The Wrestling Legend Who Trained Edge & Christian Cage
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Every top superstar in the wrestling world started somewhere to rise up to the ranks of becoming a sensation in the industry. Moreover, every wrestling aspirant has been driven by a teacher who themselves have spent years as an in-ring competitor. One of those incredibly talented wrestlers and coaches was Sweet Daddy Siki.
Sweet Daddy Siki is a retired professional wrestler and vocalist of American-Canadian origin. He became the catalyst for breaking down barriers of race, fashion, and culture.
After his career in the squared circle came to an end, he diverted his focus on training the next generations of superstars, contributing significantly towards the growth of the industry. His list of students includes some of the top names of the business who have made their names in top promotions like WWE. So let's dive deep and explore the legacy of Sweet Daddy Siki and his contributions to the world of professional wrestling.
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Sweet Daddy Siki Was Part Of The Canadian Wrestling Scene
The "Jackie Robinson of wrestling," Sweet Daddy Siki was a trailblazing performer in more ways than one, even though that may not be an exact analogy because wrestlers like Bobo Brazil and "Sailor" Art Thomas broke the color barrier before him. In 1955, Siki began competing in wrestling in Artesia, New Mexico while also training with Ray Ortega and Sandor Szabo in Los Angeles.
Sweet Daddy Siki moved to Toronto in 1961 and became involved in the Canadian wrestling scene for years. Eventually, Siki got recognized widely throughout Canada in the 1960s and 1970s and was a huge draw for promoters. He competed for many years in Stampede Wrestling, traveled on Bearman McKigney's tour, and was a stalwart of the eastern scene. Siki is primarily known for his neck breaker move and headbutt, often known as the "coco butt." He was also a big fashion icon for his bright and mix colored attires, sunglasses, and robes.
While Siki wasn't the first-ever Black professional wrestler, he did take part in what is believed to be the first mixed-race world championship bout in wrestling history when he competed in Greensboro, North Carolina, against an in-ring foe and close friend "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Both men received death threats from the Ku Klux Klan: Siki for touching a white man, and Rogers for promoting racial equality in sports. In the first row for their match were Klansmen but fortunately, Rogers and Siki walked out of the arena unscathed. Siki would continue to encounter the Klan throughout his career in the United States, but he never yielded to intimidation.
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Sweet Daddy Siki Sold Out Maple Leaf Gardens During His Heyday
At the height of his prime, Sweet Daddy Siki attracted busloads of spectators and was a main card attraction at Maple Leaf Gardens in Canada. He made his debut at Maple Leaf Gardens in 1962 and continued to compete there until 1980. In Maple Leaf Gardens, where his career peaked, he made up to $3,000 every fight and received a ton of mail from fans all over the world. In the 1970s, Siki squared off against two renowned radio and television hosts in Toronto, Terry Steele of CHUM radio and Gene Taylor of CITY-TV. Both of those contests ended with him connecting with an aeroplane spin.
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Sweet Daddy Siki Trained Some Of The Top Names In Wrestling
Sweet Daddy Siki invented the concept of a crossover superstar. Today, we don't hesitate to see professional wrestlers in films or on non-wrestling TV. That is until Sweet Daddy Siki made the decision to make a country music album in order to pursue one of his other passions. In the 1970s, he would put out four albums through Arc Records and began DJing in and around Toronto, while still hosting a well-liked karaoke night.
During the 1980s, the man who was known as 'The Irresistible' began instructing young wrestling aspirants on Sundays at Sully's Toronto Kids Athletic Club. From the 1980s and into the mid-1990s, he was also associated with a Toronto wrestling school, originally in collaboration with Johnny Powers. Two of his most prominent students in the business include WWE Hall of Famer Edge and his long-time tag team partner Christian.
Edge stated the importance of his mentor on Twitter with a heartfelt message, stressing on the value Sweet Daddy Siki brought to his life. "So happy to see this. He needs to be in the HOF. A lot of people have no idea the influence this man has had on our industry in so many ways. The doors he kicked open. And that’s a shame. Personally, I wouldn’t be here without him. More importantly, he’s a great man. #SweetDaddy." Siki was present on WWE SmackDown on September 13, 2011, for Edge Appreciation Night at the time when he retired for the first time.
With his significant contributions to the wrestling world, it is safe to say that Sweet Daddy Siki left a legacy on the business that deserves the utmost respect and admiration.
