Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of August 1951
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The first cards in August were held on Wednesday the 1st in Alexandria and Decatur.
In Alexandria Joe Corbett met Charley Keene in the opening match. Corbett pinned Keene to take the first fall. In the second fall Corbett missed a flying tackled and sailed out of the ring. Referee Phil Brummett counted Corbett out when he was unable to get back in the ring before the count of 20, giving the second fall to Keene. Corbett ended up outside the ring again the third fall and as Brummett began his count, Corbett crawled under the ring to the other side. He climbed into the ring, snuck up behind Keene and surprised him with a rolling cradle. The stunned Keene was pinned and Corbett won the fall and the match.
In the main event Cyclone Johnny Bence faced off with Prince Omar. Bence took the first fall when he hit Omar with a dropkick and pinned him. Omar forced Bence to submit to a leglock to win the second fall. In the third fall Bence once again tried a dropkick but missed his target. He slammed to the mat and Omar covered him for the pin and won the fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, George Curtis and Rex Mobley battled to a 15 minute draw in the one fall opening match.
Big brother Jack Curtis met Col. George Harben in the one fall second match of the evening, which also ended in a 15 minute draw.
The Curtis Brothers took on Mobley & Harben in the main event tag team match. George Curtis pinned Harben to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Mobley used a body slam and pinned George Curtis in 15 minutes to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Curtis Brothers caught both Mobley & Harben in a row boat maneuver and forced them both to submit to win the fall and the match.
That same night in Decatur the first event was a 5 man Battle Royal with special stipulations. The first man eliminated would be done for the night, the next two men out would meet in a best two out of three falls semi-final match. The last two men would be given a rest period and then return to the ring for a best two out of three falls main event.
The 5 men involved in the Battle Royal were Tarzan White, Irish Jack Kelly, Bill Cazzell, Red Byrd and newcomer Al Lee Fields. Fields would be a significant name in the area in the years to come.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans the card opened with a on fall preliminary match that saw “Baby” Lee Fields meeting veteran Red Byrd. The two wrestled to a draw.
In the semi-final match Joe Corbett faced off with Irish Jack Kelly. Corbett won two out of three falls to score a victory over Kelly.
In the main event, Cyclone Johnny Bence teamed with Charley Keene to take on Bill Cazzell & Prince Omar in a tag team match. Cazzell & Omar won two out of three falls to win the match.
That same evening in Hattiesburg, Charlie Laye defeated Rex Mobley in the single fall preliminary match.
In the main event George Curtis and Roland Meeker squared off in a clean, scientific match. Curtis won the first fall in 24 minutes when he pinned Meeker. Curtis pinned Meeker again after 10 minutes in the second fall to win the match in two straight.
On Friday in Jackson, George Curtis defeated Al Getz in the one fall opening match.
In the second event of the evening Roland Meeker and Rex Mobley battled to a draw.
In the main event the Vicksburg duo of Jack Curtis & Henry Harrell joined forces to take on Pat (Big Boy) Cronin & Col. George Harben. The match was even with each team having captured a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The final fall involved mainly bitter rivals Harrell and Cronin who slugged away at each other until both were bloody. Finally Cronin, the former heavyweight boxer, swung a crushing blow to Harrell’s head. Harrell slumped to the mat unconscious and was easily pinned by Cronin, giving the fall and the match to Cronin & Harben.
The following week in Shreveport Roland Meeker and Charlie Laye battled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
George Curtis defeated Al Getz in the second match of the evening, also a one fall match.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis won two straight fall over George Harben & Al Getz to win a tag team match.
While the main event was going on the Municipal Auditorium was robbed of $700 when a cashier left a cash drawer open. Promoter Gladden Harrison later discover the loss.
