When people hear the term “crossover star” when it comes to sports, they immediately think of athletes who transcend their sport and every so often transform popular culture. Mike Tyson, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, Gretzky, Michael Jordan; to a lesser extent Hulk Hogan. But no matter who or what sport you might have an opinion when it comes to crossover stars that changed the game, they all pale in comparison to one man - Muhammad Ali.
Growing up as a young boy, Cassius Clay grew up watching the likes of Gorgeous George and Freddie Blassie and inherently learned that trash talking heels have the unique ability to draw crowds and earn respect, along with netting huge sums of cash in the process. Ali even crossed over into wrestling from time to time. He called himself The Greatest and years after his retirement, plenty of devotees still believe that to be true.
Collision In Korea
Antonio Inoki and New Japan had thought it would be a grand idea to put on tremendous show in Pyongyang, North Korea. Jointly promoted with WCW, the Collision In Korea featured Ali as the event’s guest of honor. While he wasn’t involved in the show, Scott Norton recalled an awesome Ali story during the event’s Dark Side Of The Ring episode.
Despite being a little older and suffering from the effects of Parkinson’s, the champ came to a temple and sprinted up the stairs, Rocky-style and shadow boxed at the top.
The Snake And The Greatest
Often times on his podcast, Good Ol’ JR laments not having a tape recorder in the room when he hung out with The Greatest. Ali had come to town to be a part of Mid-South Wrestling in the early eighties. Muhammad Ali had come to the territory along with his long time manager Bundini Brown.
They came to merely watch the show and be in the corner of The Iceman, but it wasn’t before long before he got involved in the match with Jake 'The Snake' Roberts. Ali swung for the fences, but Jake ever the heel no sold the knock out punch.
Ali At Halloween Havoc
While Muhammad Ali didn’t interact much with anyone during the 1994 Halloween Havoc event, it was a no brainer to bring him in. The event wasn’t promoted on the back of a man who retired 13 years prior. But considering he lived nearby the Joe Louis Arena, it was an easy travel day for the unabashed wrestling fan.
He was at the show to hand the title over to Hulk Hogan after defeating Ric Flair in a cage match that was supposed to have been Flair’s final match.
Gorilla Sends Ali Flying
During The Expansion Era, Gorilla Monsoon was one of the most beloved commentators and later the Commissioner during the waning days of the New Generation. But before all of that, Geno as his friends affectionately called him, was a big, nasty monster heel, both as a singles and tag team star.
As the original People’s Champion was gearing up for a crossover match with Antonio Inoki, he made a pit stop at Madison Square Garden and confronted the Gorilla. He received a huge airplane spin for his troubles. Even up to his death in 1999, Monsoon always Kayfabed this encounter.
Vs. Antonio Inoki - The War Of The Worlds
Sometimes the back story and “The Lone Gunmen” level of dissection to stories is more interesting than the actual event itself. When The Greatest took on The Burning Fighting Spirit, Antonio Inoki, that’s what happened over the years. Did the Nation Of Islam threaten Inoki if he laid a finger on Ali? Was the first ever MMA vs. Boxer match a work or a shoot?
The entire match was mostly Inoki on the floor throwing kicks in what turned out to be a fairly boring affair. But up until his death, referee Judo Gene Lebell attested that the match was legit, even though the draw ending didn’t harm either of their careers and set up possible rematches in the future. But it would wind up being Ali’s only wrestling match. The respect between the two men would last for the rest of both their lives and Ali even attended Inoki’s retirement match.
Guest Referee - WrestleMania I
Just three years after retiring in the ring, Muhammad Ali still wanted to be a part of the action. With Vince McMahon trying to put on the greatest wrestling card of all time, he needed to make sure The Greatest fighter of all time was at least part of it in some way. He was the special guest outside enforcer keeping the peace during the main event.
The referee for the match, Pat Patterson had recalled once during a Legends Of Wrestling show that Ali really did want to get in the ring and have a go with the likes of Piper and Ace. But Patterson had realizing Ali was starting to suffer from the beginning stages of Parkinson’s, and was able to keep Ali relegated to the outside for the contest.