# Stevie Ray > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stevie_Ray > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stevie_Ray.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Ray > Source revision: 1350664872 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|American professional wrestler (born 1958)}} {{about|the [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) wrestler|the [Universal Wrestling Federation](/source/Universal_Wrestling_Federation_(Herb_Abrams)) wrestler|Steve Ray (wrestler)|the musician|Stevie Ray Vaughan|the Scottish fighter|Stevie Ray (fighter)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Stevie Ray |birth_name = Laslon Steven Huffman |image = Stevie Ray 2015.jpg |caption = Huffman in 2015 |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|8|22}} |birth_place = [New York City](/source/New_York_City), U.S. |relatives = [Booker T](/source/Booker_T_(wrestler)) (brother){{cite web|url=http://network.wwe.com/video/v39659883/?contentId=39659883&contextType=wwe-show&contextId=wwe_24|title=WWE 24|work=WWE Network|access-date=July 30, 2018}}
[Sharmell](/source/Sharmell) (sister-in-law) |names = Jive Soul Bro
The Masked Heel{{cite book | first=Graham | last=Cawthon | title=the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 5: World Championship Wrestling 1995–2001 | publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform | year= 2015 | isbn=978-1499656343}}
Stevie Ray
Super Collider |height = 6 ft 5 in{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profile/stevie-ray/|title=Stevie Ray profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|access-date=August 10, 2009}} |weight = 292 lb |billed = [Houston, Texas](/source/Houston%2C_Texas) |trainer = [Scott Casey](/source/Scott_Casey) |debut = 1989 |retired = 2017 }} '''Laslon '''"'''Lash'''"''' Steven Huffman'''{{cite web |url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1998_3101893/cover-story-wrestling-101-getting-a-grip-on-the-ba.html |title=Wrestling 101: getting a grip on the basics |first=Pamela |last=Mitchel |date=December 3, 1998 |publisher=Houston Chronicle |access-date=July 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129060523/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1998_3101893/cover-story-wrestling-101-getting-a-grip-on-the-ba.html|archive-date=November 29, 2012}} (born August 22, 1958) is an American retired [professional wrestler](/source/Professional_wrestling), better known by his [ring name](/source/ring_name), '''Stevie Ray'''. Stevie Ray is best known for his seven-year tenure with [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) (WCW) from 1993 to 2000, where he was one-half of the [tag team](/source/tag_team) [Harlem Heat](/source/Harlem_Heat), with his younger brother [Booker T. Huffman](/source/Booker_T_(wrestler)), better known as Booker T. They won the [WCW World Tag Team Championship](/source/WCW_World_Tag_Team_Championship) a record [ten times](/source/list_of_WCW_World_Tag_Team_Champions). Huffman is also a [one-time](/source/List_of_WCW_World_Television_Champions) [WCW World Television Champion](/source/WCW_World_Television_Championship).{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/wwe-hall-of-fame/stevie-ray-to-induct-booker-t-into-wwe-hall-of-fame-26104380|title=Stevie Ray to induct Booker T into WWE Hall of Fame|author1=Giannini, A. |author2=Murphy, R. |name-list-style=amp |publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|work=[WWE](/source/WWE).com|date=April 4, 2013|access-date=August 2, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/greatesttagteams/greatesttagteams7|title=Booker T & Stevie Ray: Bringing the 'Heat'|author=Clayton, C.|publisher=[WWE](/source/WWE)|work=[WWE](/source/WWE).com|date=March 6, 2008|access-date=September 7, 2013}} Among other events, he headlined the [Fall Brawl 1993](/source/Fall_Brawl_(1993)) and [1998](/source/Fall_Brawl_(1998)) pay-per-views. Huffman, as part of Harlem Heat, was inducted into the [WWE Hall of Fame](/source/WWE_Hall_of_Fame) [class of 2019](/source/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2019)).{{Cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/harlem-heat-be-inducted-2019-wwe-hall-fame,%20/wrestling/harlem-heat-be-inducted-2019-wwe-hall-fame|title=Harlem Heat To Be Inducted Into The 2019 WWE Hall Of Fame {{!