Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of April 1950
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April opened in Shreveport on Monday with the Black Phantom defeating Charlie Laye in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match Henry Harrell met Joe Wolfe in a best two out of three falls match. Wolfe won the opening fall when he pinned Harrell after flattening him with a flying tackle. Harrell came back and used his spinning wheelbarrow hold on Wolfe and pinned him to take the second fall. Harrell used a series of dropkicks on Wolfe and pinned him to win the third fall and the match.
The main event featured the return of Balk Estes, who put his World Light-Heavyweight title on the line against the challenge of World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the fall Estes tied Curtis in the ropes and was giving him a good pasting when Henry Harrell came to ringside. He managed to free Curtis from the ropes and then proceeded to battle hammer and tongs with Estes. Curtis regained his senses and joined in and the two Vicksburg grapplers gave Estes quite a beating. This led to Curtis being disqualified, giving the final fall and the match to Estes and allowing him to keep his title.
On Tuesday in Monroe the card opened with a 5 man Battle Royal. The participants were Jack Curtis, the Black Phantom, Wild Bill Steddum, Joe Wolfe and newcomer Max Bazzello. The first wrestler eliminated would serve as the referee for the semi-final and main event matches. The next two eliminated would meet in a 60 minute, best two out of three falls semi-final match. The last two remaining wrestlers would meet in the main event, a 90 minute best two out of three falls match.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charley Keene and Paddy Mack battled to a 15 minute draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match Bill Demetrious forced Rex Mobley to submit to a hammerlock to win their one fall match.
The main event was a tag team match with Keene & Demetrious joining forces against the duo of Mack & Mobley. Keene & Demetrious were disqualified by referee Kelly Mixon in the first fall for double teaming Mack. Mack pinned Keene to win the second fall in 21 minutes to win the match for his team in two straight falls.
The following night in Alexandria the card opened with Charley Keene meeting Bill Demetrious in a best two out of three falls match. Keene scored the first fall when he pinned Demetrious after a series of bodyslams. Demetrious quickly evened the score when he forced Keene to submit to a leglock in less than 45 seconds to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Demetrious missed a flying dropkick and slammed to the mat. Keene quickly grabbed him in a Boston Crab and forced him to submit to win the fall and the match.
In the main event veteran Rex Mobley took on Paddy Mack in a best two out of three falls match. Mack won the first fall when he wore down Mobley with a series of headlocks and pinned him. The ringside fans screamed at referee Phil Brummett that Mack was using a stranglehold, but the decision stood. Mobley came back in the second fall and knocked Mack from pillar to post with a series of fists. Mack finally left the ring in disgust and was counted out to give the fall to Mobley after 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Mobley spent much of the fall punishing Mack’s left arm before tossing him out of the ring. Mobley came back and forced Mobley to submit to a leglock to win the fall and the match in 15 minutes. Mack continued to work over Mobley’s left leg after the match and got into a scuffle with Brummett. Jake Guercio, who was a second referee, tried to restore order, but gave up when Brummett and Mobley joined forces to chase Mack from the ring.
On Thursday in Pensacola the card opened with a match that saw Joe Wolfe defeat Max Bazzello in one fall 45 minute match.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes taking on the Black Phantom in a non-title match. The Phantom won two out of three falls to win the match.
That same evening in New Orleans the card opened with Rex Mobley and the Green Shadow battling to a 15 minute draw in the one fall opener.
Jack Curtis and Don Keene also battled to a 15 minute draw in the one fall second event.
In the third match Charley Keene took the single fall over Bill Demetrious to win the match.
The main event was an eight man tag team match with Mobley, Curtis & Demetrious teaming with Al Massey to take on the foursome of the Green Shadow, the Keene Brothers & Paddy Mack. Curtis scored the deciding fall over the Green Shadow to win the match for his team.
The following night in Mobile, Charley Keene defeated Paddy Mack in the opening match. Younger brother Don Keene wrestled to a 90 minute draw with Al Massey, with each man scoring one fall apiece before the time limit expired.
Also in Montgomery that same evening, Bill Demetrious wrestled Jack Bloomfield in the 60 minute opening match.
The main event featured Lee Savoldi meeting the Green Shadow in a 90 minute bout.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday evening in Jackson George Cologne defeated Wild Bill Steddum in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match the Black Phantom defeated Charlie Laye by taking two out of three falls. Following this match promoter Billy Romanoff announced that he had received a phone call from Dallas, Texas from a wrestler who identified himself as the “original” Black Phantom. He informed Romanoff that he was the original and owned a copyright on the name and that the man currently competing in the area was an impostor.
The main event in Jackson featured a World Light-Heavyweight title match with champion Balk Estes putting his title on the line against the challenge of Joe Wolfe. As an extra added prize the winner of the match would also receive $1000 as a bonus. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Finally Wolfe grabbed Estes around the waist and lifted him into the air. Wolfe then dropped backwards, holding Estes in a pinning combination. Both men’s shoulders were on the mat when referee Pat Cronin started to make the count. Wolfe managed to lift one shoulder off the mat when the count reached three. Cronin called for the bell and awarded the fall and the match to Wolfe, who became the new World Light-Heavyweight champion. Estes was beside himself and tried to prevent commissioner Sherman Minnis from presenting the title belt to Wolfe. Unable to stop the proceedings, Estes immediately issued a challenge for a return title match, which Wolfe heartily accepted.
