Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of April 1952
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On Tuesday April 1 in Monroe, Charlie Laye teamed with rookie wrestler Bobby Wixon, a protégé of Jack Curtis, to take on the team of Sailor Moran & The Black Phantom. This was the first appearance of the Phantom, who previously was a real terror in the area, in well over a year. Moran pinned Laye to win the first fall, which consisted of all four men slugging each other. Wixon spent most of the second fall trapped in the corner of Moran & the Phantom while Laye continually came to his rescue. Laye finally pinned the Phantom to win the second fall. The third fall and deciding fall went the same as the second fall with Moran & the Phantom keeping Wixon in their corner and giving him a going over. A frustrated Laye kept coming to his rescue and yelling at him to stay out of the corner. Wixon put up a weak offense, only managing to use a headlock on his opponents. He was holding a headlock on Moran, who easily rolled him into a jackknife and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Al Getz and Pat Cronin faced each other in the opening match. Cronin pinned Getz to win the first fall and was disqualified in the second. Getz came out fast in the third and deciding fall. He scooped Cronin up and applied a bodyslam then pinned him in less than 2 minutes to win the fall and the match.
In the main event, Johnny Harmon took on Jack Steele. Harmon used a series of flying tackles on Steele and pinned him to win the first fall in 23 minutes. Steele came back and pinned Harmon to win the second fall and tie things up. Steele used a leglock on Harmon to force him to submit to win the third and deciding fall and the match.
That same Tuesday evening in Decatur, wrestling returned after a week off. Johnny Harmon faced Al Perry in the opening match, scheduled for one fall with a 30 minute time limit.
In the second match of the night, also scheduled for one fall with a 30 minute time limit, Al Getz faced Jack Kelly.
The main event was a tag team match with Charley Keene & Dick Hatcher teaming to take on Elmer Davis & Jack Kelly. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
This was the final card promoted in Decatur by John Hartselle. Wrestling would go on hiatus until mid-May.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Johnny Harmon and Al Getz met in the opening event. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Getz used some rough tactics on Harmon in the final fall before catching Harmon in a headscissors. Getz held Harmon in the headscissors while bouncing his head off the match several times. Harmon was stunned and easily pinned to give Getz the fall and the match.
Jack Steele and Pat Cronin squared in the main event, scheduled to be a 10 round boxing match. The two were even during the early rounds and battled toe to toe. In round three Cronin landed and uppercut that sent Steele to one knee. Steele also had Cronin on his knees a couple of times during the round. In round four Cronin tried some illegals blows on Steele, which infuriated him. Steele slipped his glove off and hid his taped fist behind his back as he and Cronin circled one another. Steele got behind Cronin and wrapped an arm around his neck, then proceeded in pounding Cronin’s head with his taped fist. Steele finally knocked Cronin through the ropes and onto the arena floor. Steele’s second, Joe Moreau, raised Steele’s hand in victory but Al Perry, serving as the referee, declared that he had disqualified Steele for removing his glove. The match was awarded to Cronin.
Wrestling expanded in Mississippi the same Wednesday evening as promoter Tony Everts presented his first card of the year at the Legion Arena in Gulfport. A crowd of 400 watched as Sailor Moran and Buff Sirois met in the opening match. Sirois forced Moran to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the first fall. Moran caught Sirois in a jackknife and pinned him to win the second fall and tie the match. Moran used the same hold to pin Sirois again in the deciding fall to win the fall and the match.
In the main event Charlie Laye met the Skull. Laye used a rolling split to pin the Skull and win the first fall in 15 minutes. The Skull forced Laye to submit to a Boston Crab to take the second fall in 11 minutes. The masked man caught Laye in the Boston Crab once again in the third and deciding fall. This time Laye was able to roll over and reverse it into a Boston Crab of his own. The Skull submitted, giving the fall and the match to Laye.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Dick Hatcher and Jack Kelly fought to a draw in the opening match of the night.
In the semi-final match Al Getz & Al Perry joined forces to face Pat Cronin & Elmer Davis in a tag team match. Cronin & Davis won two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event, Charley Keene squared off with Jack Steele. Steele won two out of three falls to earn the victory over Keene.
