Wrestling's 13 Greatest African-American Stars
11. Ernie Ladd
In 1994, one of Bobo Brazil's greatest rivals, Ernie Ladd, inducted his erstwhile foe into WWE's nascent Hall of Fame. A year later, the roles were reversed, and he received the honour himself.
It was richly deserved. Before entering the ring, Ladd had already set the gridiron alight in becoming one of the largest players the sport had ever seen. The 6'9", 315lb Louisianan wasn't just a hunk of meat though; he steered the San Diego Chargers to four AFL championship games, before a knee injury turned his head towards the squared-circle.
What started as a publicity stunt soon became a full-time vocation, as the 'Big Cat' set about mastering another sporting field. Ladd was a natural at playing the crowd, quickly becoming one of the era's most despised heels, reviled for his trenchant jibes and arrogant attitude.
All of wrestling's top faces, including Andre the Giant, Bob Backlund, and Bruno Sammartino, came face to face with Ladd. The hated heel was never able to take their title - but the arenas were always absolutely packed with people wanting to see him fail.
A year before his WWE Hall of Fame induction, Ladd was enshrined in rival company WCW's own pantheon. Being the first man to be inducted spoke volumes of his legacy.