Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of February 1952
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On Friday in Jackson the card opened with a tag team match. Farmer Brown & Bronko Lubich teamed up to take on the duo of Ellis Bashara & Sailor Moran. Bashara & Moran worked over Brown & Lubich throughout the one fall match until Daisy Mae, Brown’s hillbilly valet, jumped into the ring with one of Brown’s heavy boots. She and Brown cleared the ring but earned a disqualification in return. Bashara & Moran were awarded the match.
In the semi-final match Jack Curtis faced Red Kirkpatrick. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Kirkpatrick worked over Curtis throughout the final fall until Curtis began hitting him with flying dropkicks. Curtis pinned Kirkpatrick to win the final fall and the match.
The main event was another match between Sockeye Jack McDonald and Sugy Hayamaka with McDonald’s World Light-Heavyweight title up for grabs. McDonald won the first fall when he pinned Hayamaka following a series of head butts. Hayamaka evened the score when he flattened McDonald with judo chops and hip throws and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the match went back and forth until McDonald upended Hayamaka and had him in a pinning situation. Referee Jack Roberts made what many observers felt was a fast count and declared McDonald the winner of the fall and the match, allowing him to retain his title.
Also on Friday in Anniston Red Byrd and Elmer Davis battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
Irish Jack Kelly and the Skull also fought to a draw in the second match of the night.
In the main event Byrd & Kelly took on Davis & the Skull in a tag team match. Each team scored a fall apiece and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. Byrd & Kelly were disqualified in the final fall and the match was awarded to Davis & the Skull.
Wrestling returned to Pascagoula on Saturday night with Farmer Brown facing Sailor Moran in the opening match.
In the second match of the evening Sugy Hayamaka faced Red Kirkpatrick.
The main event was a tag team match with Brown & Hayamaka taking on Moran & Red Kirkpatrick.
No results are known for this card.
The following Monday in Birmingham Charley Keene and George Harben fought to a draw in the opening match.
Johnny Harmon defeated Jack Kelly in the second match of the evening.
In the third match Pat Cronin was awarded the match over Al Getz by disqualification.
In the main event a newcomer named Dr. Larry Corvette faced the Skull. Corvette, a former All-Star football player for Ohio State University, pinned the Skull to win the first fall. The masked ruffian came back and won the final two falls to score the victory.
That same Monday night in Shreveport, the card featured Bronko Lubich taking on Red Kirkpatrick in the first event Kirkpatrick tossed Lubich from the ring and kept kicking him as he tried to re-enter. Finally Lubich dived over the ropes and rammed his head into Kirkpatrick’s stomach. Lubich then pinned Kirkpatrick to win the one fall match in 10 minutes.
Farmer Brown took on Ellis Bashara in the semi-final match. In the opening fall Bashara was giving Brown a hard time when Daisy Mae climbed onto the ring apron armed with one of Brown’s heavy boots. She took a swing at Bashara but he ducked and the blow flattened Brown instead. Bashara then applied a backbreaker on Brown and pinned him to win the first fall. Bashara made short work of Brown in the second fall and pinned him in 4 minutes following a series of flying tackles. Bashara won the match in two straight falls.
The main event was a World Light-Heavyweight title match between champion Sockeye Jack McDonald and Jack Curtis, who had held the same title on 8 previous occasions. McDonald pinned Curtis following a backbreaker to win the first fall. Curtis used a rolling cradle on McDonald to pin him and win the second fall. During the deciding fall, every time Curtis gained and advantage on McDonald, McDonald grabbed a handful of Curtis’ hair to break the hold. Referee Conway Baker seemed to not notice the infractions and that made Curtis angry. He threw the rulebook out the window and battered McDonald to a bloody mess. He also flattened Baker with a punch to the jaw. Baker disqualified Curtis and awarded the fall and the match to McDonald, who retained his title.
On Tuesday in Monroe the card opened with Bronko Lubich taking on Ellis Bashara. Bashara was a replacement for Red Kirkpatrick, who was originally due to be Lubich’s opponent. Bashara won two out of three falls to defeat Lubich and score the victory.