On Friday in Jackson Charlie Laye faced Buff Sirois in the opening match of the night.
The second match of the night featured a couple of ruffians facing off as Sailor Moran took on the Skull.
In the main event Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye took on Sockeye Jack McDonald & Buff Sirois in a tag team match. McDonald was returning after a brief absence and was clearly aiming at Curtis and a chance to regain the World Light-Heavyweight title.
No results are known for this card.
No wrestling was held in Mobile on Friday.
On Saturday in Pascagoula Jack Roberts faced Sailor Moran in the opening match. Moran pinned Roberts to win the first fall but Roberts came back to take the final two falls to win the match. Moran challenged Roberts to continue the match without a referee, but things were broken up before any further action could take place.
In the main event Charlie Laye took on Pat Cronin. Laye pinned Cronin to win the first fall and take an early lead. Cronin came back in the second fall and tossed Laye through the ropes onto the arena floor several times. At one point Cronin followed Laye out and slammed his head into the floor several times, leaving Laye unconscious. Cronin was disqualified and the match was given to Laye in straight falls. Although he was the victor, Laye had to be carried back to the dressing room on a stretcher.
Pascagoula promoter Tony Everts announced that this was the final wrestling card in Pascagoula. He would spend all of his efforts on promoting in Gulfport.
The following week in Birmingham, Jack Steele defeated Al Getz in the one fall opening match.
In two other one fall matches, Dick Hatcher defeated Jack Kelly and George Harben won over Elmer Davis.
The main event featured the debut of a new masked wrestler in the area. The Super Zebra Kid, a 6’6” 290 pound wrestler took on the Skull. Both men used plenty of rough tactics but the Kid was just too overpowering for the Skull, winning the match in two straight falls. As a result of the loss, the Skull was forced to remove his mask. Although he was identified as Jim Champion, he was in fact Don Martin of Paducah, Kentucky. Martin would continue to use the name Jim Champion in Birmingham and surrounding towns.
No wrestling was held in Shreveport on Monday, moving to Wednesday for this week only.
Wrestling did return to Pensacola, Florida on Monday after an absence of nearly a year. This card was promoted by Jerry Jordan and featured what appeared to be a traveling troupe of wrestlers, since none of the wrestlers featured on the card were wrestling anywhere else in the area. The card was held at the Pensacola Motor Speedway.
The card opened with a match between Irish Mike Clancy and Demon Jack O’Brien, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 45 minute time limit.
In the semi-final match, also scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 45 minute time limit, Juan Hernandez faced Pete Managoff.
In the main event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit, Ray (Thunder) Stern took on Jack Vansky.
No results are known for this card, which was the only card featuring these wrestlers and promoted by Jordan.
Wrestling would return to Pensacola under a new promoter in mid-May.
On Tuesday in Monroe the main event was a tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Charlie Laye to take on Pat Cronin & Sailor Moran. Laye pinned Moran to win the first fall in 23 minutes. Moran came back and pinned Laye to win the second fall in 15 minutes. During the third and deciding fall Cronin took a wild swing at Curtis, who was standing on the ring apron, hoping to land a haymaker. Curtis ducked and Cronin’s momentum sent him flying through the ropes to the arena floor. Cronin got to his feet and charged Curtis who kicked him in the face. Moran also rushed Curtis, only to receive a kick in his face as well. Curtis then jumped to the floor, picked up Cronin and rammed him into Moran and sent them both sprawling to the floor once again. When action finally returned to the ring, Cronin & Moran trapped Curtis in their corner and were double-teaming him until Laye came to his rescue. Laye held Cronin in a full nelson as Curtis slugged him twice. Cronin went down and Curtis covered him with a pin to win the fall and the match.
The results for the two preliminary matches are unknown as are the participants, which were the same four men as the tag team match.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge, the Super Zebra Kid made his first appearance in town by facing Jack Kelly in the first match of the evening. The Kid used a series of backbreakers on Kelly and pinned him to win the first fall. In the second fall the Kid weakened Kelly with a series of forearm blows that sent him reeling to the match. The Kid then bodyslammed Kelly and pinned him to win the fall and take the match in straight falls.