On Monday the following week in Shreveport the card opened with George (Cool Cat) Cologne defeating Charlie Laye in a one fall match.
The semi-final match Laye teamed with Joe Wolfe, the new World Light-Heavyweight champion, taking on the team of Cologne & the Black Phantom. Before the match, Commissioner Charlie Oliver made the announcement that the Black Phantom would henceforth be considered an impostor due to the challenge from the wrestler claiming to be the original. Regardless of that bit of information Cologne & the Phantom took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event featured a grudge match between Henry Harrell and former World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes. These two had gotten into a confrontation the previous week in Shreveport when Harrell got involved in a title match between Estes and Jack Curtis. The two men tore into one another at the opening bell, but Harrell managed to upend Estes to win the first fall. Estes tossed Harrell from the ring several times during the second fall before pinning him to even the score. Estes used the same tactic during the third and deciding fall but this time Harrell hit him with an elbow smash while climbing back into the ring. Estes went down and was pinned by Harrell, giving him the fall and the match.
On Tuesday the card in Monroe opened with a 60 minute, best two out of three falls match between Joe Wolfe and George Cologne. Wolfe was the new World Light-Heavyweight champion but this was to be a non-title match.
The main event was a match between Jack Curtis and the Black Phantom. The two had gotten into a scuffle during the Battle Royal held in Monroe the previous week and the Phantom issued a challenge for the match. Curtis agreed but requested that the match carry no time limit and the Phantom would be forced to unmask if beaten. The masked man wouldn’t agree to those terms so the match would be a best two out of three falls match with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Lee Savoldi met Paddy Mack in the opening match. Savoldi won the first fall when he forced Mack to submit to a Boston Crab. Mack forced Savoldi to submit to an armlock to win the second fall and even the match. Mack pinned Savoldi after a series of snap-mares to win the third fall and the match. The two men continued to slug one another after the match until they were separated by the police.
In the main event Don Keene won the first and third falls over Bill Demetrious to win the match between the two of them.
On Wednesday, the following night, in Alexandria the card opened with a match between Lee Savoldi and Paddy Mack. Mack scored the first fall by pinning Savoldi with a rolling cradle. Savoldi came back and used a series of flying headlocks on Mack before pinning him to win the second fall. Mack forced Savoldi to submit to a hammerlock to win the third and deciding fall.
In the main event Jack Curtis put his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line against the challenge of Don Keene. Keene scored the first fall when he made Curtis submit to a Boston Crab. Curtis came back and forced Keene into submission with a reverse chinlock. Both men went all out during the third and deciding fall with Curtis hurling Keene through the ropes several times. Finally Curtis managed to get Keene into a pinning combination as referee Bill Demetrious counted the fall, giving the fall and the match to Curtis who retained his title. Surprisingly several ringside fans were upset at the decision and protested that the referee had purposely missed the fact that Keene managed to get a shoulder off the mat before the three count was made.
Wrestling expanded in Mississippi that same evening as the sport opened in Gulfport, Mississippi under promoter H.S. (Tony) Everts. The first card held at the Legion Arena featured Charlie Laye meeting the Black Phantom in the opening match. The Phantom used a piledriver on Laye and pinned him to win the first fall. Laye was unable to continue after the rest period and promoter Everts awarded the match to the Phantom.
The main event in Gulfport had Joe Wolfe, World Light-Heavyweight champion taking on Henry Harrell in a best two out of three fall non-title match. Wolfe won the first fall when Harrell submitted to a Boston Crab after 13 minutes. Harrell came back and won the second fall in 10 minutes when he pinned Wolfe with a jackknife to even the match. Wolfe used a rolling split cradle to pin Harrell in 2 minutes to take the third and final fall and win the match.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne defeated Charlie Laye in the opening match.
The main event featured a return match between Balk Estes and the Black Phantom. Prior to the start of the match, George Cologne entered the ring to issue a challenge to whichever man won the match. Estes shook hands with Cologne and agreed but when Cologne approached the Phantom the masked man punched him in the face and kicked him from the ring. The Phantom continued his foul mood into the match with Estes, which he lost due to a disqualification in the deciding fall.
That same Thursday evening in New Orleans, Jack Curtis defeated Charley Keene in the one fall opening match.
In the second event Paddy Mack scored a one fall victory over Rex Mobley.
In the main event Don Keene faced Lee Savoldi in a best two out of three falls match. Keene won the first and third falls to take the match.
On Friday, the next night, in Mobile, Lee Savoldi and Charley Keene battled to a draw in the opener. Each man had scored a fall apiece when the 45 minute time limit expired before a deciding fall could be made.
Younger brother Don Keene challenged Al Massey to a 15 round boxing match in the main event in Mobile. Massey, who had been a professional boxer prior to his wrestling career, knocked out Keene in round 6 to win the match.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, a newcomer from Canada named Frank (Scotty) Thompson made his first appearance in the area. Thompson faced Bill Demetrious in the 60 minute opening match.
In the main event veteran Rex Mobley took on the rugged Bostonian Paddy Mack in a 90 minute match.
There are no known results for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Henry Harrell and George Cologne battled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
Harrell teamed with Vicksburg buddy Jack Curtis to face Cologne & the Black Phantom in the semi-final match. That match also ended in a draw with each team having scored a fall apiece before the time expired.
