Harley Race Net Worth

What was Harley Race's net worth?

Harley Race was an American professional wrestler and wrestling promoter, and trainer who had a net worth of $600 thousand at the time of his death. Harley Race died on August 1, 2019 at the age of 76.

Harley Race was one of the most revered and influential professional wrestlers of the 20th century, known for his unshakable toughness, in-ring mastery, and championship legacy. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Race became an eight-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and was widely considered the measuring stick for what it meant to be a true world champion. With his gravelly voice, no-frills promos, and legitimate toughness, Race embodied the classic "tough guy" persona that defined an era. He worked across the NWA, AWA, WWF, and various regional promotions, leaving behind a legacy as both a legendary performer and later, as a respected trainer and promoter.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Harley Leland Race was born on April 11, 1943, in Quitman, Missouri. Raised on a farm, he developed an early interest in wrestling and dropped out of high school to pursue a career in the ring. He trained under Stanislaus and Wladek Zbyszko and broke into the business as a teenager, working under a variety of ring names throughout the Midwest territories. In the 1960s, Race formed a tag team with Larry Hennig (father of Curt Hennig), and the two became AWA World Tag Team Champions. Their rugged style and imposing presence earned them credibility throughout the wrestling world.

Rise to NWA World Champion

Race's biggest break came in 1973 when he defeated Dory Funk Jr. to win his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship. At the time, the NWA title was considered the most prestigious in professional wrestling, and Race quickly established himself as a credible, fighting champion. Over the next decade, he would win the title a total of eight times, facing and defeating top stars like Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Jack Brisco, and Giant Baba.

Race's title defenses often took him to different territories around the world, including Japan and Australia, and he built a reputation for being one of the toughest and most respected champions in the business. He was known for his hard-hitting, methodical style and his ability to elevate his opponents while maintaining his own dominance. In 1983, Race dropped the NWA title to Ric Flair in a classic steel cage match at "Starrcade," a landmark event that helped launch Jim Crockett Promotions into the pay-per-view era. The match also symbolized the passing of the torch to a new generation.

WWF Run and "King" Gimmick

In 1986, Race joined the World Wrestling Federation and won that year's "King of the Ring" tournament. He was repackaged as "King" Harley Race, complete with crown, cape, and manager Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. While the gimmick was more theatrical than his NWA persona, Race still brought a sense of legitimacy and grit to his matches. He feuded with top WWF stars like Junkyard Dog and Hulk Hogan and competed at major events including "WrestleMania III."

A serious abdominal injury suffered during a match in 1988 led to Race's retirement from full-time competition. However, he would continue to make sporadic in-ring appearances for several more years in promotions like WCW and various international tours.

(Photo by WWE/WWE via Getty Images)

Trainer, Promoter, and Hall of Fame Recognition

After stepping away from the national spotlight, Race transitioned into a mentorship role. He founded World League Wrestling (WLW), an independent promotion based in Missouri, and opened a wrestling academy that produced several future stars, including Trevor Murdoch and Tommaso Ciampa. Known as a strict but fair trainer, Race passed on his knowledge to a new generation with the same intensity and pride that had defined his own career.

He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004 and also honored by the NWA, WCW, the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. His contributions were universally respected, and he was often cited by peers and younger wrestlers as the ultimate "wrestler's wrestler."

Legacy

Harley Race passed away on August 1, 2019, at the age of 76 after a battle with lung cancer. His death was met with an outpouring of respect from every corner of the wrestling world. To fans and fellow performers alike, Race represented the highest standard of toughness, professionalism, and pride in the craft.

Whether he was defending the NWA World Title in packed arenas or training hopeful rookies in a small Missouri gym, Harley Race carried himself like a champion. He didn't just play a tough guy—he was one, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of wrestlers who follow in his path.

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