The late Pezvean Whatley, a former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestler, was named a 2021 WWE Legacy Hall of Fame Inductee this week. Whatley competed for the Mocs from 1970-72 and spent 25 years in professional wrestling.
A native of Chattanooga, Whatley (1951-2005) played football and wrestled for Notre Dame High School and initially enrolled at Southern University. He transferred to UTC in 1970 and became the first African-American wrestler for the Mocs. He was twice runner-up at the SEIWA Tournament, finishing second in 1970 at 190 pounds and advancing to the finals as a heavyweight in 1972.
Whatley began his professional wrestling career in 1973 and became a popular figure in both regional and national productions throughout the 1980s. He was a mainstay in both NWA and WCW events until his retirement in 1998.