WWE Wrestler Profile: Wrestling Hall of Fame- Bobo Brazil
Even in the days when racial segregation was still a big issue in United States of America, there was a black wrestler who transcended all ethnic boundaries and became a roll model for many wrestlers for generations to come. The professional wrestling world knows this wrestler by the name of Bobo Brazil.
Bobo Brazil made his debut in professional wrestling way back in 1951 and trained with Joe Savoldi. It was the Detroit area where initially Bobo Brazil became a local celebrity. He feuded with the Sheik for decades. The matches of Bobo Brazil were often brutal and both Iron sheik and Bobo Brazil ended the match when these wrestlers were drowning in blood.
However, life did not start well for Bobo Brazil. It was the time when black wrestling fans were required to sit in different sections as compared to white wrestling fans. Even this great wrestler was himself barred from entering into many restaurants and hotels. Nevertheless, Bobo Brazil did not give up to the pressure and faced all the challenges with a sense of pride and dignity. This gave Bobo Brazil a huge amount of respect in the professional wrestling world.
Initially many wrestling promoters organized matches where black wrestlers only fought with black wrestlers. However, it was not the optimal situation but Bobo Brazil faced this situation and showed his fighting skills to the professional wrestling world. Bobo Brazil faced many wrestling legends like Abdullah the Butcher and Ernie “The Cat” Ladd in the ring.
The professional wrestling fans were not satisfied with Bobo Brazil competing with a handful of wrestlers. Many fans demanded that Bobo Brazil should compete against other non – black wrestlers. When Bobo Brazil was asked of his own choice, Bobo Brazil told the world that he was ready to take on anyone. Bobo Brazil fought with many great wrestlers of his time but it was his match against Andre the Giant, which received enormous popularity in the professional wrestling circles. It was a great match considering Andre the Giant had a huge size difference with Bobo Brazil.
However, the match which took Bobo Brazil to new heights of success occurred when Bobo Brazil teamed up with El Mongol to fight the ethnically mixed tag team of Mr. Ito and the great Ota. Bobo Brazil and El Mongol won the match and headlined sports entertainment and professional wrestling circles.
Bobo Brazil had a friendlier approach outside the ring and his attitude with the crowd and wrestling fans made him famous. Everyone knew that this friendly person became a wild wrestler whenever he set his foot in the ring. The fighting style of Bobo Brazil was so aggressive that his opponents usually broke rules in order to counter his strategies and fighting skills. Bobo Brazil had a lot of interesting and effective fighting skills in his arsenal. However, one of his most famous wrestling moves was the “Coco Butt”. During the Coco Butt, Bobo Brazil used to knock down his opponents by banging his own head into them. It was rumoured that Bobo Brazil had the strongest head in the professional wrestling world.
Bobo Brazil held numerous titles during his storied and impressive career. Bobo Brazil won numerous regional NWA championships and the prestigious United States Wrestling Championship.
It was in 1994 when Bobo Brazil received the ultimate honour of professional wrestling world. This great wrestler was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame by the man he feuded for years. It was Ernie “The Cat” Ladd who inducted Bobo Brazil. Bobo Brazil returned the favour to his rival when he inducted him one year later in the WWE Hall of Fame.
It will be justifiable to say that Bobo Brazil changed the face of professional wrestling and taught the young wrestlers that even the strongest of barriers could be broken by a person’s will and determination.
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