with Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko. The Zbyszkos were top draws during the 1910 and 1920 eras. At 6-foot-1-inch, and 245 lbs., by heavyweight wrestling standards, Race wasn't a giant. However, through the Zbyszkos, and others from the wrestling carnival era, the kid learned toughness, and how to take care of himself, regardless of his opponents' size.

Speaking of size ? Happy Humphrey. As billed as an attraction, the same as Andre the Giant and Haystack Calhoun, Humphrey , at 600 lbs., was a big, big man. Getting from arena to arena wasn't an easy task for the Georgian. Race's job was to drive Humphrey to his matches. The rest as they say, is wrestling history.

?I drove Happy for two to three years?, Race recalls.

As for Harley's opinion on former Six-Time NWA Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz - ?He (Thesz) was the type of wrestler who if he would have relaxed a little bit more, and got along with the younger generation coming in, he would have been better off?.

As a regional title holder, as well as the very best representing the NWA, Race traveled the world during his 30-plus years in the ring. He often globetrotted to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout Canada, always in high demand by promoters. It was Gust Karras, a promoter based in St. Joseph, MO, who believed in Race, and gave him his first big break along the circuits. Of all the places that Race was booked, he doesn't need a minute to declare his favorite stops ? St. Louis and Kansas City (MO).

?St Louis was the capital city of the NWA at the time,?states Race. ?Sam Muchnick (NWA president and promoter) brought in all the best talent from around the territories. The Kiel Auditorium had great shows?.

According to Race, he never really connected with anyone in the wrestling business to claim as close friends, per se. He was pleased to meet so many different people, in the many different promotions he toured for. Recalling his time as a partner/owner of the Kansas City promotion with Pat O'Connor and Bob Geigel brings back memorable moments during our telephone conversation. Not living in the past, for Race's WLW, May 21, at the Richmond Community Center, is their next show night.

Coming from an era where promotions aired live and taped broadcasts from TV studios, the Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis to the SuperStation WTBS studio in Atlanta, to performing at Madison Square Garden, Harley Race has seen and done it all in the wrestling world?.and his presence continues on on May 21.