Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of April 1951
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The first card in April was held in Shreveport on the 2nd. Jack Moore defeated Jim Coffield in the opening match.
In the semi-final event Rex Mobley & Jim Coffield joined forces to face Ellis Bashara & Jack Moore. Mobley & Coffield took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Walt Sirois once again defended his title against the challenge of Balk Estes. Each man had won a fall apiece when the 60 minute time limit expired and the match was declared a draw.
On Tuesday in Monroe Al Perry and Jim Coffield battled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the second one fall bout of the evening, Balk Estes defeated Walt Sirois, whose World Light-Heavyweight title was not up for grabs.
In the main event, Estes & Perry joined forces to take on Sirois & Coffield in a tag team match. Coffield pinned Perry in 19 minutes to take the first fall for his team. Perry used a flying headscissors on Coffield and pinned him to win the second fall and even the score. In the third and deciding fall, Estes trapped Sirois in an alligator clutch and pinned him to win the fall and the match for his team.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Lucky Gilpin defeated Charley Keene in the opening match of the evening. Keene was a last minute substitute for Al Massey who was unable to compete due to an injury. Keene took the first fall over Gilpin in 16 minutes. Gilpin came back and pinned Keene in 15 minutes in each the second and third falls to win the match.
The main event featured Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke putting her title on the line against Mae Young. Burke won the first fall in 22 minutes and the second in 24 minutes to take two straight falls and the match to retain her title.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card opened with Lucky Gilpin taking on Charley Keene, who was filling in for Al Massey. Gilpin pinned Keene with a body press to win the first fall. In the second fall Keene caught Gilpin with a knee to the stomach and pinned him to take the fall. In the third and deciding fall, Keene tossed referee Phil Brummett through the ropes twice. After the second time Brummett climbed back into the ring and tossed Keene from the ring. He then raised the hand of Gilpin giving the fall and the match to him on a disqualification.
In the main event of the evening Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke once again defended her title against tough challenger Mae Young. In the first fall Young had Burke pinned in the ropes and was driving her knee into the champion’s stomach. Young tried it once too often and Burke caught her in a monkey flip and pinned her to win the first fall. The two battled in the second fall until there were just minutes left before the time limit expired. Young tried for a dropkick but Burke moved out of the way. Young slammed to the mat and Burked pinned her to win the match in two straight falls and retain her title.
That same night in Pensacola Jim Coffield took on Al Perry in the opening match.
The main event was a match for the World Light-Heavyweight title with champion Walt Sirois defending against Rex Mobley.
Joe Herring was the referee in both matches.
No results are known for this card.
That same Wednesday night, promoter H.S. (Tony) Everts held his first card of the year in Gulfport at the Legion Arena.
In the opening match Balk Estes took on Jack Moore. Estes pinned Moore after 22 minutes following a series of flying tackles to win the first fall. Moore forced Estes to submit to a punishing arm bar to score the second fall in just over 5 minutes. The 45 minute time limit expired before either of them could score the deciding fall, and the match was declared a draw.
In the main event, Gulfport resident Pat Newman faced Ellis Bashara. Bashara was originally scheduled to face Jack Curtis, who had cancelled at the last minute. Bashara used a backbreaker to score the first fall over Newman in 14 minutes. Bashara attempted a backbreaker in the second fall, but Newman managed to escape the hold and pinned Bashara in 2 minutes to take the fall and tie the match. During the third and final fall Bashara was continually warned by referee Claude Skidmore for biting. Bashara missed a flying tackle and was pinned by Newman after 8 minutes, giving him the fall and the match.
On Thursday in New Orleans Charley Keene defeated Tony Cosenza in the opening match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Lucky Gilpin & Al Massey taking on Bob Adessky & Ken Ackles. In a clean, scientific bout, Adessky & Ackles won two out of three falls for the victory.
In the main event Mildred Burke put her Women’s World title on the line against Mae Young once more. Burke took two out of three falls over Young to win the match and retain her title.
On Friday in Jackson Jim Coffield defeated Ellis Bashara in the one fall opening match of the evening.
In the second match, also a one fall event, Jack Moore forced Al Perry to submit to a stepover toehold to win the match.
In the main event the World Light-Heavyweight title was once again in the spotlight as champion Walt Sirois defended it against Balk Estes once again. The match would be best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. The two battle long and hard with Sirois finally winning the first fall when he pinned Estes after 57 minutes had lapsed. Estes came back to win the second fall but he used 31 minutes in doing so. That left just 2 minutes left at the start of the third and deciding fall. With both men desperate to score the winning fall and such a short time to do it in, they tore into one another. They were battling hammer and tongs when the time limit expired. Referee Claude Skidmore declared the bout a draw, but Sirois remained the champion.
