Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of July 1950
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The first card in July was held in Shreveport. That card opened with a one fall match between George Curtis and Billy Rush. Referee Conway Baker disqualified Rush for illegal tactics and awarded the match to Curtis.
Rush teamed with Rex Mobley in the semi-final match to face George Curtis & Don Keene in a tag team match. Curtis & Keene took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event in Shreveport was a World Light-Heavyweight title match between champion Bobby Segura and challenger Jack Curtis. The match was tied at a fall apiece when Curtis appeared to pin Segura. Just as referee Conway Baker was awarding the match and the title to Curtis, Commissioner Charlie Oliver entered the ring. He stated that George Curtis, Jack’s brother, had tripped Segura from outside the ring which allowed Jack to pin him. Oliver declared the match a no contest and held the title up.
The night next in Monroe, a Fourth of July card was held. Jack & George Curtis teamed to face Billy Rush & the Green Ghost in the main event. The four would be split into 2 singles matches to open the card.
No results are known for this card.
No wrestling was held in Baton Rouge on Tuesday due to the Fourth of July Holiday.
On Wednesday night in Alexandria Chief Little Fox and veteran Jack Steele wrestled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
George Cologne and the Black Phantom also battled to a 30 minute stalemate in the semi-final match.
In the main event Little Fox & Cologne teamed to face the duo of Steele & the Black Phantom in a tag team match. Steele & the Phantom won the first fall handily and were well own their way to doing the same in the second fall when thing went awry. Steele seems to have done something that upset the Black Phantom and the masked man turned on his partner, giving him a bloody nose. The Phantom then exited the ring, as did Little Fox & Cologne. With the bloody Steele the last man standing in the ring, referee Phil Brummett raised his hand in victory. Steele wasn’t satisfied, though, and continued to scream for 10 minutes for the Phantom to return to the ring. Finally promoter Jimmie Thompson and Commissioner Emile Delcomyn convinced Steele to leave the ring by promising him a match against the masked man.
That same night in Gulfport, the opening match saw Pat Newman and the Green Shadow battle to a 15 minute draw.
The second match on the card saw George Curtis and Rex Mobley also wrestle to a 15 minute stalemate.
The main event in Gulfport was a tag team match with Curtis & Newman taking on Mobley & the Green Shadow. The Shadow won the first fall for his team when he forced Curtis to submit to an armlock after 16 minutes of action. Curtis hit the masked man with a series of dropkicks and pinned him in 7 minutes to win the second fall and even the score. The Shadow used a Boston Crab hold on Newman in the third and deciding fall but refused to release after Newman submitted. Referee Claude Skidmore disqualified the Shadow and awarded the fall and the match to Newman & Curtis.
The Thursday night card in New Orleans opened with Chief Little Fox and newcomer George O’Hara wrestling to a draw in the 30 minute preliminary match.
The second event of the evening also went to a 30 minute draw as George Cologne and Chico Ortiz fought to a stalemate.
In the semi-final match Charlie Laye and Jack Steele battled in a wild melee. Steele sustained a cut above one of his eyes, but was able to score the deciding fall to win the match.
In the main event Irish Jack Kelly faced the Black Panther in a best two out of three falls match. This was another rough match as the Panther managed to toss Kelly from the ring during the first fall. Kelly hit the area floor hard and was unable to get back to his feet before getting counted out. After being helped to the dressing room, Kelly was unable to continue the match. The Black Panther was awarded the second fall by forfeit to win the match in straight falls.
The next evening in Montgomery, Jack Steele took two out of three falls over George O’Hara to win the opening match.
In the main event was a rematch between Chief Little Fox and Jack Kelly. Kelly had been disqualified in their previous meeting and Little Fox wanted another match. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In the final fall, Little Fox missed a flying tackle and rammed into the corner post. Little Fox was unable to continue so the fall and the match were awarded to Kelly. Initially it was reported that Little Fox had suffered a broken collarbone, but it turned out just to be a severe bruise.
Also on Friday in Jackson, the opening match had George Curtis, substituting for Billy Rush, taking on the Green Ghost. The Ghost controlled the match throughout and had Curtis in bad shape but could not score a fall. The match ended at the 30 minute time limit and was declared a draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene squared off with Rex Mobley. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. Keene tossed all rules aside and he battered Mobley with every dirty trick in his arsenal. Finally referee Claude Skidmore disqualified Keene and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley.
The main event was a match between bitter rivals Jack Curtis and Bobby Segura. Segura took the first fall as he pinned Curtis after some rough tactics. In the second fall Segura knocked referee Skidmore to the mat as he and Curtis tore into one another. They wound up fighting on the arena floor until both were counted out and the match declared a no contest. Curtis got the final word, however, when he slammed Segura to the arena floor. Segura lay writhing in pain as Curtis walked back to the dressing room.
The next week in Shreveport, the card opened with a match between Don Keene and the Green Shadow. Referee Conway Baker disqualified the Shadow for illegal tactics and awarded the match to Keene.
