wrestlingscout's video: Black History in Pro Wrestling 4 - The Transcedence

This Black History Month, I chose to produce a series of videos highlighting black pro-wrestlers of note. This production recognizes not only the black stars of pro-wrestling in the United States, but internationally as well. Black wrestlers from the United States are not the exclusive focus of this video as it seems appropriate to include the work of those from other countries including Canada, Britain, Japan and the Caribbean. The decision to include biracial stars was important as they experienced challenges based on their race. The Highs and Lows (1990s - now) Music is “Stadium Job” by Silent Partner (CC BY 4.0) The decline of pro-wrestling in the early 1990s led promotions to increasingly push the envelope. The USWA and Smoky Mountain ran some of the most racially charged storylines ever, WCW did many things right and were still part of a racial discrimination lawsuit, while the WWF continued to present some head-scratching characters that played off the same old stereotypes. The new millennium allowed new opportunities and a number of capable black pro-wrestlers were able to be featured strongly. The greatest success story being that of the Rock who was able to transcend his affiliation with the black militant Nation of Domination and become the biggest star in the company before leaving to become one of the biggest leading men in Hollywood. Faarooq* calls out racism in the WWF to Vince McMahon*; Kamala & Reverend Slick vs. Papa Shango; Saba Simba; Bad News Brown with a sewer rat; Roddy Piper in blackface; Reverend D-Von asking for money; King Mabel; Ted DiBiase* and Virgil; Mark Henry* and Chyna; Jerry Lawler* and King Cobra*; New Jack* puts D-Von through a table; Gangstas in Smoky Mountain; Snowman* confronts Lawler; Larry Cameron*; Ron “The Truth“ Killings* as NWA Champion; Brian Christopher straps Miss Texas (Jackie) in front of Mr. Corey*, Woman with Doom; Faarooq* says “Damn!” to the delight of the Rock; MVP; Abdullah and Kamala II; Ahmed Johnson gives the Pearl River Plunge to D’Lo Brown on a car; the Headhunters fight one another; Aja Kong’s Kraken on Dynamite Kansai; Scorpio’s 450 Splash; Shelton Benjamin takes out Shawn Michaels; 2 Cold Scorpio with an amazing dive; Benjamin tosses MVP onto Mark Henry and Tony Atlas; Ron Simmons beats Vader for the WCW title; Booker T*; Booker’s entrance; Booker decks Triple H in the bathroom; D’Lo as Euro-Continental champion; K-Kwik jumped by D’Lo; The Godfather* and the Ho Train (including the Big Show’s wife); Teddy Long* and Johnny B. Badd; Jazz* and Jackie; Entrance by the New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Wood & Big E); Rocky Maivia & Rocky Johnson drop the Iron Sheik; Team Bad (Naomi, Sasha Banks & Tamia Snuka); Jay Lethal vs. Tomoaki Honma; Harlem Heat & Sister Sherri come to the ring; Booker drops Marcus Bagwell; Koko B. Ware piledrives Jerry Lawler; Ware* & Mr. Cory; MVP* & Lashley; Lashley spears Samoa Joe; Lashley with the TNA title; Lashley & Donald Trump*; Norman Smiley and Ron Harris; Black Magic (Smiley) beats La Fiera; Smiley armbars Yoji Anjoh; Aja Kong puts on makeup; Aja rushes Toshiyo Yamada; Kota Ibushi comes face-to-face with Aja; Aja Kong’s salute; Awesome Kong in TNA; Kharma in the WWE; King Booker; Brother Devon* & Booker; Mark Henry* turns on John Cena; Teddy Long* and the Rock; The Rock on various magazine covers and with Barack Obama.