Harley Race

2.1. Childhood and Upbringing

Born in Quitman, Missouri, on April 11, 1943, Harley Race was an early fan of professional wrestling, watching programming from the nearby Chicago territory on the DuMont Television Network. As a child, he overcame polio, a testament to his innate resilience. As a teenager, he began training under the tutelage of former world champions Stanislaus Zbyszko and his brother Wladek Zbyszko, who operated a farm in his native Missouri. At the age of 15, he debuted as a carnival wrestler, participating in "shoot" matches against challengers from the audience, which provided him with valuable real-world experience. While in high school, an altercation with a classmate led to his expulsion after Race retaliated against the principal who intervened. Already 6 in tall and weighing 225 lb ^{(225 lb)}, Race decided to pursue a career in professional wrestling and became the driver for the immensely large Happy Humphrey, who was too big to drive himself.

2.2. Early Career and Debut

Race's initial steps into professional wrestling were guided by St. Joseph wrestling promoter Gust Karras, who hired Race for odd jobs, including chauffeuring Happy Humphrey. Karras's veteran wrestlers further assisted Race in his training. In 1960, through Karras's mediation, Race entered the regular professional wrestling world. At 18, Race moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and began wrestling under the ring name Jack Long, forming a tag team known as the Long Brothers with his storyline brother John Long. The duo quickly captured the Southern Tag Team Championship. However, his burgeoning career was nearly cut short by a severe car accident in which he almost lost his leg. Tragically, his pregnant wife, Vivian Louise Jones, whom he had married just over a month prior, died instantly in the crash. Gust Karras intervened at the hospital, preventing the planned amputation of Race's leg. Despite doctors' predictions that he might never walk again, Race endured months of grueling physical therapy and made a full recovery. In 1963, he briefly worked for Jack Pfefer and Tony Santos in the Boston territory as the Great Mortimer. He returned to the ring in 1964, wrestling for Dory Funk's Amarillo, Texas, territory. It was during this time that he adopted his real name, Harley Race, after his father advised him against making anyone else's name famous. He never used a different ring name again. In Amarillo, Race met fellow rising wrestler Larry Hennig, and the two formed a tag team before moving to the American Wrestling Association (AWA).

3.1. Early Career (1959-1965)

Race was recruited by St. Joseph wrestling promoter Gust Karras, who initially hired him for various tasks, including chauffeuring the 800 lb ^{(800 lb)} Happy Humphrey. Under Karras's guidance and with the help of veteran wrestlers, Race began wrestling on Karras's shows. In 1960, he entered the regular professional wrestling world through Karras's mediation. At the age of 18, he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where he adopted the ring name Jack Long and formed a tag team, the Long Brothers, with his storyline brother John Long. This duo quickly secured the Southern Tag Team Championship. However, a severe car accident interrupted his career, leaving his leg critically injured and resulting in the tragic death of his pregnant wife, Vivian Louise Jones, whom he had married just over a month prior. Gust Karras's timely intervention prevented the amputation of Race's leg, and despite doctors' grim prognoses, he made a full recovery after months of intense physical therapy. In 1963, he briefly wrestled as the Great Mortimer in the Boston territory. He made his return to the ring in 1964, wrestling in Dory Funk's Amarillo, Texas, territory, where he began using his real name, Harley Race, a name he would use for the rest of his career. In Amarillo, he formed a tag team with Larry Hennig, and together they transitioned to the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in August 1964.

3.2. American Wrestling Association (AWA) Career

In the AWA, Race and Hennig became known as "Handsome" Harley Race and "Pretty Boy" Larry Hennig. They were portrayed as cocky heels (villains) who frequently bent the rules to win matches. Their aggressive style quickly made them top contenders, and in January 1965, they captured the AWA World Tag Team Championship by defeating Dick the Bruiser and the Crusher in a sold-out Minneapolis Auditorium. Clips from this significant match were aired on WCCO TV.

Shortly after their title win, Race was involved in a real-life altercation at The Chestnut Tree restaurant in Minneapolis. After Race intervened in a situation where a man was harassing a woman, knocking him unconscious, the man's friend, John Morton, stabbed Race in the back, leading to Race's hospitalization and Morton's arrest.