In the main event, Sugy Hayamaka got another chance to regain the World Light-Heavyweight title from the man he’d lost it to, Sockeye Jack McDonald. The first fall started with the two trading wrestling hold but soon turned into a brawl with McDonald throwing knees and punches while Hayamaka made use of judo chops. Hayamaka opened a cut over McDonald’s left eye which weakened him long enough for Hayamaka to pin him and win the first fall in 21 minutes. Hayamaka’s chops opened the cut again in the second fall but McDonald managed to apply a backbreaker on Hayamaka and pinned him to win the second fall in 4 minutes. The third and deciding fall began in a whirl with both men throwing all they had at each other. McDonald once again applied a backbreaker on Hayamaka and pinned him in 1 minute to win the fall and the match and keep his title.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the main event was to have been Johnny Harmon teaming with Dr. Larry Corvette to take on the Skulls with Joe Gunther serving as the referee. Just before the match was to start Corvette announced that he was suffering a bad back and would be unable to wrestle. He did volunteer to referee the match and switched places with Gunther, who took his place as Harmon’s partner. Gunther, the former World Middleweight Champion, showed that he was still able to hold his own as he gave the mask duo a pounding throughout the first fall. At one point, the Skull #1 held Gunther in a position for his partner to punch him. Gunther ducked the punch, however, and the Skull #1 was decked by his partner. Gunther easily pinned him to win the first fall. The two Skulls had words between falls which led to no cooperation between the two during the second fall. Harmon pinned the Skull #2 to win the fall and the match.
Wrestling in Decatur returned to its regular schedule the same Tuesday night. Al Getz and Pat Cronin faced each other in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, featured Irish Jack Kelly taking on George Harben.
Charley Keene was the assigned referee for both matches.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Johnny Harmon and the Skull #1 battled to a 15 minute draw in the opening match.
Dr. Larry Corvette, recovered from his back injury, took on the Skull #2 in the second match of the night. Corvette totally outclassed the Skull in wrestling so the masked man resorted to punching his opponent. Referee Phil Brummett warned the Skull #2 about his tactics but was ignored. Brummett finally disqualified the masked man and awarded the one fall match to Corvette.
In the main event Harmon & Corvette, who were to have been a team the previous night in Baton Rouge, joined forces to take on the masked Skulls. The masked team appeared to have patched up the differences they had had the night before in Baton Rouge and were ready to take on Harmon & Corvette. The Skull #1 pinned Harmon to win the first fall to take an early lead for his team. During the second fall the Skull #2 pushed Corvette into the masked pair’s corner. As the Skull #2 held Corvette, the Skull #1 aimed a punch at his jaw. Corvette ducked and the punch hit the Skull #2 and knocked him to the mat. Corvette quickly covered him and scored the pin to win the second fall. Despite the hard feeling between the two masked men they came back out together for the third and deciding fall. In the third fall Harmon was hitting the Skull #1 with a series of body tackles until the masked man side stepped one and drove his knee into Harmon’s stomach. Harmon went down and was easily pinned to give the third fall and the match to the Skulls. Despite scoring a victory the two Skulls went at each other again and were slugging away until promoter Jimmie Thompson broke it up. Thompson offered to sign a match between them for the following week and they both agreed.
The following night in New Orleans, Johnny Harmon and Rube Wright battled to a draw in the opening match.
In the second event of the evening, the Skull #2 defeated Charley Keene.
Dr. Larry Corvette won over Pat Cronin by disqualification in the third match of the night.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match with Al Getz and Jack Kelly joining Harmon, Keene & Corvette to face Baron Von Harben, Cronin, Wright, and the two Skulls. Either the Skulls once again patched up their differences or decided that with three other partners they could avoid one another. Whatever the reason they wound up on the winning side as their team won the match.
On Friday in Jackson, Sailor Moran defeated Bronko Lubich in the opening match of the night, while Ellis Bashara defeated Farmer Brown in the semi-final.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald in a non-title match. McDonald got a little carried away and was disqualified to give Curtis the first fall. The second fall was a furious fight until McDonald managed to apply a backbreaker on Curtis. Normally this would have easily given McDonald a victory but Curtis kicked out before being pinned. This shook McDonald and he did all he could to stay away from Curtis for the next few minutes. Curtis finally managed to get a hold of McDonald and applied a crab hold on him and forced him to submit. Curtis took the fall to win the match in two straight falls.
Also on Friday in Anniston Al Getz faced Pat Cronin in the first half of a double main event.
The second feature was a match between Johnny Harmon and Baron Von Harben.
No results are known for this card.
On Saturday in Pascagoula Bronko Lubich and Sailor Moran fought to a draw in the opening match.
