Idiopathic Joker
Moderator
Jack Claybourne
From the 1930s through the 1950s, Jack Claybourne was famous worldwide for his wrestling skills. He was popular in England, Canada, Australia, Hawaii, the continental United States, and just about everywhere else there was a ring to wrestle in. Yet in many territories – especially in the early days of his career – he was subject to the same segregation tactics as his peers, and was often relegated to wrestling for Negro championships.
In fact, Claybourne won the Kentucky Negro Championship from Hallie Samara on September 2, 1941, in Louisville. He dropped that title the following year to King Kong Clayton.
As his star rose, Claybourne began wrestling for bigger titles, and wrestling a wider variety of opponents. He soon began popping up on cards with such names as Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Sandor Szabo, Yvon Robert, and Whipper Billy Watson. In 1954, he and Luther Lindsey won the Canadian Open Tag Team Titles from Great Togo and Tosh Togo (Harold Sakata, who played “Oddjob” in the James Bond movie Goldfinger).
Dory Dixon
Dory Dixon was one of the most impressive athletes in wrestling during the “Golden Age” of the 1950s and 1960s. It has been documented that Dixon so impressed a youthful Mil Mascaras with his aerial ability and exciting style that Mascaras decided to become a wrestler himself, just like Dixon.
Dixon made his mark in Mexico, most notably with a successful reign as EMLL Light Heavyweight Champion in 1959 (he defeated Al Kashey for the title in Mexico City). But he was also very popular in the United States for years, from Texas to California to New York. Dixon even had a shot at the world title in Dallas, wrestling Buddy Rogers to a 90-minute time limit draw in October 1962.
In November 1962, Dixon wrestled to a non-finish with World Champion Buddy Rogers when they pinned each other at the same time in Madison Square Garden. Six months later, on May 17, 1963, Dixon teamed with Bobo Brazil to wrestle to a time-limit draw with U.S. tag team champions Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy in Madison Square Garden on the same card where Bruno Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds for the WWWF World Title.
Besides Mexico and the WWWF, Dixon made his presence felt in areas such as World Class in Texas and various NWA territories. He notched two NWA America’s Tag Team titles with Earl Maynard and Raul Mata, respectively, in 1972.
Dixon’s style and ability influenced many wrestlers besides Mascaras as well. He opened doors for people like Elix Skipper to incorporate an aerial style into their performances.
Sweet Daddy Siki
Reginald “Sweet Daddy” Siki, with his blonde hair, sunglasses and hand-held mirror, commanded the attention of every crowd he every wrestled in front of. Nicknamed “Mr. Irresistible,” Siki’s gimmick was similar to that of Gorgeous George, making Siki one of the first wrestlers to successfully use an arrogant, primadonna persona to rile fans up.
Making his wrestling debut in 1955, the Texas native was famous worldwide for his “Siki Strut” and his aggressive style. Siki teamed with “Sailor” Art Thomas, and feuded with men such as Leo Burke, Dave Ruhl and countless others. Today’s black superstars owe a debt of gratitude to the “Sweetest Man in the Whole Wide World,” who helped pave the way for future generations.
"Sailor" Art Thomas
“Sailor” Art Thomas was one of only a handful of big-name black stars in pro wrestling from the 50s through the early 70s. Known for his crushing power, foes feared his bearhug, which usually spelled defeat. Thomas was a beloved fan favorite, taking on such villains as Ox Baker and sometimes teaming with Sweet Daddy Siki.
Thomas’ gimmick was that of a merchant marine bodybuilder. In many territories, he wrestled as “Seaman” Art Thomas rather than “Sailor.” He held NWA Texas title on several occasions in 1962 and 1963. Thomas won the WWA title from Baron Von Raschke in Indianapolis in 1972, but that title was not officially recognized by the WWA during that period. Thomas lost to Raschke in a match that officially marked the recognition of the title by the WWA.
Sailor Art Thomas retired from wrestling in 1983 and settled in Madison, Wisconsin.