Rex Mobley defeated George Curtis after 18 minutes in the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to face Bobby Segura & Rex Mobley in a tag team match. The Curtis Brothers scored two out of three falls to win the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe George Curtis & Don Keene combined to face the team of Rex Mobley & the Green Ghost in the main event tag team match. The same four were split into single matches to open the card.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Chief Little Fox defeated Chico Ortiz in the opening match by winning two out of three falls.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Black Phantom. The Phantom forced Steele to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Steele used a series of snap mares on the masked man and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Steele had the Phantom tied in the ropes and was attempting to unmask him. He then back up and ran at the masked man planning on hitting him with a tackle. The Phantom managed to free himself from the ropes and moved out of the way. Steele went flying over the top rope and onto the arena floor. Stunned, he was unable to return to the ring and the Phantom won the fall and the match on a countout.
That same evening action returned to Northwest Florida as wrestling debuted in Panama City, Florida. A card held presented by promoter Joe Gunther at the Civic Center saw George O’Hara defeat Charley Keene while Charlie Laye defeated George Cologne in matches that went nearly an hour each.
On Wednesday night in Alexandria the colorful Chief Little Fox returned and again met rugged Chico Ortiz in the opening match. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the final fall, Ortiz tossed Little Fox from the ring and kicked him several times as he tried to climb back in. Finally Little Fox made his way back into the ring and went into a war dance. He flattened Ortiz several times with tomahawk chops and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event was a grudge match between Jack Steele and the Black Phantom. The two had been tag team partners the previous week until the masked man turned on Steele and bloodied his nose. Steele was anxious to exact some revenge but each time he got his hands on the Phantom the masked man managed to get in the ropes. The Phantom finally unleashed a full out assault on Steele and pinned him after 30 minutes to win the first fall. The fisticuffs continued in the second fall until Steele grabbed up the Phantom with a series of bodyslams and pinned him to win the fall. Steele spent much of the third and deciding fall trying to strip the mask from the Phantom’s head. Steele also tossed the masked man from the ring during the fall. As the Phantom tried to return to the ring, Steele rushed at him headfirst, hoping to butt him in the stomach. The Phantom managed to avoid the blow and Steele went sailing from the ring. Referee Phil Brummett counted Steele out and awarded the fall and the match to the Black Phantom.
That same night in Gulfport, Pat Newman was scheduled to face Rex Mobley in a 45 minute preliminary match. The main event was to be a match between Don Keene and the Green Shadow.
The card was cancelled due to inclement weather.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Prince Alo Leilani, a colorful Hawaiian, made his debut as he battled to a draw with George O’Hara in the opening preliminary match.
George Cologne defeated Chico Ortiz in the second match of the evening, while Jack Steele defeated Charlie Laye in the semi-final match.
In the main event the Black Panther took two out of three falls over Chief Little Fox to win the match.
The following evening in Montgomery Jack Kelly won the first and third falls to defeat Jack Steele in the opening match.
In the main event George O’Hara defeated Chico Ortiz, also by winning the first and third falls.
Prior to the start of the wrestling matches it was announced that Sidney Goltsman, who had promoted wrestling in Montgomery with his father Ben Goltsman, had been killed in an airplane crash in Louisiana near the Texas state line. This was the first of two airplane crashes related in 1950 that related to the wrestling world.
That same evening in Jackson a return match was staged between Rex Mobley and Don Keene. Mobley had suffered quite a beating from Keene the previous week before being awarded that match on a disqualification. Mobley wasn’t satisfied with the win and wanted another chance at Keene. Going into the third and deciding fall, each man had won a fall apiece. The action was fast and furious in the final fall and both men were bleeding from their foreheads. At one point Mobley found himself lying on the arena floor being counted out. Mobley managed to make it back into the ring before the count and upended Keene to pin him to take the fall and the match.
In the main event, Jack & George Curtis joined forces to take on Bobby Segura & the Green Ghost. The Ghost scored the first fall for his team as he forced George Curtis to submit to a Boston Crab. The Curtis Brothers came back and swept the next two falls to win the match.
The following Monday in Shreveport, George Curtis faced the Green Shadow in a 30 minute opening match. In the 60 minute semi-final match, Don Keene was scheduled to face Rex Mobley
The main event featured Jack & George Curtis taking on Bobby Segura & the Green Shadow in a 90 minute tag team match.
No results are known for this card.
On Tuesday in Monroe the opening match was between George Curtis and Rex Mobley. Mobley won the first fall in 13 minutes when he pinned Curtis. Curtis and Mobley spent much of the second fall tossing each other from the ring. Curtis then caught Mobley in a flying headscissors and pinned him to win the fall in 8 minutes. Neither man was able to score the deciding fall before the 60 minute time limit expired and the match was declared a draw.
