Harley Race (far right) is unquestionably one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. He began wrestling in 1961 at the age of 18, and after nearly losing his legs in a car accident, would go on to become a record breaking 8 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. While this record would, much like his final reign, be broken by Ric Flair, Harley's career did not end there. He has won titles in almost every territory he's ever worked, the AWA, WWC, All Japan and numerous NWA territories, and is a member of the WCW, NWA and WWE (class of 2004) Hall of Fames. Perhaps what Harley is known best for is being the most reliable heavyweight champion in the NWA, carrying the belt night in and night out, feuding with the best competition that territories had to offer. By the time Harley reached WWE in 1986, 25 years after his debut, he was a shell of his former self. The WWE decided to make him the first 'King of the Ring' and Race would then proceed to have a series of forgettable feuds and appearances against The Junkyard Dog, Jim Duggan and King Haku. Perhaps Harley's most forgettable appearance was his entry in the inaugural Royal Rumble in 1988 where entered at #6 and lasted 10 minutes 3 seconds, eliminating no competitors before being thrown over the top rope by Don Muraco. Like a lot of wrestlers on this list, Race's Rumble appearance was a microcosm of his WWE, it was too long (3 years), uninspiring, and made fans long for the glory days. After the Royal Rumble 'The King' would get a hernia in his abdomen in a match with Hulk Hogan, and play out his contract losing to mid carders. He would then make sporadic appearances in other promotions like the NWA, AWA and WWC winding down his in ring career to pick up the art of managing before retiring from wrestling for good. Harley Race should be remembered for his legendary run in the territories and not for his WWE run, or his forgetful appearance in the 1988 Royal Rumble.
