THE WAY IT WAS
IN ITS LATEST example of baffling business decisions and gross talent squandering, WWE came to terms in November on the release of Keith Lee, one of its most promising prospects. This column had originally been inspired by WWE’s decision to grant him the nickname “Bearcat,” in honor of the great Bearcat Wright. Now, it stands as a tribute to what might have been.
Imagine, if you will, a heavy-hitter in baseball taking on the nickname “The Bambino,” and having it be ridiculed because it’s a silly-sounding name. It’s hard to imagine of its history, and not just what serves the interests of a given promotion. Perhaps that’s why there was such a backlash to Lee getting the moniker of “Bearcat” in tribute to one of the greatest Black wrestlers of all-time—because so many fans had no idea who he was or what he accomplished.
