There are few tougher than former professional wrestler and current promoter & trainer Harley Race. The self-styled “Greatest Wrestler on God’s Green Earth” had his mettle put to the test once again. Harley Race suffered a serious injury this past week. At his Troy, Missouri home, the 74 year old dealt with two broken legs due to a fall. WWE.com broke the news a few days ago. http://www.wwe.com/article/harley-race-injured-fall-surgery.
Bill Apter from 1wrestling.com spoke with Race’s son, Leland. He stated that his father’s left leg was severely damaged, primarily shattering the fibula and tibia. The emergency surgery apparently required four blood transfusions. This is only one of many tribulations endured by Harley Race over the decades.
Born on April 11th, 1943, Harley Leland Race was born in Quitman, Missouri. He started training under the Zbyszkos. Race began by being a chauffeur for Gust Karras’ promotion. Before he was 19 years old, he won the Southern Tag Team Championship. Race later teamed with Larry the Axe Hennig to win the AWA Tag Team Championship. He then went on to become a seven time NWA World Heavyweight champion. He even had a stint with the then World Wrestling Federation, where he was one of the few to have won the prestigious King of the Ring tournament. Race made occasional appearances, as a manager in World Championship Wrestling and in TNA as a figurehead for their National Wrestling Alliance championship committee.
As illustrious as his career was as an in-ring performer, Harley Race was just as hard of a worker as a promoter. Heart of America Sports Attractions was the territory that Race ran during the 1980s. The territory did well until the alleged raid by Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation. For about 17 years, his World League Wrestling promotion has done well for itself. The Harley Race Wrestling Academy has likewise been a success.
All throughout his life, Harley Race was no stranger to beating the odds. He had a bout of polio when he was a child, but he overcame it. A car accident nearly took one of his legs and nearly his life, but he overcame it. An arm injury placed his career in jeopardy, but he overcame it.
We at The Scrum Sports send well wishes to Race’s family and hope for a speedy recovery for one of the all time greats, in and out of the ring.