Jack Roberts faced Red Kirkpatrick in the second match, which also ended in a draw.
In the main event Lubich & Roberts teamed to take on Moran & Red Kirkpatrick in a tag team match. Lubich & Roberts won two out of three falls to win the match.
The following Monday in Birmingham, Charley Keene and Elmer Davis fought to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final Al Getz teamed with Bob Shipp to take on the duo of Pat Malone & Jack Kelly in a tag team match. Getz & Shipp took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event Southern Heavyweight champion Don McIntyre returned to put his title on the line against the challenge of Johnny Harmon. McIntyre pinned Harmon to win the first fall in 15 minutes and again to win the second fall in 10 minutes to retain his title.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport, Ellis Bashara defeated Bronko Lubich in 15 minutes to win the one fall opening match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match between Mary Jane Mull and Therese Theis. Theis used a series of flying mares on Mull and pinned her to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Mull came back to win the second fall by pinning Theis after a flying body scissors. Theis forced Mull to submit to a Boston Crab after 10 minutes in the deciding fall to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured Jack Curtis taking on Sugy Hayamaka. The two former World Light-Heavyweight champions were facing off hoping to win a shot at current champion, Jack McDonald. Hayamaka used a sleeper hold on Curtis to put him out and win the first fall. Referee Conway Baker told Hayamaka to wake Curtis up, which he did. But as soon as Curtis regained consciousness Hayamaka began kicking him around until Baker reversed his decision and awarded the first fall to Curtis on a disqualification. Curtis and Hayamaka both fought viciously throughout the second fall until Curtis caught Hayamaka in an abdominal stretch and forced him to submit, winning the match in straight falls.
On Tuesday in Monroe the card opened with Sugy Hayamaka facing Red Kirkpatrick. Hayamaka threw Kirkpatrick with judo tosses and pinned him to win the first fall. Hayamaka made it a clean sweep when his used a sleeper hold on Kirkpatrick to put him out in the second fall and took the match in straight falls.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion put his title up for grabs in his match with Ellis Bashara. Neither man paid particular attention to the rules throughout the match but McDonald scored the first fall by pinning Bashara after applying a backbreaker. Bashara came back and flattened McDonald with a series of flying tackles and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Bashara spent most of his time trying to weaken McDonald with a punishing headlock. Once McDonald was able to escape the hold Bashara once again began hitting him with flying tackles. McDonald managed to side step on tackle and Bashara flew head first into the ring post. McDonald easily pinned him to win the fall and the match and retain his title.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge, Al Getz and Pat Cronin met in the opening match. Referee Charley Keene disqualified Cronin for rough tactics and awarded the match to Getz.
The main event was a match between the Skull #1 and ex-partner the Skull #2. The losing man would be forced to unmask. The Skull #1 forced his former partner to submit to a leglock to win the deciding fall. The Skull #2 unmasked and was once again revealed to be Elmer Davis.
Also on Tuesday in Decatur, the card opened with Johnny Harmon taking on Irish Jack Kelly. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
In the main event, popular Nick Carter squared off with George Harben. This match was also scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card featured a double main event. In the first event Al Getz took on Pat Cronin. Getz pinned Cronin to win the first fall. Getz look well on his way to making it a clean sweep until Cronin nailed him with a weapon of some sort. As had happened before with Cronin, a commissioner entered the ring insisting on searching Cronin for an illegal object. Cronin again refused to submit to a search and was disqualified, giving the match to Getz in straight falls.
The main event was another match between the Skull #1 and the Skull #2 with the loser to unmask. The Skull #2 pinned his masked rival to win the first fall and take an early advantage. The Skull #1 came back and won the last two falls to win the match and once again force his former partner to reveal himself. Once again Elmer Davis was the man behind the mask.
On Thursday in New Orleans Johnny Harmon and Baron Von Harben met in the opening match. Von Harben was disqualified to give Harmon the victory.
Irish Jack Kelly defeated Pat Cronin in the second match of the evening.
In the third match of the night Al Getz and the Skull #1 battled to a draw,
In the main event, Charley Keene faced the Skull #2 in a return match. The masked man had pinned Keene in the final fall of the previous week’s 10 man tag team match and Keene was looking to even the score. Keene also agreed to put his thinning hair on the line against the Skull #2’s mask. Keene scored the winning fall to defeated the Skull #2 and force him to unmask. Once again he was revealed to be Elmer Davis.
