In terms of wrestlers who changed the course of history, Bobo Brazil still does not get enough credit for his impact. He's one of the most important people to ever set foot in a wrestling ring and is often regarded as the "Jackie Robinson" of wrestling.
His wrestling career began 14 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and paved the way for diversity in American entertainment.
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Although he was never a world champion in the WWE, Bobo's impact on the company transcends any feat holding the title could achieve. Any wrestling fan should study Bobo's career to truly see the evolution of both sports and American entertainment. This list will only examine 10 things fans should know about Bobo Brazil, an iconic pioneer that is undoubtedly the most fearless wrestler to ever set foot in the ring.
10 Bobo Has The Longest Title Reign Of Any Man In WWE History (4,072 Days)
No man has held a title in the WWE as long as Bobo held the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship. On seven different occasions, Bobo won the belt and held it for a combined total of 4,072 days. Bruno Sammartino, the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time, had two monumental reigns as champion, but his combined 4,040 days as WWE champion still don't surpass the record Bobo set.
The only person to ever hold a title longer in the WWE was The Fabulous Moolah who held the WWE Women's Championship for 10,170 days.
9 First Black Person Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame
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Bobo Brazil was a part of the second ever WWE Hall of Fame class in 1994. He was the first Black person to ever be inducted and was enshrined before other huge wrestling icons like Vincent J. McMahon.
"Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, the second Black person to join the WWE Hall of Fame, inducted Brazil into the illustrious club at their class ceremony in 1994. Bobo Brazil trained Ernie Ladd and help him set his path in the world of wrestling.
8 Bobo's Not "The First Black World Champion" Because Of A Technicality
Ron Simmons is often given the distinction as the first Black person to ever be a major wrestling world champion. Simmons won the WCW World Heavyweight Champion and defended it for 150 days in 1992. Bobo Brazil could be considered the first unofficial world champion since he did win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers in 1962.
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During a match, Bobo hit Rogers in the groin causing him to be unable to continue. Brazil technically won the match and title but refused to take the belt from an injured opponent. The title became vacant after the match instead of being awarded to Bobo due to his refusal.
7 Bookers Feared Bobo Competing Against White Wrestlers Would Cause Riots
For a large part of his early career, Bobo Brazil wrestled exclusively against other Black wrestlers. Many bookers feared Brazil slamming and pinning a White person could potentially incite riots. Most of his early integrated matches took place in Canada to set the stage for his journey in the pre- Brown v. Board of Education America.
Bobo's early integrated American matches and especially his victories were huge tidal waves to both the world of wrestling, but also American culture in general since they occurred both before and during the Civil Rights Movement of 1964.
6 Bobo Escaped The Sheik's Camel Clutch
The Sheik (not the Iron Sheik) had one of the most devastating submissions of his era, the camel clutch. In the early years of wrestling, this submission move was seen as one of the most unbreakable locks of its era.
Bobo Brazil not only defeated the Sheik on multiple occasions but also escaped the submission move at the peak of Sheik's career.
5 Bobo Brazil And Andre The Giant Were A Dominant Tag Team
6'6 Bobo Brazil next to 7'4 Andre the Giant was a fierce tag team that competed at various promotions together. Although Bobo once wrestled Andre to a draw, he's more remembered for his matchups with Andre as his ally.
They competed as a unit at both the WWE and the AWA without a single loss on record.
4 Brazil Was A Professional Baseball Player Before Becoming A Wrestler
Before he became a wrestling champion, Bobo played in the Negro League for The Black House of David. He encountered Joe Savoldi, an NFL player turn wrestler, and was talked into joining the wrestling business.
Brazil left to train in Canada and debut at Maple Leaf Wrestling in 1951.
3 Bobo Was The First WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion
The former WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion is not the current United Stated title on WWE television. The current version of the belt arrived to the WWE after they acquired WCW. In 1963, the WWE established the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship as a secondary singles title.
Bobo Brazil defeated Johnny Barend to earn the title in 1963. Other future hall famers like The Sheik and Pedro Morales would hold the title over its 13-year existence. Brazil would also be the last person to hold the title.
2 Mentor To Rocky Johnson
By the late 70s, Brazil entered his 50s and started slowing down as a performer and began to mentor up-and-coming talent. "Soulman" Rocky Johnson had a huge impact on wrestling in his era and was also one of Bobo Brazil's early mentees.
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Johnson and Tony Atlas would eventually become the first Black tag team champions in WWE history. He also had a son named Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who is now the biggest movie star in the world.
1 Decades-Long Feud With Sheik
It is very common to hear fans today talking about "long-term booking." The idea is to evolve writing from its sporadic "match of the moment" storylines to longer deeper stories that add depth to characters and bigger payoffs at matches.
Bobo Brazil's feud with the Sheik is one of the first examples of this as they were huge rivals throughout their careers. The two fought their first match in the early 60s and continued to battle through the 80s.