On Tuesday in Monroe Roland Meeker and Al Getz met in the first event of the evening. Meeker pinned Getz following a body slam to win the first fall. Meeker bounced from the ropes onto Getz and pinned him in the second to win the match in straight falls.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell faced a former champion Charlie Laye in a non-title match. Harrell pinned Laye in 10 minutes to take the first fall and take an early advantage. Laye came back and pinned Harrell to win the second fall in 8 minutes. In the third and deciding fall Harrell had Laye reeling with a series of body blocks until Laye sidestepped him and tripped him to the mat. Laye quickly pinned Harrell and pinned him in 10 minutes to take the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card opened with a match between Lucky Gilpin and Prince Omar. Omar forced Gilpin to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the first fall in 14 minutes. Gilpin used a rolling scissors pin to beat Omar and win the second fall in 18 minutes. Referee Blackie Harrelson disqualified Omar after 17 minutes of rough action to give the third fall and the match to Gilpin.
In the main event Joe Corbett faced off with Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly applied a piledriver on Corbett and pinned him to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Corbett used a series of snap mares on Kelly and pinned him to take the second fall in 15 minutes. In the third fall, Corbett used his sleeper hold on Kelly to subdue him in 17 minutes to win the fall and the match.
In Alexandria on Wednesday, the card opened with another match between Joe Corbett and Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly used a piledriver on Corbett and pinned him to win the first fall. Corbett forced Kelly to submit to a leglock to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Corbett put Kelly out with his sleeper hold to win the fall and the match.
Lucky Gilpin and Prince Omar also faced off again in the main event. Gilpin began the first fall in fast faction and swarmed Omar until the prince hit him with a low blow, which referee Phil Brummett failed to see. Omar then applied a Boston Crab on Gilpin and forced him to submit to take the first fall. Gilpin pinned Omar following a body slam to take the second fall and tie the match. In the third and deciding fall Omar continually hit Gilpin with low blows which Brummett again failed to see. Gilpin back Omar into a corner and was hitting Omar with a series of elbow smashes when Brummett stepped him to warn him about such tactics. As the two argued over the legality of the maneuver, Omar punched the distracted Gilpin in the mouth and quickly pinned him. Brummett awarded the fall and the match as the crowd hooted at the decision.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport the main event was scheduled to be a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Al Getz & George Harben. The first two matches were to be one fall matches made up of these same four grapplers.
The card was cancelled due to a severe rain storm.
That same Wednesday evening in Decatur Nick Carter faced Ripper Leone in the one fall opening match.
The second match of the evening was also a one fall affair. In that one Al Massey took on Bill Cazzell.
The main event, a best two out of three falls match with a 90 minute time limit, Carter & Massey faced Leone & Cazzell in a tag team match.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Lee Fields faced Prince Omar in a one fall 20 minute opening match. No result is known for this match.
Lucky Gilpin and Bill Cazzell faced off in the second match of the evening, also a one fall 20 minute match. No result is known for this match either.
The semi-final match, best two out of three falls with a 45 minute time limit, featured Cyclone Johnny Bence taking on Irish Jack Kelly. Again no result is known for this match.
In the main event Joe Corbett took on Ripper Leone in a battle of unbeaten wrestlers. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. In the third fall Corbett caught Leone in his sleeper hold but Leone managed to scramble to the ropes. Leone climbed over the ropes and was standing on the ring apron, but Corbett maintained his hold on him. Referee Charlie Cure tried to get Corbett to release the hold, but he refused. Cure disqualified Corbett and awarded the fall and the match to Leone.
In Hattiesburg on Thursday, George Curtis and Al Getz fought to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the second match, also a one fall event, Jack Curtis won over Charlie Laye when he tossed Laye from the ring and he was unable to return. Referee Glenn Orr counted Laye out and awarded the match to Curtis.
The main event was a tag team match with the Curtis Brothers taking on Getz & Laye. George Curtis pinned Getz to win the first fall. Jack Curtis pinned Laye in the second to give the match to the Curtis team in two straight falls.
In Jackson on Friday, Roland Meeker and Charlie Laye fought to a draw in the opening match.
The semi-final match featured a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on the duo of George Harben & Al Getz. The Curtis Brothers took two out of three falls over Harben & Getz to win the match.