}} Fightful Wrestling|website=www.fightful.com|language=en|access-date=March 11, 2019}} ==Professional wrestling career== ===Early career (1989–1993)=== Laslon Huffman started wrestling in 1989 as Super Collider on the [independent circuit](/source/independent_circuit) in [Texas](/source/Texas). In [Ivan Putski](/source/Ivan_Putski)'s Western Wrestling Alliance, he first started feuding with his brother, [Booker](/source/Booker_Huffman) (who was G.I. Bro at the time) under the ring name Jive Soul Bro. He began teaming with his brother as Stevie Ray (named after a combination of musical artists [Stevie Wonder](/source/Stevie_Wonder) and [Ray Charles](/source/Ray_Charles){{cite web |url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2019/04/06/kellers-wwe-hall-of-fame-segment-report-4-6-booker-t-and-stevie-ray-tell-stories-from-early-years-ole-anderson-arn-anderson-eddie-gilbert-sid-hogan-and-then-endorses-kofimania/ |title=KELLER'S WWE HALL OF FAME SEGMENT REPORT 4/6: Booker T and Stevie Ray tell stories from early years, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson, Eddie Gilbert, Sid, Hogan, and then endorses Kofimania |last=Keller |first=Wade |author-link=Wade Keller |date=April 6, 2019 |website=[Pro Wrestling Torch](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Torch) |access-date=October 15, 2022}}) in a tag team called The Ebony Experience for the [Global Wrestling Federation](/source/Global_Wrestling_Federation), which was on [ESPN](/source/ESPN).{{cite video | people = Lash Huffman | title = Shoot Interview with Stevie Ray (2006) | medium = DVD}} They were [faces](/source/Face_(professional_wrestling)) and [feuded](/source/feud_(professional_wrestling)) with the "Blackbirds" of [Iceman King Parsons](/source/King_Parsons) and Brickhouse Brown. They won the [GWF Tag Team Championship](/source/GWF_Tag_Team_Championship) three times. Stevie Ray then went on to win the [GWF North American Heavyweight Championship](/source/GWF_North_American_Heavyweight_Championship) in 1993. ===World Championship Wrestling (1993–2001)=== ====Harlem Heat (1993–1997)==== In August 1993, they went to [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) (WCW) and changed their team name to Harlem Heat. Initially Lash was known as '''Kane''' while Booker became Kole. They were then billed from [Harlem](/source/Harlem%2C_New_York). They became heels and were on [Harley Race](/source/Harley_Race) and [Col. Rob Parker's](/source/Robert_Fuller_(wrestler)) team in the [War Games](/source/WarGames_Match) at [Fall Brawl](/source/Fall_Brawl_(1993)) on September 19, 1993, with [Vader](/source/Big_Van_Vader) and [Sid Vicious](/source/Sid_Eudy) against [Sting](/source/Sting_(wrestler)), [Davey Boy Smith](/source/Davey_Boy_Smith), [Dustin Rhodes](/source/Dustin_Rhodes) and [The Shockmaster](/source/Fred_Ottman). They lost the match when Shockmaster forced Booker (Kole) to submit. In 1994, they got [Sister Sherri](/source/Sherri_Martel) as their manager and changed their names back to Booker T and Stevie Ray. They feuded with [Stars and Stripes](/source/Stars_and_Stripes_(professional_wrestling)) ([The Patriot](/source/The_Patriot_(wrestler)) and [Buff Bagwell](/source/Buff_Bagwell)) and won the WCW Tag Team Titles for the first time. From there, they feuded with [The Nasty Boys](/source/The_Nasty_Boys) ([Jerry Sags](/source/Jerry_Sags) and [Brian Knobs](/source/Brian_Knobs)) and got into a feud with Col. Parker's "Stud Stable" of [Dick Slater](/source/Dick_Slater) and [Bunkhouse Buck](/source/Bunkhouse_Buck) where Parker and Sherri were carrying on a love affair. During this time, Stevie and Booker lost the titles to the Nasty Boys, regained them, then lost them to Slater and Buck and regained them again. They eventually gained Parker as a manager as he abandoned Slater and Buck to be with Sherri. Harlem Heat won the WCW World Tag Team Championship three times in 1995, trading the titles with the [American Males](/source/American_Males) (Bagwell and [Scotty Riggs](/source/Scotty_Riggs)) in the early fall. They had brief feuds with [Lex Luger](/source/Lex_Luger) and Sting, trading the titles back and forth in early 1996 and [The Road Warriors](/source/The_Road_Warriors) before starting a long feud with [Rick and Scott Steiner](/source/Steiner_Brothers) in 