Al Getz took on Jack Steele in the main event. Steele used a series of snap mares on Getz and pinned him to win the first fall. Getz came back and flattened Steele with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the second fall. Steele forced Getz to submit to a leg stretch to win the third fall and the match.
In Shreveport on Wednesday Bobby Wixon showed much improvement as he used a body scissors to force Sailor Moran to submit and win the one fall opening match.
The semi-final match, Wixon teamed with the returning George Cologne to face Moran & Bill (Indian Ike) Cazzell, also returning after a lengthy absence. Moran & Cazzell won two out of three falls to take the match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis put his title on the line against the challenge of the Skull. The match was toed at a fall apiece heading into the deciding fall. During the third fall the Skull slammed Curtis to the mat and pinned him. Just as referee Conway Baker started to raise the masked man’s hand in victory he noticed Curtis had his feet draped over the bottom rope. Baker ordered the match to continue but the Skull refused and turned to leave the ring. Curtis grabbed him and landed a punch that knocked the Skull through the ropes and onto the arena floor. The Skull did not return to the ring before the count of 20 and was counted out. The fall and the match were awarded to Curtis, who retained his title.
That same Wednesday evening in Alexandria Al Getz and Jack Steele faced off in the opening match. Steele used a backbreaker on Getz and pinned him to win the first fall in 28 minutes. Getz came back strong and pinned Steele to win the second fall in 2 minutes. Steele pounded Getz into submission before pinning him to win the third fall and the match.
In the main event Irish Jack Kelly faced the Super Zebra Kid once again. The Kid had totally manhandled Kelly in their match in Baton Rouge the previous night and Kelly was anxious for another chance at the big man. During the first fall the Kid dragged Kelly from one side of the ring to the other and at one point had he bent nearly in half along the ropes. Referee Al Perry forced the Kid to break his grip on Kelly, who stumbled to the center of the ring. The Kid slammed Kelly to the mat and pinned him to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Kelly was so dazed that he couldn’t answer the bell at the start of the second fall. He asked for and received 5 extra minutes to regain his composure. When Kelly was finally able to continue he threw everything he had at his large opponent and even had him down on one knee at a point. The Kid’s overwhelming power proved too much for Kelly, however, and he pinned him again to win the second fall and take the match in two straight falls.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, Jack Roberts faced Buff Sirois in the opening match. Roberts escaped Sirois’ grip several times during the first fall and used a rocking chair split to pin Sirois to win the fall in 6 minutes. Sirois forced Roberts to submit by applying a single leg Boston Crab to win the second fall in 12 minutes. In the third and final fall Roberts attempted to leap over Sirois only to be caught mid-air and slammed to the mat. Sirois pinned Roberts to win the final fall in 6 minutes and take the match.
In the main event Charlie Laye took on Pat Cronin. Laye pinned Cronin to win the first fall in 16 minutes. Cronin spent most of the second fall working over Laye’s arm by stomping it. He finally forced Laye to submit to an arm twist and won the second fall to even the score. Cronin was disqualified by referee Pat Wilson in the third and deciding fall and the match was awarded to Laye.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Charley Keene defeated Elmer Davis in the opening one fall match.
In the second match, also a one fall bout, Baron Von Harben defeated Al Getz.
The third one fall match saw Jack Steele survive a bloody cut over his eye to take the measure of Dick Hatcher.
In the main event, the Super Zebra Kid once again defeated Jack Kelly by winning two straight falls.
On Friday in Jackson, Charlie Laye and the Skull battled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final Laye teamed with George Cologne to take on the Skull & Pat Cronin in a tag team match. Cologne pinned Cronin to win the first fall. During the second fall Cronin was like a wild man as he not only flattened Laye & Cologne, but the two referees, Pat Willis and Jack Roberts, as well. Laye & Cologne managed to grab Cronin and the Skull and rammed their heads together several times, leaving them bloody and unconscious. The match was awarded to Laye and Cologne and they, along with Willis and Roberts, left the ring. When Cronin & the Skull came to their senses they got into a squabble among themselves before leaving the ring.
Wrestling returned to Mobile on Friday after a week off. Al Getz and Baron Von Harben fought to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match, the Super Zebra Kid continued to show his dominance of Jack Kelly. he defeated Kelly by winning two straight falls.
