10 Wrestlers Who Refused To Drop Titles

While Ron Simmons is the first recognized African-American world champion in pro-wrestling history, two other men have already achieved the feat much earlier than Simmons.

Bobo Brazil won the NWA World Championship from Buddy Rogers in 1962 but refused to accept the title since Rogers was injured. The second person to achieve the feat was Bearcat Wright, who won the WWA World Heavyweight Championship from Freddie Blassie in August 1963. Since the promotion wasn't part of the NWA territories at the time, his title reign also went unrecognized.

Bearcat Wright held the WWA World Heavyweight Championship for 115 days, during which time he refused to lose the title on three different occasions.

He first refused to drop the title to Edouard Carpentier in November 1963 and Freddie Blassie the following month. Bearcat Wright is known for his immense strength, and the promoter found it hard to find someone to take the title off Wright even if things had to get real. So he had his real-life brother and renowned Judo Champion Gene LeBell to do the job.

When Bearcat Wright saw Gene LeBell walk in as Freddie Blassie's replacement for their title match, he knew LeBell could easily defeat him in a shot fight. So when he refused to enter the ring, WWA had no choice but to strip him of his title.