Harley Race, Missouri wrestling legend, has died
“Handsome” Harley Race, who grew up near the northwest Missouri town of Quitman and later rose to prominence as a professional wrestler, has died.
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Today at 12:50, we lost the man that fought up until the very last of his existence. More information will be released soon, but just know that he loved pro-wrestling and the fans that loved him.
Harley Race, we love you
— Harley Race (@8XNWAChampion) August 1, 2019
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Back in the pre-WWE days, Race wrestled frequently around St. Joseph and Kansas City. In 1973, he defeated Dory Funk, Jr. to become the NWA world heavyweight champion. Race would later wrestle Ric Flair in a legendary steel cage match at Starrcade in 1983.
In 1999, Race started a wrestling academy in Eldon, Missouri, near the Lake of the Ozarks. (The academy is still around, but has since moved to Troy, Missouri.) The Pitch spent some time there in 2002. RIP Handsome Harley.