Race and Hennig dominated the tag team division for several years, engaging in a high-profile feud with the Bruiser and Crusher and securing three AWA World Tag Team Championship reigns. Verne Gagne was a particularly hated rival, often partnering with various wrestlers against Race and Hennig. In October 1967, a storyline saw Hennig's leg "broken," granting him time off. Race was allowed to choose a new partner to retain the title, selecting Chris Markoff. However, they lost the championship in their first defense against Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder in November 1967. For several months, Race teamed with Hard Boiled Haggerty (Don Stansauk), often facing Gagne and "Cowboy" Bill Watts. In March 1968, Hennig returned, and the original team reunited, though they did not win the AWA World Tag Team Championship again. After several successful years in the AWA's tag team division, Race departed to pursue a singles career in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

Race later returned to the AWA in 1984 to wrestle Curt Hennig, a confrontation that was intensified by Larry Hennig's post-match confrontation with his former partner. He also wrestled former AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel at WrestleRock 86 in April 1986. Towards the end of his in-ring career, Race had a final stint in the AWA, most notably facing Larry Zbyszko for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship in August 1990. This match, which ended in a double countout, was the main event of the final AWA television taping broadcast on ESPN before the promotion ultimately folded.

3.3. National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Career

In the early 1970s, Race moved between various National Wrestling Alliance territories, rekindling his rivalry with Dory Funk in Amarillo, Texas, and winning regional titles. He was recognized as a talented territorial wrestler, steadily building his reputation. In Kansas City, he found considerable success, both as a singles competitor holding the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship and the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, and as a tag team with Roger "Nature Boy" Kirby. Race became the inaugural holder of the Mid-Atlantic United States Heavyweight Championship after defeating Johnny Weaver in a tournament final while wrestling on a card for Championship Wrestling from Florida. Race also began extensive tours of Japan, primarily with All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he faced Giant Baba and worked from 1973 to 1989. He frequently wrestled for the Kansas City-based Central States Wrestling.

In 1973, Race adopted the nickname "Mad Dog" and challenged NWA World Heavyweight Champion Dory Funk Jr. in Kansas City. Race's victory was perceived as a stunning upset by fans. Behind the scenes, Funk had initially refused to drop the title to Jack Brisco, citing injuries from a truck accident, though the true reason was that Amarillo promoter Dory Funk Sr. did not want his son to lose the title to another babyface. Race, known for his legitimate toughness, was reportedly under strict orders from the NWA to ensure Funk did not leave the ring as champion that night. The match's ending was a pre-planned "work," with Funk dropping the title in the third fall as intended, and TV announcer Bill Kersten dropping the "Mad Dog" nickname during the broadcast. During this reign, on June 15, 1973, he also had a title defense against Bruno Sammartino, which ended in a 60-minute time limit draw.

A televised title defense from this first reign, where Race successfully defended his title against Klondike Bill in Calgary, was featured as the main event on Stampede Wrestling and later resurfaced in the WWE Video Library. Most of his televised matches during this period were squash matches held in television studios. Although Race held the title for only a few months, losing it to Brisco in Houston, Texas, in July, this reign elevated him to a worldwide superstar and a perennial championship contender.

Race was determined to regain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, moving between territories and accumulating several regional titles, including nine Central States Heavyweight Championships, seven Missouri Heavyweight Championships, the Georgia Heavyweight Championship, the Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship in Canada, and the Japan-based NWA United National Heavyweight and PWF World Heavyweight Championships. These victories kept Race in contention for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and he vowed that he would only need one chance to regain it.

