Reported By Jay Felsberg

The next generation

Zac McDaniel will follow in the footsteps of his famous father

Professional wrestling has a great tradition of Native American athletes. Throughout the history of the sport many great Indian wrestlers earned glory and honor.

None earned more of either than the great Wahoo McDaniel. College athlete and professional football star, Chief Wahoo was nonetheless best known for his magnificent record in professional wrestling. Holder of numerous world and regional titles, the great Native American wrestler was one of the most influential figures in the sport for over thirty years.

Wahoo McDaniel passed away on April 13, 2002, at age 63. On April 5 in Chipley, Fla., the next generation of McDaniels gave a preview of the future.

On that evening, 15-year-old Zac McDaniel climbed into the ring wearing his father’s traditional Native American headdress and announced to the crowd that he will follow in Wahoo’s footsteps.

“Little Wahoo” is a year away from legally beginning his wrestling career. Zack led the crowd in a moment of silence in memory of the great Wahoo, and announced that he would keep his father’s legend alive by becoming a professional wrestler.

Zac was attacked by Sinn as he finished that announcement, but fought back until Forsaken entered the battle and the tag-team champions put a double suplex on Zac. Present-day Native American star Chief Little Bear cleared the ring, and Zac told the crowd, “It ain’t over – I love you Dad”!

It was a great moment for the young AWF organization, and nobody was prouder of “Little Wahoo” than his mother, AWF Commissioner Karen McDaniel.

“Zac has been around wrestling all his life”, Karen said. “His dad carried him into dressing rooms when he was two or three years old. Zack had a great dad”.

Zac and Wahoo were featured in Sports Illustrated in July 2000. If “Little Wahoo’s” plans come to realization, he will be in many more magazines in the future.