The main event was a return title match for the World Light-Heavyweight championship with champion Joe Wolfe defending against the man he had taken the title from, Balk Estes. Estes gained an early advantage when he won the first fall be forcing Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab. In the second fall Wolfe was outside on the ring apron when he flattened Estes with a wild punch. The momentum forced Wolfe to lose his footing and he fell to the arena floor. Referee Pat Cronin counted Wolfe out and awarded the fall and the match to Estes. Estes began demanding the title belt but it was determined that since Wolfe had lost on a countout, the title would not change hands.
The following week in Shreveport Don Keene won the one fall opening match over the Black Phantom when the masked man was disqualified for foul tactics. Following the match Commissioner Charlie Oliver made an announcement that the Phantom would continue to be considered an impostor until he faced the original Phantom to settle the claim.
Those same two men met in the semi-final as Keene teamed with Joe Wolfe to take on the Phantom & George Cologne. Cologne & the Phantom won the first fall while Keene & Wolfe took the second. The match ended in a draw as the 60 minute time limit expired before either team could score a deciding fall.
The main event was a return grudge match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. Estes pinned Harrell to win the first fall. Harrell pinned Estes to win the second fall and even the score. During the third and deciding fall Harrell tossed Estes from the ring and wouldn’t allow him to return. Referee Pat Willis tried to push Harrell back to allow Estes to return to the ring, but Harrell tossed Willis out as well. Willis immediately disqualified Harrell and awarded the fall and the match to Estes.
The following evening in Monroe Don Keene faced the Black Phantom in the semi-final match of the evening.
The main event was a special challenge match between Jack Curtis and George Cologne. Cologne had interfered in Curtis’ match the previous week and Curtis was anxious to get his hand on him.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye won the opening match over Paddy Mack when Mack was disqualified.
In the main event Rex Mobley faced off with the Green Shadow, who was making his first appearance in Baton Rouge. The Shadow won the first fall by forcing Mobley to submit to a Boston Crab. Mobley won the second fall when he pinned the masked man with a Texas Pinwheel hold. The Shadow came back to forced Mobley to submit once again with a Boston Crab to win the third fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye made his debut in the city as he and Paddy Mack battled to a draw in the 30 minute one fall opening match.
In the second one fall 30 minute match, Rex Mobley defeated the Green Shadow. Following the match Mobley got into a scuffle with Frank (Scotty) Thompson, who was assigned as the referee for the match.
In the main event Laye & Mobley teamed to take on Mack & the Shadow in a best two out of three falls tag team match. In the first fall Mack dragged Mobley over towards the corner where the Shadow reached over the ropes and flattened him with a forearm. Mack then pinned Mobley to win the fall. In the second fall Mobley & Laye took turns bodyslamming the Shadow until Laye covered him for the pin to win the fall. The third and deciding fall ended just as the opening fall had with the Shadow nailing Mobley with a forearm from outside the ropes and Mack pinning him to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Gulfport, Don Keene and George Cologne battled to a draw in the opening match. Joe Wolfe also went to a draw with the Black Phantom in the second match.
The main event saw a tag team match between odd pairings. Joe Wolfe teamed with rough Don Keene to take on popular George Cologne & the equally rough Black Phantom. The Phantom pinned Wolfe after 14 minutes to win the first fall for his team. Wolfe used a rolling split cradle to pin the Phantom to take the second fall for his team after 10 minutes. Wolfe used the same hold on Cologne after 7 minutes in the third fall to win the fall and the match for himself and Keene.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne faced off with the very man who had been his partner the night before in Gulfport. The Black Phantom had punched Cologne in the face the week prior in Pensacola when Cologne had issued a friendly challenge to the Phantom and Balk Estes to face the winner of their match. Cologne requested a match with the masked man and the two were match in the one fall, 10 minute opener.
Estes was also on the card as he faced a new masked man calling himself The Black Cat in the one fall, 10 minute second match of the evening.
No results are known for the opening matches.
Cologne & Estes teamed together to take on the Black Phantom & the Black Cat in the main event of the night. Each team had scored a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Estes & Cologne managed to remove the mask from the Phantom but he quickly left the ring and ran to the dressing room, covering his face with his shirt and thus concealing his identity. Left alone, the Cat was kicked from the ring several times and was also battered by some ringside fans. One fan was hitting him with a chair until he rolled back into the ring. Once back inside the ring, the lone masked man was easily pinned, giving the fall and the match to Estes & Cologne.
The same night in New Orleans, Al Massey and Charlie Laye battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
Rex Mobley took two out of three falls over Paddy Mack to win the semi-final match.
The main event was yet another bout between Jack Curtis and the Green Shadow. For this match Curtis agreed to put his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line. The Shadow also agreed that he would unmask following the match win, lose or draw. Joe Gunther would serve as the special referee. The Shadow scored two out of three falls to defeat Curtis and win the World Jr. Heavyweight title. As promised he removed his mask and revealed himself to be Pat Malone.
The next night in Mobile, Rex Mobley faced Paddy Mack in the opening match, while Al Massey took on the Green Shadow in the main event.
No results are known for this card.
