Viro “Black Sam” Small: The Forgotten Pro Wrestling Pioneer
From 10 Bell Pod by 10 Bell Pod
March 26, 2026 · 16 min
About this episode
This episode explores the life of Viro 'Black Sam' Small, a pioneering Black professional wrestler in 19th century America.
I'm back with another video episode and pro wrestling history deep dive. In this episode of 10 Bell Pod, I uncover the incredible and largely forgotten story of one of the earliest Black professional wrestlers in American history Viro "Black Sam" Small. A man born into slavery who rose to become a feared competitor in the brutal world of 19th century combat sports. Drawing from scarce historical records and early newspaper accounts, this is a deep dive into a time when wrestling lived in carnivals, saloons, and underground fight clubs, where matches blurred the line between sport and survival. More than just a wrestling story, this is about America during Reconstruction, the fight for opportunity, and how entire legacies can vanish if no one is there to preserve them. IMPORTANT LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/10bellpod Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/10BellPod Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/10BellPod ProWrestling Tees: https://www.prowrestlingtees.com/related/10bellpod.html PayPal Donation - 9BHDW7Y2KMBTY Discord: https://discord.gg/64GdAqEG
Topics covered
- pro wrestling
- Black history
- 19th century sports
- Reconstruction America
Keywords
- Viro Small
- Black Sam
- wrestling history
- combat sports
Mentioned in this episode
Places: America
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