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Harley Race's legendary wrestling career spanned nearly four decades.
During that time Race won eight NWA World Championships (plus dozens of other
regional titles), managed two wrestlers to the WCW World Championship (Lex Luger and
Vader) and was involved in operating the NWA territories in Kansas City and St. Louis.
NWA President Sam
Muchnick retiring the old World Championship Belt in Houston in 1973. Harley Race
lost the new belt that night to Jack Brisco.
(Photo Courtesy of Ed Chuman)
In 1973, Race won his first NWA World Title in Kansas City, defeating Dory
Funk Jr. in a match which Race still feels was the best match of his entire career.
Funk had held the title for nearly four years, so it was quite an accomplishment for Race
to emerge with the victory and the world title.
Race feuded with many other legendary wrestlers in the course of his
career. In addition to bloody rivalries with both Funk brothers, Harley had epic
battles with others such as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Dick the Bruiser, Bruiser Brody and
many, many others.
Race reportedly has wrestled in every country in the world, with the
exceptions of Russia and Communist China. Race is particularly revered in Japan,
having made over 60 trips there during his career.
In addition to his success in the ring, Race also held a
share of ownership in the Kansas City (Central States) and St. Louis regional promotions.
Two of Race's primary partners were Bob Geigel and former NWA World Champ Pat
O'Connor.
After working for the World Wrestling Federation for a few years in the late 1980's,
Race became a manager for World Championship Wrestling. Race distinguished himself
in the WWF as a King of the Ring tournament winner.
Legends of the NWA
Back row L-R: Lou Thesz, Jack Brisco, Gene Kiniski, Harley
Race
Front row L-R: Dory Funk Jr., Sam Muchnick, Terry Funk
Photo by Marti Funk
In 1994, Race retired from the ring, and came back home to Kansas City. Harley
and his wife BJ have recently retired to their lake home in the Lake of the Ozarks.
They both enjoy traveling, and still attend wrestling events in Kansas City and
nationwide.
For more on the wrestling career of Harley Race, click
here to read the profile that I wrote for kayfabememories.com
Click here for the most current listing of
locations and dates for WLW wrestling events.
In the summer of 1999, Harley Race founded World League Wrestling. Race is currently booking live
events in the Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Illinois, and hopes to be able to bring wrestling
back to many of the smaller towns there.
Anyone interested in booking a wrestling event
with World League Wrestling should e-mail the webmaster or write them at 119 S. Maple, Eldon, MO 65026.
For information on training with Harley Race at the Harley
Race Wrestling Academy, call the academy at (573) 392-4100, or send e-mail to webmaster.
