Kamala (Wrestler)

James Harris ( born May 28, 1950 in Senatobia, Mississippi ) is a former American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Kamala. During his playing days, he worked for the largest wrestling organizations around the world and there along with their biggest stars. His biggest success was the title four times, receiving the United States Wrestling Association Unified World Heavyweight Champion title. Today, Harris has worked as a singer.

Before Wrestling

Harris was born as one of six children in Senatobia, Mississippi. His parents farmed there a piece of land on sharecropping basis. Harris himself, however, did not cooperate, his mother married again, and they moved to Coldwater. Although his stepfather now had his own piece of land, but the family had to take the welfare claim to be able to survive.

At the age of 17 years Harris, who had no training, Mississippi and went to Florida left. There he earned his living as a picker at the fruit harvest. Later he worked as a plumber and finally self-employed as a roofer. He also came here for the first time with wrestling in touch, as he watched the events in Florida.

Harris moved at the age of 25 years to Michigan to improve professionally, but had no luck. At this time he was discovered by the wrestling legend Bobo Brazil and from this, as well as Tiny Tim Hampton trained.

Wrestling career

In 1978, Harris his wrestling debut in Greenwood, Mississippi as Sugar Bear Harris. Later, he appeared as Ugly Bear Harris and as Big Jim Harris in the southern states of the USA and got Percy Pringle as a manager set aside. Harris finally decided to go to Europe to develop his skills. After a year in Germany, he came to England in 1981. Here he developed the ring character The Mississippi Mauler, who was the Kamala already quite similar.

1982, back in the U.S., discovered him the promoter Jerry Jarrett and the wrestler Jerry Lawler for the Continental Wrestling Association. Lawler developed together with the gimmick of Kamala Harris or first Kimala. Harris now represented a Ugandan -derived, wild cannibals, who was allegedly a former protector of Idi Amin. The gimmick worked very well cared for sold-out houses and also had the advantage that it concealed Harris ' lack of skills on the mic, as he did not have to speak. Because of his stature, he also received the nickname "The Ugandan Giant " (engl. " The Ugandan Giant" ). In subsequent years, Harris appeared for various NWA territories. They had him now a " tamer " set aside, which was initially portrayed by Buddy Wayne as Friday, and later by Steve Lombardi as Kim Chee.

About a feud with André the Giant program came through whose intercession Harris in 1984 for the first time in the WWF, where their feud was continued at first. In 1985 he left the league but the short term, to return to 1986 to deny a feud with WWF Champion Hulk Hogan program. After Hogan feud to make him a long time to tag team partner of Sika the Wild Samoan, before in 1988 he again left the WWF.

Harris was now working for the United States Wrestling Association and was awarded the highest title four times, where he feuded goods against Jerry Lawler and Koko B..

In 1992 he returned, managed by Harvey Wippleman, the WWF back and denied a program with the Undertaker, which produced the first casket match shown on television. After the end of the feud was made Harris for the first time an audience favorite and gave him Slick as new manager. His role was now more comedic nature. In 1993 he returned to wrestling for nearly two years back and drove truck.

In 1995, he made ​​his comeback in World Championship Wrestling as a member of the Dungeon of Doom, where he again worked with Hulk Hogan feud partner. Since he received no long-term contract, he went back in October of the year again. He then took a seven year break from the wrestling business.

In 2001 he appeared at WrestleMania X -Seven again as a participant in a Legends Battle Royal. Since then he has played sporadic gigs, both in the WWE, as well as in the independent sector.

In November 2011, Harris was the final end of his wrestling career known after had to be amputated as a result of diabetes and high blood pressure his left foot him. The following month, then had to be removed the leg. On 5 April 2012, the right leg was also amputated.

Achievements

Find out more

• Harris is married for the second time with Melissa Guzman and lives in Senatobia. Previously, he was from 1974 - 2005 married to Sheila Stover.
• Since 1993, sings, writes and produces her own songs.
• He received half a million for his SummerSlam appearance against Undertaker U.S. $ 13,000, his opponent.
• In 2008 he an honorary doctorate from the University of Arkansas was awarded.