The main event was another match between bitter rivals Henry Harrell and Pat (Big Boy) Cronin. This one had a twist, however, as the match was scheduled to be a 10 round boxing match. Cronin, a former heavyweight boxer, would seem to have held quite an advantage in this bout but it didn’t quite go as planned. Harrell was accompanied by Jack Curtis as his second, while George Harben was in Cronin’s corner. During the bout a ringside spectator took exception to Harben’s presence and tossed a chair at him. The chair hit Harben in the back of the head and caused a bloody gash. Police officer J.C. Shealy quickly apprehended the man who threw the chair and hauled him off to jail. Harben later received several stitches to close the wound.
As for the boxing match itself, Harrell kayoed Cronin in the sixth round to take the victory.
The following Monday in Shreveport, George Curtis and George Harben met in a one fall 30 minute opening match. Curtis pinned Harben in 12 minutes to win the match.
In the semi-final match Jack & George Curtis took on Harben & Ripper Leone in a tag team match. The Curtis Brothers took the first and third falls to win the match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell met Shreveport native Roland Meeker in a non-title match. Harrell pinned Meeker with a jackknife to win the first fall in 19 minutes. During the second fall Harrell tossed Meeker from the ring and each time he tried to reenter, Harrell knocked him back to the floor. The last time Meeker struck his head on a ringside chair and was briefly stunned. When he regained his senses Meeker stormed back into the ring and flattened both Harrell and referee Conway Baker with hard right fists. Baker immediately stopped the match at 11 minutes into the second fall and disqualified Meeker and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Roland Meeker and Ripper Leone faced one another in the first event of the evening. Leone jumped Meeker as promoter Gus Kallio was in the middle of the ring introductions. Referee Bill Barney disqualified Leone and awarded the fall to Meeker before the match had officially started. Leone kept himself in check throughout the second fall and punished Meeker’s arm by stomping on it. Meeker was forced to give up and the second fall went to Leone. Meeker came back and pinned Leone in under three minutes to take the fall and the match.
The main event was a World Light-Heavyweight title match with champion Henry Harrell defending against Charlie Laye, one time holder of the title. Laye continually punched Harrell and gouged his eyes during the opening fall. Harrell fought back and slugged Laye twice but the challenger managed to knock Harrell from the ring. Harrell grabbed a ringside chair and started back into the ring but referee Bill Barney persuaded him to put the chair down. Once he was back in the ring Harrell fell victim to an armlock and was forced to surrender, giving the opening fall to Laye in 35 minutes. Harrell managed to survive a series of punches and body slams to come back and roll Laye up with a jackknife and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye once again trapped Harrell in an armlock but Harrell managed to reverse it into a jackknife and pinned Laye to take the fall and the match and retain his title.
That same evening in Baton Rouge Lucky Gilpin met Rube Wright in the opening match. Wright was replacing Ripper Leone in the match because Leone was in Monroe instead. Gilpin won the first fall when he forced Wright to submit to a Boston Crab. Gilpin used a cartwheel pin on Wright to take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
In the feature event Joe Corbett faced Prince Omar. Omar forced Corbett to submit to a leg split to win the first fall. Corbett came back and applied a series of snap mares and a pin on Omar to win the second fall and even the score. The third fall got heated and Corbett wound up tossing referee Phil Brummett from the ring. Brummett disqualified Corbett immediately and awarded the fall and the match to Omar. The incensed Corbett put both Omar and Brummett to sleep with his sleeper hold to show his disapproval.
Decatur promoter John Hartselle moved the matches in that town to Tuesdays starting this same night. The first Tuesday night card was scheduled to open with Lee Fields facing Rube Wright in a one fall 20 minute match. With Wright known to have been in Baton Rouge that night, it is assumed he was replaced by Bill Cazzell.
The second match on the card, also a one fall 20 minute affair, was between Tarzan White and Irish Jack Kelly.