The main event was a tag team match with Al Getz & Dick Hatcher teaming to take on Baron Von Harben & Jack Steele. Von Harben & Steele won the first and third falls to take the victory.
The following Monday in Birmingham Elmer Davis defeated Al Perry in the one fall opening match.
In the second match, George Harben took two out of three falls over Charley Keene to win their match.
The semi-final match featured the Super Zebra Kid defeated Pat Cronin.
Dick Hatcher and Jack Steele met in the main event. Steele won the first and third falls to win the match over Hatcher.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport, Irish Jack Kelly faced Bill (Indian Ike) Cazzell in the opening match. Kelly forced Cazzell to submit to an abdominal stretch to win the one fall match in 10 minutes.
In the semi-final match, George Cologne met Buff Sirois. Cologne was awarded the first fall when Sirois was disqualified for using foul tactics. Cologne used an airplane spin on Sirois and pinned him to win the second fall in 7 minutes, taking the match in two straight falls.
In the main event, World Light-heavyweight champion Jack Curtis risked his title against the mask of the Skull. Curtis pinned the Skull in 10 minutes to win the first fall. The Skull evened things when he pinned Curtis following a series of bodyslams to win the second fall in 9 minutes. During the third and deciding fall the Skull was making use of a bottle cap he had hidden in his trunks to rake Curtis’ eyes. At one point the masked man was standing in a corner when two fans jumped onto the ring apron and relieved him of his weapon. A skirmish broke out between the Skull and the two men and carried on until the police managed to break things up. The Skull got back into the ring and was flattened by a dropkick thrown by Curtis. Curtis then pinned the Skull to win the fall and the match to retain his title. The Skull put up an argument but finally removed his mask. He refused to identify himself, but it was Don Martin under the mask.
Wrestling debuted in Biloxi, Mississippi on this same Monday evening. Promoter Junior Dalgo presented his first card at the Gulf Coast Arena. The card opened with Jack Roberts taking on Sailor Moran. The match was even with each man having won a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Neither man could gain the final fall before the 45 minute time limit expired. The match ended in a draw.
In the main event Charlie Laye faced Buff Sirois. This match was also even going into the final fall, with each man having won each of the first two falls. Referee Pat Wilson disqualified Sirois at the 80 minute mark of the scheduled 90 minute time limit. Wilson awarded the third fall and the match to Laye.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye teamed to face Sailor Moran & Al Getz in the main event. The first fall began with Laye and Getz but in short order all four men were in the ring battling it out. Curtis finally forced Moran to submit to an abdominal stretch to win the fall in 21 minutes. Curtis and Moran were in the ring the entire second fall when Moran forced Curtis to submit to an arm twist to win the fall in 13 minutes. In the third and final fall, Curtis & Laye took turns holding Getz in a full nelson while the other slugged him. At one point Laye was holding Getz when Moran attempted to hit him from behind. Laye spun around at the last moment and Moran laid a haymaker on his own partner. Getz went down and Laye pinned him to win the third fall and the match.
There were two preliminaries involving the same 4 men earlier in the night, but the exact participants and results are no known.
That same Tuesday night in Baton Rouge, Dick Hatcher faced Pat Cronin in the opening match.
Jack Steele faced the Super Zebra Kid in the second match of the night.
The main event was a tag team match with Hatcher & Steele teaming to take on the duo of Cronin & the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the same four men who were involved in the tag team match the night before in Baton Rouge were opponents instead of partners. In the first match of the evening, Dick Hatcher faced Jack Steele. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the deciding fall. At one point it appeared that Steele had pinned Hatcher to win the fall and the match but referee Phil Brummett decided that Steele had used questionable tactics to earn the pin and awarded the match to Hatcher instead. Hatcher, however, refused the decision in such a manner and asked for a rematch. In the end the match was declared a no contest.
In the main event Pat Cronin took on the Super Zebra Kid. The masked man used his considerable girth to simply overpower Cronin. He used a series of knees and elbows on Cronin and pinned him to win the first fall. The second fall went on in much the same manner with the Kid pinning Cronin to win the second fall and take the match in straight falls.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport, Charlie Laye and Buff Sirois battled to a 15 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the evening between George Cologne and the Skull also ended in a 15 minute draw.
