Harlem Heat wasn’t just another tag team—they were WCW’s most reliable draw in the tag ranks for the better part of a decade.
“Long as I can remember, my brother had my back. We lost our parents when we were young… Even behind those prison walls, my brother still had my back.”
WWE Hall of Fame 2019 Video (0:01-0:32)
Booker T and Stevie Ray, real brothers from Houston, turned a repackaged gimmick into a record-setting run that carried WCW’s tag belts through multiple creative regimes.
“We wanted to represent something bigger than ourselves. Harlem Heat was a way to showcase who we were—strong, determined, and united.”
WWE.com Harlem Heat Bio– Booker T On their origins and representation
They won them ten times, a mark that still stands, and did it while working with managers like Colonel Parker and Sister Sherri, facing everyone from the Steiners to Public Enemy.
Here’s how it all went down, from their indy start to the split, with the feuds, reigns, and what the team meant for both guys’ careers.
But before that, Booker T.and Stevie Ray’s start in the industry was attributed to the master, ruler and former heavyweight champion of the world.
“Sid got me and my brother our break. I’m just glad I got a chance to tell Sid Vicious thank you.” Wrestling News – Booker T – On Sid Vicious giving them their break (Hall of Fame Podcast, 2024)
Harlem Heat –
Getting Started: Huffman Brothers to Ebony Experience
Booker Huffman and Lash Huffman (Booker T and Stevie Ray) kicked off as The Huffman Brothers on the Texas independent scene in the early 1990s.
They had some traction in the Global Wrestling Federation as The Ebony Experience, where their size, athleticism, and brotherly chemistry stood out.
Booker was the quicker one with flips and dropkicks; Stevie brought the power moves and brawling. WCW scouts noticed and signed them in 1993.
They debuted as Kane and Kole, managed by Colonel Robert Parker. The pairing was okay but didn’t click right away—early matches against teams like the Nasty Boys showed promise but lacked heat.
By 1994, WCW rebranded them Harlem Heat, billing them from Harlem despite their Houston roots. The street-tough persona fit because it played off their real grit; Booker has said they channeled their upbringing to make it believable.
Sister Sherri came on board that year, and her mic work plus interference gave them the edge they needed to climb.
“We had come from Global, where we were three or four-time champions… When we finally got the belts [in WCW], I think we got them from the Nasty Boys the first time with no big hoopla. It’s all in the cards. Then nine more times after that.”
YouTube: Stevie Ray on Booker T and Harlem Heat (6:44-7:55)
First Gold and Building Momentum
Harlem Heat’s breakthrough came at Starrcade 1994, defeating Stars and Stripes (Marcus Bagwell and The Patriot) to win their first WCW World Tag Team Championship.
It was Reign #1 of 10, and they held it for about two months before dropping it back to Stars and Stripes. Quick reigns like that were common early on, but they kept getting chances against top teams.
Sherri’s management was key—her promos amped up their menace, and she stayed with them through multiple title changes.
By mid-1995, after regaining the belts from the Nasty Boys (thanks to Blue Bloods’ interference), they feuded with Parker’s Stud Stable (Dick Slater and Bunkhouse Buck).
At The Great American Bash 1995, they beat Slater and Buck to win Reign #3. These matches were physical, mixing brawls with double-team spots like the Heatseeker (Booker’s missile dropkick after Stevie’s spinebuster).
Peak Years: Steiners, Nasty Boys, and Record Reigns
The late 1990s were Harlem Heat’s high-water mark. They traded the tag titles with the Nasty Boys multiple times—losing at Uncensored 1995 in a falls count anywhere match, then regaining them soon after.
Public Enemy became another staple feud, with chaotic street fights that played to Harlem Heat’s toughness. At Fall Brawl 1996, they defended against Public Enemy in a wild one that highlighted WCW’s tag division at its best.
The Steiner Brothers’ rivalry stands out as their signature. Rick and Scott’s technical/power style clashed perfectly with Harlem Heat’s brawling.
They lost the belts to the Steiners in July 1996 but won them back three days later—Reign #6. At Hog Wild 1996, they retained against the Steiners in front of a huge biker crowd.
