Inspirational
Chapter One: Harley Race
#PWHS #Article #Inspirational #HarleyRace
Harley Race is considered one of the toughest wrestlers ever, inside the ring and out. But let me show you another layer of “toughness” Harley has that many of probably don’t know.
Harley overcame the crippling disease of polio as a child.
At age 18 he was wrestling in Nashville as Jack Long, the storyline brother of John Long. The two captured the Southern Tag Championship there but the run was interrupted by a serious auto accident. His pregnant wife of a little more than a month died instantly.
The doctors had decided they couldn’t save his leg and were planning on amputating it. Story has it that his promoter Gust Karras came to the hospital and blocked the planned operation by saying “Over my dead body."
Race was told that it looked impossible for him to walk again, less wrestle. Harley told that doctor “You’ll have two front row tickets waiting for you when I wrestle again”. It took month after month of grueling physical therapy to make a recovery, but twenty-one months later his doctor was on the front row to watch his return to professional wrestling.
Wrestling Hulk Hogan, he missed a “big splash” caused the corner of a table to plunge deep into his stomach. When he once again returned to the squared circle, he carried a large scar where the doctors removed a good section of his intestine.
Harley came back and came back; no matter what adversity came his way. He walked, he found happiness again as a husband, he kept his leg, and has returned to the ring time and again to be one of the most respected champions of any age. HARLEY RACE shows us that we can overcome life’s roadblocks! This villain needs to be cheered!
Harley overcame the crippling disease of polio as a child.
At age 18 he was wrestling in Nashville as Jack Long, the storyline brother of John Long. The two captured the Southern Tag Championship there but the run was interrupted by a serious auto accident. His pregnant wife of a little more than a month died instantly.
The doctors had decided they couldn’t save his leg and were planning on amputating it. Story has it that his promoter Gust Karras came to the hospital and blocked the planned operation by saying “Over my dead body."
Race was told that it looked impossible for him to walk again, less wrestle. Harley told that doctor “You’ll have two front row tickets waiting for you when I wrestle again”. It took month after month of grueling physical therapy to make a recovery, but twenty-one months later his doctor was on the front row to watch his return to professional wrestling.
Wrestling Hulk Hogan, he missed a “big splash” caused the corner of a table to plunge deep into his stomach. When he once again returned to the squared circle, he carried a large scar where the doctors removed a good section of his intestine.
Harley came back and came back; no matter what adversity came his way. He walked, he found happiness again as a husband, he kept his leg, and has returned to the ring time and again to be one of the most respected champions of any age. HARLEY RACE shows us that we can overcome life’s roadblocks! This villain needs to be cheered!
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Inspirational: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #21.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Inspirational: Chapter One.
Author: Terry Kent.
Published: July 2014.
Article: #21.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Inspirational: Chapter Two - Read Here.
Other articles by Terry can be Read Here.