The main event was a tag team match with Laye & Cologne teaming to face the twosome of Sirois & the Skull. Cologne pinned the Skull to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Sirois used a single leg Boston Crab on Laye to force him to concede the second fall in 12 minutes. Laye pinned the Skull in the deciding fall to win the match for his team.
On Thursday in New Orleans, the card opened with a tag team match with Charley Keene teaming with Al Perry to face the team of Baron Von Harben & Elmer Davis. Perry was a substitute of Ike Eakins, who was unable to appear. As it was Keene & Perry won the match.
In the semi-final match Pat Cronin faced the Super Zebra Kid. The match went pretty much as it did in their meeting in Alexandria the previous night. The Kid worked over Cronin with elbows and knees before pinning him in each of the first two falls, taking the match in straight falls. At the end of the match Baron Von Harben entered the ring on behalf of Cronin and he and the masked man got into a scuffle before order was restored.
In the main event Dick Hatcher got another shot at Jack Steele. Steele took two out of three falls from Hatcher to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson, Sailor Moran and Buff Sirois fought to a draw in the one fall opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final match, Charlie Laye faced the Skull. The Skull took two out of three falls over Laye to win the match. Afterward, the Skull issued a challenge to Jack Curtis.
In the main event, Jack Curtis teamed with George Cologne to take on Al Getz & Jack Kelly in a tag team match. Curtis & Cologne took two straight falls over Getz & Kelly to win the match.
That same Friday evening in Mobile the card opened with a tag team match with Dick Hatcher & Al Perry joining forces to take on Baron Von Harben & Jack Steele. Hatcher & Perry won the first fall but Von Harben & Steele came back to win the next two straight to take the match.
In the main event, the Super Zebra Kid was matched once again with Pat Cronin. The Kid won the first fall with his backbreaker and was about to do the same in the second fall when Jack Steele interfered on Cronin’s behalf, pushing the Kid down allowing Cronin to pin him. However referee Elmer Davis disqualified Cronin and gave the fall to the Kid. A wild melee ensued that led to the Super Zebra Kid challenging both Cronin & Steele to face him in a match the following week.
The following Monday in Birmingham, Elmer Davis defeated George Harben in the opening match of the evening.
In the second event, Dick Hatcher defeated veteran wrestler Kali Pasha.
The main event was a two on one handicap match with the Super Zebra Kid taking on the twosome of Jack Steele & Prince Emir Badu, making his return to the area after an absence of nearly a year. The Kid held his own as long as Steele & Badu were in the ring with him alone. At the 30 minute mark, Steele & Badu ganged up on the masked man and double teamed him. The Kid managed to knock Badu from the ring, but Steele drug a folding table into the ring and brought it crashing down on the skull of the Kid. The match was stopped and declared a no contest.
No wrestling was held in Shreveport this week.
That same Monday, promoter Junior Dalgo presented his second card in Biloxi. The card opened with 2 one fall 15 minute time limit preliminary matches. Jack Roberts faced Charlie Laye in one match, while Al Getz took on Sailor Moran.
The main event was a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. That match featured the same four wrestlers but the particulars are no known.
There are no known results for this card, which was the final one held in Biloxi until the following summer.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Charlie Laye and Al Getz wrestled to a 10 minute draw in the one fall opening match.
The second match, also a one fall match, was between Jack Curtis and Sailor Moran. This match also ended in a 10 minute match.
