February is Black History Month. Wrestling has a list of greats that have been place upon pedestals, who broke the color barrier to provide entertainment to crowds throughout the last century: Your Ernie Ladds, Bearcat Wrights, Ice Man Parsons, and Bobo Brazils. However, you cannot say you appreciate the past without showing that you have learned the lessons our forefathers taught us. With that, I want to celebrate Black History Month by highlighting black wrestlers on the independent scene today. This list is in no particular order, just a list of wrestlers guaranteed to entertain you when given the chance. 

Suge D 

Though he may be best known to casual fans as “Pineapple Pete” in AEW, Suge is a world traveler collecting championships like candy. Whether it is his stranglehold on the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling World Championship or leading the Good Hand to tag team gold in ACTION, success follows Suge around. He may be one of the best kept secrets in professional wrestling due to his reluctance to sign to a major company. 

Pretty Boy Smooth 

The inaugural NWA Exodus Pro Midwest Heavyweight Champion, the 6’9” Pretty Boy Smooth is an intimidating figure in the Mideast and Eastern independent scene. Smooth is cut from a different cloth from your traditional wrestling giant, emitting a playboy image, flanked by lovely women during his entrances. If he wasn’t scary enough, he is also tearing up the tag scene as part of the Killionaire’s Club with J Boujii. Smooth may be someone to watch in the NWA. 

J Boujii 

Boujii is finally making some waves in the East since breaking away from his short stint in the Bomaye Fight Club. Boujii captured the BCW Grand Dragon Championship after a near two-year chase. Boujii is a mainstay in ETU, BCW, and has now in House of Glory. If that wasn’t enough, he also teams with Pretty Boy Smooth and Ken Broadway as the Killionaires Club. 

Janai Kai 

“The Kick Demon” recently lost the MLW Featherweight Championship to Delmi Exo.  Despite this setback, Kai continues to strike away across the country with appearances in Beyond, ETU, and Uprising amongst others. Kai also continues to be a member of Contra Unit, MLW’s most feared stable. Regardless of where she goes, expect a barrage of strikes that rival almost anyone in the business today. 

Calvin Tankman 

“Heavyweight Hustle” has cut a swath of destruction across the US, alone and with partners such as BEEF and Shane Mercer. Tankman is a regular for DPW (with a nearly yearlong reign with their championship), Freelance, and West Coast Pro, but has also made appearances GCW and Ring of Honor. Tankman is hustling with a speed and move set the belies a man of his size. Honestly, it’s a crime that he doesn’t have a contract with a major company. 

O’Shay Edwards 

“The Big Bad Kaiju” is bringing death to fake heavyweights across the world with appearances throughout the US and now Europe. Edwards has the presence and strength-based skillset to be an asset in any company that employs him; and let’s face it, that should be every company. Another case of someone flying under the radar to a criminal degree. 

Sonny Kiss 

Sonny is a victim of the cowardice of corporate America, taken every opportunity given to her, but those opportunities were few and far between in AEW (though the rumour is that it was Warner Bros. not Tony Kahn that was responsible for that). A flamboyant performer with a unique move set, harkening to the Exoticos in lucha libre. Sonny is now free to perform wherever she desires, leading her to win the Enjoy Wrestling championship. 

Alex Kane 

The leader of the Bomaye Fight Club has taken a back seat in MLW since losing the World Title, whilst now feuding with Eric Bischoff. Kane is also a regular with Action Wrestling, as a member of the Good Hand and hold the Action Championship for 150 days. Kane is one to watch and while wrestling primarily in the Southern US, could break out anywhere in the country if given the opportunity. 

Darius Carter 

A verifiable heat magnet wherever he goes, “The All Father” is a two-time ECWA Super 8 winner. A regular in ECWA, Warriors of Wrestling, and ASE (where he holds their top title)…plus has been a tormenter of Billy Dixon. Carter brings an image that would not be out of place in the 1980’s without being considered a throwback styled wrestler. 

This is but a small list of performers to watch out for. Luckily, Grapsody has their own list of the top 500 Black Wrestlers which you can find here. 

Rob Kamerer is the host of the MLW Con-Fusion podcast, and a follower of wrestling of an independent nature. He can be found on Facebook, BlueSky, and Twitter.

Photo Credit; CRJ.org

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