In the main event Don Keene faced off with the Green Ghost. The Ghost pinned Keene after 7 minutes to win the first fall. Keene came back to take the second fall after 12 minutes. The Ghost pinned Keene with a rocking chair cradle to win the fall and the match in 5 minutes.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Jack Steele and Charley Keene faced off in the opening match. Steele forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Keene flattened Steele with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the second fall. Steele used a shoulder slide to pin Keene to win the third fall and the match.
The main event was a women’s match with Lilly Bitter facing June Byers. Byers used a series of bodyslams and pinned Bitter to take the first fall in 16 minutes. Byers hit Bitter with a kangaroo kick and pinned her in 14 minutes to win the second fall, taking the match in two straight falls.
The same evening at Tommy Oliver Field in Panama City, Prince Alo Leilani met Chico Ortiz in the opening match on the card. George O’Hara faced the Black Panther in the main event.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Charley Keene and Jack Steele met in the opening match. Steele pinned Keene after ramming him in the face with a knee to win the first fall. Keene needed only 3 minutes to win the second fall when he slugged away at Steele and pinned him. In the third and deciding fall, Steele tossed Keene from the ring and punched and kicked him each time he tried to return. Referee Phil Brummett kept trying to keep Steele back but his instructions were ignored. Finally Steele stayed out of the way long enough for Brummett to count Keene out. Brummett initially awarded the fall and the match to Steele, but was shoved by Steele for his troubles. Brummett reversed his decision and awarded the fall and the match to Keene by disqualification.
The main event in Alexandria was a women’s match as June Byers faced Lilly Bitter once again. Byers won two out of three falls over Bitter to win the match.
That same evening in Gulfport Don Keene and Rex Mobley met in a best two out of three falls opener. Mobley won the first fall when he forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab. Keene used the same hold on Mobley to force him to submit to take the second fall. The 45 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall, thus the match was declared a draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Jack Curtis challenged World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura in a title match. The belt had been held up after a match between the two earlier in the month in Shreveport, but had since been returned to Segura. Curtis was a 7 time former champion and was anxious to regain the belt. Segura got carried away with slamming Curtis into the corner turnbuckle head first and was disqualified by referee Claude Skidmore after 15 minutes of action. Curtis came back and flattened Segura with a dropkick and pinned him in 11 minutes to take the second fall. Skidmore awarded the match and the title to Curtis after two straight falls. Segura lodged a protest because he had lost the first fall by disqualification and a title was not supposed to change hands as a result of a disqualification. Jack Curtis left the ring with the title belt, but it was later returned to Segura by the state commission.
On Thursday in New Orleans, George O’Hara defeated Chico Ortiz in the one fall opening match. Jack Steele defeated George Cologne in the second event of the evening, also a one fall match.
In the semi-final match, the Black Panther faced Jack Kelly. The masked man pinned Kelly to win the first fall when Kelly was injured during the action. Kelly was unable to continue and the Panther was awarded the second fall and the match by forfeit.
The ladies were featured in the main event in New Orleans as a five woman Battle Royal was staged. Participating in the Battle Royal were Millie Stafford, Mars Bennett, Dot Dotson, Lilly Bitter and June Byers. The final two remaining were Byers and Bitter, who battled it out until Byers managed to pin Bitter to win the match. By way of her win over Bitter, Byers was promised a match with Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke by promoter Ernestine Murtagh.
On Friday in Montgomery Jack Kelly defeated Alo Leilani by taking the first and third falls to win the opening match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with George O’Hara teaming with Lilly Bitter to take on Chico Ortiz & June Byers. O’Hara & Bitters won the first and third falls to win the match.
Also on Friday in Jackson, George Curtis and Don Keene battled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
Older brother Jack Curtis faced the Green Ghost in the semi-final match. Curtis forced the Ghost to submit to a Boston Crab to win the deciding fall and the match.
In the main event, Rex Mobley faced off with World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura a non-title match. Each man had scored a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Mobley opened a cut over Segura’s eye in the final fall and then tossed him out of the ring. When Segura climbed back into the ring he nailed Mobley with a blow to the jaw with what appeared to be a piece of steel in his hand. Segura quickly pinned Mobley but before referee Claude Skidmore could raise his hand the ringside fans presented a railroad spike that they claimed Segura had tossed from the ring. Skidmore reversed his decision and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley on a disqualification.
On Monday in Shreveport, Rex Mobley and the Green Shadow wrestled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
Lady wrestlers were featured when June Byers and Lilly Bitter met once again in the semi-final match. Bitter took two out of three falls over Byers to win the match.
In the main event Don Keene faced Bobby Segura, World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match. Keene took the first fall when he pinned Segura with a jackknife after 18 minutes. Segura came back and forced Keene to surrender to a Boston Crab after 14 minutes to win the second fall. During the third and deciding fall, Keene suffered a cut over his eye and became enraged. He tossed both Segura and referee Conway Baker out of the ring. Baker disqualified Keene and awarded the fall and the match to Segura.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the card featured a double main event. In the first match George Curtis faced Don Keene in the first match. No result is known for this match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight Champion Bobby Segura put his title on the line once again against top challenger Jack Curtis. Curtis won two out of three falls to take a solid victory over Segura and became the World Light-Heavyweight champion for the eighth time. Curtis would have been a double champion with this victory but he had lost the World Jr. Heavyweight title the previous night to Tarzan White in Birmingham, Alabama.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Jack Steele and George Cologne squared off in the opening match. Steele won the first fall when he pinned Cologne after a series of snap mares. Cologne came back with bodyslams and a pin on Steele to win the second fall. Steele flattened Cologne with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the third fall and the match.