The main event was to be a 6 man tag team match with Fields & White teaming with Charley Keene to take on Cazzell, Kelly & Wright. With Wright absent, it was most likely a regular tag team match but it is unknown who the exact participants were.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Joe Corbett met Rube Wright, once again substituting for Ripper Leone, in the first feature of the night. Leone was unable to appear because of a death in his family. Corbett survived an onslaught of hair pulling and biting by Wright to take him down and pin him to take the first fall. Corbett used his sleeper hold on Wright to subdue him to take the second fall and win the match in two straight. Once Wright regained his consciousness he took wild swings in the air, apparently not knowing that he had lost the match.
Lucky Gilpin and Prince Omar met in a return match in the feature event. Omar won the first fall when he forced Gilpin to submit to an abdominal stretch. Gilpin pinned Omar to win the second fall and even the score. Gilpin also pinned Omar again to win the third fall and the match. Omar protested to referee Phil Brummett and then ran to attack Gilpin in his corner. Gilpin whirled around and put up his fists, causing Omar to fall down trying to avoid him. Omar slid from the ring and returned to his dressing room.
That same night in Gulfport, Roland Meeker scored an impressive victory when he defeated Rex Mobley in two straight falls in the opening match. Mobley was disqualified by referee Pat Newman after 8 minutes in the first fall. In the second fall Meeker caught the wily veteran in a combination arm and leg lock and forced him to submit in 12 minutes.
In the main event World Light-heavyweight champion Henry Harrell met George Harben in a non-title match. Harben took the first fall in 17 minutes by pinning Harrell after a series of body slams. Harrell came back with a series of bodyblocks and pinned Harben in 6 minutes to win the second fall. Harben sustained a bloody nose during the fall. Both men spent much of the deciding fall punching and choking each other. At one point referee Pat Newman stepped in to break Harben from choking and was punched for his trouble. Newman, himself a popular wrestler, punched Harben in return. Harrell took advantage of this to break free from Harben’s grasp and punched him in the ribs. Harben tangled his foot over the bottom rope and was shoved to the mat by Harrell. Harrell quickly jumped on him and pinned him to win the fall and the match. Harben and Newman glared at each other after the match put no further hostilities occurred between them.
On Thursday in New Orleans the card had to be jumbled due to Ripper Leone being unable to appear and the unexplained absence of Lee Fields. In the opening match of the evening Joe Corbett, who was to have met Leone, defeated Rube Wright, who had originally been scheduled to face Tarzan White, in a one fall match.
White instead faced Bill Cazzell, who was not originally scheduled for the card. Wright defeated Cazzell in the one fall match.
The main event was originally scheduled with Lucky Gilpin & Charley Keens, substituting for Fields and originally scheduled to have been the referee for the night, facing Irish Jack Kelly & Prince Omar. Gilpin & Keene won the first fall, with Omar & Kelly winning the second. Keene was injured during the course of the second fall and was unable to continue. Gilpin tried going it alone but was quickly overwhelmed by Omar & Kelly. Tarzan White entered the ring to aid Gilpin and in the wild melee Gilpin pinned Kelly to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Hattiesburg, Charlie Laye met Pat (Big Boy) Cronin in the opening match. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In that fall Cronin appeared to have slipped something onto his right hand that he used to punch Laye and knock him unconscious. He quickly slid the object back into his trunks and pinned Laye to win the fall and the match. Cronin quickly left the ring followed by referee Glenn Orr. Orr gave him a halfhearted going over but said he found no object. Cronin returned to the ring and issued a challenge to whoever won that night’s main event.
In that main event Henry Harrell, World Light-Heavyweight champion, faced Roland Meeker in a non-title match. Harrell won the match by taking Meeker in two straight falls.
On Friday in Jackson, the main event was a 6 man tag team match with Henry Harrell joining up with Jack & George Curtis to take on the threesome of Ripper Leone, Pat Cronin & George Harben. Leone, Cronin & Harben took two out of three falls to trim the Vicksburg trio and emerge victorious.
There were also two preliminary matches but the participants and the results are unknown.
Something new began on this evening in Jackson. Radio station WRBC began broadcasting the main event live over the air. The radio host was Bob Neblett.
