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Spotlight on Ernie “the Big Cat” Ladd

Posted: May 15th 2024 By: Robert Segedy - RingTheDamnBell.Wordpress.com

Today, Robert Segedy places the spotlight on the legendary career of Ernie “the Big Cat” Ladd. From his days as a football player, to his “second” career as a professional wrestler.

Ernie Ladd was a former gridiron great turned pro wrestler; he was a giant of a man, standing at 6’, 9” tall and weighing 290 pounds. He helped the San Diego Chargers win four championship games, winning the championship for the team in 1963. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Oilers. Ladd took up professional wrestling during the off seasons and became a full time wrestler in 1969.

As a wrestler, Ladd quickly became one of the top heels in the business. Ladd feuded with many popular wrestlers of the time including Wahoo McDaniel, Andre the Giant, Bobo Brazil, Dusty Rhodes, and Mr. Wrestling before retiring from the squared circle in 1986.

Ladd was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994, the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2013.

Ladd started wrestling in 1961. Initially started out as a fan favorite, he quickly became a despised heel during the 1970’s. Ladd was known to employ a taped thumb which he claimed was necessary due to an old football injury. Often when Ladd appeared to be in serious trouble during a match, he would quickly exit the ring and accept a count out loss, which became known as “pulling an Ernie Ladd

Ladd wrestled for a large number of different professional associations including the World Wide Wrestling Federation numerous times from 1968 to 1981. He also had multiple successful runs in the NWA, the Mid-South Promotion, the NWF, and WWC promotion.

Naturally known for his immense size and power, it was natural that Ladd would feud with other big men, including Andre the Giant. Ladd was known for his quick wit and skill on the mike, and he would often refer to Andre as “The Big Dummy.” Ladd would often wear an ornate crown for his ring entrances.

Ladd easily pinned Earl “Mr. Universe” Maynard which lead to a title match with Bruno Sammartino at Madison Square Garden for the WWWF title on March 1, 1976. In 1978, he challenged the WWWF champion Bob Backland.

After leaving the WWWF, Ladd resurfaced in the Mid-South Territory promoted by Bill Watts. Ladd feuded with Paul Orndorff, Ray Candy, and the Junkyard Dog. He also served as a manager for Afa and Sika, The Wild Samoans. Ladd also had a successful run as the tag team partner with “Bad” Leroy Brown in the early 1980’s. Ladd also helped Watts as a behind the scenes booker and had a large influence in the development of Sylvester Ritter as the area’s top babyface.

Ladd died of colon cancer on March 10, 2007, at the age of 68.