Sweet Daddy Siki, the American-Canadian professional wrestler who pushed the boundaries of the sport and helped train world champions, has died in Toronto at the age of 91.
Elkin James, born in Texas, died on December 31, 2024 at Humber River Hospital after living with dementia for several years. Sikki moved to Toronto in 1961 and made a name for himself in Canada as a pro-wrestler and country musician from the 1960s to the 1980s.
According to wrestling historian Greg Oliver, Ciki married Canadian woman Anne in 1964 in Buffalo. The two had two sons, Reg and Justin, and Siki “carved out a whole new life” for himself as a professional wrestler. Blonde hair, sequined dresses and big sunglasses. He was also a recording artist with the Irresistibles, a country and western band.
Sikki would step into the ring and call himself “women's pets and men's regrets”.
“This guy was a true superstar,” Oliver said in an interview with CBC Toronto on Friday. “Pro wrestling is about standing out and Siki always stood out.”
'one of a kind'
His signature moves included The Airplane Spin, Coco-Butt and Neck Breaker, according to a 2013 CBC Radio report.
“From his base in Toronto, he toured across North America. From St. John's to Chicago, Calgary to Cleveland, Madison Gardens to Maple Leaf Gardens, Sweet Daddy Sikki wrestled the best of them,” the report said.
Oliver said Siki was a person everyone knew, but he was also a private person.
“He was a really friendly guy. He liked to talk to people. He was a good listener. But he didn't reveal much. So it took a lot to earn Siki's trust over the years,” Oliver added.
Oliver noted that Cicci mentored Toronto wrestler Rocky Johnson, father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Oliver, who worked with Siki and his family for a CBC documentary about his life, said two of Siki's elite wrestling protégés were Adam Copeland, known as the Edge, and Christian Cage.
Copeland, in an interview with CBC Radio fresh airSiki said he broke caste barriers in professional wrestling.
“Talk about one of a kind. You're talking about a person who helped unify this industry,” Copeland said.
'One of the Jackie Robinsons of our industry'
In his later years, until the COVID-19 pandemic, Siki ran karaoke nights at the Duke Tavern on Queen Street East in Leslieville.
He was also known for driving around town on his converted purple horse.
Learned Copeland “was one of the Jackie Robinsons of our industry.” Robinson was an American professional baseball player who was the first African-American to play in Major League Baseball in the 20th century.
“He did a lot. But it happened at a time when it was either not celebrated or recognized. But sometimes it takes people a while to fully realize that fact,” Copeland added.
“Siki was also a private man. And that's why I think he wasn't one to walk around shouting from the rooftops what he did and the differences he made.”