The following week in Shreveport Ripper Leone defeated George Curtis in the one fall opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final match Henry Harrell faced Charlie Laye. Harrell pinned Laye after applying a neck-breaker to win the first fall. Harrell used a jackknife on Laye to pin him and win the match in two straight falls.
The main event was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Ripper Leone & George Harben. George Curtis pinned Leone to win the first fall to put his team ahead. In the second fall Jack Curtis clamped a full nelson on Harben with his back turned to Leone’s corner. Leone came into the ring with the plan to slug Curtis in the back of the head. Curtis whirled around at the last second and Leone’s punch landed squarely on the jaw of Harben. The stunned Harben sank to the match and Curtis pinned him to take the match for his team in two straight falls.
On Tuesday in Monroe the first event featured Doran O’Hara taking on Charlie Laye. O’Hara, who was known as George O’Hara when he was in the area the previous year, was a late replacement for Roland Meeker, who was out of action due to broken ribs. O’Hara was awarded the first fall when referee Bill Barney disqualified Laye for hitting O’Hara with low blows. O’Hara pinned Laye after applying an airplane spin on him and won the match in straight falls.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell met Rube Wright in a non-title match. Harrell and Wright took turns throwing each other from the ring until Harrell nailed Wright with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the first fall. Wright came back and pinned Harrell following a body slam to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the wrestlers spend most of the time slugging each other until Wright bailed out of the ring. Harrell followed him out and chased him around ringside until Wright slid back into the ring. As Harrell climbed back into the ring Wright grabbed him and lifted him up for a body slam. Harrell managed to shift his weight and rolled Wright to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Baton Rouge the card opened with two single fall 15 minute matches. The first saw Joe Corbett and newcomer Mario “Nap” Gardine wrestle to a draw. Arch-enemies Lucky Gilpin and Prince Omar faced in the second event, which also ended in a a draw.
In the main event tag team match, Corbett & Gilpin took on Gardine & Omar. Omar pinned Gilpin to win the first fall for his team. Omar & Gilpin were disqualified for illegal tactics in the second fall. Corbett pinned Gardine to win the third fall and the match for his team.
Also on Tuesday in Decatur, Charley Keene faced Bill Cazzell in the opening match, which was a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event, a best two out of three falls match with a 90 minute time limit, Tarzan Wgite took on Irish Jack Kelly.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Lucky Gilpin and Prince Omar battled to a draw in the one fall opening match of the evening.
Joe Corbett defeated Mario Gardine in the single fall second match of the night.
In the main event Gilpin & Corbett teamed again to take on Omar & Gardine for the second night in a row. Omar & Gardine won the first fall of the match but Gilpin & Corbett took the next two to win the match. After the match was over all four men went at it again with Gilpin & Corbett slamming the heads of Omar & Gardine together and applying a row boat maneuver on them to the delight of the fans.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport Ripper Leone made his first appearance in the city. He faced Doran O’Hara, once again filling in for Roland Meeker, in a 15 minute one fall opening match.
O’Hara was awarded the match when referee Pat Newman disqualified Leone for his rough tactics.
Charlie Laye and George Harben fought to a draw in the second match of the night, which was also a one fall affair.
In the main event, O’Hara & Laye, who had been opponents the night before in Monroe, teamed up to take on Leone & Harben. Leone & Harben continually worked on the arm of O’Hara with stomps throughout the first fall. Leone finally applied and armlock on O’Hara to force him to submit and won the fall in 36 minutes. In the second fall, Laye & O’Hara concentrated on Leone working him over with body slams and forearm blows. Leone managed to tag in Harben who slammed Laye to the match and pinned him in 5 minutes, giving the match to Leone & Harben in 2 straight falls.
The next night in New Orleans, Prince Omar pinned Mario Gardine to win the one fall opening match of the evening.
The second match of the night, also a one faller, was won by Joe Corbett who made short work of veteran Tuffy Olsen.
