Ernie Ladd (in street clothes) vs Tom Jones (January 2, 1981) 

Ernie Ladd is rarely mentioned alongside the Flairs and Pipers and Dustys when it comes to his interviews, but he really ought to be.

The Big Cat always provides quality entertainment!

"......this fool thinks this is 'givin' Texas - this is Houston Texas......" You tell 'em Ernie!!!!!!! 👍😂

" ... and bring on Andre the Dummy, the Dumb Giant ... ", LOL, Ernie was the best and funniest heel on the stick ...

Will always be my favorite RIP Big Cat Ernie Ladd.

Class act that Big Cat even helped his opponent out of the ring. 3:56

The best part of this is the promo...Ladd is SERIOUSLY, SERIOUSLY underrated when it comes to his promos

Tom Jones: It not unusual to be beat by Ernie Ladd! LMAO

The Big Cat Didn’t play , “you just a referee get away from me “. Then fighting with his hat on for most of the match still in his street clothes. Man that was a real wrestler. RIP Big 🐈

Love the part when Tom Jones fell down about 2 feet in front of Ernies big boot 😂🤣

Before there was The Rock, Ernie Ladd was the best trash talker in wrestling.

I want this match played on a loop at my funeral or I ain’t going

whooped dude's ass and still had breath for an interview..wasnt even breathing heavy..that was a true beast

One of Ladd's favorite routines. Seen him do this in every territory.

The Baddest Big Cat in The Business Six Foot Nine Giant Big Badd Cat RIP ERNIE Thanks for the Great Memories

THE BIG CAT WAS A BEAST!R.I.P.

THE BEST ALL TIME, THE BIG CAT,WAS SO FUNNY LOL 🤣😂

One of the best heels ever!

I love some Ernie Ladd highlights😃

Ernie never liked wahoo because he drank whiskey. Also he made the rules and breaked the rules😂! RIP Big Cat!

You gotta love the Big Cats mic skills.

Ernie Ladd does not get enough credit. He was the man!

I remember when Ernie Ladd went from wrestling to wrestling announcer. He was a natural.

The Big Cat didn’t take no stuff I loved that about him.

There will never be another Big Cat 🐈 Ernie Ladd 🙏❤️

I loved this guy, RIP Brother

The Best Big Man In Wrestling

If Ernie kept the hat on while wrestling that would’ve been boss!

Awesome! thanks for posting. Ernie Ladd was one of the greatest talkers ever and this is why today's wrestling absolutely SUCKS. Nothing in today's wrestling compares to this.

This is HOUSTON baby!!!!

Ernie Ladd was one of the most complete wrestlers (in the ring/on the microphone) of his time and he went against all of the top talent of his time (Andre the Giant, etc). I have never hear a negative thing said about him by any other wrestler either.

As others have mentioned, nobody could work a mic like Ernie. For years in the late 60's to mid 70's, the Big Cat was a fan favorite in Houston- gigantic fan favorite. It was one of the few places he went to where he was such; most likely b/c of his association with the Houston Oilers for a couple of years. Paul Boesch was great at working angles with wrestlers and a great promoter. My understanding is that he paid well and treated the wrestlers well.

Ernie ladd was the man

Tom Jones asked "What's new pussycat?" and the Big cat showed him.

There was no one like Ernie Ladd! Rest in Heaven!

Ernie was the original American badass...

Big Cat was legit , talk the talk Legend ..Street Clothes lol

Thank you Rob D. I attend Houston wrestling for many years as a kid and the big Cat was one of my favs too.

Poor Tom Jones!Remember kids nobody gonna give you nothing!Absolutely genius!Sophisticated Thuggery!

Ernie Had a Reputation for being a very easy person in the ring as Most of his contact is actually very gentle. When Ernie Put his Boot up, there was very minimal contact that was very well sold!!

40 years ago 6'9 Ernie "The Big Cat" Ladd puts on a show in Houston Texas 🤠

Love these Videos. Late 70's Early 80's classic!

That guy was a classic!

The best trash-talker hands down

I wish they had the vision to make him an announcer!!! He would have been as big or bigger than Jessy the Body Ventura!!!!

I love the Judge Roy Bean reference.

"Bundy....ya big fat piece of shit..." Ernie always made me laugh.

