In terms of fighters who changed the course of history, Bobo Brasil still doesn’t get enough credit for his impact. He is one of the most important people to ever step foot in a wrestling ring and is often considered the “Jackie Robinson” of wrestling.
His wrestling career began 14 years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and paved the way for diversity in American entertainment.
Although he was never a world champion in WWE, Bobo’s impact on the company transcends any feat he can accomplish with the title. Any wrestling fan should study Bobo’s career to truly see the evolution of American sports and entertainment. This list will only examine 10 things fans need to know about Bobo Brasil, an iconic trailblazer who is undoubtedly the most fearless fighter to ever step foot in the ring.
10 Bobo has the longest title reign of any man in WWE history (4,072 days)
No man has held a title in WWE since Bobo held the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship. On seven different occasions, Bobo won the belt and held it for a combined 4,072 days. Bruno Sammartino, the longest reigning WWE Champion of all time, had two monumental reigns as champion, but his combined 4,040 days as WWE champion still does not surpass the record set by Bobo.
The only person to hold a title the longest in WWE was The Fabulous Moolah, who held the WWE Women’s Championship for 10,170 days.
9 First black person inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
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Bobo Brasil was part of the second class of the WWE Hall of Fame in 1994. He was the first black person to be inducted and was enshrined before other great wrestling icons such as Vincent J. McMahon.
“Big Cat” Ernie Ladd, the second black person to join the WWE Hall of Fame, inducted Brazil into the illustrious club at his class ceremony in 1994. Bobo Brasil trained Ernie Ladd and helped set him on his path in the world of wrestling.
8 Bobo is not “the first black world champion” due to a technicality
Ron Simmons is often given the distinction of being the first black person to be a major world champion in wrestling. Simmons won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and defended it for 150 days in 1992. Bobo Brasil could be considered the first unofficial world champion since winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from “Nature Boy” Buddy. Rogers in 1962.
During a match, Bobo hit Rogers in the groin and was unable to continue. Brazil technically won the match and the title, but refused to take the belt from an injured opponent. The title was vacated after the match instead of being awarded to Bobo due to his refusal.
7 Bookers feared that Bobo competing against white wrestlers would cause a riot
For much of his early career, Bobo Brasil wrestled exclusively against other black wrestlers. Many bookers feared that Brazil beating and pinning a white person could incite riots. Most of his early integrated matches took place in Canada to set the stage for his trip to the pre-Brown v. Board of Education America.
Bobo’s early integrated American matches and especially his victories were huge waves for both the wrestling world and American culture in general, as they occurred before and during the 1964 Civil Rights Movement.
6 Bobo escaped from the sheikh’s camel clutch
The Sheik (not the Iron Sheik) had one of the most devastating submissions of his era, the camel clutch. In the early years of wrestling, this submission move was seen as one of the most unbreakable locks of its era.
Bobo Brasil not only defeated Sheik on multiple occasions, but also escaped Sheik’s career-peak submission move.
5 Bobo Brazil and Andre The Giant were a dominant tag team
6’6 Bobo Brasil alongside 7’4 Andre the Giant was a fierce team that competed in various promotions together. Although Bobo once fought Andre to a draw, he is most remembered for his clashes with Andre as his ally.
They competed as a unit in both the WWE and AWA without a single loss on record.
4 Brazil was a professional baseball player before becoming a wrestler
Before becoming a wrestling champion, Bobo played in the Negro League for The Black House of David. He met Joe Savoldi, an NFL player turned wrestler, and was convinced to join the wrestling business.
Brazil went to Canada to train and debuted in Maple Leaf Wrestling in 1951.
3 Bobo was the first WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion
The former WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion is not the current United States title on WWE television. The current version of the belt came to WWE after they acquired WCW. In 1963, WWE established the WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship as a secondary singles title.
Bobo Brasil defeated Johnny Barend to win the title in 1963. Other future hall of famers such as The Sheik and Pedro Morales would hold the title throughout its 13-year existence. Brazil would also be the last person to hold the title.
two Mentor of Rocky Johnson
In the late ’70s, Brazil entered his 50s and began to slow down as an actor and began to mentor emerging talent. “Soulman” Rocky Johnson had a huge impact on wrestling in his time and was also one of Bobo Brasil’s first apprentices.
Johnson and Tony Atlas would eventually become the first black tag team champions in WWE history. He also had a son named Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who is now the biggest movie star in the world.
1 Decades feud with Sheik
It is very common to hear today’s fans speak of “long-term reserve”. The idea is to evolve the writing from your sporadic “match of the moment” stories to longer, deeper stories that add depth to the characters and higher rewards in matches.
Bobo Brasil’s feud with Sheik is one of the earliest examples of this, as they were great rivals throughout their careers. The two fought their first match in the early 1960s and continued to fight throughout the 1980s.