10 Times WWE Bastardised Wrestling Royalty
9. Harley Race
Harley Race was wrestling royalty before he entered the WWF in 1986 - but the WWF refused to acknowledge his considerable achievements elsewhere, fearing that any indirect flattery of the promotions they were intent on destroying would compromise their monopoly of the North American wrestling landscape.
After briefly reviving his "Handsome" persona, Race was instead repackaged as the "King" of the WWF - in order to convey to those fans unaware of his reputation the towering extent of it.
It wasn't the first time Race was courted by the Federation. In 1983, Vince McMahon offered Race mega money to sign up to his nationalisation programme and twist the knife into Jim Crockett Promotions in doing so. Race refused, moving an incensed McMahon to attempt to take down the legendarily tough Race by the legs. Race, astonished, simply crossfaced the helpless promoter.
The King gimmick was actually Race's idea - and the easy, basic matches were a welcome departure from the punishing hour-long marathons with which he'd carved out his aura - but his midcard placement was a disservice.
He was broken down by the time of his arrival, but the WWF main events were hardly demanding in the mid-eighties.