That same night in Anniston, promoter Al Bragg moved to a new location at the VFW Hall. Ken Ackles faced Bill Cazzell in the opening match on that card.
In the second event of the evening Al Massey faced Garza Lozano.
The main event saw Mildred Burke defending her Women’s World title against Mae Young for the third straight night.
No results are known for this card however Burke remained Women’s World Champion.
The following week in Shreveport the matches were held at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds. In the one fall opening match Al Perry and Jim Coffield grappled to a 20 minute draw.
Jack Moore defeated Rex Mobley in the second match of the evening, also a one fall match. Referee Conway Baker was hit by a shoulder block accidently thrown by Moore and was unable to continue. Commissioner Charlie Oliver took over the referee duties for the rest of the night.
In the semi-final match, Balk Estes defeated Ellis Bashara in two straight falls to win the match.
In the main event, June Byers and Ann Laverne met in a women’s match. Byers beat Laverne in two straight falls to win the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe Al Perry and Jim Coffield met in a best two out of three falls 60 minute match. Perry pinned Coffield to win the first fall. In the second fall Coffield got into a scuffle with referee Bill Barney and was disqualified, giving Perry the match in two straight falls.
In the main event Balk Estes made another challenge at Walt Sirois and his World Light-Heavyweight title. Estes had also put up $250 in order to secure another title match. The match would be best two out of three falls and carry a 90 minute time limit. Estes won the first fall with an alligator clutch in 37 minutes. In the second fall Sirois kept taking Estes down by yanking his hair. Estes finally got fed up with this and tossed Sirois from the ring. Sirois got back into the ring and tossed Estes out. Before Estes could get back through the ropes and into the ring, Sirois grabbed him and slammed him to the mat. Sirois then pinned Estes to win the second fall in 43 minutes. In the third and final fall Estes quickly kicked Sirois out of the ring once again. Several times Sirois tried to return to the ring only to be tossed out again. Finally Estes dragged Sirois into the ring and applied the alligator clutch. Before referee Bill Barney could make the count the bell rang signaling that the time limit had expired. The match was a draw and Sirois retained his title.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, a newcomer from Canada named Bob Adessky was scheduled to face Wild Bill Steddum in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls.
The main event was to be Al Massey meeting Bill Cazzell in another best two out of three falls match.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria featured a double main event. In the first event Al Massey and Wild Bill Steddum faced each other. Massey hit Steddum with a bodyblock and pinned him to win the first fall. Steddum hit Massey with a few low blows, unseen by referee Phil Brummett, and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Massey caught Steddum in an armlock and pinned him to win fall and the match.
In the main event Bob Adessky took on Bill Cazzell. Adessky used a series of body tackles and flying mares to wear Cazzell down and pinned him to win the first fall. In the second fall Cazzell flattened Adessky with several punches and pinned him to win the fall. The third and deciding fall went the same way as Cazzell simply pounded on Adessky until he was worn down enough to be pinned.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, Rex Mobley took on Jim Coffield in the opening match.
The main event was a women’s bout between June Byers and Ann Laverne.
No results are known for this card.
That same Wednesday night in Gulfport, Balk Estes & Pat Newman were scheduled to have faced the team of Buff Sirois & Jack Moore in the main event. Unfortunately cold weather and rain forced the card to be cancelled.
On Thursday in New Orleans promoter Ernestine Murtagh announced that the card would be the beginning of an ongoing tournament to decide a challenger for NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz when he would be in New Orleans in May.
Al Massey defeated Ken Ackles in the opening match of the evening to advance in the tournament.
In the second bout, two ruffians faced each other as Charley Keene took on Garza Lozano. Lozano proved to be the rougher of the two and won the match and advanced.
In the semi-final match of the evening Bob Adessky pinned Wild Bill Steddum to win their match to advance in the tournament.
Lucky Gilpin faced Bill Cazzell in the main event. Cazzell was just too tough for Gilpin and beat him to win the match and moved on to the next round of the tournament.
On Friday in Jackson Al Perry and Jim Coffield met in the opening match of the evening.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Balk Estes & Rex Mobley taking on Walt Sirois & Jack Moore.
The main event featured a women’s match with June Byers facing Ann Laverne once again.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Anniston the card opened with two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit. In that match Bob Adessky faced Wild Bill Steddum
The second bout was also a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit with Lucky Gilpin taking on Bill Cazzell.
