The First Black MEGASTAR: Sweet Daddy Siki

His star would only expand as being seen on Roger’s undercards helped Siki garner attention from the DuMont Network, a television network that existed between the early ’40s and late ’50s. DuMont Networks during its time ran neck and neck with NBC and CBS as the most overall watched network. They showcased a plethora of wrestling shows including Wrestling From Marigold, Wrestling From Jamaica Arena, Wrestling From Columbia Park, and other areas where professional wrestlers could make a nationwide name for themselves. At this point, there wasn’t a prominent black male entertainer making Sweet Daddy Siki a trailblazer not just for wrestling but for athletics and entertainment on television.

The DuMont Network and friendship from Rogers helped Siki go to New York before Siki would take his truly developed star power to Toronto where he would become a megastar. A stint in the Canadian territory would do Siki justice, becoming one of Canada’s mainstays before wrestling for Vince McMahon Sr. in New York.

This didn’t come without struggle as, during his first time in Toronto, Siki met his eventual wife Anne James who was caucasian. During this time the idea of interracial couples was completely frowned upon and during a post-match party where Siki brought his wife, the atmosphere quickly changed. Segregation was unfortunately still strong in America and on shows where Siki would be main eventing he wasn’t allowed to eat with his white counterparts. He wasn’t even allowed through the same entrances for shows he helped sell out needing to find an entrance for black performers.

At this time there were only two other prominent black stars, BoBo Brazil and Bearcat Wright. Siki needed to expand his horizons of only performing against black performers and get in the ring with white wrestlers breaking down color barriers.

This was hard at the time because a lot of white wrestlers didn’t even want to touch Siki, but there was one man who was willing to risk it all and he was the World’s Champion. Buddy Rogers was scheduled to defend the NWA World’s Heavyweight Championship against Sweet Daddy Siki in Greensboro, North Carolina making Siki the first black wrestler to ever challenge for a world championship. This came with a huge risk factor being in the south where the Klu Klux Klan threatened Siki that he would be killed if he touched Rogers and vice versa Rogers would be killed if he touched Siki. Unprovoked, Siki went out to have his match where after one kick the match was waved off fairly quickly after the ring was surrounded by Klan members.

This was historic. Even if the match was short it became Siki’s new gimmick of having these historic integrated matches in different territories. As a heel he ran into many obstacles where in an era of wrestling heels were despised and especially a heel of color would receive multiple instances of racism. During his time in Florida having their first integrated match he met boxing star, Muhammed Ali who took Siki to church to meet Elijah Muhamed and almost met Malcolm X if it wasn’t for his untimely assassination.

After becoming a fan of Etta James, a black blues singer who dyed her hair blond he would do the same with a new flamboyant personality. Wearing sequined jackets made by his wife, Siki stood out as this amazing black performer with a textbook repeated dropkicks from a man the size of an NFL linebacker with bleach blond hair. 

Returning to Canada now with some championship accomplishments under his belt as a multiple-time heavyweight and tag team champion in various territories, Siki would continue to be Canada’s biggest heel. He and Bulldog Brower held tag championships in Stampede and became the country’s top heels. Bruno Sammartino found himself always wanting to face Siki when he would head up north because of his skill in the ring and character. 

• Sweet Daddy Siki
• Black History Month
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