{"id":113304,"date":"2022-05-06T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-06T16:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=113304"},"modified":"2022-05-05T11:21:58","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T15:21:58","slug":"kamala-a-lookback-at-the-career-of-a-legend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2022\/05\/06\/kamala-a-lookback-at-the-career-of-a-legend\/","title":{"rendered":"Kamala: A Lookback at the Career of a Legend"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fans familiar with any of the monster heels that stood tall in the landscape of pro wrestling\u2019s past must be familiar with one of the most fearsome of them all: the Ugandan Giant, Kamala<\/strong>. Standing at an impressive six feet, six inches, and hailing from \u201cdeepest, darkest\u201d Uganda, Africa, Kamala was a force to be reckoned with. Menacing, powerful, unorthodox, and unpredictable, he captivated audiences with his ceremonial entrance mask, ritualistic belly slapping, and intimidating presence. In an era of kayfabe, Kamala legitimately frightened fans and made us believe he indeed was a head hunter doing the dirty work of devious managers and handlers.<\/p>\n

It was well-established in the eighties that if Kamala was on the card he was either going to pummel a local competitor or take the top drawing baby face to the limit for that evening\u2019s main event. This domination would last for decades as the Ugandan Warrior\u2019s career spanned well into the 2000s. To say that Kamala\u2019s career was a successful one would be a deafening understatement.<\/p>\n

Kamala: A Monster Run<\/h2>\n

The Origin Of The Ugandan Savage Kamala<\/h3>\n

In the late 1970s and entering into the 1980s, James<\/strong> Harris<\/strong> was a mid-card wrestler working for various territories. Going by names such as \u201cSugar Bear Harris\u201d and \u201cThe Mississippi Mauler\u201d, he wasn\u2019t what many wrestling fans would\u2019ve considered a top-tier draw. However, when he met Jerry<\/strong> Lawler<\/strong> one evening backstage at a wrestling event his career shifted. The King knew with a little character tweaking, that Harris had the makings of a mega draw. A few short weeks later, the legend of Kamala was born (originally spelled Kimala and pronounced with an \u201ci\u201d). With ominous and intriguing vignettes announcing his pending arrival, The King of Memphis was put on notice.<\/p>\n

At that time Lawler was infamous for creating \u201cmonsters\u201d, or plucking big men from obscurity and turning them into rivals to further sell the fact that the King couldn\u2019t be dethroned! Every Monday was a sellout at the historic Mid-South Coliseum. This inaugural stint in Memphis launched Harris\u2019 career as The Ugandan Giant, and he never looked back.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IuXroP2MXeI<\/a><\/p>\n

Tribal Traveler<\/h3>\n

In the famed territory days, monster heels would often leave their respective location after a short run at the top. This was often done in agreement by booker and performer to keep the character fresh and leave fans wanting more down the line. This way fans wouldn\u2019t grow tired of the act. The territory system was healthy enough for a wrestler to move about nomadically to spark invigorating interest wherever they would land. Kamala would bounce from territory to territory over the next several years, and with tremendous success at each respective stop.<\/p>\n

He famously joined the ranks of Devastation<\/strong> Incorporated<\/strong>, a stable led by General<\/strong> Skandor<\/strong> Akbar<\/strong>, in both World Class Championship Wrestling, and Bill Watt\u2019s Mid-South, respectively. It was in Mid-South where Kamala would slam Andre the Giant<\/strong> many years before Hulk<\/strong> Hogan<\/strong> bragged about being the first to do it! Every stop on his journey to further exploit the weaknesses of the uber, upper card babyface heroes would ignite a new breeding ground of destruction for the Ugandan Warrior. Kamala was a top draw in each territory and the cornerstone of Devastation, Inc.<\/p>\n