On Friday in Jackson Sugy Hayamaka and Sailor Moran fought to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
in the semi-final match, Jack Curtis & Ellis Bashara teamed to take on Sockeye Jack McDonald & Red Kirkpatrick in a tag team match. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. The end came when Curtis & Bashara rammed the heads of McDonald and Kirkpatrick together, sending them both sprawling to the mat. Curtis then applied an abdominal stretch on Kirkpatrick and forced him to submit, winning the fall and the match.
The main event was a women’s match with Mary Jane Mull taking on Therese Theis. Theis took two out of three falls over Mull to win the match.
Also on Friday in Anniston the card featured a double main event. In the first Charley Keene won two out of three falls over Baron Von Harben to win their match.
In the main event, Johnny Harmon faced the Skull. each man had won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the deciding fall. Harmon wound up being disqualified in the final fall, giving the fall and the match to the Skull.
On Saturday in Pascagoula Bronko Lubich and Sugy Hayamaka met in the opening match. Hayamaka won two out of three falls over Lubich to win the match.
In the final event Mary Jane Mull and Therese Theis met once again in a women’s match. Theis scored two out of three falls to emerge the victor over Mull once again.
The following Monday in Birmingham Charley Keene and George Harben battled to a draw in the opening match.
The Skull defeated Kola Kwariani in the second match of the evening. Kwariani was the travelling mate and road manager of Argentina Rocca.
In the third event Elmer Davis and Pat Cronin fought to a draw.
The main event featured an appearance by the famed Antonino (Argentina) Rocca, the high flying sensation from Buenos Aries. His opponent for the match was Southern Heavyweight champion Don McIntyre. McIntyre’s title was not on the line. Rocca and McIntyre battled back and forth before Rocca scored the first fall after 55 minutes, using his Argentina backbreaker to force McIntyre to submit. McIntyre was unable to continue and the second fall and the match were awarded to Rocca.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport the card opened with Sugy Hayamaka taking on Ellis Bashara. Bashara forced Hayamaka to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall in 12 minutes. The two tore into each other before the bell for the second fall rang and referee Conway Baker had not even made it to the ring. By the time Baker got into the ring all he had to do was count Bashara out as Hayamaka had put him away with a sleeper hold to win the second fall in just over a minute. Bashara was disqualified by Baker in the third and deciding fall for continuously choking Hayamaka.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Jo Ann Mullenniex to take on Sockeye Jack McDonald & Therese Theis. Theis forced Mullenniex to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall for her team. Mullenniex turned the tables when she forced Theis to give up to the same hold to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Curtis flattened McDonald with a body tackle and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe Bronko Lubich and Sailor Moran faced off in the opening match. Lubich had the advantage for much of the match and seemed on the verge of victory when Moran retreated to a corner to tie the lace on his wrestling boot. While Moran was stalling the bell sounded signifying that the 20 minute time limit had expired. Referee Pat Willis declared the match a draw while Lubich argued that Moran had stalled until the time limit ran out.
In the semi-final match Kola Kwariani faced Ellis Bashara. It was a rough match with both men taking short cuts but Bashara managed to win the first fall in 18 minutes by pinning the bald Russian. Bashara won the second fall in 12 minutes to take the match in straight falls.
In the main event Argentina Rocca faced Sugy Hayamaka. Rocca pinned Hayamaka after a series of dropkicks to win the first fall in 12 minutes. Hayamaka came close to catching Rocca in a sleeper three times during the second fall but the slick Rocca managed to escape each time. Rocca then went back to his dropkicks and a bodyslam before pinning Hayamaka to win the second fall in 7 minutes to take the match in straight falls.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Johnny Harmon faced Elmer Davis in the opening match. Davis pinned Harmon following a series of bodyslams to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Harmon sustained an injured knee in the process and was unable to continue in the second fall. The fall was awarded to Davis, giving him the match in straight falls.
The main event was a match between roughnecks as George Harben took on Pat Cronin. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. Harben scored a pin to win the final fall and the match, although Cronin complained of a fast count by referee Jack Purdin.
That same Tuesday night in Decatur Charley Keene took on the Skull in the opening match of the evening, scheduled for one fall with a 15 minute time limit.
In the second match, also a one fall bout with a 15 minute time limit, Al Getz faced Irish Jack Kelly.