1996. In October, they lost their titles to [The Outsiders](/source/Outsiders_(professional_wrestling)), [Kevin Nash](/source/Kevin_Nash) and [Scott Hall](/source/Scott_Hall), when Nash used Parker's cane to attack Stevie. They would then fire the Colonel, beat him up, turn face, and enter into a brief feud against Parker's newest team [The Amazing French Canadians](/source/The_Quebecers), a feud they would win. In 1997 they feuded with [Public Enemy](/source/The_Public_Enemy_(professional_wrestling)) ([Johnny Grunge](/source/Johnny_Grunge) and [Rocco Rock](/source/Rocco_Rock)), The Steiners and the [New World Order](/source/New_World_Order_(professional_wrestling)). In the summer of 1997, they fired Sherri and added a new manager, [Jacqueline](/source/Jacqueline_Moore). They were briefly put out of action by the nWo and returned to feud with [The Faces of Fear](/source/The_Faces_of_Fear) ([Meng](/source/Tonga_Fifita) and [The Barbarian](/source/The_Barbarian_(wrestler))). ====Singles appearances; New World Order (1998–1999)==== As 1998 started to roll around, Stevie had to take some time off from WCW from January to June. Meanwhile, Booker T would go on to win the [WCW World Television Championship](/source/WCW_World_Television_Championship). Through the association with his brother, he would gain his only singles title in WCW, as when Booker took time off with an injury as Television Champion from July to October, Stevie got a "power of attorney" to defend the belt for Booker. He then engaged in a short feud with [Chavo Guerrero Jr.](/source/Chavo_Guerrero_Jr.) over the right to defend the belt before dropping it to [Chris Jericho](/source/Chris_Jericho) afterwards. By June 1998, Stevie Ray had returned to the ring, and the powerful gang-like [faction](/source/List_of_professional_wrestling_terms) of the nWo had been split into two: [Hollywood Hogan](/source/Hulk_Hogan)'s [nWo Hollywood](/source/nWo_Hollywood) and [Kevin Nash](/source/Kevin_Nash)'s [nWo Wolfpac](/source/nWo_Wolfpac). Stevie Ray would be offered a spot in nWo Hollywood, but was hesitant at first. He would join the "black & white" in August, effectively turning him [heel](/source/Heel_(professional_wrestling)). Although this would make Stevie Ray known for using dirty tactics and a strength-in-numbers mentality, his brother, Booker, showed little resentment and respected Stevie Ray's decision to be a part of the nWo, and they were able to peacefully co-exist. Meanwhile, Booker was steadily gaining popularity as a [face](/source/Face_(professional_wrestling)), climbing the ranks of the WCW roster and winning championship titles. During his tenure with the nWo, Stevie Ray would tag team with the likes of [Horace Hogan](/source/Horace_Hogan) and [Scott Norton](/source/Scott_Norton) as well as performing in singles competition, often with [Vincent](/source/Mike_Jones_(wrestler)) at ringside. Alongside Hollywood Hogan and [Bret Hart](/source/Bret_Hart), he also participated in the [War Games](/source/WarGames_match) of [Fall Brawl 1998](/source/Fall_Brawl_(1998)). The [slapjack](/source/Slapjack_(weapon)) became known as Stevie Ray's trademark weapon which he would frequently use to knock an opponent unconscious, typically when the [referee](/source/Referee_(professional_wrestling)) was distracted. By early 1999, both nWo factions had fused back together, but members of nWo Hollywood started bickering over who the leader of the sub-faction was. Hollywood Hogan began telling various members in private that he had granted them official leadership, causing confusion and friction between members. Not long after, Stevie Ray won the leadership role in a 4-man battle royal on the April 5, 1999, episode of ''[WCW Monday Nitro](/source/WCW_Monday_Nitro)'', defeating Horace Hogan, [Brian Adams](/source/Brian_Adams_(wrestler)), and Vincent. ==== Harlem Heat reformation and feud with Booker T (1999–2000) ==== As tension grew between members of nWo Hollywood, Stevie Ray started helping Booker T during his matches. As Booker was getting ganged up on in July, the two reunited Harlem Heat. They began feuding with [Barry](/source/Barry_Windham) and [Kendall Windham](/source/Kendall_Windham) as well as [The Jersey Triad](/source/Jersey_Triad) of [Diamond Dallas Page](/source/Diamond_Dallas_Page), [Chris