In the main event Tarzan White, the new World Jr. Heavyweight champion, took on the Black Phantom in a non-title match. The Phantom pinned White with a shoulder slide to win the first fall. White used his famous football tackles to flatten the masked man and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the Phantom got into a scuffle with referee Blackie Harrelson and was disqualified, giving the fall and the match to White.
That same evening in Panama City, once again at Tommy Oliver Field, the card featured Chief Little Fox meeting Chico Ortiz in the opening match.
In the main event Jack Kelly was to face Charlie Laye. Both matches were scheduled at two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The next night in Alexandria, the opening match featured World Jr. Heavyweight champion Tarzan White. White was a former All-American football player at the University of Alabama as well as a former professional player with the New York Giants. White’s opponent in this match was George Cologne, himself a former college standout footballer at Tulane University. The match was a non-title bout. Cologne won the first fall when he forced White to submit to a step-over toehold. White used a series of football tackles and a pin on Cologne to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Cologne tried using football tackles himself but White side-stepped him and lifted Cologne up onto his shoulders. White spun Cologne a few times, slammed him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event was another return match between Jack Steele and the Black Phantom. Steele won the first fall when he pinned the Phantom after dropping across the masked man’s chest with both knees. In the second fall, Steele became preoccupied with removing the Phantom’s mask. The Phantom managed to toss Steele from the ring and followed him out. The masked man rammed Steele’s head into the steel ringpost, opening a bloody gash on his forehead. Steele sank to the arena floor as the Phantom climbed back into the ring. Referee Phil Brummett counted Steele out and awarded the fall to the Phantom. Steele was helped back to the dressing room and was unable to continue at the start of the third and deciding fall. The fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom by default.
That same Wednesday night in Gulfport George Curtis and Rex Mobley met in the opening match. Mobley used a rolling split cradle to pin Curtis to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Curtis used a backbreaker to force Mobley to submit after 8 minutes to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Mobley got into a shoving match with referee pat Newman which resulted in a disqualification and the fall and match given to Curtis.
The main event in Gulfport saw the return of lady wrestlers as Lilly Bitter faced June Byers. Byers pinned Bitter in 14 minutes to take the first fall. Bitter came back and scored the second fall with a pin after 8 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Bitter pinned Byers after 9 minutes to win the fall and the match.
On Thursday in New Orleans, George Cologne defeated Charlie Laye in the one fall opening match.
World Jr. Heavyweight champion Tarzan White defeated Chico Ortiz in a non-title match in the second event of the evening.
In the semi-final match Jack Kelly won over the Black Panther when referee Chief Little Fox disqualified the masked man in the deciding fall.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis taking on Jack Steele in a non-title match. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The 90 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall. The match was declared a draw.
The following evening in Montgomery Prince Alo Leilani faced Jack Kelly in the one fall opening match.
In the second event, also a one fall bout, George O’Hara faced Chico Ortiz. Ortiz was upset at being part of a losing team in the mixed tag team match the previous week and challenged O’Hara to a singles match.
The main event featured a tag team match with Leilani & O’Hara teaming to take on Kelly & Ortiz.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Rex Mobley and Bobby Segura met in a one fall opening match. Segura pinned Mobley to take the match.
Jack & George Curtis teamed up to face the team of Don Keene & the Green Ghost in a tag team match for the first half of a double main event. Each team won a fall apiece but neither scored the deciding fall when the 60 minute time limit expired. The match was declared a draw. After the match Keene approached the Curtis Brothers and offered a handshake, only to get punched in the nose by Jack Curtis for his troubles.
The main event featured the lady wrestlers as yet another match between Lilly Bitter and June Byers was staged. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. At one point the ladies battled it out among the ringside chairs but managed to get back into the ring before referee Pat Willis counted them out. Once back in the ring, Bitter caught Byers in a back slide and pinned her to win the fall and the match.
The final card of July was held the following Monday in Shreveport. George Curtis and the Green Shadow fought to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Don Keene and Bobby Segura met in a return match. Keene won the first fall when he pinned Segura. Segura came back to win the next two falls to take the match.
The main event was another 5 woman Battle Royal featuring Mars Bennett, Cora Combs, Lilly Bitter, June Byers and Caroline Copeland. Combs was eliminated first, and then Bitter was triple teamed by Byers, Copeland and Bennett and tossed out. Bennett, the former Ringling Brothers circus performer, then surprised Byers and Copeland and eliminated both of them to win the match.