In the main event the popular duo of Tarzan White & Lucky Gilpin teamed to take on Irish Jack Kelly & Bill Cazzell in a tag team match. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Kelly & Cazzell won that fall and the match when Kelly pinned Gilpin.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg, Rube Wight was awarded the one fall opening match when his opponent, Charlie Laye, was counted out by referee Glenn Orr.
The second one fall match between Doran O’Hara and Pat (Big Boy) Cronin ended in a draw.
In the main event Laye & O’Hara joined forced again to take on #Wright & Cronin in a tag team match. Each team had won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the final fall. In the third fall O’Hara and Cronin were slugging away at each other until Cronin appeared to reach into his trunks and slip something onto his right hand. Cronin hit O’Hara with a solid punch that sent O’Hara through the ropes and onto the arena floor. When O’Hara got back into the ring his head was a bloody mess. Laye pinned his partner to the ropes and called for a cup of water. He splashed the water on O’Hara’s face to allow referee Glenn Orr to get a better look at the cut. Orr deemed that the cut was too deep to allow O’Hara to continue so he stopped the match and awarded the deciding fall to Wright & Cronin. Following the match an irate O’Hara challenged Cronin to face his in a winner takes all Texas rules match.
On Friday in Jackson, Rube Wright defeated Charlie Laye in the single fall opening match.
Jack Curtis and George Harben battled to a stalemate in the second match of the evening, also a one fall affair.
The main event was a 6 man tag team match with the popular Vicksburg trio of Henry Harrell and Jack & George Curtis taking on the threesome of Pat Cronin, Ripper Leone & George Harben. The match was assigned two referees, Jack Roberts and Pat Willis to try and keep things under control. Everything was even with each team winning a fall apiece going into the finale. In the final fall Cronin and Harrell were facing off when Cronin punched Harrell and knocked him unconscious and covered him for the pin. Just as referee Jack Roberts was about to raise Cronin’s hand in victory, referee Pat Willis found an object lying near Cronin’s feet. In examining it, it appeared to be a piece of metal wrapped in heavy black tape and fashion to slide over one’s knuckles. Cronin swore his innocence and claimed that someone from the audience had tossed the object into the ring. Willis didn’t buy it at all and called for a disqualification of Cronin and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell & the Curtis Brothers. Like Doran O’Hara had done the night before in Hattiesburg, Harrell challenged Cronin to meet him in a fight to the finish.
The following week wresting was not held in Shreveport on Monday. The card was moved to Wednesday for this week only.
On Tuesday in Monroe Doran O’Hara and Rube Wright met in a one fall opening match. The two battled evenly and the match ended in a draw.
In the second one fall match on the card Henry Harrell was awarded the decision over Tuffy Olsen when Olsen was disqualified for refusing to break a hold on Harrell, who was in the ropes.
In the main event O’Hara & Harrell joined forces to take on Wright & Olsen in a tag team match. The match was wild and woolly from the start with Wright & Olsen double-teaming O’Hara until he was nearly out on his feet. O’Hara managed to reach Harrell to tag him in and Harrell promptly knocked Wright from the ring. Wright got into an argument with a spectator, later identified as B.A. Stevens of Monroe. Stevens picked up a chair and swung it at Wright but missed. The chair instead hit a female spectator, Helen Ramsey, and knocked her unconscious. While this was going on Harrell and Olsen were also fighting on the floor. Referee Bill Barney forced Wright to get back into the ring and Wright picked up the still groggy O’Hara and slammed him to the mat. Wright then pinned O’Hara to win the first fall. O’Hara came back and pinned Wright to win the second fall and even the score. In the third and deciding fall it was Harrell who fell victim to the double-teaming tactics of Wright & Olsen as the trapped him in their corner and were choking him with a strand of wire. Each time O’Hara tried to enter the fray to help his partner he was pushed out of the ring by referee Barney. Wright finally slammed Harrell to the mat and pinned him. Before Barney could award the fall to Wright & Olsen, he spotted the piece of wire they had been choking Harrell with and reversed the decision. He disqualified the pair and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell & O’Hara.
That same evening in Baton Rouge, Lucky Gilpin and Red Byrd fought to a 15 minute draw in the opening match.
