Hulk Hogan, Wrestling Promotions And Others Pay Tribute To Kamala, GoFundMe Launched For His Family

By Marc Middleton

Several pro wrestling stars have taken to Twitter in the last 24 hours to remember Kamala (James Harris). WWE, AEW, Impact Wrestling and the NWA have also posted tributes to the WWE Legend.

Kamala passed away at the age of 70 on Sunday after going into cardiac arrest. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 this past Wednesday, and was hospitalized that night. He likely contracted the coronavirus from one of his numerous weekly visits to the dialysis center. While Kamala went into cardiac arrest and passed away Sunday afternoon, he reportedly seemed fine and in good spirits as recent as Sunday morning.

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WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan, who had a notable feud with Kamala years ago, remembered the big man as a kind soul.

Hogan tweeted, "Very sadden by the passing of Big Jim'Kamala',like everyone else I would always ask if it was ok to take the leg drop for the finish as requested by the office.Jim would always say 'let's just keep making that money',he was such a kind soul,RIP big brother,only love4U HH"

WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg tweeted on Kamala's passing and said he was the first wrestler he ever saw live.

"Saddened to hear the news of the passing of the great #Kamala....... first wrestler I had the pleasure of seeing live. I was a believer. [fist emoji] [folded hands emoji]," Goldberg tweeted.

ECW Original The Blue Meanie also recalled a night he worked with Kamala.

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"Rest in Peace Kamala! Just as much as he was a scary in ring, he was a sweetheart in real life. He informed me I had knocked out a tooth on a clothesline. After I apologized profusely he informed me he was set to get it pulled anyway and I saved him $30 lol Rest easy my friend...," Meanie tweeted.

Kamala was also remembered by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley, who revealed a lesson he learned when they worked together one night in 1986.

"I am so sorry to learn of the passing of James "Kamala" Harris. I wrestled him for 90 seconds in 1986, but the lesson he taught me that night about treating others with respect has never been forgotten. #RIPKamala," Foley wrote.

WWE Producer & Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley also thanked Kamala for what he's done to help the business.

"To one of the greatest big men to ever step foot in the squared circle. Thank you for everything you did for this business. You will be missed. Rest in peace my brother #R.I.P," D-Von wrote.

On a related note, Jason King of ESPN and Bleacher Report has launched a GoFundMe to benefit Kamala's wife, Emmer Jean. King is who first reported Kamala's COVID-19 diagnosis after speaking with Emmer on Sunday. The GoFundMe currently has raised $1,723 of a $10,000 goal, with 31 donors as of this writing. King noted that Kamala's wife quit her job in the last 10 years to serve as his primary caretaker after he lost his legs.

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You can see several more social media tributes to The Ugandan Giant below:

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I'm heartbroken to hear of the passing away of Big Jim Harris, aka Kamala. I met Jim in 1981 in Croydon, close to London England where he was breaking in as The Mississippi Mauler working with Big Daddy Crabtree. I caught up with him 3 years later as Kamala in WWE when he was a terrifying monster heel working on top with Hulk Hogan. Unlike his heel character, he was one of the friendliest, nicest, happy-go-lucky guys I ever knew in pro wrestling. I had the pleasure of working with him in 1992 when I was WWE champion. He was great to work with and I smile at the memories of him laughing so hard at my infamous blackboard drawings. He had a great sense of humour and, like Andre, he'd race into the dressing room to see what my latest cartoon was about. He always had a big smile despite all his challenges, including the loss of both legs. Always a kind and happy gentle soul. I'll miss him for always being so good to me. R.I.P. Big Jim Harris.

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