The first card in July was held in Shreveport. That card opened with a one fall match between George Curtis and Billy Rush. Referee Conway Baker disqualified Rush for illegal tactics and awarded the match to Curtis.
Rush teamed with Rex Mobley in the semi-final match to face George Curtis & Don Keene in a tag team match. Curtis & Keene took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event in Shreveport was a World Light-Heavyweight title match between champion Bobby Segura and challenger Jack Curtis. The match was tied at a fall apiece when Curtis appeared to pin Segura. Just as referee Conway Baker was awarding the match and the title to Curtis, Commissioner Charlie Oliver entered the ring. He stated that George Curtis, Jack’s brother, had tripped Segura from outside the ring which allowed Jack to pin him. Oliver declared the match a no contest and held the title up.
The night next in Monroe, a Fourth of July card was held. Jack & George Curtis teamed to face Billy Rush & the Green Ghost in the main event. The four would be split into 2 singles matches to open the card.
No results are known for this card.
No wrestling was held in Baton Rouge on Tuesday due to the Fourth of July Holiday.
On Wednesday night in Alexandria Chief Little Fox and veteran Jack Steele wrestled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
George Cologne and the Black Phantom also battled to a 30 minute stalemate in the semi-final match.
In the main event Little Fox & Cologne teamed to face the duo of Steele & the Black Phantom in a tag team match. Steele & the Phantom won the first fall handily and were well own their way to doing the same in the second fall when thing went awry. Steele seems to have done something that upset the Black Phantom and the masked man turned on his partner, giving him a bloody nose. The Phantom then exited the ring, as did Little Fox & Cologne. With the bloody Steele the last man standing in the ring, referee Phil Brummett raised his hand in victory. Steele wasn’t satisfied, though, and continued to scream for 10 minutes for the Phantom to return to the ring. Finally promoter Jimmie Thompson and Commissioner Emile Delcomyn convinced Steele to leave the ring by promising him a match against the masked man.
That same night in Gulfport, the opening match saw Pat Newman and the Green Shadow battle to a 15 minute draw.
The second match on the card saw George Curtis and Rex Mobley also wrestle to a 15 minute stalemate.
The main event in Gulfport was a tag team match with Curtis & Newman taking on Mobley & the Green Shadow. The Shadow won the first fall for his team when he forced Curtis to submit to an armlock after 16 minutes of action. Curtis hit the masked man with a series of dropkicks and pinned him in 7 minutes to win the second fall and even the score. The Shadow used a Boston Crab hold on Newman in the third and deciding fall but refused to release after Newman submitted. Referee Claude Skidmore disqualified the Shadow and awarded the fall and the match to Newman & Curtis.
The Thursday night card in New Orleans opened with Chief Little Fox and newcomer George O’Hara wrestling to a draw in the 30 minute preliminary match.
The second event of the evening also went to a 30 minute draw as George Cologne and Chico Ortiz fought to a stalemate.
In the semi-final match Charlie Laye and Jack Steele battled in a wild melee. Steele sustained a cut above one of his eyes, but was able to score the deciding fall to win the match.
In the main event Irish Jack Kelly faced the Black Panther in a best two out of three falls match. This was another rough match as the Panther managed to toss Kelly from the ring during the first fall. Kelly hit the area floor hard and was unable to get back to his feet before getting counted out. After being helped to the dressing room, Kelly was unable to continue the match. The Black Panther was awarded the second fall by forfeit to win the match in straight falls.
The next evening in Montgomery, Jack Steele took two out of three falls over George O’Hara to win the opening match.
In the main event was a rematch between Chief Little Fox and Jack Kelly. Kelly had been disqualified in their previous meeting and Little Fox wanted another match. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In the final fall, Little Fox missed a flying tackle and rammed into the corner post. Little Fox was unable to continue so the fall and the match were awarded to Kelly. Initially it was reported that Little Fox had suffered a broken collarbone, but it turned out just to be a severe bruise.
Also on Friday in Jackson, the opening match had George Curtis, substituting for Billy Rush, taking on the Green Ghost. The Ghost controlled the match throughout and had Curtis in bad shape but could not score a fall. The match ended at the 30 minute time limit and was declared a draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene squared off with Rex Mobley. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. Keene tossed all rules aside and he battered Mobley with every dirty trick in his arsenal. Finally referee Claude Skidmore disqualified Keene and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley.
The main event was a match between bitter rivals Jack Curtis and Bobby Segura. Segura took the first fall as he pinned Curtis after some rough tactics. In the second fall Segura knocked referee Skidmore to the mat as he and Curtis tore into one another. They wound up fighting on the arena floor until both were counted out and the match declared a no contest. Curtis got the final word, however, when he slammed Segura to the arena floor. Segura lay writhing in pain as Curtis walked back to the dressing room.
The next week in Shreveport, the card opened with a match between Don Keene and the Green Shadow. Referee Conway Baker disqualified the Shadow for illegal tactics and awarded the match to Keene.