Kanyon](/source/Chris_Kanyon) and [Bam Bam Bigelow](/source/Bam_Bam_Bigelow). They went on to win the Tag Titles three more times, making them 10 time champions. By late 1999, a female bodybuilder named [Midnight](/source/Ann_Marie_Crooks) had joined Harlem Heat. Stevie resented her help and started disputing with Booker over her. He eventually challenged Midnight in a match that would decide whether or not she would stay with Harlem Heat. After being defeated with a surprise [small package](/source/Pin_(professional_wrestling)), Stevie Ray would turn on both Booker and Midnight to form Harlem Heat, Inc. with [Big T](/source/Ahmed_Johnson), [Kash](/source/Teddy_Reade) and [J. Biggs](/source/Clarence_Mason). They won the rights to the Harlem Heat name in a match with Big T against Booker on February 20, 2000, at [SuperBrawl X](/source/SuperBrawl_X). ====Color commentator (2000–2001)==== In May, Stevie split from Big T, Kash and Biggs (who all left WCW) and helped Booker T out of a jam. He then retired from in-ring competition to become a [color commentator](/source/color_commentator) for ''[WCW Thunder](/source/WCW_Thunder)''. As a commentator, Stevie referred to all of the women as "yaks" and coined his catchphrase "Suckas gots to know!" He also provided in-depth analysis from a wrestler's point of view during matches and constantly criticized wrestlers for mistakes made in the ring. For example, he would often say that a wrestler "should have went [sic] for the cover!" or "needed to hook the leg!" and this advice earned him the nickname, "Straightshootin'" Stevie Ray. Stevie came back for one more WCW match (a title vs. career match) for the [WCW World Heavyweight Championship](/source/WCW_World_Heavyweight_Championship) against [Scott Steiner](/source/Scott_Steiner) on the November 27, 2000, edition of WCW Monday Nitro, which he lost. A few months later, WCW was bought by the WWF in March 2001. Stevie did not want to go to WWF.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2019/04/stevie-ray-reveals-why-he-never-went-to-wwe-653123/ |title=Stevie Ray Reveals Why He Never Went To WWE |date=April 14, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2021}} === World Wrestling All-Stars (2001–2002) === After WCW was bought by WWF, Stevie Ray wrestled a few matches for [WWA](/source/World_Wrestling_All-Stars) against [Jerry Lawler](/source/Jerry_Lawler), and [Buff Bagwell](/source/Buff_Bagwell) in 2001, and [Ernest Miller](/source/Ernest_Miller) in 2002, retiring later that year. ===Semi-retirement (2005–2017)=== In 2005, Stevie Ray and Booker T opened the "Booker T and Stevie Ray Pro Wrestling Academy" in Houston, Texas.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/06/22/1098665.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213215304/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2005/06/22/1098665.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 13, 2015|title=Booker T to play two more years|author=Jason Clevett|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=April 17, 2008|date=June 22, 2005}} In April 2013, Stevie Ray inducted Booker T into the [WWE Hall of Fame](/source/WWE_Hall_of_Fame). On February 21, 2015, Booker T and Stevie Ray reunited as Harlem Heat for one last match at Booker T's promotion, [Reality of Wrestling](/source/Reality_of_Wrestling)'s "The Final Heat" event, where they defeated the Heavenly Bodies for the ROW Tag Team Championship. On March 14, the titles were vacated. On May 16, 2015, Ray won the [WildKat Heavyweight Championship](/source/WildKat_Heavyweight_Championship) defeating Shane Taylor. He dropped the title back to Taylor on November 14, 2015. In 2015 Ray was added to ''[WWE 2K16](/source/WWE_2K16)'' as DLC. On March 30, 2016, Stevie Ray debuted a new weekly radio talk show, ''Straight Shooting with Stevie Ray'' which airs on KCOH radio 92.9 FM HD2 every Wednesday. He is also the host of the podcast ''Stand Up for Greatness''.{{cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/wrestling/stevie-ray-is-now-host-of-a-houston-based-weekly/article_f114fc56-c64c-11e7-b744-b36b644d909f.html|title=Stevie Ray is now host of a Houston-based weekly radio talk show|first=Mike|last=Mooneyham|date=November 10, 2017 }} Ray's last match was at Reality of Wrestling on August 12, 2017, teaming with Abel Andrew Jackson as they lost to [Ernest Miller](/source/Ernest_Miller) and Ryan Davidson.