There are no results known for this card.
The following Monday in Shreveport Balk Estes defeated Jack Moore in a one fall 30 minute opening bout.
Estes teamed with Rex Mobley to take on Moore & Walt Sirois in the semi-final tag team match. Estes & Mobley took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event was a women’s match with June Byers taking on Gloria Barattini. Barattini was a former opera singer who was fairly new to the wrestling world and she was facing a rugged veteran in Byers. Despite her lack of experience, Barattini won two out of three falls to earn the victory.
On Tuesday in Monroe Balk Estes took on Al Perry in the opening match. Estes won the match by taking two straight falls over Perry. The two shook hands at the finish of both falls.
In the main event Gloria Barattini met Ann Laverne in a women’s match. Laverne won the first fall in 7 minutes by pinning Barattini after using some rough tactics. Laverne continued the rough stuff in the second fall despite the efforts of referee Bill Barney to stop them. At one point Laverne punched Barney and then tossed Barattini from the ring. Barney was warning Laverne about her tactics when Barattini climbed back into the ring and slugged Laverne several times. Barattini then pinned Laverne to win the second fall. Barattini also pinned Laverne in 10 minutes to win the third fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday, the Baton Rouge card opened with Bob Adessky facing George Cologne in a best two out of three falls match. Cologne won the first fall but Adessky took the final two falls to win the match.
The main event was a return match between Al Massey and Bill Cazzell. Massey won the first and third falls over Cazzell to win the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Bob Adessky faced George Cologne in the first of a double main event. Cologne won the first fall over Adessky in 19 minutes with a flying tackle and a pin. Adessky came back pinned Cologne with a short arm scissors to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Cologne outsmarted Adessky with an old trick. Adessky had Cologne pinned when Cologne managed to reach a hand out and tap Adessky on the shoulder. Thinking that it was referee Phil Brummett that had tapped him, Adessky got to his feet. Cologne got to his feet and bodyslammed Adessky and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
In the second main event Al Massey was matched with Bill Cazzell. Cazzell jumped Massey before the bell starting the first fall and the two slugged away for 10 minutes. Massey managed to pin Cazzell and won the first fall. Cazzell came back and used a couple of flying mares on Massey and pinned him to win the second fall. Cazzell and Massey fought with wild abandon throughout the third and deciding fall despite the efforts of special referee Jake Guercio to control the action. Massey managed to get the better of Cazzell and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The same evening in Pensacola, Al Perry faced Jack Moore in the opening match.
In the main event, Rex Mobley received another shot at World Light-Heavyweight Champion Walt Sirois.
No results for this card are known.
That same night in Gulfport, Balk Estes squared off with Jim Coffield in the opening match. Estes caught Coffield in an alligator clutch to pin him to take the first fall in 18 minutes. In the second fall, Estes was caught in a toehold by Coffield and was on the verge of submitting. Estes managed to escape the hold and hit Coffield with a dropkick and pinned him to take the fall and the match.
The main event featured June Byers facing Gloria Barattini in a women’s match. Barattini used a series of bodyslams on Byers and pinned her after 10 minutes to win the first fall. Byers gave Barattini a rough time throughout the second fall with hammerlocks and toeholds. At the 45 minute mark of the fall Barattini caught Byers with a flying tackle and pinned her win the match in two straight falls.
On Thursday in New Orleans, the tournament to name a challenger for Lou Thesz continued. Nick Carter, making his first appearance in New Orleans after a long absence, defeated Bob Adessky in the opening match to advance.
In the semi-final match George Cologne faced Bill Cazzell in a tournament match. Cologne was a local New Orleans native from nearby Algiers and showed great promise when he defeated the veteran Cazzell to advance.
The main event was a unique tag team match, the first of its kind ever staged in New Orleans. The match had Lucky Gilpin & Al Massey going against Garza Lozano & Wild Bill Steddum. What made it unique was the fact that Massey and Lozano were wearing boxing gloves and could wrestle or box each other. Gilpin & Massey came out the victors.
That same Thursday night, wrestling expanded on the Mississippi Gulf Coast when promoter Billy Romanoff presented his first card at the Greater Hattiesburg Park in Hattiesburg.
In the opening match on the card Rex Mobley took on Jack Moore. Moore pinned Mobley in 15 minutes to win the opening fall. Mobley came back to pin Moore with his rolling split cradle to win the second fall in 7 minutes. Mobley used a roll-up to pin Moore in 6 minutes to win the third and deciding fall to take the match.
