The King of New Orleans cover art

The King of New Orleans

How the Junkyard Dog Became Professional Wrestling's First Black Superhero

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The King of New Orleans

By: Greg Klein
Narrated by: J D Jackson
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About this listen

Telling the remarkable tale of a man who is still remembered on the streets of New Orleans and in the hearts of professional-wrestling fans, this book aims to restore the overlooked Junkyard Dog to his proper place in the history books.

In 1979, Sylvester Ritter, also known as the Junkyard Dog, managed to break one of the final color barriers in the sport by becoming the first Black wrestler named undisputed top star of his promotion, and this biography reveals all the famous feuds and business back stories that made him a wrestling legend. By 1985, New Orleans was one of the hottest cities in the Mid-South for pro wrestling due in large part to the Junkyard Dog; he became a legend in the Big Easy, drawing sellout crowds to the Downtown Municipal Auditorium and huge crowds to the Superdome, a feat unparalleled by any other wrestler.

The King of New Orleans delves into wrestling’s recent past and recounts how a region known for racial injustice became the home of the sport’s first Black idol.

©2012 Greg Klein (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Sports Wrestling Combat Sports Dogs Heartfelt New Orleans Wrestling Biographies

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Good read.

Great story about the territories and race in wrestling. The narrators mispronunciation of Verne Gagne’s last name gave me a chuckle.

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