Race's opportunity came in 1977 when he faced his familiar rival, Terry Funk, who had become champion since their previous encounters. In Toronto, Race won the title by submission using the Indian deathlock, a rarely seen but highly effective move that put immense pressure on Funk's injured leg. As the NWA World Heavyweight Champion once again, Race established his dominance, defending the title up to six times a week and holding it for nearly five years, with only extremely brief interruptions by Tommy Rich, Dusty Rhodes, and Giant Baba. Race engaged in feuds with many NWA legends, including Dory Funk, Dusty Rhodes, Dick the Bruiser, Pat Patterson, and Angelo Poffo. In 1978, he had a series of violent matches across the Midwest with The Sheik, culminating in a bloody "2x4 with a nail in it" match before 12,313 fans at Cobo Hall. During this era, the NWA, AWA, and WWF maintained good relations, allowing Race to participate in title versus title matches against WWF Heavyweight champions Superstar Billy Graham on January 25, 1978, at the Miami Orange Bowl in Florida, and Bob Backlund on September 22, 1980, at Madison Square Garden in New York, and November 7, 1980, at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. All three matches ended in draws or disqualifications, with no title changes. At MSG regular events, Race defended the NWA title against Tony Garea on December 18, 1978 (the first NWA match at MSG in 16 years since November 1962), Steve Travis on April 30, 1979, and Dusty Rhodes on December 17, 1979. Race toured extensively across the United States and internationally, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and numerous stints in Japan, where he was already well-known from his visits with Larry Hennig. On October 13, 1978, Race famously body slammed André the Giant, a feat he repeated on January 7, 1979, though the second instance occurred outside the ring during the match. During his reign, the NWA belt he frequently held was often referred to as the "Race Model"; Race kept a replica of this belt after retirement, while the actual one was held by Ric Flair.

After many victories over Dusty Rhodes and other top wrestlers, Race lost the NWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rhodes in 1981. Rhodes subsequently lost the title to the rising star Ric Flair. However, Race managed to defeat Flair in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1983, securing his seventh reign as champion, which the NWA recognized as breaking the record previously held by Lou Thesz. This victory initiated one of the most iconic angles of the 1980s, leading to the inaugural NWA Starrcade event.

Determined to prevent another title loss, Race offered a 25.00 K USD bounty to anyone who could eliminate Flair from the NWA. Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater attacked Flair, seemingly inflicting a career-ending neck injury, and collected the bounty after Flair announced his retirement. However, Flair's retirement was a ruse, and he soon returned to action, surprising Race. NWA officials then arranged a championship rematch, titled "Starrcade: A Flare for the Gold," to be held in Flair's hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, which further infuriated Race.

Shortly before Starrcade, rival WWF promoter Vince McMahon offered Race 250.00 K USD to no-show the event, hoping to sabotage the NWA's major pay-per-view. After considering the offer, Race declined, and the match proceeded as planned. Race ultimately lost the title to Flair in a bloody and memorable steel cage match at Starrcade, with Gene Kiniski as the special referee. Flair secured the pinfall after leaping onto Race from the top rope.

Race briefly regained the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for a two-day reign in New Zealand on March 21, 1984, by defeating Flair again, but Flair was recognized as champion the next day, March 22, due to a fast referee count; this is now recognized as his eighth NWA World Heavyweight Championship. However, his loss to Flair at Starrcade is largely seen as the symbolic "torch-passing" from Race to Flair, with Flair later crediting Race for igniting his own career. Race eventually left the NWA, citing that NWA president Sam Muchnick was "losing his capabilities."

3.4. World Wrestling Federation (WWF) Career

In May 1986, after his last Showa-era appearance in All Japan Pro Wrestling, Harley Race joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), managed by his longtime friend Bobby "the Brain" Heenan. He bleached his hair blond and once again billed himself as "Handsome" Harley Race. His debut occurred on May 31, 1986, at a Superstars of Wrestling taping in Toronto, Canada, where he defeated SD Jones. Race remained undefeated throughout that summer, securing victories against George Wells, Lanny Poffo, Tony Garea, Cousin Luke, and Tony Atlas.

At a time when the WWF typically did not acknowledge accomplishments from other promotions, WWF officials devised a way to recognize Race's wrestling pedigree by having him win the King of the Ring tournament on July 14, 1986. Following this victory, Race underwent a "coronation ceremony" and began referring to himself as "King" Harley Race. This gimmick was designed to acknowledge Race's status without mentioning his NWA World Championship reigns, and also served as a jab at Jerry Lawler, who also used the "King" moniker and was a prominent anti-WWF figure at the time. Race would enter the ring adorned in a royal crown and cape, accompanied by the ceremonial tenth movement (known as "Great Gate of Kiev") from Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky. After winning a match, Race would demand that his defeated opponent "bow and kneel" before him, often with Heenan's assistance in forcing them to comply.