The main event was a women’s match with June Byers facing Ann Laverne. Byers pinned Laverne with a rolling cradle to win the first fall in 8 minutes. Laverne was extremely rough on Byers during the second fall but Byers caught her in a monkey flip and pinned her to win the second fall in 12 minutes, giving her the match in two straight falls.
On Friday in Jackson balk Estes used an alligator clutch on Jim Coffield to win the opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final bout Rex Mobley absorbed quite a beating from Jack Moore before catching him in his rolling cradle and pinning him to win the deciding fall.
The main event featured another women’s match with Gloria Barattini taking on June Byers once again. Barattini won two out of three falls to beat Byers and keep her winning streak alive.
That same Friday evening in Anniston the card opened with two one fall 10 minute matches. Lucky Gilpin faced Jack Kelly in the first and Bob Adessky squared off with George Cologne in the second.
Gilpin & Adessky joined forces to face Kelly & Cologne in the main event. The tag team match would be best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The following Monday in Shreveport. Balk Estes defeated Walt Sirois in the one fall opening match. This gave Estes a long awaited victory over bitter rival Sirois. Unfortunately for Estes, Sirois’ World Light-Heavyweight title was no on the line.
Rex Mobley won two out of three falls over newcomer Lou Britton to win the semi-final match of the evening.
The main event was a tag team match featuring midget wrestler. The duo of Pee Wee James & Sonny Boy Cassidy teamed to take on the twosome of Sky Low Low & Fuzzy Cupid. Low Low & Cupid won the opening fall of the match. James & Cassidy came back and won the next two straight falls to take the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the card featured a double main event with two best two out of three falls matches with a 75 minute time limit. Lou Britton was the special referee in both matches.
In the first bout Balk Estes faced Jim Coffield. Estes absorbed quite a bit of punishment from the rough Coffield before catching him in an alligator clutch to win the first fall. In the second fall Estes caught Coffield with a right to the jaw as he rebounded off the ropes. Coffield went down and Estes pinned him to take the match in two straight falls.
The main event saw the midget wrestlers in action once again with Sonny Boy Cassidy taking on Sky Low Low. Low Low pinned Cassidy to win the first fall. In the second fall Low Low got a little preoccupied while arguing with referee Lou Britton. He rammed his head into Britton’s stomach to show his displeasure at the officiating. Cassidy took advantage of this turn of events to grab Low Low and pin him to win the second fall. Cassidy used a series of flying mares on Low Low to get him dazed enough to pin him to win the third fall and the match.
That same evening in Baton Rouge, Al Massey and Wild Bill Steddum battled to a draw in the one fall opening match. Bob Adessky and George Cologne also battled to a 15 minute draw in the one fall second event.
In the main event Massey & Adessky teamed to take on Steddum & Cologne in a tag team match. Cologne pinned Massey to win the first fall for his team. In the second fall referee Blackie Harrelson disqualified Steddum for illegal tactics to give Massey & Adessky to the fall and even the match. Adessky pinned Steddum to win the third and deciding fall for he & Massey.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Bob Adessky and Wild Bill Steddum fought to a draw in the opening match.
The second match of the evening also ended in a draw as Al Massey and George Cologne battled to a stalemate.
In the main event tag team match Massey & Adessky teamed to take on Cologne & Steddum. Cologne pinned Adessky to win the first fall for his team. The second fall went to Massey & Adessky when Steddum was disqualified for choking Adessky and shoving referee Phil Brummett when he tried to break it up. Massey used a shoulder slide on Cologne to pin him to win the third fall and the match. Cologne slugged Massey following the fall and then raced back to the dressing room. Massey stayed in the ring for 20 minutes after the match was over daring Cologne to come back out and face him.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, Rex Mobley faced Jim Coffield in the opening match.
The main event featured an appearance of midget wrestlers as Pee Wee James squared off against Fuzzy Cupid.
No results are known for this card.
That same night in Gulfport, World Light-Heavyweight Champion Walt Sirois met Al Perry in a non-title match. Sirois forced Perry to submit to a Boston Crab hold to win the first fall. Perry came back and floored Sirois with a series of forearms and pinned him to take the second fall. Sirois used rough tactics on Perry throughout the third and deciding fall before pinning him to win the decision.