The main event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, Keene & Getz faced Kelly & the Skull in a tag team match.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria veteran Cowboy Jack Purdin took on Elmer Davis. Purdin was a replacement for Johnny Harmon, who had suffered an injured knee the previous night in Baton Rouge. Harmon was a ringside to witness the match which was won by Davis in two straight falls.
In the main event George Harben and Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin squared off once again. Cronin pinned Harben after using a backbreaker to win the first fall. Harben used the same hold for the same result and pinned Cronin to win the second fall. In the third and final fall Cronin caught Harben in a leglock. Harben made his way to the ring ropes but Cronin refused to break the hold. Referee Phil Brummett grabbed Cronin and pulled him off of Harben to force the break. As Cronin struggled with Brummett Harben got to his feet and punched Cronin in the face. Cronin went down and was pinned by Harben. As Brummett was holding up Harben’s hand in victory Cronin attacked the referee and tore his pants. Brummett and Cronin traded blows as Harben left the ring with his hand raised in victory.
Also on Wednesday a card was held in Shreveport for the second time in the week. Promoter Gladden Harrison had secured the services of Argentina Rocca and booked a second card to allow Shreveport fans to see him.
World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald faced Sailor Moran in the opening match, which was a non-title bout. McDonald completely overwhelmed the veteran Moran and pinned him to win the one fall match in 9 minutes.
McDonald and Moran were both involved in the tag team match that made up the semi-final event. Moran teamed with Jack Curtis to take on McDonald & Kola Kwariani. Moran used a reverse cradle to pin McDonald to win the first fall in 9 minutes. Kwariani forced Moran to surrender to a stepover toehold to win the second fall in 4 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, McDonald found himself ties in the ropes as Curtis & Moran double bodyslammed Kwariani and applied a double body press to pin him to win the final fall and the match.
In the main event Argentina Rocca took on Ellis Bashara. Rocca hit Bashara with three dropkicks and pinned him to win the first fall in 16 minutes. Rocca hit Bashara with five more dropkicks and forced him to submit to an Argentine backbreaker to win the second fall in 7 minutes, taking the match in straight falls.
On Thursday in New Orleans Kola Kwariani defeated Pat Cronin in the opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final match Al Getz & Charley Keene won two out of three falls from Baron Von Harben & Elmer Davis in a tag team match. Keene was filling in for the injured Johnny Harmon.
In the main event, Argentina Rocca faced off with Irish Jack Kelly. Rocca defeated Kelly in two straight falls to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson Sugy Hayamaka pinned Bronko Lubich following a judo toss to win the opening match in 15 minutes.
In the semi-final Jack Curtis & Jo Ann Mullenniex teamed to take on Sockeye Jack McDonald & Therese Theis in a mixed tag team match. Theis pinned Mullenniex after McDonald slugged her to win the first fall. Mullenniex pinned Theis with a jackknife to win the second fall. Curtis pinned McDonald to win the third fall and the match for his team.
In the main event, Argentina Rocca faced Ellis Bashara again. This match went much like their match in Shreveport with Rocca winning the match in two straight falls.
Also on Friday in Anniston, the main event was to be Charley Keene & Johnny Harmon facing the Skulls. With the past animosity between the two masked men and the injury sustained earlier in the week to Harmon, it is not known if this match actually occurred.
The same four men were to split into two single preliminary matches.
No results are known for this card.
On Saturday in Pascagoula Sailor Moran took two out of three falls to defeat Sugy Hayamaka in the first match of the night.
In the final match Bronko Lubich took two out of three falls over Jack Roberts to win their match.
The following Monday began the final week of February. In Birmingham Irish Jack Kelly and George Harben battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second bout on the card Elmer Davis defeated Charley Keene.
In the main event, Al Getz & Johnny Harmon joined forces to face the duo of Pat Cronin & the Skull in a tag team match. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall, but Getz had to carry on alone. Harmon had re-injured his knee during the second fall and was unable to continue the match. Despite having the odds against him, Getz managed to score the final fall and win the match.
Also on Monday in Shreveport Bronko Lubich and Sailor Moran met in the one fall opening match. Moran was disqualified to give Lubich the win.
In the semi-final match Sugy Hayamaka faced Ellis Bashara. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. Bashara pinned Hayamaka to win the final fall and the match.