Clash of the Champions XXXIII saw a triangle match with Sting/Lex Luger end in a no-contest due to nWo interference, but Harlem Heat kept rolling.
By 1997, they hit Reigns #7-10 in rapid succession, often against the Outsiders or Public Enemy. Booker noted in interviews that the constant booking kept them sharp:
“We were always on TV, always defending. That’s how you stay relevant.”
Their adaptability—technical against Steiners, hardcore against Public Enemy—kept the division fresh. PPV matches at Halloween Havoc and Bash at the Beach drew strong reactions, proving they could headline undercards.
One of the most memorable promos during Harlem Heat’s time together took place in April 1997, when Booker T accidentally uttered these words with Stevie Ray and Sensational Sherri by his side.
“Hulk Hogan, we comin’ for you, ni**a”.
An immediately distraught Booker T was being consoled by Sherri, who was by his side, realizing what he had just said. While the moment would go viral (before viral was even an action), the responses by those involved and directed towards would have a fairly calm reaction to it.
“Hogan was cool about it… He knew it was heat of the moment.” (Full discussion on their WCW run and Hogan’s influence.)
Reddit Thread – Stevie Ray on Hulk Hogan’s reaction to Booker’s promo slip.
Years later, Booker T would also share about Hogan, but while it wasn’t in response to his promo slip, it would be in Hulk’s contributions to the industry but most importantly Harlem Heat’s success in World Championship Wrestling.
“I thank the dude, Hulk Hogan, for what he did for the business, as well as sparking the flame for Harlem Heat to go on a run in WCW.” Facebook Post– Booker T thanking Hulk Hogan for sparking their WCW run.
The Split: Booker Goes Solo, Stevie Joins nWo
By 1999, WCW pushed Booker toward singles. Harlem Heat disbanded after storyline tension and real booking needs. Stevie joined nWo Hollywood, feuding with Booker over contender spots.
Booker captured the WCW TV Title multiple times and went on a singles tear, winning the World Heavyweight Championship five times by WCW’s end. Stevie stuck to midcard, holding TV and U.S. belts sporadically.
They reunited briefly as Harlem Heat 2000 with Big T (Ahmed Johnson) in 2000, but it flopped—creative mismatches and Johnson’s release were the death of it.
One last WCW team-up came on Thunder against Jarrett/Steiner, their final run before the promotion folded. Booker credits the team for his break:
“Harlem Heat got me noticed. Without those tags, no singles push.”
Stevie echoed that:
“We built the foundation together. Booker took it higher, but we did it as brothers first.”
“As far as groundbreaking—man, Harlem Heat was definitely groundbreaking. The most decorated tag team in all of WCW.”
Wrestling Inc. Article“To be honest with you bro, I didn’t want to go out like a b***… I wanted people to remember Harlem Heat… two guys from the streets that’s here to kick a**.”*
Wrestling Inc. – Stevie Ray on why he didn’t join WWE with Booker (Wrestling Inc./Shoot Interview, 2021)
Legacy: Hall of Fame and Lasting Influence
Harlem Heat holds WCW’s tag team title record with 10 reigns, spanning 1994-1999. WWE inducted them into the Hall of Fame in 2019, with Booker accepting for both.
Their style—in-ring work mixed with mic heat—influenced teams like the Dudley Boyz and modern duos emphasizing family dynamics. WCW’s tag division thrived during their peak because they could work anyone.
“We took that, man. They didn’t give it to us, we took it.” (Referring to their prominent TV role throughout WCW.) 411Mania Interview –Booker T On taking opportunities in WCW (Hall of Fame Podcast, 2024)
For Booker T, Harlem Heat was the launchpad. The ten reigns gave him credibility for his TV Title runs and world title wins.
Stevie got steady midcard work and nWo exposure, but never broke out solo like Booker. Together, they proved that brothers could dominate without relying on one gimmick.
Quotes from the brothers sum it up.
Booker: “Harlem Heat represented strength and unity. We came from nothing and built something big.“
Stevie: “Championships were great, but the legacy?
That’s what lasts.” [Provided] Their path from indies to record-holders shows persistence paying off in a cutthroat business.
Sources:
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WCW Title Histories and Event Results
