The wrestling world is currently in mourning, following the news that James Harris, better known to wrestling fans as Kamala, has died. The 70-year old tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday and went into cardiac arrest and passed on Sunday afternoon.
It is a sad end for a man who has been plagued by health issues over the past decade. In November 2011, he had to have his left leg amputated below the knee due to diabetes and high blood pressure. Then in April 2012, he had to have his right leg amputated below the knee as well. Then on November 19, 2017, he ended up on life support due to complications from surgery to clear fluid from around his heart and lungs.
James Harris’ wrestling carer begun in 1978 under the name “Sugar Bear” Harris, and he would later become Kamala in 1982 when he started working for the Continental Wrestling Association. CWA’s promoter Jerry Lawler created the Ugandan headhunter gimmick, initially calling him Kimala. He’d make his way to WWE in 1984 and then 1986 and 1987, where he would challenge Hulk Hogan for the WWF championship. He’d depart due to a pay dispute with Vince McMahon. He returned in 1992 and wrestled the Undertaker at SummerSlam in arguably the most high profile match of his career in front of 80,000 fans at Wembley Stadium. He’d pop up in WCW in 1995 as part of Kevin Sullivan’s Dungeon of Doom stable before fading away from the limelight.
In 2015 Kamala released his autobiography titled “Kamala Speaks,” which can be purchased for Kindle. The highly recommend read covers racism, his battle with diabetes, and wrestling Hulk Hogan, Andre The Giant, and The Undertaker.
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