Well an era is slowly leaving us one by one, first it was Dusty Rhodes, then Bruno Sammartino and now Harley Race is part of the legends in Heaven. Sadly he passed this week at the age of 76 but his legacy is secure in this world.
He was a man of a different kind, legit tough guy who no one wanted to test in or out of the ring, he famously carried a gun with him at all times after years of having to prove his toughness to thick heads in bars. He WAS professional wrestling and not "sports entertainment", he was very proud to be what he was and worked hard at it and being the World champion was proof of his toughness and loyalty to the sport.
To me he was and is THE gold standard of NWA World Heavyweight champions, above Flair, Rhodes, Thesz and Rogers. To me he was the NWA and all that it stood for, toughness, skill, in ring ability and outside the ring he could talk you into any building to fight anyone. Just hearing his name announced on tv as a kid I was just so excited to see him and see what all the talk was about.
Rest In Peace champ you deserve it and thank you for all the memories you left us with.