The main event was a return tag team match with Laye & Cutis taking on Getz & Moran. Laye & Curtis had won the previous meeting between these two teams in Monroe and Getz & Moran were anxious for some payback. The match was an all-out brawl from the start with Getz & Moran had Curtis trapped in their corner and were double-teaming him until Laye came to his rescue. Curtis & Laye then gave Getz a going over before Curtis used a neck twist on him and pinned him to win the first fall. The rough stuff continued in the second fall until Getz blinded Laye with a rake of his eyes. Getz then bodyslammed Laye three times and pinned him to win the second fall. In the deciding fall Moran & Getz kept Laye isolated from Curtis and gave him a real going over. Finally Getz lifted Laye up for another bodyslam when Curtis rushed into the ring. He dropkicked his own partner’s back, knocking Getz to the mat with Laye on top of him. Getz was counted out, giving the fall and the match to Curtis & Laye.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the main event was a tag team match with Dick Hatcher & Jack Steele teaming to take on Prince Emir Badu & the Super Zebra Kid. Pat Cronin was the special referee assigned to the match. The match was even with each team having won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Cronin felt the ire of Steele & Hatcher for the way he was calling the match and was knocked from the ring several times. Cronin finally disqualified Steele & Hatcher and awarded the third fall and the match to Badu & the Kid.
The main event was preceded by two one fall 10 minute matches, with Hatcher facing the Super Zebra Kid and Steele taking on Badu.
No results are known for either match.
The following evening in Alexandria once again the foursome that had been involved in the tag team match the previous night in Baton Rouge faced off against one another in a double main event. In the first event Dick Hatcher, partners the night before, met in a return match from the previous week in Alexandria.
In the main event, Prince Emir Badu faced the man who had been his partner the previous night in Baton Rouge, the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, the card was scheduled to open with George Cologne facing Sailor Moran in a one fall 15 minute match.
The second match, also a one fall 15 minute bout, was to be Al Getz taking on the Skull.
The main event was scheduled to be a tag team match with Cologne & Getz teaming to take on Moran & the Skull. The match was to be best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
The card was canceled due to inclement weather.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Jack Steele defeated Prince Emir Badu in the opening match of the night.
The semi-final saw the Super Zebra Kid taking on the duo of Pat Cronin & Baron Von Harben in a handicap match. The Kid used an airplane spin to toss both Cronin & Von Harben before pinning Cronin to win the match in 27 minutes.
The final match of the night was a tag team match with Charley Keene & Dick Hatcher taking on Elmer Davis & Kali Pasha. The rules were ignored by all four wrestlers during this match but Keene & Hatcher scored the victory.
On Friday in Jackson, Al Getz defeated Sailor Moran in the opening match of the night.
George Cologne and Jack Kelly fought to a draw in the second match of the night.
In the third event, Charlie Laye defeated Buff Sirois.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis put his title up for grabs against the challenge of the Skull. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In the final fall the Skull battered Curtis with hand chops and then slammed him to the mat with a thundering bodyslam. The Skull covered Curtis and referee Pat Willis tolled the three count and raised the masked man’s hand in victory. Then it was pointed out to Willis that Curtis had a foot draped over the bottom rope during the pin. Willis nullified the fall and ordered the match to restart. The Skull was oblivious to all of this because he was busy strutting around the ring in victory. Curtis knocked the masked man from the ring and he could not return before being counted out, giving the fall and the match to Curtis. The Skull was furious but the decision stood.
That same Friday night in Mobile, Charley Keene faced Elmer Davis in the opening match of the night. Keene used a backbreaker on Davis and pinned him to win the first fall. Davis came back to use a series of flying head scissors on Keene before pinning him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Keene pinned Davis following a bodyslam to win the fall and the match.
In the semi-final Dick Hatcher took on Baron Von Harben. Von Harben used a leglock to pin Hatcher in winning the first fall. Hatcher was disqualified in the second fall for using his fists, giving the match to Von Harben in straight falls.
The main event was a handicap match with the Super Zebra Kid facing Pat Cronin & Jack Steele. The Kid pinned Cronin to take the first fall rather easily. He found Steele a little tougher during the second fall and soon found himself trapped in Steele’s full-nelson. Cronin decided to put things on ice and entered the ring to belt the Kid as Steele held him in a tight grip. The Kid managed to duck, however, and the full force of Cronin’s blow landed on Steele’s chin, allowing the Super Zebra Kid to pin him and take the second fall and the match. Steele was so upset with his erstwhile friend that he challenged him to a match.
The final week of April started with an announcement in local newspapers that Mike Miller, former claimant of the World Heavyweight Wrestling title, was to be the new wrestling promoter in Huntsville. He was planning his first card in early May.