Joe Corbett and Prince Omar also battled to a 15 minute draw in the second match of the evening.
In the main event Gilpin & Corbett teamed to take on Byrd & Omar in a tag team match. Omar pinned Gilpin in 14 minutes to win the first fall of the match. Gilpin came back and forced Byrd to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall in 17 minutes. Corbett pinned Byrd in 15 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match for his team.
Also on Tuesday in Decatur, Charley Keene faced Red Byrd in the opening match, a one fall 15 minute bout.
In the second match, also one fall with a 15 minute time limit, Johnny Harmon faced Bill Cazzell. This was Harmon’s first appearance in the area.
In the main event Keene & Harmon teamed up to take on Byrd & Cazzell in a tag team match, set for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
No wrestling was held in Alexandria on Wednesday but the card normally held on Monday in Shreveport was held that night instead. On that card the opening match between Jack Curtis and Ripper Leone ended in a draw.
Younger brother George Curtis faced Rube Wright in the second event, which also ended in a draw.
Henry Harrell won over Pat (Big Boy) Cronin by disqualification in the third match of the night.
The main event featured the boys from Vicksburg, the Curtis Brothers & Harrell, taking on Leone, Wright & Cronin in a 6 man tag team match. Leone, Wright & Cronin won the first and third falls to earn the victory.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, Doran O’Hara faced off with The Louisiana Cajun Bill Barney in the opening match. Barney was usually a referee, especially in his home state but appeared as a wrestler from time to time. O’Hara took the first fall when he pinned Barney in 18 minutes following a series of dropkicks. Barney pinned O’Hara with a combination of a half-nelson and body press to win the second fall in 10 minutes. O’Hara and Barney fought evenly throughout the third and deciding fall until the 45 minute time limit expired. Since neither man had managed to win the deciding fall referee Pat Willis declared the match a draw.
In the main event Pat Newman, Gulfport’s adopted son, face off with Col. George Harben. Harben used a series of body slams on Newman and pinned him to win the first fall in 13 minutes. Newman exacted some revenge in the second fall when he used body slams on Harben and pinned him to win the fall in 17 minutes. Harben roughed Newman up and made short work of him in the deciding fall. Harben only needed 5 minutes to subdue Newman and pin him to win the fall and the match.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Lucky Gilpin faced Johnny Harmon in the one fall opening match. It was a clean, scientific battle which was won by Harmon after he pinned the popular Gilpin.
The semi-final match of the evening was a tag team match with Joe Corbett & Charley Keene teaming up to take on Prince Omar & Tuffy Olsen. Corbett & Keene took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event Tarzan White met Irish Jack Kelly. White scored two out of three falls over Kelly to win the match.
That same evening in Hattiesburg the card was scheduled to have Doran O’Hara meeting Pat Cronin in the opening match.
Henry Harrell and Rube Wright were to meet in the second preliminary match.
The main event was due to be Harrell & O’Hara teaming to face Cronin & Wright in a tag team match.
The card was cancelled due to a severe rain storm.
The month of August and the week came to an end with a Friday night card in Jackson. Doran O’Hara and Rube Wright wrestled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the one fall second match of the evening George Harben trimmed George Curtis.
Jack Curtis took the measure of Ripper Leone in the third one fall match of the night.
The main event was a challenge match with Henry Harrell facing Pat Cronin. Cronin was thoroughly searched by ringside officials before the start of the match but nothing was found. All things were even going into the final fall with each man having score a fall apiece. Several minutes into the fall Cronin’s object, which locals had dubbed “The Thing”, made its appearance. Cronin slugged Harrell with it and knocked him silly. Cronin easily pinned Harrell and referee Rube Wright awarded the fall and the match to him. The ring was quickly surrounded by fans who demanded that Wright search Cronin. A quick search was performed “the Thing” was not found. It took a combination of local officials and the police surrounding Cronin to get him safely back to his dressing room. Harrell had to be helped back to his.
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 August 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 August 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 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 January 1951.
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 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.