Race engaged in a notable feud with the Junkyard Dog, which culminated in a match at WrestleMania III at the Pontiac Silverdome. Race cleanly pinned JYD after a belly-to-belly suplex. Although JYD was required to bow to Race, he attacked Race after bowing and left with the King's cape, receiving a standing ovation. Throughout 1987, Race feuded with Hulk Hogan and Jim Duggan. During a televised confrontation, Duggan took Race's crown and robe, though Race later attacked Duggan to reclaim them. His rivalry with Duggan was highlighted by an extended brawl at the 1987 Slammy Awards. In early 1988, Race suffered a significant abdominal injury during a match against Hogan. He attempted a swan dive headbutt onto Hogan, who was prone on a ringside table, but Hogan moved, and Race impacted the table, causing a hernia when the metal edge forced its way into his abdomen. Race continued to wrestle with the injury through WrestleMania IV on March 27, 1988, where he participated in the event's battle royal. He also teamed with André the Giant, who was a heel at the time.

Following this incident, during his recovery, the WWF ran a storyline acknowledging his injury, with his manager Heenan vowing to crown a new king. Race was absent for six months, returning on October 15 to defeat B. Brian Blair in Milan, Italy. He rejoined The Heenan Family, participating with Bobby Heenan's team at Survivor Series. On December 3, 1988, on WWF Superstars, he defeated Jim Gorman; after the match, Race declared his desire to regain the crown from Haku and complained that Bobby Heenan had never visited him in the hospital. On December 17, 1988, in Philadelphia, he defeated Danny Davis. Following this victory, he challenged Heenan to bring out Haku to face him. As the month concluded, Race began facing King Haku on the house show circuit. Despite Race's apparent anger at his manager, Bobby Heenan supported both Haku and the former king at the Royal Rumble match. Haku emerged victorious, and Harley Race subsequently departed from the WWF.

3.5. Later Career and Post-WWF/WCW Activities

After leaving the WWF in early 1989, Race continued to wrestle until the spring of 1991, making appearances in various promotions. He notably competed for World Wrestling Council (WWC) in Puerto Rico, Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, Alberta, the NWA, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and the AWA. On January 6, 1990, he defeated Miguel Perez Jr. for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship in Puerto Rico, marking his final title reign, which he held until losing it to José González on March 4. After his appearance in the AWA, he briefly retired from active wrestling.

Race returned to WWE television in 2004, shortly after his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. On an episode of Raw, Randy Orton confronted Race and spat in his face, aligning with Orton's "Legend Killer" persona. Race made another appearance for Raw's WWE Homecoming episode in October 2005, celebrating the show's return to the USA Network.

In 2004, Race was recruited by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as a member of their NWA Championship Committee. While reportedly an authority figure, he made only occasional on-screen appearances and no official decisions for the company.

At the 2007 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony on March 31, 2007, Race and Dusty Rhodes were symbolically "inducted" into the Four Horsemen by Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. On the August 8, 2008, episode of Monday Night Raw, Race was acknowledged by commentators Michael Cole and Jerry "The King" Lawler while sitting in the front row. Before the show, Race accompanied then-GHC Heavyweight Champion Takeshi Morishima to the ring for a dark match against Charlie Haas.

Race also made a special guest appearance at Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Lockdown pay-per-view in 2007, serving as the special guest gatekeeper for the main event. He also appeared at the second night of Ring of Honor's Glory by Honor VI: Night Two at the Manhattan Center in New York City on November 3, 2007. On December 7, 2013, Race visited Japan for the first time in nine years to attend Pro Wrestling NOAH's Ariake Coliseum event. On January 4, 2014, Race participated in New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Wrestle Kingdom 8 in Tokyo Dome event, where he was involved in the title presentation before a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and famously punched out defending champion Rob Conway's manager, Bruce Tharpe.

