Big Daddy V, also known as Viscera, Mabel, and King Mabel, was one of the most imposing and memorable WWE Superstars in history. He was a former WWF World Tag Team Champion, WWF Hardcore Champion, and the 1995 King of the Ring winner. He had a long and successful career in WWE and other wrestling promotions, but he also struggled with his weight and health issues. On February 18, 2014, just four days after his 43rd birthday, he passed away due to a massive heart attack. Here is a look at his life, career, and death.
Early Life and Career
Nelson Frazier Jr. was born on February 14, 1971, in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He grew up as a fan of professional wrestling and decided to pursue it as a career. He trained with Gene Anderson and Mo (Robert Horne), who would become his tag team partner and storyline brother. They debuted as the Harlem Knights in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) and the Pro Wrestling Federation (PWF), where they won the PWF Tag Team Championship twice in 1992.
In July 1993, they signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and were given a new gimmick. Nelson became Mabel, Robert became Mo, and they were joined by a rapping manager named Oscar. They formed Men on a Mission, a trio of African American men trying to make a positive change in inner city neighborhoods. They wore purple and yellow outfits and were popular with the fans.
Success and Controversy in WWE
Men on a Mission had several feuds and matches with other tag teams, such as The Quebecers, The Smoking Gunns, The Headshrinkers, and The Heavenly Bodies. They won the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Quebecers at a house show in London, England, on March 29, 1994, but lost it back two days later in Sheffield, England.
In 1995, Mabel began to wrestle more singles matches and entered the King of the Ring tournament. He defeated Adam Bomb, The Undertaker (by disqualification), and Savio Vega to win the tournament and become King Mabel. He also turned heel and attacked several babyface wrestlers, such as Diesel, Razor Ramon, Lex Luger, and Yokozuna. He challenged Diesel for the WWF Championship at SummerSlam 1995, but lost the match.
Mabel’s reign as King of the Ring was controversial and unpopular among many fans and critics. He was criticized for his lack of charisma, skill, and mobility in the ring. He also injured several wrestlers with his reckless moves, such as Diesel (who suffered a back injury after a botched powerbomb), Savio Vega (who suffered bruised ribs after a leg drop), and The Undertaker (who suffered a broken orbital bone after a leg drop).
Mabel left WWE in early 1996 after losing a casket match to The Undertaker at In Your House 5: Seasons Beatings.
Return and Reinvention
Mabel returned to WWE in late 1998 as part of The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness. He was kidnapped by The Acolytes and sacrificed to The Undertaker on an episode of Raw. He reemerged as Viscera, a dark and menacing enforcer for The Ministry. He wore black leather and had white contact lenses. He feuded with wrestlers such as Kane, The Big Show, The Brood, and The Corporation.
Viscera left WWE again in mid-2000 after The Ministry disbanded. He wrestled for various independent promotions, such as World Wrestling Council (WWC), Memphis Championship Wrestling (MCW), Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW).
He came back to WWE for the third time in late 2004 as part of Raw’s roster. He reverted to his Viscera name and attire but adopted a new gimmick: a ladies’ man who had a sexual appetite for women of all shapes and sizes. He flirted with and seduced several female wrestlers and personalities, such as Trish Stratus, Lita, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Maria Kanellis, Torrie Wilson, Mae Young, Ashley Massaro, Victoria