On Monday in Birmingham, the card opened with three one fall preliminary matches. Prince Emir Badu defeated Elmer Davis in the first match of the evening.
In the second event, Dick Hatcher defeated George Harben.
Nick Carter pinned Pat Cronin to win the third match of the night.
In the main event, Jack Steele took on the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid took two out of three falls from Steele to win the match.
Also on Monday, wrestling returned to Shreveport after a week off. The card opened with a match between Don Martin and Buff Sirois. Martin won the second and third falls to take the match.
In the semi-final match, Irish Jack Kelly faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman, who was making his first appearance in the area. Newman’s debut was an impressive one as he pinned Kelly in two straight falls to win the match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis faced George Cologne in a non-title match. Curtis used a leg grapevine on Cologne and pinned him to win the first fall. Cologne applied an airplane spin on Curtis before pinning him to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Cologne once again had Curtis up in an airplane spin and looked to be on his way to a victory over the champion. But Curtis managed to shift his weight in the middle of a spin, which caused Cologne to lose his balance. Cologne fell to the mat with Curtis on top of him and was pinned to give the fall and the match to Curtis.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the card featured a double main event. In the first event Charlie Laye took on Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Newman pinned Laye after dropping a knee across his throat to win the first fall. Laye used a series of flying tackles on Newman and pinned him to win the second fall. Laye tried the same tactics in the third and deciding fall but missed a tackle and was pinned by Newman.
In the second main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis defended his title against veteran grappler Sailor Moran. Moran got off to an early advantage when he forced Curtis to submit to an armlock to win the first fall in 20 minutes. Curtis came back and used a series of neck twists on Moran before making him submit to an abdominal stretch to win the second fall in 5 minutes. Curtis used a neck twist on Moran and pinned him to win the third and deciding fall in 11 minutes and retained his crown.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card opened with a 5 man Battle Royal. The participants of the contest were Jack Steele, Prince Emir Badu, Dick Hatcher, Pat Cronin and the Super Zebra Kid.
The first and second wrestlers eliminated were to meet in a best two out of three falls, 60 minute time limit match.
The third and fourth men eliminated would also meet in a best two out of three falls, 60 minute time limit match to round out the card.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Dick Hatcher and Pat Cronin met in the opening match of the evening. Hatcher used a series of monkey flips to soften up Cronin and pinned him to win the first fall. In the second fall the advantage went back and forth several times and just before the 60 minute time limit expired, Hatcher pinned Cronin again to win the match in straight falls.
In the main event, the Super Zebra Kid once again took on two opponents in a handicap match. This time his opponents were Jack Steele & Prince Emir Badu. Steele & Badu gave the huge masked man a pretty good going over until the Kid managed to twice apply a backbreaker on Badu and pinned him. A similar situation arose in the second fall until Steele jumped into the ring and pounded his fist into the Kid’s head until referee Phil Brummett stopped the action. Brummett awarded the fall to the Kid on a disqualification, giving the match to the Kid in straight falls.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, George Cologne and Jack Kelly battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
The second match between Al Getz and the Skull also ended in a draw.
The main event was a tag team match with Cologne & Getz teaming to take on Kelly & the Skull. Cologne forced the Skull to submit to a twisting leglock to win the first fall in 18 minutes. In the second fall, the Skull continually caught Getz in back body drops before Getz surprised him and rolled him up in cradle to pin him. This gave the victory to Cologne & Getz in two straight falls.
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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 1952.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 25, 2020.
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 1952.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 25, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
Click Here for a recap of February 1950.
Click Here for a recap of March 1950.
Click Here for a recap of April 1950.
Click Here for a recap of May 1950.
Click Here for a recap of June 1950.
Click Here for a recap of July 1950.
Click Here for a recap of August 1950.
Click Here for a recap of September 1950.
Click Here for a recap of October 1950.
Click Here for a recap of November 1950.
Click Here for a recap of December 1950.
Click Here for a recap of February 1951.
Click Here for a recap of March 1951.
Click Here for a recap of April 1951.
Click Here for a recap of May 1951.
Click Here for a recap of June 1951.
Click Here for a recap of July 1951.
Click Here for a recap of August 1951.
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.