3.6. World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Career

Race made his return to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) at The Great American Bash on July 7, 1990, defeating former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Tommy Rich. He began appearing on house shows, often filling in for Ric Flair in tag team matches, partnering with Barry Windham against Lex Luger and Sting. Race continued his program with Rich through the summer and also faced Brian Pillman and Wendell Cooley. In September, he received several United States Heavyweight Championship title shots against then-champion Lex Luger. In October, he renewed his rivalry with the Junkyard Dog in two matches on the WCW house show circuit and concluded the year facing Michael Wallstreet. During a house show match in St. Joseph, Missouri, on December 7, 1990, Race sustained a shoulder injury that ultimately led to his retirement from active competition.

Six months later, Race made his first subsequent appearance as a guest referee at a house show in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 14, 1991. One year after his initial return, Race came back to WCW at the 1991 Great American Bash to become the adviser and manager for Lex Luger. Excelling as a manager, he immediately guided Luger to the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. He continued to manage Luger throughout his title reign and also acquired the contract for Mr. Hughes from Alexandra York.

In 1992, Race began to form a stable that included Big Van Vader, Super Invader, and Vinnie Vegas. This stable was short-lived, and after Vader defeated Sting for the world championship on July 12, 1992, Vader became Race's primary charge. During his management of Vader, Race became embroiled in a racial controversy during Vader's feud with WCW wrestler Ron Simmons. In a promo, Race stated, "When I was world champion, I had a boy like you to carry my bags!" This controversial statement was part of a booking strategy by then-WCW head Bill Watts to build support for Simmons, who Watts eventually made champion. Despite the controversy, Race, a wily veteran, was popular among the young WCW talent and developed close friendships with Mick Foley and Steve Austin, among others. On June 9, 1993, at a TV taping in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Race began managing The Colossal Kongs, and on July 7, at the WorldWide tapings in Orlando, Florida, Yoshi Kwan joined the stable.

Race made his final return to the ring for a trio of Florida house shows (November 26, 1993, in Davie, Florida; November 27 in Orlando, Florida; and November 28 in Jacksonville, Florida), where he substituted for an injured Vader to face Ric Flair. His former rival emerged victorious on each occasion. These marked the last wrestling matches of his career.

After Vader lost the title at Starrcade in December 1993, he quickly became Race's sole stable member again. Race continued to manage Vader in subsequent months in rematches against Flair. On May 22, 1994, Race was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame during the Slamboree pay-per-view. He continued to appear at Vader's side through the remainder of the year.

Just as his early wrestling career was nearly derailed by a car accident, another car accident in January 1995 forced Race out of the wrestling business entirely. The accident necessitated hip replacement surgery, which, combined with injuries accumulated over years in the ring, prevented him from even continuing as a manager. Race made a few independent appearances against Flair, but his physical limitations were too great. Race made one last return to WCW television in October 1999 as the ring announcer for the Bret Hart vs. Chris Benoit tribute match to Owen Hart in his hometown of Kansas City.

4.1. Heart of America Sports Attractions (HOAA)

Earlier in his career, Race became involved in the ownership side of wrestling, acquiring a portion of the Kansas City and later St. Louis territories, which operated under the name Heart of America Sports Attractions. St. Louis was a traditional stronghold of the NWA. Around 1984, Vince McMahon, owner of the WWF, began his ambitious invasion of NWA territories, including St. Louis, with the goal of building a truly national wrestling promotion. Race was reportedly enraged by McMahon's actions and famously confronted Hulk Hogan and the Funk brothers at a WWF event in Kansas City. As an owner of the Kansas City territory, Race ultimately lost over 500.00 K USD due to the WWF's expansion. Despite his championship years drawing to a close and his desire to retire from active competition, these financial losses forced him to continue wrestling to make a living. He continued to travel extensively both within the United States and abroad, eventually signing with McMahon's WWF in 1986.