Also in Friday in Montgomery, the card started with a 5 man Battle Royal. The first man eliminated would serve as the referee for the remainder of the evening. The next two men eliminated would meet in a 60 minute match following the Battle Royal. The final two men would meet in a 90 minute bout. The participants were Charlie Laye, Bill Demetrious, Frank (Scotty) Thompson, Charley Keene and Lee Savoldi.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Don Keene made his first appearance in the city as he took on George Cologne in the one fall opening match. Keene pinned Cologne with a jackknife to win the match.
In the semi-final match Joe Wolfe, the reigning World Light-Heavyweight champion, faced Henry Harrell in a non-title match. The two fought a clean match throughout and Wolfe scored two out of three falls to score the win.
In the main event, old rivals Jack Curtis and Balk Estes squared off. Estes was also claiming the World Light-Heavyweight title after his victory by countout over Wolfe the previous week. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Estes was continually fouling Curtis during the final fall and had him in bad shape. Henry Harrell came to ringside and wound up in the ring coming to the aid of Curtis. Curtis was disqualified and the fall and the match were awarded to Estes.
There was no wrestling in Shreveport on the following Monday because the auditorium was in use for another event.
On Tuesday night in Monroe featured a double main event with each match being a 90 minute best two out of three falls match. In the first Don Keene faced the Black Phantom. In the second the match was between Jack Curtis and Joe Wolfe.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge both opening preliminary matches ended in draws as Frank Thompson drew Paddy Mack and Charlie Laye drew with the Green Shadow.
In the main event Laye & Thompson teamed to take on the twosome of Mack & the Green Shadow. Each team had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Laye wound up facing Mack & the Shadow on his own in that final fall because Thompson had been injured at the end of the second fall. Laye managed to kick the Shadow from the ring and pinned Mack to win the fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the Green Shadow faced Scotty Thompson in a best two out of three falls opener. The masked man won the first fall with a rolling cradle to pin Thompson. In the second fall Thompson went to apply a head scissors on the Shadow but the masked man grabbed the ropes. This caused Thompson to fall awkwardly to the mat. The Shadow then applied a jackknife and pinned him and referee Blondie Stracener counted the fall, giving the match to the masked man in two straight falls.
In the main event at Alexandria Charlie Laye faced Paddy Mack. Laye used an alligator clutch to pin Mack to win the opening fall. Mack weakened Laye with a series of chin locks and occasional chokes and pinned him to win the second fall. Laye pinned Mack with a rolling cradle to win the third and deciding fall. After the match Mack took a poke at referee Phil Brummett, who in turn chased the Irishman back to the dressing room.
That same night in Gulfport, Balk Estes faced Don Keene in the opening match. Keene won the first fall in 15 minutes when he pinned Estes with a jackknife. Estes came back and forced Keene to surrender to a Boston Crab hold to win the second fall in 7 minutes. Neither man was able to gain an advantage long enough to score the deciding fall before the 45 minute time limit expired. Referee Claude Skidmore declared the match a draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Joe Wolfe squared off with George Cologne. Wolfe used his rolling split cradle to pin Cologne to win the first fall in 16 minutes. Cologne was upset over losing the fall and began to use some rough tactics during the second fall. He battered Wolfe severely and pinned him to win the fall, but continued to kick and punch Wolfe after the fall was over. Referee Skidmore reversed his decision and disqualified Cologne and awarded the match to Wolfe in two straight falls.
The next night in Pensacola, a return match was held between the teams of Balk Estes & George Cologne and the masked duo of the Black Phantom & the Black Cat. Estes fell victim of the masked pair in the first fall, especially absorbing a beating from the Cat. The Cat finally pinned Estes to win the fall for the masked pair. Estes was unable to continue going into the second fall so Cologne attempted to take on the masked duo alone. The pair quickly subdued Cologne and won the match in straight falls.
That same night in New Orleans, Charlie Laye defeated Al Massey in the opening match. Rex Mobley downed Billy Rush to win the second match of the evening.
In the main event Pat Malone, the former Green Shadow and reigning World Jr. Heavyweight champion, defeated Paddy Mack in a non-title match.
The following night in Mobile, Al Massey, defeated Frank (Scotty) Thompson in two straight falls to win the opening match.
The main event in Mobile saw the Green Shadow defeat Rex Mobley in two straight falls to win the match.
Also on Friday in Montgomery the 60 minute opening match featured Bill Demetrious taking on a new masked wrestler called The Red Shadow.
The main event was a 90 minute grudge match between Charlie Laye and Charley Keene.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday night in Jackson the opening match was a draw between Lee Savoldi and the Black Phantom.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Don Keene & Henry Harrell teaming to take on George Cologne & the Black Phantom. Cologne & the Phantom won two out of three falls to win the match.
After the match it was announced that the “original” Black Phantom had sent word that he was on his way to the area and wanted a match with the man currently campaigning as the Black Phantom.
The main event in Jackson was the long awaited title match between World Light-Heavyweight champion Joe Wolfe and the man he stripped of the title, Balk Estes. Estes got ahead when he forced Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab to claim the first fall. Wolfe applied a rolling leg scissors on Estes and pinned him to take the second fall. The third and deciding fall was a slugfest for much of the fall. Just seconds before the time limit was set to expire the two collided mid-ring. Both men went down and Estes was barely draped over Wolfe. The referee counted the fall and awarded the fall and the match to Estes, who was once again the World Light-Heavyweight champion.
