WWE
Former NXT star Leon Ruff has revealed an unexpected connection to a titan of the early days of the professional wrestling industry.
Ruff is a former NXT North American champion, defeating Johnny Gargano to win the title last year in what was one of the biggest upsets in the history of NXT. He was released by WWE on August 6, 2021, as part of a round of talent cuts amid the impending rebrand of the developmental show.
Ruff took to Twitter to reveal that he had learned he is related to the late great Bobo Brazil, posting an image of himself holding the NXT North American Championship next to a black-and-white picture of Brazil.
I Found out I’m related to the late great bobo brazil. pic.twitter.com/XB9kAeMdks
— LEONRUFFIN (@LEONRUFF_) October 19, 2022
Bobo Brazil is considered one of the first successful African-American professional wrestlers, and has been called the “Jackie Robinson of sports-entertainment” according to WWE.com.
WWE.com says this about Brazil:
“Brazil, who hailed from Benton Harbor, Mich., debuted in 1951 after training with Joe Savoldi. Originally, he was to go by the name “Boo Boo” Brazil, but when a promoter made a printing mistake on an advertisement, he became Bobo Brazil and the name stuck.
“Brazil made perhaps his biggest fame in the local Detroit area, where he became one of the biggest rivals of local legend and promoter and fellow WWE Hall of Famer The Sheik. Brazil and The Sheik drew each other’s blood for decades, often times trading a version of the United States Championship back and forth in Michigan, Ohio and Ontario.
Ruff’s most recent major on-screen wrestling appearance was on the August 21 episode of AEW Dark, where he defeated Bshp King in under two minutes.
Prior to that appearance, Ruff had also AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage.
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2 years ago by Ryan Coogan
@theothercoogan
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