The Zebra Kid
Encyclopedia
The Zebra Kid is a ring name
used by several professional wrestlers, who would often wear zebra
print tights and sometimes masks to the ring.
Users of the ring name and gimmick include:
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
used by several professional wrestlers, who would often wear zebra
Zebra
Zebras are several species of African equids united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds...
print tights and sometimes masks to the ring.
Users of the ring name and gimmick include:
- In 1948 George Bollas became known as The Zebra Kid (being the first to do so) because of stretch marksStretch marksStretch marks or striae , as they are called in dermatology, are a form of scarring on the skin with an off-color hue. They are caused by tearing of the dermis, and over time can diminish but not disappear completely....
on his body from fluctuating weight, while wrestling in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Bollas used the Zebra Kid gimmick throughout the United States, Canada, England, continental Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East. - Lenny MontanaLenny MontanaLenny Montana was an American actor, who played the role of feared hitman Luca Brasi in The Godfather. Prior to becoming an actor, he had a successful career as a professional wrestler,...
(Leonard Passafaro), a wrestler from BrooklynBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
began using the gimmick intermittently between 1951-54 and reused the gimmick in mid 1961. - Karol Kowalski, another New Jersey, used the name The Super Zebra Kid, often when teaming with Montana through 1951-53.
- Billy SandowBilly SandowWilhelm Baumann, better known as Billy Sandow , was the manager of professional wrestler Ed "Strangler" Lewis and a subsequent member of the famed Gold Dust Trio promotion that changed the face of the industry during the 1920s...
also used the gimmick in 1951. - Jim Austeri, would also use the name in 1958-59, when teaming with Bollas as The Zebra Kids. Austeri played The Zebra Kid #2..
- Earl Patrick FreemanEarl Patrick FreemanEarl Patrick Freeman was a Canadian professional wrestler, best known by his ringname Paddy Ryan, who competed in North American and international promotions during the 1950s and 60s....
, used the gimmick while in Japan. - Austin Washington used it in 1959.
- Jim Lancaster used it in late 1960s into the early 1970s.
- "Dynomite" Jack Evans used it in Georgia during 1972
- Jerry Fletcher used it in Florida during 1973
- Ray Elmore wrestled under a mask as The Zebra Kid, though he was often called The New Zebra Kid.
- Wayne Petty used the gimmick in TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
around 1977. - Sean Regan used the gimmick in Great BritainGreat BritainGreat Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
during 1977-78. - Eric Fontaine used the gimmick during 1990-91 in Wichita, Kansas.
- Alex Perez used the gimmick in TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. - Big Ben Morgan, used the gimmick at some point.
- Roy BevisRoy BevisRoy Bevis, better known by his ring name Zebra Kid is a British professional wrestler. Bevis is the son of the well-known wrestler-turned-promoter, Ricky Knight...
, one of the more recent incarnations of The Zebra Kid, is a second generation British wrestlerProfessional wrestling in the United KingdomProfessional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over 100 years but became popular when the then new Independent Television station - ITV began showing it in 1955 firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late night mid week slot...
. - Brian HeffronBrian HeffronBrian Heffron is a professional wrestler and actor better known as The Blue Meanie or Da Blue Guy.-Early career:...
played Zebra Kid in his early years.