Kamala

In March 1983, Kamala debuted in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion. In October of that year, he challenged Harley Race for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship, losing by disqualification. In the same month, he began a lengthy feud with the Von Erich family, repeatedly facing brothers David, Kerry, and Kevin. In May 1984, he faced The Great Kabuki at the David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions, a tribute to David, who had died suddenly in February. Kamala continued to appear regularly with WCCW until late-1985.

Kamala debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in July 1984. He was managed by Freddie Blassie and a masked "handler" in safari clothing known as "Friday" (played by a variety of people). In a memorable segment on the television program *Tuesday Night Titans*, Kamala seemingly devoured a live chicken (with a cutaway shot of feathers flying out of his mouth shown to create the illusion).

After defeating a series of opponents including B. Brian Blair, Salvatore Bellomo, and Chief Jay Strongbow, in August 1984 Kamala challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, wrestling him to a double count-out. In October 1984, he began a series of matches against André the Giant, among them a steel cage match which he lost after André twice sat on his chest. Kamala's final appearance was in a battle royal in November 1984.

Throughout 1985, Kamala wrestled for the American Wrestling Association. He was established as a "monster" by winning a series of handicap matches. He feuded with Sgt. Slaughter, who he defeated in a "Ugandan Death Match" in April 1985, but lost to in a "Boot Camp" steel cage match in June. At the SuperClash supercard in September 1985, Kamala lost to Jerry Blackwell in a bodyslam challenge. Toward the end of the year, Kamala repeatedly challenged Rick Martel for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship but failed to win the championship.

In July 1985, Kamala wrestled for World Championship Wrestling (WCW) at The Great American Bash, unsuccessfully challenging Magnum T.A. for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.

Kamala returned to the WWF in July 1986, now managed by The Wizard and the masked "handler" Kim Chee. From November 1986 to February 1987, Kamala faced Hulk Hogan in a series of matches for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, marking the pinnacle of his career. In February 1987, Kamala formed a tag team with the "Wild Samoan" Sika. In the same month, he began a feud with Jake Roberts, during which Roberts repeatedly exploited Kamala's purported fear of snakes. In April 1987, Iaukea handed over control of Kamala to Mr. Fuji. Kamala abruptly left the WWF once more in September 1987.

After leaving WWF, Kamala returned to World Class Championship Wrestling where he feuded with Kevin Von Erich, Kerry Von Erich and Michael Hayes before the promotion shut down in 1989.

Kamala returned to the WWF on May 9, 1992, with Kim Chee and Harvey Wippleman acting as his managers. In June 1992, he unsuccessfully challenged Randy Savage for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Throughout mid-1992, he wrestled primarily on house shows, with his regular opponents including The Undertaker, Bret Hart, The Texas Tornado, and The Ultimate Warrior.

Kamala lost to The Undertaker by disqualification at SummerSlam in August 1992. In November 1992, Kamala lost to The Undertaker at Survivor Series in the first ever televised casket match.

In January 1993, Kim Chee and Wippleman began mistreating Kamala, leading him to break away from them and align himself with Reverend Slick. Slick set out to "humanize" Kamala, leading to a series of skits in which he introduced him to activities such as ten-pin bowling. Kamala feuded with Kim Chee throughout early 1993. In March 1993, he began a series of matches with Bam Bam Bigelow. The two were scheduled to face one another at WrestleMania IX, but the match was cancelled due to time constraints.

In May 1993, Kamala lost a King of the Ring tournament qualifying match via countout to Mr. Hughes on an episode of *WWF Wrestling Challenge*. He went on to compete primarily at house shows until being released by the WWF that July.

In December 1993, Kamala was announced as a participant in the 1994 Royal Rumble match. However, during the bout the announcers noted that Virgil, as an alternate participant, had replaced him.

Kamala re-joined World Championship Wrestling in 1995. He was introduced as part of Kevin Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom stable, whose goal was to end Hogan's career. In his first WCW pay-per-view appearance, he defeated "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan at Bash at the Beach. He lost a singles match to Hogan at *Clash of the Champions XXXI*. He was part of the "Dungeon of Doom" team at Fall Brawl, which lost to Hogan's team, "The Hulkamaniacs".

Kamala participated in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at WrestleMania X-Seven and was eliminated by Sgt. Slaughter. On July 26, 2004, he made a surprise return to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), participating in a *Raw* Diva Search segment, in which the female contestants were instructed to try to seduce him. Kamala faced Randy Orton on the August 11, 2005 edition of *SmackDown!* (accompanied by Kim Chee), but the match was interrupted by a message from The Undertaker to Orton, and ended in a no contest. Kamala appeared at the 2005 Taboo Tuesday event, as one of the choices for Eugene's tag team partner. He lost the fan vote to Jimmy Snuka, but came to the ring after the match to deliver a big splash to Tyson Tomko. On June 25, 2006, at Vengeance, he accompanied Eugene to the ring (along with Doink the Clown and Hacksaw Jim Duggan) to take on Umaga. Umaga quickly won the match, after which he attacked Eugene, Doink, and Duggan. Before Kamala and Umaga could fight, Umaga's manager, Armando Estrada, intervened. Kamala was defeated by Umaga in a match on the following night on *Raw*.

Kamala passed away on August 9, 2020.