Rex Mobley defeated George Curtis after 18 minutes in the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to face Bobby Segura & Rex Mobley in a tag team match. The Curtis Brothers scored two out of three falls to win the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe George Curtis & Don Keene combined to face the team of Rex Mobley & the Green Ghost in the main event tag team match. The same four were split into single matches to open the card.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Chief Little Fox defeated Chico Ortiz in the opening match by winning two out of three falls.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Black Phantom. The Phantom forced Steele to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Steele used a series of snap mares on the masked man and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Steele had the Phantom tied in the ropes and was attempting to unmask him. He then back up and ran at the masked man planning on hitting him with a tackle. The Phantom managed to free himself from the ropes and moved out of the way. Steele went flying over the top rope and onto the arena floor. Stunned, he was unable to return to the ring and the Phantom won the fall and the match on a countout.
That same evening action returned to Northwest Florida as wrestling debuted in Panama City, Florida. A card held presented by promoter Joe Gunther at the Civic Center saw George O’Hara defeat Charley Keene while Charlie Laye defeated George Cologne in matches that went nearly an hour each.
On Wednesday night in Alexandria the colorful Chief Little Fox returned and again met rugged Chico Ortiz in the opening match. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the final fall, Ortiz tossed Little Fox from the ring and kicked him several times as he tried to climb back in. Finally Little Fox made his way back into the ring and went into a war dance. He flattened Ortiz several times with tomahawk chops and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event was a grudge match between Jack Steele and the Black Phantom. The two had been tag team partners the previous week until the masked man turned on Steele and bloodied his nose. Steele was anxious to exact some revenge but each time he got his hands on the Phantom the masked man managed to get in the ropes. The Phantom finally unleashed a full out assault on Steele and pinned him after 30 minutes to win the first fall. The fisticuffs continued in the second fall until Steele grabbed up the Phantom with a series of bodyslams and pinned him to win the fall. Steele spent much of the third and deciding fall trying to strip the mask from the Phantom’s head. Steele also tossed the masked man from the ring during the fall. As the Phantom tried to return to the ring, Steele rushed at him headfirst, hoping to butt him in the stomach. The Phantom managed to avoid the blow and Steele went sailing from the ring. Referee Phil Brummett counted Steele out and awarded the fall and the match to the Black Phantom.
That same night in Gulfport, Pat Newman was scheduled to face Rex Mobley in a 45 minute preliminary match. The main event was to be a match between Don Keene and the Green Shadow.
The card was cancelled due to inclement weather.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Prince Alo Leilani, a colorful Hawaiian, made his debut as he battled to a draw with George O’Hara in the opening preliminary match.
George Cologne defeated Chico Ortiz in the second match of the evening, while Jack Steele defeated Charlie Laye in the semi-final match.
In the main event the Black Panther took two out of three falls over Chief Little Fox to win the match.
The following evening in Montgomery Jack Kelly won the first and third falls to defeat Jack Steele in the opening match.
In the main event George O’Hara defeated Chico Ortiz, also by winning the first and third falls.
Prior to the start of the wrestling matches it was announced that Sidney Goltsman, who had promoted wrestling in Montgomery with his father Ben Goltsman, had been killed in an airplane crash in Louisiana near the Texas state line. This was the first of two airplane crashes related in 1950 that related to the wrestling world.
That same evening in Jackson a return match was staged between Rex Mobley and Don Keene. Mobley had suffered quite a beating from Keene the previous week before being awarded that match on a disqualification. Mobley wasn’t satisfied with the win and wanted another chance at Keene. Going into the third and deciding fall, each man had won a fall apiece. The action was fast and furious in the final fall and both men were bleeding from their foreheads. At one point Mobley found himself lying on the arena floor being counted out. Mobley managed to make it back into the ring before the count and upended Keene to pin him to take the fall and the match.
In the main event, Jack & George Curtis joined forces to take on Bobby Segura & the Green Ghost. The Ghost scored the first fall for his team as he forced George Curtis to submit to a Boston Crab. The Curtis Brothers came back and swept the next two falls to win the match.
The following Monday in Shreveport, George Curtis faced the Green Shadow in a 30 minute opening match. In the 60 minute semi-final match, Don Keene was scheduled to face Rex Mobley
The main event featured Jack & George Curtis taking on Bobby Segura & the Green Shadow in a 90 minute tag team match.
No results are known for this card.
On Tuesday in Monroe the opening match was between George Curtis and Rex Mobley. Mobley won the first fall in 13 minutes when he pinned Curtis. Curtis and Mobley spent much of the second fall tossing each other from the ring. Curtis then caught Mobley in a flying headscissors and pinned him to win the fall in 8 minutes. Neither man was able to score the deciding fall before the 60 minute time limit expired and the match was declared a draw.
In the main event Don Keene faced off with the Green Ghost. The Ghost pinned Keene after 7 minutes to win the first fall. Keene came back to take the second fall after 12 minutes. The Ghost pinned Keene with a rocking chair cradle to win the fall and the match in 5 minutes.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Jack Steele and Charley Keene faced off in the opening match. Steele forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Keene flattened Steele with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the second fall. Steele used a shoulder slide to pin Keene to win the third fall and the match.
