Ernie Ladd

Ernest "Ernie" Ladd (November 28, 1938 - March 10, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and a former professional football player.
==Football==
Ernie Ladd played as a defensive tackle for Grambling State University and was selected 15th by the San Diego Chargers in the 1961 draft. He stayed with the Chargers till 1965, winning the AFL title in 1963. In 1966 he played one season for the Houston Oilers, before he went to the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967. There he ended his football career in 1968. 
Ladd was a four time AFL All-Star, a three time All-Pro and is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.
==Professional wrestling career==
Ladd started Wrestling in 1961, portraying one of the first African American heels in the wrestling business. He wrestled in the off-season and became famous for his arrogant interview style and dirty tricks. During his career he also worked for the World Wide Wrestling Federation and feuded with the likes of Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and Pedro Morales. In 1986 Ladd retired from wrestling and did some color commentary alongside Gorilla Monsoon. In 1995 he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
Ladd died in 2007 having battled cancer since 2004 at the age of 68.
==Championships and accomplishments==
*Cauliflower Alley Club
:*Other honoree (2005)
*Central States Wrestling
:*NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bruiser Brody
*Championship Wrestling from Florida
:*NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
*Georgia Championship Wrestling
:*NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ole Anderson
*NWA Big Time Wrestling
:*NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)
:*NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*NWA Hollywood Wrestling
:*NWA Americas Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
*NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association
:*Mid-South Louisiana Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
:*Mid-South North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*Mid-South Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Leroy Brown
:*NWA Arkansas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version) (4 times)
:*NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time) – with The Assassin
*National Wrestling Federation
:*NWF Brass Knuckles Championship (1 time)
:*NWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*NWF North American Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
:*PWI ranked him # 205 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
*World Championship Wrestling
:*WCW Hall of Fame (Class of 1994)
*World Wrestling Association
:*WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
:*WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Baron Von Raschke
*Worldwide Wrestling Associates
:*WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Edouard Carpentier
*World Wrestling Council
:*WWC North American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
*World Wrestling Federation
:*WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1995)
*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)
==External links==
* WWE.com Profile
* Profile
* Profile
Category:American wrestlers
Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Commentators
Category:Managers and valets
Category:Wrestlers who have died
Category:American Wrestling Association alumni
Category:Central States Wrestling alumni
Category:Championship Wrestling From Florida alumni
Category:Georgia Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:National Wrestling Alliance alumni
Category:Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts) alumni
Category:World Class Championship Wrestling alumni
Category:World Wrestling Association alumni
Category:World Wrestling Council alumni
Category:World Wrestling Entertainment alumni
Category:Former football players
Category:Louisiana wrestlers
Category:Worldwide Wrestling Associates alumni
Category:1938 births
Category:1961 debuts
Category:1986 retirements
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Male wrestlers
Category:African American wrestlers
Category:All Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:Jim Crockett Promotions alumni
Category:Maple Leaf Wrestling alumni
Category:National Wrestling Federation alumni
Category:New Japan Pro Wrestling alumni
Category:NWA Big Time Wrestling alumni
Category:NWA Hollywood Wrestling alumni
Category:NWA San Francisco alumni
Category:NWA Western States Sports alumni
Category:Southeast Championship Wrestling alumni