April opened in Shreveport on Monday with the Black Phantom defeating Charlie Laye in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match Henry Harrell met Joe Wolfe in a best two out of three falls match. Wolfe won the opening fall when he pinned Harrell after flattening him with a flying tackle. Harrell came back and used his spinning wheelbarrow hold on Wolfe and pinned him to take the second fall. Harrell used a series of dropkicks on Wolfe and pinned him to win the third fall and the match.
The main event featured the return of Balk Estes, who put his World Light-Heavyweight title on the line against the challenge of World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the fall Estes tied Curtis in the ropes and was giving him a good pasting when Henry Harrell came to ringside. He managed to free Curtis from the ropes and then proceeded to battle hammer and tongs with Estes. Curtis regained his senses and joined in and the two Vicksburg grapplers gave Estes quite a beating. This led to Curtis being disqualified, giving the final fall and the match to Estes and allowing him to keep his title.
On Tuesday in Monroe the card opened with a 5 man Battle Royal. The participants were Jack Curtis, the Black Phantom, Wild Bill Steddum, Joe Wolfe and newcomer Max Bazzello. The first wrestler eliminated would serve as the referee for the semi-final and main event matches. The next two eliminated would meet in a 60 minute, best two out of three falls semi-final match. The last two remaining wrestlers would meet in the main event, a 90 minute best two out of three falls match.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charley Keene and Paddy Mack battled to a 15 minute draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match Bill Demetrious forced Rex Mobley to submit to a hammerlock to win their one fall match.
The main event was a tag team match with Keene & Demetrious joining forces against the duo of Mack & Mobley. Keene & Demetrious were disqualified by referee Kelly Mixon in the first fall for double teaming Mack. Mack pinned Keene to win the second fall in 21 minutes to win the match for his team in two straight falls.
The following night in Alexandria the card opened with Charley Keene meeting Bill Demetrious in a best two out of three falls match. Keene scored the first fall when he pinned Demetrious after a series of bodyslams. Demetrious quickly evened the score when he forced Keene to submit to a leglock in less than 45 seconds to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Demetrious missed a flying dropkick and slammed to the mat. Keene quickly grabbed him in a Boston Crab and forced him to submit to win the fall and the match.
In the main event veteran Rex Mobley took on Paddy Mack in a best two out of three falls match. Mack won the first fall when he wore down Mobley with a series of headlocks and pinned him. The ringside fans screamed at referee Phil Brummett that Mack was using a stranglehold, but the decision stood. Mobley came back in the second fall and knocked Mack from pillar to post with a series of fists. Mack finally left the ring in disgust and was counted out to give the fall to Mobley after 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Mobley spent much of the fall punishing Mack’s left arm before tossing him out of the ring. Mobley came back and forced Mobley to submit to a leglock to win the fall and the match in 15 minutes. Mack continued to work over Mobley’s left leg after the match and got into a scuffle with Brummett. Jake Guercio, who was a second referee, tried to restore order, but gave up when Brummett and Mobley joined forces to chase Mack from the ring.
On Thursday in Pensacola the card opened with a match that saw Joe Wolfe defeat Max Bazzello in one fall 45 minute match.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes taking on the Black Phantom in a non-title match. The Phantom won two out of three falls to win the match.
That same evening in New Orleans the card opened with Rex Mobley and the Green Shadow battling to a 15 minute draw in the one fall opener.
Jack Curtis and Don Keene also battled to a 15 minute draw in the one fall second event.
In the third match Charley Keene took the single fall over Bill Demetrious to win the match.
The main event was an eight man tag team match with Mobley, Curtis & Demetrious teaming with Al Massey to take on the foursome of the Green Shadow, the Keene Brothers & Paddy Mack. Curtis scored the deciding fall over the Green Shadow to win the match for his team.
The following night in Mobile, Charley Keene defeated Paddy Mack in the opening match. Younger brother Don Keene wrestled to a 90 minute draw with Al Massey, with each man scoring one fall apiece before the time limit expired.
Also in Montgomery that same evening, Bill Demetrious wrestled Jack Bloomfield in the 60 minute opening match.
The main event featured Lee Savoldi meeting the Green Shadow in a 90 minute bout.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday evening in Jackson George Cologne defeated Wild Bill Steddum in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match the Black Phantom defeated Charlie Laye by taking two out of three falls. Following this match promoter Billy Romanoff announced that he had received a phone call from Dallas, Texas from a wrestler who identified himself as the “original” Black Phantom. He informed Romanoff that he was the original and owned a copyright on the name and that the man currently competing in the area was an impostor.
The main event in Jackson featured a World Light-Heavyweight title match with champion Balk Estes putting his title on the line against the challenge of Joe Wolfe. As an extra added prize the winner of the match would also receive $1000 as a bonus. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Finally Wolfe grabbed Estes around the waist and lifted him into the air. Wolfe then dropped backwards, holding Estes in a pinning combination. Both men’s shoulders were on the mat when referee Pat Cronin started to make the count. Wolfe managed to lift one shoulder off the mat when the count reached three. Cronin called for the bell and awarded the fall and the match to Wolfe, who became the new World Light-Heavyweight champion. Estes was beside himself and tried to prevent commissioner Sherman Minnis from presenting the title belt to Wolfe. Unable to stop the proceedings, Estes immediately issued a challenge for a return title match, which Wolfe heartily accepted.