The main event was a women’s match with Lilly Bitter facing June Byers. Byers used a series of bodyslams and pinned Bitter to take the first fall in 16 minutes. Byers hit Bitter with a kangaroo kick and pinned her in 14 minutes to win the second fall, taking the match in two straight falls.
The same evening at Tommy Oliver Field in Panama City, Prince Alo Leilani met Chico Ortiz in the opening match on the card. George O’Hara faced the Black Panther in the main event.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Charley Keene and Jack Steele met in the opening match. Steele pinned Keene after ramming him in the face with a knee to win the first fall. Keene needed only 3 minutes to win the second fall when he slugged away at Steele and pinned him. In the third and deciding fall, Steele tossed Keene from the ring and punched and kicked him each time he tried to return. Referee Phil Brummett kept trying to keep Steele back but his instructions were ignored. Finally Steele stayed out of the way long enough for Brummett to count Keene out. Brummett initially awarded the fall and the match to Steele, but was shoved by Steele for his troubles. Brummett reversed his decision and awarded the fall and the match to Keene by disqualification.
The main event in Alexandria was a women’s match as June Byers faced Lilly Bitter once again. Byers won two out of three falls over Bitter to win the match.
That same evening in Gulfport Don Keene and Rex Mobley met in a best two out of three falls opener. Mobley won the first fall when he forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab. Keene used the same hold on Mobley to force him to submit to take the second fall. The 45 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall, thus the match was declared a draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Jack Curtis challenged World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura in a title match. The belt had been held up after a match between the two earlier in the month in Shreveport, but had since been returned to Segura. Curtis was a 7 time former champion and was anxious to regain the belt. Segura got carried away with slamming Curtis into the corner turnbuckle head first and was disqualified by referee Claude Skidmore after 15 minutes of action. Curtis came back and flattened Segura with a dropkick and pinned him in 11 minutes to take the second fall. Skidmore awarded the match and the title to Curtis after two straight falls. Segura lodged a protest because he had lost the first fall by disqualification and a title was not supposed to change hands as a result of a disqualification. Jack Curtis left the ring with the title belt, but it was later returned to Segura by the state commission.
On Thursday in New Orleans, George O’Hara defeated Chico Ortiz in the one fall opening match. Jack Steele defeated George Cologne in the second event of the evening, also a one fall match.
In the semi-final match, the Black Panther faced Jack Kelly. The masked man pinned Kelly to win the first fall when Kelly was injured during the action. Kelly was unable to continue and the Panther was awarded the second fall and the match by forfeit.
The ladies were featured in the main event in New Orleans as a five woman Battle Royal was staged. Participating in the Battle Royal were Millie Stafford, Mars Bennett, Dot Dotson, Lilly Bitter and June Byers. The final two remaining were Byers and Bitter, who battled it out until Byers managed to pin Bitter to win the match. By way of her win over Bitter, Byers was promised a match with Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke by promoter Ernestine Murtagh.
On Friday in Montgomery Jack Kelly defeated Alo Leilani by taking the first and third falls to win the opening match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with George O’Hara teaming with Lilly Bitter to take on Chico Ortiz & June Byers. O’Hara & Bitters won the first and third falls to win the match.
Also on Friday in Jackson, George Curtis and Don Keene battled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
Older brother Jack Curtis faced the Green Ghost in the semi-final match. Curtis forced the Ghost to submit to a Boston Crab to win the deciding fall and the match.
In the main event, Rex Mobley faced off with World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura a non-title match. Each man had scored a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Mobley opened a cut over Segura’s eye in the final fall and then tossed him out of the ring. When Segura climbed back into the ring he nailed Mobley with a blow to the jaw with what appeared to be a piece of steel in his hand. Segura quickly pinned Mobley but before referee Claude Skidmore could raise his hand the ringside fans presented a railroad spike that they claimed Segura had tossed from the ring. Skidmore reversed his decision and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley on a disqualification.
On Monday in Shreveport, Rex Mobley and the Green Shadow wrestled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
Lady wrestlers were featured when June Byers and Lilly Bitter met once again in the semi-final match. Bitter took two out of three falls over Byers to win the match.
In the main event Don Keene faced Bobby Segura, World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match. Keene took the first fall when he pinned Segura with a jackknife after 18 minutes. Segura came back and forced Keene to surrender to a Boston Crab after 14 minutes to win the second fall. During the third and deciding fall, Keene suffered a cut over his eye and became enraged. He tossed both Segura and referee Conway Baker out of the ring. Baker disqualified Keene and awarded the fall and the match to Segura.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the card featured a double main event. In the first match George Curtis faced Don Keene in the first match. No result is known for this match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight Champion Bobby Segura put his title on the line once again against top challenger Jack Curtis. Curtis won two out of three falls to take a solid victory over Segura and became the World Light-Heavyweight champion for the eighth time. Curtis would have been a double champion with this victory but he had lost the World Jr. Heavyweight title the previous night to Tarzan White in Birmingham, Alabama.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Jack Steele and George Cologne squared off in the opening match. Steele won the first fall when he pinned Cologne after a series of snap mares. Cologne came back with bodyslams and a pin on Steele to win the second fall. Steele flattened Cologne with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the third fall and the match.