Ernie was one that was better as a "BAD" guy! "Walk the way I wants to walk, talk the way I wants to talk!...".

The Big Cat=Heat Machine!!!!

I sure am not going to argue with Ernie

How could they possibly make the King of the Squared Circle, Ernie Ladd, wrestle in his street clothes and mop up some hapless jobber? What an insult! The commission should have investigated itself on that account.

Push Ernie Ladd around? That's as unlikely as someone refusing to go on a date with Halle Berry. Ernie Ladd was one of a kind. We are very fortunate to have been able to watch this guy. Thanks for posting and thank you Mr. Ladd.

I need a lime-colored suit like that to match my lime-colored Adidas running shoes.

He was a great actor

Let me tell you something Mr. TV annoucer! 3:15 love the announcer in the lime green leisure suit! 😂

'I make my rules and i break my rules.' Hilarious

We need that type of spirit and inspiration back. This era needs improvement😒 Cause if you gonna fight you mind as well win.

The big cat was right again. Tom Jones got destroyed because the promoter doesn't listen. He said he wanted whowoo Mc Daniels not a total jobber. Ernie was one of the best wrestling in his istreet clothes. .the big cat was the best .thank you for posting this and keep the great videos coming

Big cat with his taped thumb was dangerous

I logged how he kept it very simple He always referred to everybody else is a bum And whiskey drinkers Is always hilarious

Ernie was a boss hahahaha

When the big cat talks, YOU listen!

Big Cat was One of a Kind .

"My bidness, is my bidness!"

the big cat Ernie Ladd there will never ever be no other wrestling sixties, seventies, and early too mid eighties wrestling was wrestling back then at the Armory!! RIP E.Ladd. the great one

Awesome!

Love some Big Cat

Ernie Ladd was the best in my opinion Showman and Statesman Of All Times in the Professional Wrestling World. Nobody Black or White did it like this Brother. Even his lost matches were very Entertaining. RIP Big Cat... Wrestling truly lost a Legend in that Ring in the Sky.

So, this is where Hogan got his moves.

If memory serves it was Tony Atlas who said Bill Watts really liked Ernie Ladd and gave Ladd alot of authority.

HIs "yip yip yap,yip yip yap" interview is the way an interview should be done

Ernie Ladd looks like Indiana Jones with that hat and leather jacket.

Ernie always makes me laugh. Always called Wahoo the drunken Indian. Never be another Ernie!

So funny.

I love that jacket.

OMG, The "Big Cat" talked the BEST most politically incorrect trash ever! 2nd place Ernest "The Cat" Miller, oh yeah. Keep these classics coming! A+ quality footage!

Ladd was the best trash-talkers there ever was. Even Muhammad Ali couldn't hold a birthday candle to the Big Cat

Completely awesome

YOU JUST A TV ANNOUNCER!!!!

Speaking as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer, I would like to posthumously acknowledge the great Ernie Ladd who never cowed to White Supremacy. He rightfully called out others - Tony Atlas, Bobo Brazil, Wahoo McDaniel - who too often played Tom when they should have been raising a black fist!

That has to be the biggest ring I have ever seen

His foot caught that guy square in the jaw

The best !

Great football player

Big Cat I love me Crazy Dude

Ernie BigCat was so entertaining. He's main event, not like those downcard bums like Tony Atlas and Bobo!!

Ernie Ladd did the same angle a few years earlier in Kansas City. He was always convincing though!

This guy predecessed Piper, and it is easy to see where Piper got his inspiration. Ernie Ladd is just awesome

He's the Muhammad Ali of Wrestling!!!

Like to see more 70s were the best

Ernie mfin Ladd! 😄

Big Cat Treated Tom Jones like yesterday's trash. The level of disrespect was way off the 📊 charts 😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅 RIP Ernie Ladd

This is great acting all around,Ref,promoter,and why of course Mr. Ladd

love it

He was gangsta

Look at Boyd Pierce run for cover in his lime green suit!!

Check out that Ring Announcer’s REEAALLY Green Suit!!😄😄

Bum like Tony Atlas lol Tony Atlas was a tank and he still is

I wonder how Ernie and Andre got along backstage...

Like he said, no one pushed Ernie Ladd around in 1981. It wasn't until 1982 that Skandor Akbar stole the Samoans from him and put him out of action.