On Monday the following week in Shreveport the card opened with George (Cool Cat) Cologne defeating Charlie Laye in a one fall match.
The semi-final match Laye teamed with Joe Wolfe, the new World Light-Heavyweight champion, taking on the team of Cologne & the Black Phantom. Before the match, Commissioner Charlie Oliver made the announcement that the Black Phantom would henceforth be considered an impostor due to the challenge from the wrestler claiming to be the original. Regardless of that bit of information Cologne & the Phantom took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event featured a grudge match between Henry Harrell and former World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes. These two had gotten into a confrontation the previous week in Shreveport when Harrell got involved in a title match between Estes and Jack Curtis. The two men tore into one another at the opening bell, but Harrell managed to upend Estes to win the first fall. Estes tossed Harrell from the ring several times during the second fall before pinning him to even the score. Estes used the same tactic during the third and deciding fall but this time Harrell hit him with an elbow smash while climbing back into the ring. Estes went down and was pinned by Harrell, giving him the fall and the match.
On Tuesday the card in Monroe opened with a 60 minute, best two out of three falls match between Joe Wolfe and George Cologne. Wolfe was the new World Light-Heavyweight champion but this was to be a non-title match.
The main event was a match between Jack Curtis and the Black Phantom. The two had gotten into a scuffle during the Battle Royal held in Monroe the previous week and the Phantom issued a challenge for the match. Curtis agreed but requested that the match carry no time limit and the Phantom would be forced to unmask if beaten. The masked man wouldn’t agree to those terms so the match would be a best two out of three falls match with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Lee Savoldi met Paddy Mack in the opening match. Savoldi won the first fall when he forced Mack to submit to a Boston Crab. Mack forced Savoldi to submit to an armlock to win the second fall and even the match. Mack pinned Savoldi after a series of snap-mares to win the third fall and the match. The two men continued to slug one another after the match until they were separated by the police.
In the main event Don Keene won the first and third falls over Bill Demetrious to win the match between the two of them.
On Wednesday, the following night, in Alexandria the card opened with a match between Lee Savoldi and Paddy Mack. Mack scored the first fall by pinning Savoldi with a rolling cradle. Savoldi came back and used a series of flying headlocks on Mack before pinning him to win the second fall. Mack forced Savoldi to submit to a hammerlock to win the third and deciding fall.
In the main event Jack Curtis put his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line against the challenge of Don Keene. Keene scored the first fall when he made Curtis submit to a Boston Crab. Curtis came back and forced Keene into submission with a reverse chinlock. Both men went all out during the third and deciding fall with Curtis hurling Keene through the ropes several times. Finally Curtis managed to get Keene into a pinning combination as referee Bill Demetrious counted the fall, giving the fall and the match to Curtis who retained his title. Surprisingly several ringside fans were upset at the decision and protested that the referee had purposely missed the fact that Keene managed to get a shoulder off the mat before the three count was made.
Wrestling expanded in Mississippi that same evening as the sport opened in Gulfport, Mississippi under promoter H.S. (Tony) Everts. The first card held at the Legion Arena featured Charlie Laye meeting the Black Phantom in the opening match. The Phantom used a piledriver on Laye and pinned him to win the first fall. Laye was unable to continue after the rest period and promoter Everts awarded the match to the Phantom.
The main event in Gulfport had Joe Wolfe, World Light-Heavyweight champion taking on Henry Harrell in a best two out of three fall non-title match. Wolfe won the first fall when Harrell submitted to a Boston Crab after 13 minutes. Harrell came back and won the second fall in 10 minutes when he pinned Wolfe with a jackknife to even the match. Wolfe used a rolling split cradle to pin Harrell in 2 minutes to take the third and final fall and win the match.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne defeated Charlie Laye in the opening match.
The main event featured a return match between Balk Estes and the Black Phantom. Prior to the start of the match, George Cologne entered the ring to issue a challenge to whichever man won the match. Estes shook hands with Cologne and agreed but when Cologne approached the Phantom the masked man punched him in the face and kicked him from the ring. The Phantom continued his foul mood into the match with Estes, which he lost due to a disqualification in the deciding fall.
That same Thursday evening in New Orleans, Jack Curtis defeated Charley Keene in the one fall opening match.
In the second event Paddy Mack scored a one fall victory over Rex Mobley.
In the main event Don Keene faced Lee Savoldi in a best two out of three falls match. Keene won the first and third falls to take the match.
On Friday, the next night, in Mobile, Lee Savoldi and Charley Keene battled to a draw in the opener. Each man had scored a fall apiece when the 45 minute time limit expired before a deciding fall could be made.
Younger brother Don Keene challenged Al Massey to a 15 round boxing match in the main event in Mobile. Massey, who had been a professional boxer prior to his wrestling career, knocked out Keene in round 6 to win the match.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, a newcomer from Canada named Frank (Scotty) Thompson made his first appearance in the area. Thompson faced Bill Demetrious in the 60 minute opening match.
In the main event veteran Rex Mobley took on the rugged Bostonian Paddy Mack in a 90 minute match.
There are no known results for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Henry Harrell and George Cologne battled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
Harrell teamed with Vicksburg buddy Jack Curtis to face Cologne & the Black Phantom in the semi-final match. That match also ended in a draw with each team having scored a fall apiece before the time expired.
