A look at Kamala's first territory: ICW/AWA in Mississippi, 1978-1979
While my posts at Charting the Territories are usually focused on the McGuirk/Watts territory, behind the scenes I have been compiling data for other territories as well. Included among these is the two-year run of George & Gil Culkin's Mississippi territory, which operated as International Championship Wrestling from October 1977 to October 1978, at which point it was renamed AWA Championship Wrestling. The promotion folded in August 1979, after which the Culkins' worked with Bill Watts as the local promoters for Mid-South Wrestling in the state.
With the sad news of the passing of James "Kamala" Harris, I have put together a listing of all of his known matches in the Culkin territory, which appears to be the first full-time territory Harris worked for. He started out in late June 1978 as a babyface named Sugar Bear Harris.
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6/28/78 Jackson, MS - Full card not listed in ad; Harris is mentioned “plus 3 other bouts including Sugar Bear Harris and Verlon Biggs and a 2 ring battle royal”
7/5/78 Jackson, MS - Jack Dalton vs Sugar Bear Harris
7/6/78 Greenville, MS - Oki Shikina vs Sugar Bear Harris
7/12/78 Jackson, MS - Elimination match: Great Mephisto & Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 vs Hippie Graham & Tom Jones & Tom Shaft (Percy Pringle handcuffed to Sugar Bear Harris; if Percy’s team loses their opponents will get 3 minutes in the ring with Percy); Johnny Mantell & Sugar Bear Harris vs Michael Hayes & Oki Shikina
7/14/1978 Greenwood, MS - Big O & Norvell Austin vs Hippie Graham & Sugar Bear Harris
7/21/78 Greenwood, MS - Carolina Kid & Sugar Bear Harris vs Kid Chocolate & Michael Hayes
7/24/78 Vicksburg, MS - Hippie Graham & Scorpion & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 & Percy Pringle
7/31/78 Vicksburg, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Percy Pringle vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/1/78 Biloxi, MS - Michael Hayes vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/2/78 Jackson, MS - Big O vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/3/78 Greenville, MS - Michael Hayes vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/7/78 Vicksburg, MS - Special challenge match: Percy Pringle vs Sugar Bear Harris (The Mongolians barred from the building)
8/8/78 Biloxi, MS - Russian roulette tag team match: Big O & Nikita Alexev vs Hippie Graham & Tom Shaft vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 vs Sugar Bear Harris & Verlon Biggs (one team in each corner, anyone can tag anyone else, elimination rules until 1 team or 1 man is left)
8/9/78 Jackson, MS - Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 vs Sugar Bear Harris & Tiny Frazier
8/10/78 Hattiesburg, MS - Russian roulette tag team match: Big O & Nikita Alexev vs Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 vs Sugar Bear Harris & Tommy Tate
8/11/78 Greenwood, MS - Ed Flukert vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/14/78 Vicksburg, MS - Hippie Graham & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2
8/15/78 Biloxi, MS - Hippie Graham & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2
8/16/78 Jackson, MS - Larry Garrett & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2
8/17/78 Greenville, MS - Hippie Graham & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2
8/18/78 Greenwood, MS - Hippie Graham & Sugar Bear Harris vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2
8/22/78 Biloxi, MS - Big O & Michael Hayes vs Sugar Bear Harris & Verlon Biggs
8/28/78 Meridian, MS - Don Fargo vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/29/78 Biloxi, MS - Big O & Michael Hayes vs Sugar Bear Harris & Tom Jones
8/30/78 Jackson, MS - World’s Brass Knucks title: Don Fargo vs Sugar Bear Harris
8/31/78 Greenville, MS - Don Fargo vs Sugar Bear Harris
9/4/78 Vicksburg, MS - Grudge match: Don Fargo vs Sugar Bear Harris
9/8/78 Greenwood, MS - Grudge match: Don Fargo vs Sugar Bear Harris
9/11/78 Meridian, MS - Big O & Doctor X vs Pork Chop Cash & Sugar Bear Harris
9/21/78 Hattiesburg, MS - Big O vs Sugar Bear Harris
10/5/78 Greenville, MS - Mugsy Malone vs Sugar Bear Harris
10/9/78 Vicksburg, MS - Hippie Graham vs Sugar Bear Harris
10/12/78 Greenville, MS - Ed Flukert vs Sugar Bear Harris
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In October 1978 he turned heel and was renamed Ugly Bear Harris. As a heel he was managed by Percy Pringle (William Moody aka Paul Bearer)
10/16/78 Meridian, MS - Tommy Tate vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/17/78 Biloxi, MS - Tommy Tate vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/19/78 Greenville, MS - Ben Alexander vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/24/78 Biloxi, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/25/78 Jackson, MS - Big Boy Williams & Ugly Bear Harris vs Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi
10/26/78 Greenville, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/27/78 Greenwood, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
10/28/78 Yazoo City, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/2/78 Greenville, MS - Johnny Mantell & Tom Jones vs Mongolian #2 & Ugly Bear Harris
11/8/78 Jackson, MS - Mongolian #2 & Ugly Bear Harris vs mystery partner & Tom Shaft
11/9/78 Greenville, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/10/78 Greenwood, MS - Johnny Mantell & mystery partner vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
11/11/78 Yazoo City, MS - Johnny Mantell & Tom Jones vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
11/13/78 Vicksburg, MS - Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
11/14/78 Gulfport, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/15/78 Jackson, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/16/78 Hattiesburg, MS - Mississippi State title: Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/20/78 Meridian, MS - Great Mephisto vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/21/78 McComb, MS - Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi vs Ken Dillinger & Ugly Bear Harris
11/22/78 Jackson, MS - Taped fist match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/23/78 Hattiesburg, MS - Great Mephisto vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/24/78 Greenwood, MS - Plowboy Frazier vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/27/78 Vicksburg, MS - Johnny Mantell & Plowboy Frazier vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
