Harley Race: Profile, Career Stats, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won & Gimmicks

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Harley Race, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Harley Leland Race was born in Quitman, Missouri on April 11, 1943.

He died on August 1, 2019 at the age of 76.

He was a co-promoter of Central States Wrestling.

Harley Race was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 as an individual, in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2005, in the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994, in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2004 as part of the Modern Era wing and in 2017 as part of the Groups wing (as a member of Harley Race & Larry Hennig).

Harley Race Profile Index

Profile Info

Gender Male
Real Name Harley Leland Race
Ring Names
- Harley Race ( October 15, 1988 - August 1, 2019)
- King Harley Race ( July 15, 1986 - October 14, 1988)
- Harley Race ( May 17, 1964 - July 14, 1986)
- The Great Mortimer ( January 1, 1963 - May 16, 1964)
- Jack Long ( April 11, 1961 - December 31, 1962)
- Harley Race ( January 1, 1960 - April 10, 1961)
Born April 11, 1943
Died August 1, 2019 (aged 76)
Nationality United States
Birth Place Quitman, Missouri
Billed From
- Kansas City, Missouri
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight
- 245 lbs (111 kg)
Nicknames Handsome; Mad Dog
Notes He was a co-promoter of Central States Wrestling.

Career History

Roles
- Commissioner ( November 21, 2010 - August 1, 2019)
- Manager ( July 14, 1991 - January 31, 1995)
- Wrestler ( January 1, 1960 - December 7, 1990)
- Promoter ( January 2, 1982 - January 1, 1986)

Promotions History

Promotion	from	to
Promotion NOAH	November 21, 2010	August 1, 2019
Promotion WCW	July 7, 1990	January 31, 1995
Promotion WWF	May 4, 1986	January 15, 1989
Promotion AJPWBrand Heavyweight	February 10, 1973	June 12, 1986
Promotion NWA	May 18, 1967	May 15, 1986
Promotion CSW	November 13, 1975	May 15, 1986
Promotion AWA	January 29, 1984	April 20, 1986
Promotion JCP	July 2, 1983	February 8, 1986
Promotion SLWC	March 20, 1971	January 1, 1986
Promotion CWA	August 5, 1985	October 14, 1985
Promotion CWF	June 19, 1983	November 19, 1983
Promotion BTW DALLAS	March 8, 1977	October 7, 1983
Promotion JCP	July 22, 1980	May 28, 1982
Promotion GCW	July 24, 1978	March 14, 1982
Promotion CWF	January 24, 1977	October 28, 1981
Promotion GAC	July 1, 1977	March 27, 1981
Promotion WWF	December 18, 1978	September 22, 1980
Promotion STAMPEDE	July 15, 1977	July 11, 1980
Promotion SECW	April 28, 1977	February 26, 1980
Promotion MID AMERICA	September 9, 1975	September 1, 1979
Promotion JCP	February 13, 1977	July 8, 1979
Promotion SWCW	May 17, 1978	March 15, 1979
Promotion NWA TRI STATE	August 10, 1976	May 26, 1978
Promotion GCW	January 28, 1977	June 22, 1977
Promotion GCCW	March 26, 1977	March 26, 1977
Promotion CWF	February 11, 1974	April 20, 1976
Promotion GCW	July 12, 1974	February 13, 1976
Promotion CSW	April 16, 1970	June 28, 1974
Promotion GAC	June 8, 1973	January 11, 1974
Promotion AWA	August 3, 1963	March 18, 1971
Promotion JWA	November 14, 1969	December 14, 1969
Promotion SLWC	February 22, 1969	June 14, 1969
Promotion JWA	February 23, 1968	March 23, 1968
Promotion NWA	June 2, 1962	November 6, 1964
Promotion CSW	June 2, 1962	November 6, 1964
Promotion MID AMERICA	October 11, 1962	May 14, 1963

Images History

Nov 2010
Jan 1989
Jul 1986
Feb 1981
Feb 1973
May 1967
Jan 1960
Face / Heel Turns

Alignment from to
Heel August 3, 1963 January 31, 1995
Face January 1, 1960 August 2, 1963