The main event was a return title match for the World Light-Heavyweight championship with champion Joe Wolfe defending against the man he had taken the title from, Balk Estes. Estes gained an early advantage when he won the first fall be forcing Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab. In the second fall Wolfe was outside on the ring apron when he flattened Estes with a wild punch. The momentum forced Wolfe to lose his footing and he fell to the arena floor. Referee Pat Cronin counted Wolfe out and awarded the fall and the match to Estes. Estes began demanding the title belt but it was determined that since Wolfe had lost on a countout, the title would not change hands.
The following week in Shreveport Don Keene won the one fall opening match over the Black Phantom when the masked man was disqualified for foul tactics. Following the match Commissioner Charlie Oliver made an announcement that the Phantom would continue to be considered an impostor until he faced the original Phantom to settle the claim.
Those same two men met in the semi-final as Keene teamed with Joe Wolfe to take on the Phantom & George Cologne. Cologne & the Phantom won the first fall while Keene & Wolfe took the second. The match ended in a draw as the 60 minute time limit expired before either team could score a deciding fall.
The main event was a return grudge match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. Estes pinned Harrell to win the first fall. Harrell pinned Estes to win the second fall and even the score. During the third and deciding fall Harrell tossed Estes from the ring and wouldn’t allow him to return. Referee Pat Willis tried to push Harrell back to allow Estes to return to the ring, but Harrell tossed Willis out as well. Willis immediately disqualified Harrell and awarded the fall and the match to Estes.
The following evening in Monroe Don Keene faced the Black Phantom in the semi-final match of the evening.
The main event was a special challenge match between Jack Curtis and George Cologne. Cologne had interfered in Curtis’ match the previous week and Curtis was anxious to get his hand on him.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye won the opening match over Paddy Mack when Mack was disqualified.
In the main event Rex Mobley faced off with the Green Shadow, who was making his first appearance in Baton Rouge. The Shadow won the first fall by forcing Mobley to submit to a Boston Crab. Mobley won the second fall when he pinned the masked man with a Texas Pinwheel hold. The Shadow came back to forced Mobley to submit once again with a Boston Crab to win the third fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye made his debut in the city as he and Paddy Mack battled to a draw in the 30 minute one fall opening match.
In the second one fall 30 minute match, Rex Mobley defeated the Green Shadow. Following the match Mobley got into a scuffle with Frank (Scotty) Thompson, who was assigned as the referee for the match.
In the main event Laye & Mobley teamed to take on Mack & the Shadow in a best two out of three falls tag team match. In the first fall Mack dragged Mobley over towards the corner where the Shadow reached over the ropes and flattened him with a forearm. Mack then pinned Mobley to win the fall. In the second fall Mobley & Laye took turns bodyslamming the Shadow until Laye covered him for the pin to win the fall. The third and deciding fall ended just as the opening fall had with the Shadow nailing Mobley with a forearm from outside the ropes and Mack pinning him to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Gulfport, Don Keene and George Cologne battled to a draw in the opening match. Joe Wolfe also went to a draw with the Black Phantom in the second match.
The main event saw a tag team match between odd pairings. Joe Wolfe teamed with rough Don Keene to take on popular George Cologne & the equally rough Black Phantom. The Phantom pinned Wolfe after 14 minutes to win the first fall for his team. Wolfe used a rolling split cradle to pin the Phantom to take the second fall for his team after 10 minutes. Wolfe used the same hold on Cologne after 7 minutes in the third fall to win the fall and the match for himself and Keene.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne faced off with the very man who had been his partner the night before in Gulfport. The Black Phantom had punched Cologne in the face the week prior in Pensacola when Cologne had issued a friendly challenge to the Phantom and Balk Estes to face the winner of their match. Cologne requested a match with the masked man and the two were match in the one fall, 10 minute opener.
Estes was also on the card as he faced a new masked man calling himself The Black Cat in the one fall, 10 minute second match of the evening.
No results are known for the opening matches.
Cologne & Estes teamed together to take on the Black Phantom & the Black Cat in the main event of the night. Each team had scored a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Estes & Cologne managed to remove the mask from the Phantom but he quickly left the ring and ran to the dressing room, covering his face with his shirt and thus concealing his identity. Left alone, the Cat was kicked from the ring several times and was also battered by some ringside fans. One fan was hitting him with a chair until he rolled back into the ring. Once back inside the ring, the lone masked man was easily pinned, giving the fall and the match to Estes & Cologne.
The same night in New Orleans, Al Massey and Charlie Laye battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
Rex Mobley took two out of three falls over Paddy Mack to win the semi-final match.
The main event was yet another bout between Jack Curtis and the Green Shadow. For this match Curtis agreed to put his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line. The Shadow also agreed that he would unmask following the match win, lose or draw. Joe Gunther would serve as the special referee. The Shadow scored two out of three falls to defeat Curtis and win the World Jr. Heavyweight title. As promised he removed his mask and revealed himself to be Pat Malone.
The next night in Mobile, Rex Mobley faced Paddy Mack in the opening match, while Al Massey took on the Green Shadow in the main event.
No results are known for this card.
