A Forgotten Heel Of WWE's Golden Era, Explained
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WWE's Golden Era paved the way for some of the most exciting larger-than-life characters to get showcased on national mainstream TV. Stars like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage were among the many pioneers that brought professional wrestling into cultural relevancy during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, one shouldn't look past the other cast of characters who represented WWE's cartoon-like personas, even those who weren't the most successful. When it comes to the forgotten stars of WWE's Golden Era, one could look at "The Ugandan Giant" Kamala, who tangled with the best superstars of his generation.
RELATED: 10 Things Wrestling Fans Should Know About Kamala, The Ugandan Giant
The Real-Life Cartoon Characters Of WWE's Golden Era
One of the things WWE's Golden Era is most known for is the many physically-imposing giants on its roster. In the same generation that featured someone like "The Eighth Wonder of the World" Andre the Giant, the 1980s Wrestling Boom period paved the way for many larger-than-life figures that became prominent stars on a global stage. There was a time when the professional wrestling business had a stigma of featuring physically-massive wrestlers as its main attraction, much different than today's generation, where there's more of a variety of sizes regarding its talent.
Furthermore, as Hulk Hogan's name is arguably most associated with WWE's Golden Era, his superhero-like presence helped him be the top performer for the company during the 1980s and early 1990s. Other heavyweight superstars like The Ultimate Warrior also broke out during the tail end of that generation, as his impressive physique helped him come to life as a real-life comic book character and succeed as WWE Champion when he won it from Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania 6.
Although larger-than-life superstars like Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warriors have deservingly earned their mark in the professional wrestling business, there are other real-life cartoon characters that some argue don't get enough recognition for their contributions to the industry. And speaking of underappreciated wrestlers, some modern wrestling fans may be familiar with "The Ugandan Giant" Kamala, portrayed by the late James Arthur Harris.
Related: The Story Of Kamala Pulling A Gun On Andre The Giant, Explained
James Harris As "The Ugandan Giant" Kamala
Before getting his most known fame as Kamala in WWE, James Harris made his professional wrestling debut during the late 1970s as he wrestled for many organizations in his thirty-year-plus career. Only a few years into his professional wrestling career, Harris adopted the "Kamala" gimmick when he wrestled for Continental Wrestling Association in 1982, where promoters Jerry Lawler and Jeff Jarrett were the minds behind the creation of that character.
The premise of his persona was that he was a Ugandan headhunter who sported warpaint and wore an African mask when making his entrance. His move set would consist of chops and even going as far as biting his opponents, with his finishing maneuver being the Big Splash.
Kamala's Run In Professional Wrestling
Regarding his run with WWE, some fans may not realize this, but Kamala has had numerous runs with the company from the 1980s to the 1990s. When he first made his WWE debut in 1984, Kamala may have had a short run in the company that lasted less than a year, but he was involved in high-profile moments. In his first WWE run in 1984, Kamala challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship and engaged in a series of bouts with Andre the Giant. Kamala was involved in an infamous angle where he kayfabe ate a live chicken on an episode of Tuesday Night Titans.
Kamala would eventually have a second WWE run when he returned in 1986 and would return for a third WWE run in 1992. After his final run in WWE, Kamala began limiting his in-ring career when he retired from full-time wrestling, although he continued to wrestle from the time-to-time until officially hanging up his boots in 2010.
Over the new millennium, Kamala continued making special appearances as a legendary performer in WWE and other promotions. For instance, he had a one-off match with Randy Orton on an August 2005 episode of Smackdown and even wrestled Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Heavyweight Championship at an NWA event in 2006.
Related: Kamala Passes Away Aged 70, Cause Of Death Revealed
Kamala's Legacy In Professional Wrestling
Kamala's legacy in professional wrestling is somewhat controversial because of the nature of his gimmick. For instance, Ryan Byerns from 411Mania criticized the "Kamala" gimmick as promoting stereotypes towards Africans. However, he praised James Harris for his portrayal of the "Kamala" gimmick, stating that he came off believable as a dangerous figure in professional wrestling.
On August 9, 2020, Kamala passed away from complications of diabetes, as he dealt with health issues for many years leading up to his passing. Kamala leaves behind an impressive legacy in professional wrestling, and some might argue he deserves a future induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