4.2. World League Wrestling (WLW) and Wrestling Academy

After his official retirement from active competition in 1995 due to a severe car accident, Race spent several years away from the wrestling business, briefly working as a process server before retiring with his wife in small-town Missouri. In 1999, he re-entered the industry by founding World League Wrestling (originally named World Legion Wrestling, later changed a year later), an independent promotion that stages shows near Race's hometown of Eldon, Missouri, and in other Missouri cities, including Kansas City. A year later, he established Harley Race's Wrestling Academy, a school dedicated to training up-and-coming wrestlers. The academy aimed to impart Race's unique experience and perspective on the wrestling business to new talent. Race's WLW events are known for being family-oriented and frequently raise funds for local charities. In addition to featuring his students, the promotion has hosted guest appearances from wrestling legends such as Mick Foley, Terry Funk, Bret Hart, and even Mitsuharu Misawa.

WLW developed a strong working agreement with Misawa's Japanese promotion, Pro Wrestling NOAH, and has seen NOAH star Takeshi Morishima hold the WLW World Heavyweight Championship. Race is credited with training numerous wrestlers who went on to achieve success, including Trevor Murdoch (then known as Trevor Rhodes), and NOAH veterans Ace Steel, Superstar Steve, Brian Breaker, Jon Webb, Tommaso Ciampa, and Jack Gamble. In 2010, following the passing of Joe Higuchi, Race assumed the role of the second GHC (Global Honored Crown) Management Committee Chairman for Pro Wrestling NOAH, overseeing their flagship championship. Many NOAH wrestlers, including Kenta Kobashi, visited Race for training and guidance. Race once gave a replica of his NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt to Kobashi, stating, "I am no longer Mr. Pro Wrestling. From now on, he is Mr. Pro Wrestling." Race also expressed his admiration for Naomichi Marufuji, whom he affectionately called his "Japanese son." Race stated that he had watched pro wrestling for a long time, and the Kobashi vs. Akiyama match at Tokyo Dome on July 10, 2004, was the best bout. In 2014, Race and World League Wrestling relocated to Troy, Missouri. Alongside the relocation of his wrestling academy and promotion, Race also constructed the Race Wrestling Arena, where events are held monthly. Race continued to promote WLW until his death, even while undergoing rehabilitation.

5.1. Family and Marriages

Harley Race was born to sharecroppers Jay Allen Race and Mary Race in 1943. He married his first wife, Vivian Jones, in 1960. Tragically, she died just five weeks after their wedding in the same car crash that nearly cost Race his leg. Shortly after Vivian's death, Race married Sandra Jones, a marriage he briefly mentioned in his 2004 autobiography King of the Ring. This second marriage produced a daughter, Candice Marie, and ended in divorce. His third wife, Evon, divorced him in the early 1990s after over 30 years of marriage. Together, they had a son, Justin, who was an amateur wrestler but never pursued professional wrestling. His fourth wife, Beverly (B.J.), was the vice president of the Commerce Bank of Kansas City, Missouri. They married in late 1995, shortly after Race's career-ending car crash. Beverly often traveled with Race until her passing from pneumonia. Race had five grandchildren.

5.2. Health Issues

The demanding nature of professional wrestling took a severe toll on Harley Race's body throughout his career. Over the years, he required multiple surgeries, including to his neck, multiple hip replacements, knee replacements, and had five vertebra in his back fused together due to the cumulative impact of taking hard bumps in the ring. In May 2017, he suffered a serious fall at his home, breaking both legs, one in several places. The injury was so severe that he needed four blood transfusions during surgery. Despite these significant health challenges, Race continued to actively run World League Wrestling until his death, even while undergoing rehabilitation.

8.1. Overall Impact and Reputation

Harley Race is widely considered one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, renowned for his unparalleled toughness, exceptional ring generalship, and ability to deliver compelling matches. His reputation as a legitimate street fighter earned him respect throughout the industry; Ric Flair, in his autobiography, listed Race among the toughest figures in wrestling, alongside names like Mad Dog Vachon, Wahoo McDaniel, Blackjack Mulligan, and Dick Slater. Billy Robinson also described Race as a "dangerous street fighter." In Japan, he was affectionately known as "Mr. Pro Wrestling" (ミスタープロレス_{Misutaa Puroresu}^Japanese) and the "Beast of Beauty" (美獣_Bijuu^Japanese), reflecting his blend of ruggedness and charisma. His eight NWA World Heavyweight Championship reigns cemented his status as a dominant and iconic figure, with the NWA belt he frequently held during his reign often referred to as the "Race Model."