The main event was a World Light-Heavyweight title match with champion Sockeye Jack McDonald defending against Jack Curtis. The match was even going into the deciding fall with each wrestler having scored a fall apiece. At one point during the third fall the two collided and the result was Curtis lying flat on the ring apron while McDonald lay on the arena floor. As the referee began to count both men out he reach the count of 10 but continued counting. McDonald made it back into the ring before the count of twenty and was awarded the fall and the match. The fans at ringside were up in arms because both men should have been counted out with the 10 count. But Commissioner Charlie Oliver explained that the wrestler on the ring apron only had a 10 count to return to the ring, but the one on the floor had a count of 20. Oliver also said that the two would meet again in Shreveport the following week in a no holds barred match.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the main event was a tag team match with Ellis Bashara & Bronko Lubich paired to take on the team of Sockeye Jack McDonald & Walter (Buff) Sirois. Sirois was making his return to the area after a lengthy absence.
Two preliminary matches made up of these same four wrestlers preceded the tag team match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday in Baton Rouge, the card featured a double main event. In the opening event Al Getz took on the Skull. While each man won each of the first two falls, neither could take the deciding fall and the match ended in a 60 minute draw.
The main event was a rematch between Pat Cronin and George Harben. Cronin forced Harben to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the first fall. Harben pinned Cronin after applying an airplane spin to win the second fall and even things up. In the third and deciding fall Harben once again applied an airplane spin but this time his spun a little too long. He was as dazed as Cronin was and both men fell to the match, with Cronin on top. After a count of three, Cronin was awarded the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Decatur, Charley Keene faced Elmer Davis in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
In the main event, Johnny Harmon was matched with Irish 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.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Al Getz faced the Skull in the opening match. The Skull pounded Getz throughout the first fall and pinned him to win the fall. Getz came back with a series of monkey flips and bodyslams before pinning the masked man and winning the second fall. The third and deciding fall saw the advantage go back and forth several times. Neither man was able to score the decisive fall before the 60 minute time limit expired and the match ended in a draw.
The main event was another match in the growing heated rivalry between Pat Cronin and George Harben. Cronin surprised the crowd as the Mississippi Bad Boy wrestled clean throughout much of the first fall. That ended when Harben backed him into the ropes and Cronin threw a haymaker on the break. The blow flattened Harben and he was pinned to give the first fall to Cronin. Harben spent most of the second fall battering Cronin around before pinning him to win the fall and tie things up. During the third and deciding fall Harben had Cronin backed into a corner giving him a pummeling. Harben then backed away and Cronin fell to the mat, taking referee Phil Brummett with him. Harben then covered Cronin for the pin, but Brummett had his leg pinned under Cronin and could not get in place to count the fall. As Brummett managed to get free from Cronin’s weight, Cronin rolled over and pinned Harben to win the fall and the match.
On Thursday in New Orleans Baron Von Harben defeated newcomer Al Perry in the opening match of the evening.
Charley Keene and Elmer Davis battled to a draw in the second match, as did Al Getz and the Skull in the third match.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match featuring teams captained by Joe Gunther and the Skull. Gunther had Perry, Keene, Getz and Johnny Harmon on his team. The Skull was teamed with Von Harben, Davis, Pat Cronin and Jack Kelly. The winning team were to be awarded a special trophy. Gunther’s team won but Gunther refused to accept the trophy for himself and awarded it to teammate Al Getz.
With 1952 being a Leap Year, February had an extra day to present wrestling cards. On Friday in Jackson Buff Sirois defeated Bronko Lubich in the one fall opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final match, Sugy Hayamaka took on Sailor Moran. Each man took one of the first two falls and the match was even at the start of the third and deciding fall. Despite receiving an all-out assault at the hands of Moran, Hayamaka used a sleeper hold on Moran to win the final fall and the match.
The main event was yet another confrontation between Jack Curtis and Sockeye Jack McDonald with McDonald’s World Light-Heavyweight title on the line. McDonald scored the first fall when he applied several backbreakers to Curtis and pinned him. Curtis used a rolling cradle to pin McDonald to win the second fall and even the score. During the third and deciding fall the two were bloody and slugging away at each other on the ring apron. A double knockout sent both men to the area floor. As referee Pat Willis began his count McDonald managed to make it into the ring at the count of 18 but Curtis remained outside the ring. Willis raised McDonald’s hand and awarded the fall and the match to him.
Also on Friday in Anniston Irish Jack Kelly and Pat Cronin met in the main event. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with no time limit.
There were also two supporting preliminary matches scheduled, but the participants are unknown.
There are no known results for this card.
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 February 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 February 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.
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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.