In the main event Tarzan White, the new World Jr. Heavyweight champion, took on the Black Phantom in a non-title match. The Phantom pinned White with a shoulder slide to win the first fall. White used his famous football tackles to flatten the masked man and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the Phantom got into a scuffle with referee Blackie Harrelson and was disqualified, giving the fall and the match to White.
That same evening in Panama City, once again at Tommy Oliver Field, the card featured Chief Little Fox meeting Chico Ortiz in the opening match.
In the main event Jack Kelly was to face Charlie Laye. Both matches were scheduled at two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The next night in Alexandria, the opening match featured World Jr. Heavyweight champion Tarzan White. White was a former All-American football player at the University of Alabama as well as a former professional player with the New York Giants. White’s opponent in this match was George Cologne, himself a former college standout footballer at Tulane University. The match was a non-title bout. Cologne won the first fall when he forced White to submit to a step-over toehold. White used a series of football tackles and a pin on Cologne to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Cologne tried using football tackles himself but White side-stepped him and lifted Cologne up onto his shoulders. White spun Cologne a few times, slammed him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event was another return match between Jack Steele and the Black Phantom. Steele won the first fall when he pinned the Phantom after dropping across the masked man’s chest with both knees. In the second fall, Steele became preoccupied with removing the Phantom’s mask. The Phantom managed to toss Steele from the ring and followed him out. The masked man rammed Steele’s head into the steel ringpost, opening a bloody gash on his forehead. Steele sank to the arena floor as the Phantom climbed back into the ring. Referee Phil Brummett counted Steele out and awarded the fall to the Phantom. Steele was helped back to the dressing room and was unable to continue at the start of the third and deciding fall. The fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom by default.
That same Wednesday night in Gulfport George Curtis and Rex Mobley met in the opening match. Mobley used a rolling split cradle to pin Curtis to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Curtis used a backbreaker to force Mobley to submit after 8 minutes to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, Mobley got into a shoving match with referee pat Newman which resulted in a disqualification and the fall and match given to Curtis.
The main event in Gulfport saw the return of lady wrestlers as Lilly Bitter faced June Byers. Byers pinned Bitter in 14 minutes to take the first fall. Bitter came back and scored the second fall with a pin after 8 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Bitter pinned Byers after 9 minutes to win the fall and the match.
On Thursday in New Orleans, George Cologne defeated Charlie Laye in the one fall opening match.
World Jr. Heavyweight champion Tarzan White defeated Chico Ortiz in a non-title match in the second event of the evening.
In the semi-final match Jack Kelly won over the Black Panther when referee Chief Little Fox disqualified the masked man in the deciding fall.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis taking on Jack Steele in a non-title match. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The 90 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall. The match was declared a draw.
The following evening in Montgomery Prince Alo Leilani faced Jack Kelly in the one fall opening match.
In the second event, also a one fall bout, George O’Hara faced Chico Ortiz. Ortiz was upset at being part of a losing team in the mixed tag team match the previous week and challenged O’Hara to a singles match.
The main event featured a tag team match with Leilani & O’Hara teaming to take on Kelly & Ortiz.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Rex Mobley and Bobby Segura met in a one fall opening match. Segura pinned Mobley to take the match.
Jack & George Curtis teamed up to face the team of Don Keene & the Green Ghost in a tag team match for the first half of a double main event. Each team won a fall apiece but neither scored the deciding fall when the 60 minute time limit expired. The match was declared a draw. After the match Keene approached the Curtis Brothers and offered a handshake, only to get punched in the nose by Jack Curtis for his troubles.
The main event featured the lady wrestlers as yet another match between Lilly Bitter and June Byers was staged. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. At one point the ladies battled it out among the ringside chairs but managed to get back into the ring before referee Pat Willis counted them out. Once back in the ring, Bitter caught Byers in a back slide and pinned her to win the fall and the match.
The final card of July was held the following Monday in Shreveport. George Curtis and the Green Shadow fought to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Don Keene and Bobby Segura met in a return match. Keene won the first fall when he pinned Segura. Segura came back to win the next two falls to take the match.
The main event was another 5 woman Battle Royal featuring Mars Bennett, Cora Combs, Lilly Bitter, June Byers and Caroline Copeland. Combs was eliminated first, and then Bitter was triple teamed by Byers, Copeland and Bennett and tossed out. Bennett, the former Ringling Brothers circus performer, then surprised Byers and Copeland and eliminated both of them to win the match.
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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 July 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Updated: July 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of April 1950.
Click Here for a recap of May 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of December 19551.
