James Dean
All Star
Previous write up here: Unsung Wrestlers 1: Bobo Brazil
BirthPlace: Rayville, Louisiana
Height: 6’ 9”
Weight: 319 lbs
Trained By: Bobo Brazil
Debut: 1961
Retired: 1984
Style: Brawler
Finisher/Signature: Big Boot & Thumb to the Throat
Titles & Accomplishments: Held titles in various WWA, WCWA, UWF, NWF, NWA & MidSouth promotions. NWA, WCW & WWE HOF inductee.
Death: 3/10/2007 Franklin, Louisiana. Colon Cancer
The Cat, The King or Better known as “The Big Cat” was one of the most prolific black wrestlers of his time. He is also regarded as one of the first black heel wrestlers. Paving the way for future stars.
The man born as Ernest Ladd was actually standout athlete before stepping into the world of professional wrestling. He dominated sports in high school so well that it lead to a basketball scholarship at Grambling State University. However, Ladd would take up on football. He was drafted to the AFL’s San Diego Chargers in 1961. His size and stature proved that he was a force to be reckoned with on the field. Leading the team to four AFL Championship games, winning one in 1963. After San Diego, he migrated to the Kansas City Cheifs and The Houston Oilers. It was towards the end of his football career, he started to dabble into professional wrestling during the offseason. Once he suffered his career ending knee injury in 1969, Ladd decided to become a wrestler full time.
Training with Bobo Brazil, Ladd would go onto work as a full time wrestler. He started out as a clean cut babyface. However, this would soon change as Ladd turned his alignment to a heel. Becoming one of the first black wrestlers to do so. Ladd’s colorful and brash personality gained him so much heat across the nation.. His style was in your face and often innovative. Most notably for the offensive nicknames and insults he would hurl at his opponents. Ladd is also regarded as one of the innovators of the walking out method. This was done whenever he would be on the losing end of a match, and all of a sudden he just walks out of the arena, taking a count out loss. Ladd had many notable feuds and bouts with Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Dusty Rhodes, Mr. Wonderful among others.
As his career winded down, he dabbled into booking with Bill Watts. One of his biggest booking success stories was the booking of JYD during his early days. By 1984, Ladd’s recurring knee problems that started from his football days had plagued him once more. Ladd decided to call it quits from in ring competition in 1984. Taking a quiet exit from the WWF, only to return in 1986 as a color commentator. He spent his final years as an owner of a BBQ restaurant (much like his trainer Bobo Brazil). The restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ladd was diagnosed with colon cancer in the winter of 2003–2004. He died on March 10, 2007 at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife of 45 years and their four children.
BirthPlace: Rayville, Louisiana
Height: 6’ 9”
Weight: 319 lbs
Trained By: Bobo Brazil
Debut: 1961
Retired: 1984
Style: Brawler
Finisher/Signature: Big Boot & Thumb to the Throat
Titles & Accomplishments: Held titles in various WWA, WCWA, UWF, NWF, NWA & MidSouth promotions. NWA, WCW & WWE HOF inductee.
Death: 3/10/2007 Franklin, Louisiana. Colon Cancer
The Cat, The King or Better known as “The Big Cat” was one of the most prolific black wrestlers of his time. He is also regarded as one of the first black heel wrestlers. Paving the way for future stars.
The man born as Ernest Ladd was actually standout athlete before stepping into the world of professional wrestling. He dominated sports in high school so well that it lead to a basketball scholarship at Grambling State University. However, Ladd would take up on football. He was drafted to the AFL’s San Diego Chargers in 1961. His size and stature proved that he was a force to be reckoned with on the field. Leading the team to four AFL Championship games, winning one in 1963. After San Diego, he migrated to the Kansas City Cheifs and The Houston Oilers. It was towards the end of his football career, he started to dabble into professional wrestling during the offseason. Once he suffered his career ending knee injury in 1969, Ladd decided to become a wrestler full time.
Training with Bobo Brazil, Ladd would go onto work as a full time wrestler. He started out as a clean cut babyface. However, this would soon change as Ladd turned his alignment to a heel. Becoming one of the first black wrestlers to do so. Ladd’s colorful and brash personality gained him so much heat across the nation.. His style was in your face and often innovative. Most notably for the offensive nicknames and insults he would hurl at his opponents. Ladd is also regarded as one of the innovators of the walking out method. This was done whenever he would be on the losing end of a match, and all of a sudden he just walks out of the arena, taking a count out loss. Ladd had many notable feuds and bouts with Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales, Dusty Rhodes, Mr. Wonderful among others.
As his career winded down, he dabbled into booking with Bill Watts. One of his biggest booking success stories was the booking of JYD during his early days. By 1984, Ladd’s recurring knee problems that started from his football days had plagued him once more. Ladd decided to call it quits from in ring competition in 1984. Taking a quiet exit from the WWF, only to return in 1986 as a color commentator. He spent his final years as an owner of a BBQ restaurant (much like his trainer Bobo Brazil). The restaurant was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Ladd was diagnosed with colon cancer in the winter of 2003–2004. He died on March 10, 2007 at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife of 45 years and their four children.