11/29/78 Jackson, MS - Plowboy Frazier vs Ugly Bear Harris
11/30/78 Greenville, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/1/78 Greenwood, MS - Johnny Mantell & Tom Shaft vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
12/4/78 Meridian, MS - Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/5/78 McComb, MS - 10 round fight: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/6/78 Jackson, MS - Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi & Plowboy Frazier vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris & Zebra Kid
12/7/78 Hattiesburg, MS - Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/8/78 Greenwood, MS - Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris vs Plowboy Frazier & Tom Jones
12/11/78 Vicksburg, MS - US title: Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/13/78 Jackson, MS - Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/14/78 Hattiesburg, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/15/78 Greenwood, MS - Bounty match: Hippie Graham vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/16/78 Yazoo City, MS - Green Shadow & Ugly Bear Harris vs King Cobra & Pork Chop Cash
12/18/78 Vicksburg, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/19/78 Gulfport, MS - Tom Jones vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/20/78 Jackson, MS - Texas death match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/21/78 Greenville, MS - No disqualification: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/26/78 Gulfport, MS - No disqualification: Tom Jones vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/27/78 Jackson, MS - Strap match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/28/78 Greenville, MS - Strap match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/29/78 Greenwood, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
12/30/78 Yazoo City, MS - Handicap match: Ben Alexander & King Cobra vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/1/79 Vicksburg, MS - Ben Alexander vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/2/79 Gulfport, MS - Ben Alexander vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/3/79 Jackson, MS - Great Mephisto & Tom Shaft vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
1/4/79 Hattiesburg, MS - Great Mephisto & Tom Shaft vs Mongolian & Ugly Bear Harris
1/5/79 Greenwood, MS - Texas death match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/8/79 Vicksburg, MS - US title: Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/9/79 Gulfport, MS - Special challenge match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/10/79 Jackson, MS - Hippie Graham & Tom Shaft vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
1/11/79 Greenville, MS - mystery partner & Pork Chop Cash vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
1/12/79 Greenwood, MS - King Cobra vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/13/79 Yazoo City, MS - 10 rounds boxing: King Cobra vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/15/79 Vicksburg, MS - Special challenge match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/16/79 Gulfport, MS - No disqualification: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/17/79 Jackson, MS - US title: Pork Chop Cash vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/18/79 Greenville, MS - Hippie Graham & Tom Shaft vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
1/19/79 Greenwood, MS - 3 out of 5 falls: Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi & King Cobra & Pork Chop Cash vs Mongolian #1 & Mongolian #2 & Percy Pringle & Ugly Bear Harris
1/22/79 Laurel, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/23/79 Gulfport, MS - Texas death match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/24/79 Jackson, MS - Special challenge match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/25/79 Greenville, MS - Chain match, no time limit, no disqualification: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/26/79 Greenwood, MS - Special challenge match: Hippie Graham vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/27/79 Yazoo City, MS - Hippie Graham & Tom Shaft vs Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
1/29/79 Laurel, MS - 10 rounds boxing: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/30/79 Gulfport, MS - Hippie Graham vs Ugly Bear Harris
1/31/79 Jackson, MS - No disqualification: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/1/79 Hattiesburg, MS - Special challenge match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/2/79 Greenwood, MS - Hippie Graham vs Percy Pringle & Ugly Bear Harris
2/5/79 Laurel, MS - No disqualification: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/6/79 Gulfport, MS - Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/7/79 Jackson, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/8/79 Greenville, MS - Battle royal featuring Hippie Graham, Joey Rossi, Man Mountain Dean, Mongolian #1, Mongolian #2, Oki Shikina, Pat O'Brien, Rip Rogers, Tom Shaft and Ugly Bear Harris
2/9/79 Greenwood, MS - Brass Knucks bout: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/12/79 Laurel, MS - Gene Lewis vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/13/79 Gulfport, MS - Battle royal featuring Billy Screaming Eagle, Joey Rossi, Man Mountain Dean, Mongolian #1, Mongolian #2, Pork Chop Cash, Rick Conners, Rip Rogers, Tom Shaft and Ugly Bear Harris
2/14/79 Jackson, MS - Joey Rossi & King Cobra & Man Mountain Dean vs Mr Fugi & Oki Shikina & Ugly Bear Harris
2/15/79 Hattiesburg, MS - Battle royal featuring Ben Alexander, Joey Rossi, Man Mountain Dean, Mongolian #1, Mongolian #2, Mugsy Malone, Percy Pringle, Rick Conners, Troy Graham and Ugly Bear Harris
2/16/79 Greenwood, MS - Brass Knucks match, $1000 will be taped to Ugly Bear’s chest: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/19/79 Vicksburg, MS - Brass Knucks match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/20/79 Gulfport, MS - Brass Knucks bout: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/21/79 Jackson, MS - Brass Knucks bout: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/23/79 Greenwood, MS - Hippie Graham & Joey Rossi vs Mongolian #2 & Ugly Bear Harris
2/24/79 Yazoo City, MS - Rick Conners vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/26/79 Vicksburg, MS - Chain match: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
2/28/79 Jackson, MS - Headbutt vs headbutt, no wrestling holds: Tom Shaft vs Ugly Bear Harris
3/5/79 Laurel, MS - Gene Lewis vs Ugly Bear Harris
