Best Black Wrestler ever

[JerryvonKramer]

So on one of the podcasts, Will and Phil claimed that Butch Reed is the best black worker ever. With Too Cold Scorpio and the Rock 2nd and 3rd.

 

I'm just wondering who else you think might be legitimately in the conversation.

 

Has anyone seen any early Ernie Ladd?

[Dylan Waco]

I think I would take Scorp over Butch Reed. Scorp has never had a period where he was bad or "just there." Reed was never bad but his WWF run was disappointing.

[Bix]

No Aja Kong?

[wwxwce]

Too Gold Scorpio

[Dylan Waco]

Actually Aja is a good call Bix and really should be the answer to this.

[El-P]

Scorpio, by a wide margin.

And if Aja is considered "black", then yes, by an even more wide margin.

I don't get the Butch Reed was a great worker argument at all. Good, yes. But great ? I don't see it at all.

[Clayton Jones]

Butch was certainly great in Mid South, he was one of the best wrestlers in the history of the promotion.

[JerryvonKramer]

Will and Phil were saying that everything up until 1985 and he's one of the best of all time. That his star burned bright, but quickly.

 

I think Doom are pretty good too.

 

Incidentally, I googled this and it's very amusing to see so many guys put Ron Simmons ("for winning the WCW world title") and Tony Atlas right up there. As if the only history they know came from WWE 24/7. JYD also coming up a lot.

[Matt D]

Where does Koko fall?

[flyonthewall2983]

In terms of popularity, JYD would have to be head and shoulders above the rest if you consider his entire career. I wonder where Bad News Allen/Brown would rate among Simmons, Reed and Scorpio. I'd think he'd probably rate near the top, considering his credentials.

[JerryvonKramer]

Interesting to see no one has mentioned Kamala here yet.

[Bix]

And if Aja is considered "black", then yes, by an even more wide margin.

Umm.

 

Also, yes, prime Koko Ware is definitely up there, especially for the Eaton team.

[Coffey]

I came into the thread to say Butch Reed but was pleasantly surprised to see that I as beaten to it repeatedly.

[Victator]

Interesting to see no one has mentioned Kamala here yet.

Urge to kill rising.....

[puropotsy]

Scorpio, by a wide margin.

And if Aja is considered "black", then yes, by an even more wide margin.

I don't get the Butch Reed was a great worker argument at all. Good, yes. But great ? I don't see it at all.

I do plan on checking out Will's Butch Reed comp at some point to get a better opinion on this.

And The Rock should also be counted so perhaps it is between he and Aja.

I haven't seen enough early Rocky Johnson but what I have seen is quite good, especially some matches I saw of him under a mask as Sweet Ebony Diamond.

And Scorpio is awesome

[goc]

Scorpio, by a wide margin.

And if Aja is considered "black", then yes, by an even more wide margin.

I don't get the Butch Reed was a great worker argument at all. Good, yes. But great ? I don't see it at all.

I do plan on checking out Will's Butch Reed comp at some point to get a better opinion on this.

And The Rock should also be counted so perhaps it is between he and Aja.

I haven't seen enough early Rocky Johnson but what I have seen is quite good, especially some matches I saw of him under a mask as Sweet Ebony Diamond.

And Scorpio is awesome

 

The Butch Reed comp is a real eye opener, even beyond the coming out party that was the Mid-South set. I would be fine with calling Butch Reed the best black wrestler ever.

[Kostka]

Eaton/Ware was a fucking awesome tag team and just might be my favorite Eaton tag partner...

 

Scorpio wins if we're talking longevity as he still is good, but I like Reeds peak (1985) more. I never saw a Scorp match as good as Reed/Murdoch. :-)

 

By no means the best, Booker T deserves some mention.

[JerryvonKramer]

Where would people rank D-Lo Brown?

[Kronos]

Can we at least agree Tony Atlas may have been one of the most offensively stereotypical?

 

Some of his late 70s stuff I saw earlier today is shameful, the way he talks. It's like Pg-13 being so very very white trash.

[Johnny Sorrow]

Tony Atlas as Saba Simba was some goofy stereotypical shit. Tony Atlas just talking the way he talks normally isn't "shameful". That's the way Tony Atlas talks.

[goodhelmet]

Where would people rank D-Lo Brown?

Lower Middle of the pack.

 

My buddy, Negro Suave at DVDVR was working on a black wrestler list for a comp and here is a list of guys he could think of off the top of his head...

 

Butch Reed

Ron Simmons

Kamala

Booker T

The Rock

The Gangstas

Jazz

Ahmed Johnson

JYD

D. Lo Brown

Scorpio

Abdullah the butcher

Ernie Ladd

Tony Atlas

Godfather

Big Daddy V

Mark Henry

Jay Lethal

Shelton Benjamin

Ron Killings

Lashley

Pope

Monty Brown

MVP

[Al]

Bobo Brazil probably belongs on that list.

[goodhelmet]

Sure, as well as T. Patterson but I think the list for guysw e could come up with plenty of footage for.

[JerryvonKramer]

No love for Special Delivery Jones or Koko Ware?

 

Also, are you really ranking Kamala above Scorpio? Will I understand this people thinking Kamala is good thing by the end of the Watts set?

[Mr Wrestling X]

If we're talking about 'Best' in terms of Pure Wrestling ability, I'd have to say Scorpio. Obviously if you look at charisma, psychology and mic skills, its got to be The Rock hands down.