The ‘Jackie Robinson’ of wrestling
Candy Daddy Siki, the American-Canadian skilled wrestler who pushed the boundaries of his sport and mentored world champions, has handed away on the age of 91 in Toronto. Elkin James, born in Texas, died on December 31, 2024, at Humber River Hospital after battling dementia for a number of years.
Siki, who moved to Toronto in 1961, made his mark in Canada as each knowledgeable wrestler and nation musician from the Sixties to the Nineteen Eighties. Wrestling historian Greg Oliver shared that Siki married Anne, a Canadian girl, in Buffalo in 1964, they usually had two sons, Reg and Justin. All through his wrestling profession, Siki turned identified for his flashy persona, characterised by his blond hair, sequined robes, and huge sun shades. He was additionally a proficient nation music artist, performing along with his band, The Irresistibles.
Recognized for his bravado, Siki typically referred to himself as “the women’ pet and the lads’s remorse.” Wrestling historian Greg Oliver remarked, “The man was a real celebrity… Professional wrestling is about standing out, and Siki all the time stood out.”
Siki’s wrestling repertoire included signature strikes equivalent to The Airplane Spin, the Coco-butt, and the Neck Breaker. He traveled extensively, wrestling in main cities from St. John’s to Chicago, Calgary to Cleveland, and Madison Sq. Backyard to Maple Leaf Gardens. “Candy Daddy Siki wrestled with the very best of them,” famous a radio report.
Regardless of his public persona, Siki was identified for being personal. Oliver described him as “a very pleasant man” who beloved to interact with individuals, however he didn’t simply share particulars of his private life. “It took quite a bit to get Siki’s belief by the years,” Oliver added.
Siki performed a major mentoring position within the careers of a number of wrestlers, together with Nova Scotia-born Rocky Johnson, the daddy of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Oliver additionally talked about that Siki educated All Elite Wrestling stars Adam Copeland (Edge) and Christian Cage, with Copeland praising Siki for breaking racial limitations in skilled wrestling. “Siki helped combine this trade,” Copeland mentioned, evaluating him to baseball legend Jackie Robinson for his pioneering influence.
In his later years, Siki ran a well-liked karaoke night time at The Duke Tavern in Leslieville till the COVID-19 pandemic. He was additionally well-known for driving round Toronto in a transformed purple hearse. Copeland added, “Siki did a lot… however it wasn’t all the time celebrated in his time. Typically it takes years for individuals to totally acknowledge the variations he made.” Siki’s legacy as a trailblazer within the wrestling world won’t be forgotten.
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