{{cite web |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/stevie-ray-says-he-thinks-he-has-one-last-match-him |title=Stevie Ray Thinks He Has One Last Match In Him |last=Lambert |first=Jeremy |date=August 22, 2022 |website=Fightful.com |access-date=October 15, 2022}} ==Championships and accomplishments== *'''[Cauliflower Alley Club](/source/Cauliflower_Alley_Club)''' **Tag Team Award (2018) – with Booker T{{cite web|url=http://www.caulifloweralleyclub.org/harlem-heat-will-be-honored-in-las-vegas/|title=Harlem Heat Will Be Honored in Las Vegas – Cauliflower Alley Club|website=www.caulifloweralleyclub.org}} *'''[Global Wrestling Federation](/source/Global_Wrestling_Federation)''' **[GWF North American Heavyweight Championship](/source/GWF_North_American_Heavyweight_Championship) ([1 time](/source/GWF_North_American_Heavyweight_Championship)) **[GWF Tag Team Championship](/source/GWF_Tag_Team_Championship) ([3 times](/source/GWF_Tag_Team_Championship)) – with [Booker T](/source/Booker_Huffman) *'''[Reality of Wrestling](/source/Reality_of_Wrestling)''' **ROW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with [Booker T](/source/Booker_T_(wrestler)){{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/s/row/row-t.html|title=RoW Tag Team Title (Houston)|website=Wrestling-Titles.com}} *'''''[Pro Wrestling Illustrated](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated)''''' **[Tag Team of the Year](/source/PWI_Tag_Team_of_the_Year) (1995, 1996) with Booker T **Ranked No. 67 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the [PWI 500](/source/Pro_Wrestling_Illustrated) in 1996{{cite web|url=http://www.cagematch.net/?id=2&nr=1427&page=12|title=Awards « Stevie Ray « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH – The Internet Wrestling Database|first=Philip|last=Kreikenbohm|website=www.cagematch.net}} **Ranked No. 248 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003 **Ranked No. 62 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Booker T in 2003 *'''WildKat Pro Wrestling''' **WPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/WILDKATSports/photos/a.535294983213689.1073741825.128097440600114/832226056853912/?type=1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/128097440600114/832226056853912 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=WildKat Sports & Entertainment|website=www.facebook.com}}{{cbignore}} *'''[World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling)''' **[WCW World Television Championship](/source/WCW_World_Television_Championship) ([1 time](/source/List_of_WCW_World_Television_Champions)) **[WCW World Tag Team Championship](/source/WCW_World_Tag_Team_Championship) ([10 times](/source/List_of_WCW_World_Tag_Team_Champions)) – with Booker T *'''[WWE](/source/WWE)''' **[WWE Hall of Fame](/source/WWE_Hall_of_Fame) ([Class of 2019](/source/WWE_Hall_of_Fame_(2019))) – as a member of [Harlem Heat](/source/Harlem_Heat) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Bibliography== *{{Cite video | people = Lash Huffman | title = Shoot Interview with Stevie Ray (2006) | medium = DVD}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/greatesttagteams/greatesttagteams7 Harlem Heat at WWE.com] *{{IMDb name|0400281|Stevie Ray}} *{{Professional wrestling profiles}} {{Navboxes| |list1= {{GWF North American Heavyweight Championship}} {{GWF Tag Team Championship}} {{WCW World Television Championship}} {{WCW World Tag Team Championship}} {{New World Order}} {{WWE Hall of Fame}} }} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ray, Stevie}} Category:1958 births Category:African-American professional wrestlers Category:American color commentators Category:American male professional wrestlers Category:GWF North American Heavyweight Champions Category:Living people Category:New World Order (professional wrestling) members Category:NWA/WCW World Television Champions Category:American professional wrestling announcers Category:Professional wrestlers from Houston Category:WCW World Tag Team Champions Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stevie Ray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Ray) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Ray?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.