Also in Friday in Montgomery, the card started with a 5 man Battle Royal. The first man eliminated would serve as the referee for the remainder of the evening. The next two men eliminated would meet in a 60 minute match following the Battle Royal. The final two men would meet in a 90 minute bout. The participants were Charlie Laye, Bill Demetrious, Frank (Scotty) Thompson, Charley Keene and Lee Savoldi.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Don Keene made his first appearance in the city as he took on George Cologne in the one fall opening match. Keene pinned Cologne with a jackknife to win the match.
In the semi-final match Joe Wolfe, the reigning World Light-Heavyweight champion, faced Henry Harrell in a non-title match. The two fought a clean match throughout and Wolfe scored two out of three falls to score the win.
In the main event, old rivals Jack Curtis and Balk Estes squared off. Estes was also claiming the World Light-Heavyweight title after his victory by countout over Wolfe the previous week. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Estes was continually fouling Curtis during the final fall and had him in bad shape. Henry Harrell came to ringside and wound up in the ring coming to the aid of Curtis. Curtis was disqualified and the fall and the match were awarded to Estes.
There was no wrestling in Shreveport on the following Monday because the auditorium was in use for another event.
On Tuesday night in Monroe featured a double main event with each match being a 90 minute best two out of three falls match. In the first Don Keene faced the Black Phantom. In the second the match was between Jack Curtis and Joe Wolfe.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge both opening preliminary matches ended in draws as Frank Thompson drew Paddy Mack and Charlie Laye drew with the Green Shadow.
In the main event Laye & Thompson teamed to take on the twosome of Mack & the Green Shadow. Each team had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Laye wound up facing Mack & the Shadow on his own in that final fall because Thompson had been injured at the end of the second fall. Laye managed to kick the Shadow from the ring and pinned Mack to win the fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the Green Shadow faced Scotty Thompson in a best two out of three falls opener. The masked man won the first fall with a rolling cradle to pin Thompson. In the second fall Thompson went to apply a head scissors on the Shadow but the masked man grabbed the ropes. This caused Thompson to fall awkwardly to the mat. The Shadow then applied a jackknife and pinned him and referee Blondie Stracener counted the fall, giving the match to the masked man in two straight falls.
In the main event at Alexandria Charlie Laye faced Paddy Mack. Laye used an alligator clutch to pin Mack to win the opening fall. Mack weakened Laye with a series of chin locks and occasional chokes and pinned him to win the second fall. Laye pinned Mack with a rolling cradle to win the third and deciding fall. After the match Mack took a poke at referee Phil Brummett, who in turn chased the Irishman back to the dressing room.
That same night in Gulfport, Balk Estes faced Don Keene in the opening match. Keene won the first fall in 15 minutes when he pinned Estes with a jackknife. Estes came back and forced Keene to surrender to a Boston Crab hold to win the second fall in 7 minutes. Neither man was able to gain an advantage long enough to score the deciding fall before the 45 minute time limit expired. Referee Claude Skidmore declared the match a draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Joe Wolfe squared off with George Cologne. Wolfe used his rolling split cradle to pin Cologne to win the first fall in 16 minutes. Cologne was upset over losing the fall and began to use some rough tactics during the second fall. He battered Wolfe severely and pinned him to win the fall, but continued to kick and punch Wolfe after the fall was over. Referee Skidmore reversed his decision and disqualified Cologne and awarded the match to Wolfe in two straight falls.
The next night in Pensacola, a return match was held between the teams of Balk Estes & George Cologne and the masked duo of the Black Phantom & the Black Cat. Estes fell victim of the masked pair in the first fall, especially absorbing a beating from the Cat. The Cat finally pinned Estes to win the fall for the masked pair. Estes was unable to continue going into the second fall so Cologne attempted to take on the masked duo alone. The pair quickly subdued Cologne and won the match in straight falls.
That same night in New Orleans, Charlie Laye defeated Al Massey in the opening match. Rex Mobley downed Billy Rush to win the second match of the evening.
In the main event Pat Malone, the former Green Shadow and reigning World Jr. Heavyweight champion, defeated Paddy Mack in a non-title match.
The following night in Mobile, Al Massey, defeated Frank (Scotty) Thompson in two straight falls to win the opening match.
The main event in Mobile saw the Green Shadow defeat Rex Mobley in two straight falls to win the match.
Also on Friday in Montgomery the 60 minute opening match featured Bill Demetrious taking on a new masked wrestler called The Red Shadow.
The main event was a 90 minute grudge match between Charlie Laye and Charley Keene.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday night in Jackson the opening match was a draw between Lee Savoldi and the Black Phantom.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Don Keene & Henry Harrell teaming to take on George Cologne & the Black Phantom. Cologne & the Phantom won two out of three falls to win the match.
After the match it was announced that the “original” Black Phantom had sent word that he was on his way to the area and wanted a match with the man currently campaigning as the Black Phantom.
The main event in Jackson was the long awaited title match between World Light-Heavyweight champion Joe Wolfe and the man he stripped of the title, Balk Estes. Estes got ahead when he forced Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab to claim the first fall. Wolfe applied a rolling leg scissors on Estes and pinned him to take the second fall. The third and deciding fall was a slugfest for much of the fall. Just seconds before the time limit was set to expire the two collided mid-ring. Both men went down and Estes was barely draped over Wolfe. The referee counted the fall and awarded the fall and the match to Estes, who was once again the World Light-Heavyweight champion.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of April 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of April 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
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