Alignment	from	to
Heel	August 3, 1963	January 31, 1995
Face	January 1, 1960	August 2, 1963

Finishers
- Flying Cradle Suplex - Bridging Fisherman Suplex ( January 1, 1960 - December 7, 1990)
- Diving Headbutt ( January 1, 1960 - December 7, 1990)
- Piledriver ( January 1, 1960 - December 7, 1990)
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "The Great Gate of Kiev" by Modest Petrovič Musorgskij - Single ( August 30, 1986 - March 20, 1988)
- Theme Song "Galaxy Express" by Ryoichi Kuniyoshi - Single ( February 10, 1973 - June 12, 1986)

Titles & Accomplishments

Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2004, Individual
- NWA Hall of Fame - Year 2005, Individual
- WCW Hall of Fame - Year 1994, Individual
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2004, Modern Era
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2017, Groups , Harley Race & Larry Hennig
National Wrestling Alliance
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
National Wrestling Alliance & NWA Mid-America
- 7 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
National Wrestling Alliance, Continental Wrestling Association, Jim Crockett Promotions & NWA Mid-America
- 3 NWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship
World Wrestling Entertainment
- 1 WWF King of the Ring (1986)
American Wrestling Association
- 3 AWA World Tag Team Championship (with Larry Hennig)
All Japan Pro Wrestling
- 1 NWA United National Championship
- 1 PWF World Heavyweight Championship
All Star Pro-Wrestling (New Zealand)
Central States Wrestling
- 9 NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (with Roger Kirby)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 3 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (2 with Roger Kirby, 1 with Bob Roop)
- 1 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)
Continental Wrestling Association
Eastern Sports Association
- 1 IW North American Heavyweight Championship
Georgia Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA Mawith Tag Team Championship (with Buddy Colt)
Maple Leaf Wrestling
St. Louis Wrestling Club
- 1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Larry Hennig)
Stampede Wrestling
- 1 Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 1 SMW Tag Team Championship (with Unabomb)
World Wrestling Association
- 1 WWA World Heavyweight Championship
World Wrestling Council
- 1 WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
Other Accomplishments
- Stampede Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 1995)
- Missouri Sports Hall of Fame induction (class of 2013)
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2007)
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2005)
- WWF Sam Muchnick Memorial Tournament Winner (1986)
- WWF Slammy Award - Best Ring Apparel (1987)
- WWF Slammy Award - Bobby "The Brain" Heenan Scholarship Award (1987 - with Haku, Tama, André the Giant, Hercules & King Kong Bundy)
- NWA Hollywood Los Angeles Battle Royal Winner (1969)
- Cauliflower Alley Club's Iron Mike Mazurki Award (2006)
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (1979, 1983)
- PWI Match of the Year (1973 - vs. Dory Funk, Jr. on 05/04; 1979 - vs. Dusty Rhodes on 08/21; 1983 - vs. Ric Flair on 06/10)
- PWI Stanley Weston Award (2006)
- 8° in the PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- WON Wrestler of the Year (1980, 1981)
- WON Match of the Year (1983 - vs. Ric Flair at Starrcade)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996))
- Tokyo Sports Match of the Year (1978 - vs. Jumbo Tsuruta on 01/20)

Teams & Relations

Tag Teams & Stables
- The Heenan Family - André the Giant, Bobby Heenan, King Kong Bundy, Paul Orndorff, Rick Rude , Hercules ( November 30, 1986 - November 24, 1988)
- Harley Race & Larry Hennig - Larry Hennig ( November 28, 1981 - December 13, 1981)
- Harley Race & Larry Hennig - Larry Hennig ( August 20, 1975 - October 29, 1975)
- Harley Race & Roger Kirby - Roger Kirby ( April 16, 1970 - September 24, 1975)
- Harley Race & Larry Hennig - Larry Hennig ( September 25, 1964 - December 27, 1969)
- The Long Brothers - Johnny Long ( December 25, 1962 - May 6, 1963)
Managers
- Bobby Heenan
Managed Wrestlers Hercules Hernandez, Lex Luger, Mr. Hughes, Paul Orndorff, Vader