The main event in Gulfport also featured the midget wrestlers as Sonny Boy Cassidy took on Sky Low Low. Low Low scored the first fall when he pinned Cassidy in 14 minutes after a series of bodyslams. Low Low also scored a pinfall on Cassidy in the second fall, but referee Lou Britton failed to see his feet in the ropes. After the crowd screamed their objections, Britton called for the bell to ring and continued the match. Cassidy landed a knockout punch on Low Low and pinned him after 6 minutes to win the second fall. The action was swift in the third and deciding fall until Cassidy caught Low Low coming off the ropes and knocked him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday wrestling returned to Decatur, Alabama after a 3 year absence. The matches were presented by promoter John Hartselle and held at the Decatur Armory. The opening match on that card saw Charley Keene taking on Bill Cazzell in a best two out of three falls match. Keene won the first fall in 26 minutes by pinning Cazzell. Cazzell came back and pinned Keene after 15 minutes to win the second fall. Cazzell quickly pinned Keene after 2 minutes to take the third fall and the match.
In the main event Nick Carter faced Garza Lozano. Lozano pinned Carter after 15 minutes to win the first fall. Carter came back and used a rolling half-nelson to pin Lozano after 16 minutes to win the second fall. Carter used the same hold to pin Lozano in 4 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match.
The following night in New Orleans the ongoing tournament to name a challenger for World champion Lou Thesz continued. Wild Bill Steddum won over Lucky Gilpin in the opening match of the evening and advance.
In the second match of the night, Nick Carter defeated Bob Adessky once again to further advance in the tournament.
In the main event was another mixed boxing & wrestling tag team match. Al Massey & George Cologne teamed to take on Jack Kelly & Garza Lozano. This go-round Massey and Kelly wore the boxing gloves. Massey & Cologne were the winners of the match.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg saw Rex Mobley meet Balk Estes in the opening match. Estes scored a pin using an alligator clutch on Mobley to win the first fall in 13 minutes. Mobley came back and used his rocking chair split to roll up Estes for the pin after 10 minutes to win the second fall. The advantage went back and forth in the third and deciding fall until Mobley used a double grapevine to hold Estes down for the pin to win the fall and the match.
The main event was another match between midget wrestlers as Pee Wee James faced Tiny Roe. Roe was the replacement for Fuzzy Cupid who was unable to appear. Roe used a kangaroo kick on James and pinned him to take the first fall in 14 minutes. James pinned Roe after a series of bodyslams to take the second fall in 14 minutes. James used the same maneuvers to score the victory in the third and deciding fall in 12 minutes.
On Friday in Jackson Al Perry defeated Jack Britton in the one fall opening match.
The second match of the night was also a one fall bout. In that one Rex Mobley defeated Jim Coffield.
The semi-final match was a tag team match featuring midget wrestlers as Pee Wee James & Sonny Boy Cassidy met Sky Low Low & Fuzzy Cupid once again. James and Cassidy took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event featured yet another match between bitter rivals Balk Estes and Walt Sirois. Estes was after another shot at Sirois’ World Light-Heavyweight title but Sirois was refusing to give him one. Estes hoped that although this was not a title match, a decisive victory would earn him a chance to get back the title he had once held. Sirois was just as anxious to vanquish Estes and rid himself of his most persistent challenger. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Sirois seemed to have the upper hand throughout much of the final fall but it turned out that Estes was just trying to lull him into a false sense of security. As soon as he had a chance Estes clamped an alligator clutch on Sirois. Sirois struggled and fought but he could not break the hold. Finally referee Claude Skidmore counted Sirois out and the fall and the match went to Estes.
That same Friday evening in Anniston the card opened with a 5 man Battle Royal. The first man eliminated would serve as the referee for the semi-final and final events. The next two eliminated would meet in a one fall 30 minute match and the final two would face each other in a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit. The participants were George Cologne, Garza Lozano, Bill Cazzell, Al Massey and Lucky Gilpin.
No results are known for this card.
This would be the last wrestling card held in Anniston until the middle of May.
The final card held in April was held the following Monday in Shreveport as part of that city’s Holiday in Dixie festival. On that card newcomer Johnny James wrestled Al Perry to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match of the evening Rex Mobley won two out of three falls to defeat Henry Harrell in their match.
The main event was another match between Balk Estes and Walt Sirois, this time with Sirois’ World Light-Heavyweight title on the line. Estes took an early advantage when he pinned Sirois to win the first fall. Sirois came back strong and won the next two falls to win the match and retain his title.
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 1951.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: August 28, 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 1951.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: August 28, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of January 1951.
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Click Here for a recap of May 1951.
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Click Here for a recap of September 1951.
Click Here for a recap of October 1951.
Click Here for a recap of November 1951.
Click Here for a recap of December 19551.
