Edward "Bearcat" Wright (January 13, 1932-August 28, 1982) was an African-American professional wrestler who became popular in the late 1950s and 1960s. He wrestled during the time of Bobo Brazil, and despite racial tension in the United States became wildly popular as both a heel (a bad guy) and a babyface (a good guy). Wrestling in either singles competition or in tag team competition (often matched with Bobo Brazil), thousands of fans would pack arenas to see him. He was the son of boxer Ed "Bearcat" Wright, and had an 8-0 record as a professional boxer himself in the early 1950s, boxing as "Bearcat Wright Jr."
The Arizona Wrestling Legends website says, "He was seen in Australia, in Canada, throughout the south, in the midwest, in Texas, always winning the support of the fans as he battled the likes of The Sheik, Johnny Valentine and Kenji Shibuya. A tall and lanky man, he was usually noted for flying dropkicks, spin kicks and leaps off the rope." He adopted a "claw hold" for his finisher, and was famous for desegregating wrestling.