Wrestling Legend Harley Race Passes Away At 76

Rest in peace to the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion.

Harley Race Champ
WWE

Wrestling legend Harley Race passed away at 76 years old yesterday.

Race's death came following a tough battle with lung cancer, which Dave Meltzer notes "took a turn for the worst" while 'The King of Wrestling' was preparing for a recent convention in Knoxville, Tenessee.

Best remembered for his role in the National Wrestling Alliance, through whom he rose to prominence in the 1970s, Race is generally regarded among the finest in-ring performers of all time. He's an eight-time World Heavyweight Champion with an aura of badassery matched by few in wrestling history and faced almost every major star in the world during his prime, including legendary clashes with the Funks, Ric Flair, Jumbo Tsuruta, and more.

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A world-renowned bruiser for years, Race was older and beaten-down by the time he joined the then-WWF in 1986. His fearsome reputation saw Vince McMahon keep him away from Hulk Hogan at first, but they eventually collided across the country in 1987, with Race taking the loss at every time of asking.

Harley's career started winding down thereafter. Retiring in 1990, he'd go on to manage the likes of Vader and Lex Luger in WCW, with his World League Wrestling school and promotion occupying most of his later years.

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WhatCulture wish to extend our deepest condolences to Race's friends and family at this difficult time.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.