Hometown Originally from Orange, Texas Billed from Orange Grove, Texas Retired in Franklin, Louisiana
Height 6'9"
Weight 320 lbs
Marital Status Married to Roslyn Ladd
Trained by Freddie Blassie
Debut 1961
Previous Names "The Big Cat" "The Cat"
Finishing Move(s) Kick to the Head
Favorite Move(s) Thumb to the Throat Guillotine Drop Abdominal Stretch
Notable Feuds Johnny Powers Waldo Von Erich Bruno Sammartino Gene Kiniski Dominic DeNucci Dick the Bruiser Ox Baker Andre the Giant Gorilla Monsoon Haystacks Calhoun Chief Jay Strongbow Dusty Rhodes Abdullah The Butcher The Sheik Dick the Bruiser
Title History WWA (Los Angeles) World Tag Team titles w/Edouard Carpentier defeating ??????? (Febuary ??, 1964); NWA Texas Heavyweight title defeating Fritz Von Erich (????, 1965); NWF (Cleveland & Buffalo) North American Heavyweight title defeating Bulldog Brower (December 5, 1970); NWF (Cleveland & Buffalo) Brass Knuckles title defeating Luke Graham (May 18, 1972); NWF (Cleveland & Buffalo) World Heavyweight title defeating Waldo Von Erich (June 9, 1972); NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating John Tolos (July 28, 1972); WWA (Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Baron Von Raschke defeating Crusher & Dick the Bruiser (Febuary 24, 1973); NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Porkchop Cash (July 12, 1974); WWC (World Wrestling Council) North American Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon (October 21, 1974); NWA (Los Angeles) Americas Heavyweight title defeating Louie Tillet (October ??, 1975); NWA Florida Heavyweight title defeating Dusty Rhodes (July 15, 1977); NWA (Tri State) North American Heavyweight title defeating Dick Murdoch (Febuary 14, 1978); NWA (Tri State) United States Tag Team titles w/Assassin defeating Steven Little Bear & Ray Candy (April 5, 1978); NWA (Tri State) North American Heavyweight title defeating Paul Orndorff (June ??, 1978); NWA (Tri State) North American Heavyweight title defeating August 15, 1978); NWA Arkansas Heavyweight title won a tournament (October 26, 1978); NWA (Tri State) North American Heavyweight title defeating Ray Candy via forfeit (December 25, 1978); NWA (Florida) Southern Heavyweight title defeating King Curtis Iaukea (October ??, 1979); NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Ole Anderson defeating Tommy Rich & Crusher Lisowski (October 5, 1979); Mid South Louisiana Heavyweight title defeating Mike Sharpe (January 18, 1980); NWA Central States Tag Team titles w/Bruiser Brody defeating Jerry & Ted Oates in a tournament final (Febuary 3, 1980); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Leroy Brown defeating Terry Orndorff & Junkyard Dog (November ??, 1980); WWA (Indianapolis) World Heavyweight title defeating Dick the Bruiser (November 1, 1980); Mid South Louisiana Heavyweight title defeating Jake Roberts (January 16, 1981); Mid South Tag Team titles w/Leroy Brown defeating Killer Karl Kox (Febuary 1, 1981); NWA (World Class) American Heavyweight title defeating Kerry Von Erich (May 11, 1981); NWA Texas Brass Knuckles title defeating Jose Lothario (November ??, 1981); Mid South North American Heavyweight title defeating Magnum T.A (October 16, 1984); AFL (American Football League) Hall of Fame Inductee (); Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame Inductee (); WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Hall of Fame Inductee (1994); Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Inductee (1994); San Diego Hall of Champions Inductee (February 22, 2005);