From the 1930s through the 1950s, Jack Claybourne was famous worldwide for his wrestling skills. He was popular in England, Canada, Australia, Hawaii, the continental United States, and just about everywhere else there was a ring to wrestle in. Yet in many territories – especially in the early days of his career – he was subject to the same segregation tactics as his peers, and was often relegated to wrestling for Negro championships.
In fact, Claybourne won the Kentucky Negro Championship from Hallie Samara on September 2, 1941, in Louisville. He dropped that title the following year to King Kong Clayton.
As his star rose, Claybourne began wrestling for bigger titles, and wrestling a wider variety of opponents. He soon began popping up on cards with such names as Ed “Strangler” Lewis, Sandor Szabo, Yvon Robert, and Whipper Billy Watson. In 1954, he and Luther Lindsey won the Canadian Open Tag Team Titles from Great Togo and Tosh Togo (Harold Sakata, who played “Oddjob” in the James Bond movie Goldfinger).
Dory Dixon
Dory Dixon was one of the most impressive athletes in wrestling during the “Golden Age” of the 1950s and 1960s. It has been documented that Dixon so impressed a youthful Mil Mascaras with his aerial ability and exciting style that Mascaras decided to become a wrestler himself, just like Dixon.
Dixon made his mark in Mexico, most notably with a successful reign as EMLL Light Heavyweight Champion in 1959 (he defeated Al Kashey for the title in Mexico City). But he was also very popular in the United States for years, from Texas to California to New York. Dixon even had a shot at the world title in Dallas, wrestling Buddy Rogers to a 90-minute time limit draw in October 1962.
In November 1962, Dixon wrestled to a non-finish with World Champion Buddy Rogers when they pinned each other at the same time in Madison Square Garden. Six months later, on May 17, 1963, Dixon teamed with Bobo Brazil to wrestle to a time-limit draw with U.S. tag team champions Brute Bernard and Skull Murphy in Madison Square Garden on the same card where Bruno Sammartino defeated Buddy Rogers in 48 seconds for the WWWF World Title.
Besides Mexico and the WWWF, Dixon made his presence felt in areas such as World Class in Texas and various NWA territories. He notched two NWA America’s Tag Team titles with Earl Maynard and Raul Mata, respectively, in 1972.
Dixon’s style and ability influenced many wrestlers besides Mascaras as well. He opened doors for people like Elix Skipper to incorporate an aerial style into their performances.
Sweet Daddy Siki
Reginald “Sweet Daddy” Siki, with his blonde hair, sunglasses and hand-held mirror, commanded the attention of every crowd he every wrestled in front of. Nicknamed “Mr. Irresistible,” Siki’s gimmick was similar to that of Gorgeous George, making Siki one of the first wrestlers to successfully use an arrogant, primadonna persona to rile fans up.
Making his wrestling debut in 1955, the Texas native was famous worldwide for his “Siki Strut” and his aggressive style. Siki teamed with “Sailor” Art Thomas, and feuded with men such as Leo Burke, Dave Ruhl and countless others. Today’s black superstars owe a debt of gratitude to the “Sweetest Man in the Whole Wide World,” who helped pave the way for future generations.
"Sailor" Art Thomas
“Sailor” Art Thomas was one of only a handful of big-name black stars in pro wrestling from the 50s through the early 70s. Known for his crushing power, foes feared his bearhug, which usually spelled defeat. Thomas was a beloved fan favorite, taking on such villains as Ox Baker and sometimes teaming with Sweet Daddy Siki.
Thomas’ gimmick was that of a merchant marine bodybuilder. In many territories, he wrestled as “Seaman” Art Thomas rather than “Sailor.” He held NWA Texas title on several occasions in 1962 and 1963. Thomas won the WWA title from Baron Von Raschke in Indianapolis in 1972, but that title was not officially recognized by the WWA during that period. Thomas lost to Raschke in a match that officially marked the recognition of the title by the WWA.
Sailor Art Thomas retired from wrestling in 1983 and settled in Madison, Wisconsin.
