10 Pro Wrestling Scandals You've Probably Never Heard Of

Edward ‘Bearcat’ Wright was one of the most important pro wrestlers in history. Most famous during the late fifties and the sixties, he was insanely over in either singles or tag competition due to his legit phenomenal strength, his charisma, and his repertoire of flying kicks and top rope moves.

Hugely popular as a fan favourite or a villain, Bearcat was one of the men who helped to desegregate wrestling back in those days of warring civil rights, announcing to a crowd in Indiana that he would no longer work the territories in the state until the sport was desegregated. He’d become the first African-American world heavyweight champion in 1963 as a consequence.

However, Wright will be remembered as much for his attitude behind the scenes as his more important contributions to sport and race.

In particular, Wright’s issues with ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie have tainted his legacy. He won the World Wrestling Associates’ top title from Blassie - but upon being booked to drop the title back to him at the end of the year, Bearcat refused. From all reports, his reasoning was fairly sound: he was over like clover, and keeping the title on him was best for business.

Mike LeBell, the promoter behind the newly-renamed WWA, didn’t see it that way. Furious, he hired his real life brother, the legendary Gene LeBell, to act as policeman in the matter, substituting him for Blassie.

Despite his physical prowess, Wright knew full well that LeBell could easily defeat him in a shoot, and saw exactly what the brothers intended. He’d refused to drop the title, so he’d be made to do business, whether he liked it or not.

Faced with certain - and probably humiliating - defeat, Wright simply opted to no-show the fight, and was stripped of the title. However, despite a blackballing from the WWA, Wright’s popularity couldn’t be denied: he continued to be a box office draw across the country well into the 1970s.