The wrestling world has lost one of the true all-time greats today as “Handsome” Harley Race has died at age 76.
Earlier this year, one of Race’s great rivals and contemporaries, Ric Flair, told a crowd at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that Race had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, a claim he’d later call, “misinformed.” Race had been in and out of the hospital for the past several years dealing with a variety of health problems.
Dustin Rhodes shared the news of Race’s passing on Twitter on Thursday afternoon.
RIP to one of the greatest performers there ever was. He was a friend. You will be missed #HarleyRace #RIP
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) August 1, 2019
Regarded as one of the top wrestling champions ever, Race was the first NWA United States Heavyweight Champion — the title which is currently the WWE United States Championship — and was a record-setting World Champion, holding the WWA World Heavyweight Championship once and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship a then-record eight times. He also competed as “King” Harley Race in the World Wrestling Federation after winning the 1986 King of the Ring tournament. Race was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1994, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996, and WWE’s Hall of Fame in 2004.
We’ve included some videos below for anyone who isn’t familiar with Race’s work or wants to relive some of his greatest moments. Our love and condolences go out to Race’s friends and family, with the knowledge that the legacy he left is definitely irreplaceable.