8.2. Criticism and Controversies

While highly respected for his in-ring abilities, Harley Race's career was not without moments of controversy. Notably, during his time as a manager in WCW, he became embroiled in a racial controversy while managing Big Van Vader in a feud with Ron Simmons. In a televised promo, Race stated, "When I was world champion, I had a boy like you to carry my bags!" This comment, although part of a booking strategy by then-WCW head Bill Watts to build support for Simmons, drew significant criticism. Despite such incidents, Race remained a popular figure among the younger WCW talent, forming close friendships with wrestlers like Mick Foley and Stone Cold Steve Austin.

8.3. Influence on Professional Wrestling

Harley Race's wrestling style and career achievements profoundly shaped the sport and inspired future generations. He was celebrated for his ability to take bumps, a skill that allowed him to create memorable "showcase" moments in matches, such as being thrown by Giant Baba from the top rope with a Deadly Drive. This adeptness at taking punishment was later adopted by Ric Flair. Race's signature moves included the Diving headbutt, which he innovated accidentally when he lost his balance on the top rope but continued to use due to positive crowd reactions. This move was also the finisher he used to win the PWF Heavyweight Championship from Giant Baba. Despite its impact on his own spine, he never injured an opponent with the move. He was also a master of the Piledriver (known as the Drill-a-Hole style), which he recalled he might have learned from Buddy Austin as a rookie. His Brainbuster was called the "Vertical Suplex" and he referred to it as the "Stand-up Suplex," considering it his favorite move. Rarely, when excited, he would use a classic vertical drop style Brainbuster like Killer Karl Kox, notably against Tiger Jeet Singh in 1982 due to Singh's repeated fouls. The Pendulum backbreaker was a move he frequently used to change the flow of matches during his NWA title reigns and was considered a pioneer of the move. Race said it could be used as a counter from sleeper holds or headlocks, unlike the Schmidt style, and while not a one-shot finisher like Billy Robinson's one-hand style, it was effective for damaging the opponent's lower back and put less strain on his own knees. His Side suplex was characterized by a fast execution, quickly slamming the opponent after locking the torso. He also frequently used the Throyder after moving to WWF. His Indian deathlock was notably used to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Terry Funk. His Knee drop was characterized by a slow motion from short range, dropping the knee on the opponent's forehead or face; Ric Flair adopted this type of knee drop after many matches with Race. Race's influence extended to his post-wrestling activities, where his World League Wrestling promotion and wrestling academy became vital institutions for developing new talent and preserving wrestling knowledge, fostering a new generation of wrestlers who benefited from his vast experience. He also frequently used the Fisherman suplex as a finisher after moving to WWF.

9.1. Autobiography and Books

Race co-authored his autobiography, King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story, which was released on November 19, 2004. This book provides an in-depth account of his storied career and personal life. Additionally, Race collaborated with Ricky Steamboat and Les Thatcher on The Professional Wrestler's Workout and Instructional Guide, sharing his expertise on training and technique with aspiring wrestlers.

9.2. Film and Television Appearances

In 1998, Harley Race participated in the NBC special, Exposed! Pro Wrestling's Greatest Secrets. In this program, his face was covered to conceal his identity as he broke kayfabe and discussed the inner workings of the professional wrestling business. Race also made an appearance in the 2007 film Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy, where he played himself as the distinguished ring announcer for a tag team match featuring Mil Máscaras and El Hijo del Santo. More recently, his career became the subject of an episode in the fifth season of Vice TV's documentary series Dark Side of the Ring, which delves into controversial and compelling stories within professional wrestling. Furthermore, a Japanese radio program on Radio Nippon called "Midnight Harley & Race" (真夜中のハーリー&レイス_{Mayonaka no Haarii & Reisu}^Japanese) was named after him, and Race himself appeared on the show in January 2014.