Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of July 1951
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July opened with a card on Monday the 2nd in Shreveport. Charlie Laye defeated Dutch Schultz in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match Laye teamed with Rex Mobley to take on Schultz & Paddy Mack in a tag team match. Mack pinned Mobley to win the first fall for his side but Mobley returned the favor when he pinned Mack with a rolling cradle to take the second. Mack forced Laye to submit to a Boston Crab to win the deciding fall and the match for he & Schultz.
The main event was another return title match between World Light-heavyweight champion Henry Harrell and former champion Buff Sirois. This rivalry was turning into one of the most bitter in the area in recent years and this match was no exception. Harrell gained an early advantage when he was awarded the first fall when Sirois was disqualified. Sirois had Harrell in a Boston Crab when Harrell managed to make it to the ropes. Sirois refused to break the hold and was disqualified. Harrell was irate over this turn of events and started the second fall aggressively. The two fought toe to toe for several minutes before Harrell caught Sirois in a jackknife and pinned him to win the fall and the match and retain his title.
Also on Monday Jim Murtagh presented his second card in Franklin. Charley Keene took two out of three falls to win the opening match over Prince Omar.
In the second match on the card, Bill Cazzell won over Lee Savoldi in two straight falls.
This was the last card held in Franklin until 1954.
On Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card featured a double main event. Charley Keene met Bill Cazzell in the first event.
The second event had Lee Savoldi facing Prince Omar.
No results are known for this card.
Wrestling was also held in Gulfport on Tuesday because Wednesday was the Fourth of July Holiday. The card featured two matches, both two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
In the opening match Rex Mobley took on Paddy Mack. Mobley took the first fall with a rolling cradle and pin on Mack in 10 minutes. Mack had Mobley in an armlock at the 11 minute mark of the second fall. Mobley submitted but Mack refused to release the hold. Referee Al Perry reversed the decision and disqualified Mack, giving the fall and the match to Mobley.
The second event saw Gulfport’s favorite son, Pat Newman, taking on former World Light-Heavyweight champion Buff Sirois. Newman was awarded the first fall after 23 minutes when Sirois was disqualified by referee Al Perry for illegal punching. Newman pinned Sirois to take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Lee Savoldi and Charley Keene met in the first of two matches booked on the card. Keene won the first fall of the match when he pinned Savoldi. Savoldi came back and took the second fall to even the score. In the third and deciding fall Keene started taking shortcuts and Savoldi lost his temper. He chased Keene all over the ring but the wily veteran managed to stay out of harm’s way. Finally Savoldi was worn out form all of the chasing so Keene was able to catch him in a pinning combination and won the fall and the match.
After the excitement of the Savoldi-Keene match, the battle of bullies between Bill Cazzell and Prince Omar was a bit anti-climactic. Cazzell took the first and third falls over Omar to win the match.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur the card opened with a one fall match between Irish Jack Kelly and newcomer Joe Corbett.
The semi-final was a midgets’ match, best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. The combatants in that match were Sonny Boy Cassidy and Fuzzy Cupid.
The feature event was a best two out of three falls match between Danny Ferrazzo and Ripper Leone with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Cyclone Johnny Bence and Charley Keene battled to a 20 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the evening saw Fuzzy Cupid defeat Sonny Boy Cassidy in a one fall midgets’ match.
Ripper Leone scored two out of three falls to take the third match over Al Massey.
In the final match of the night Prince Omar & Bill Cazzell took two out of three falls to win their match against Lee Savoldi & Danny Ferrazzo.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg the card had to be revamped when Paddy Mack failed to appear with no explanation or substitute. Mack & Al Getz were scheduled to face Rex Mobley & Tuffy Olsen. With Mack a no show, the first match on the card was changed to Mobley facing Olsen. Mobley won the match in two straight falls.
Mobley then returned to the ring after a brief intermission to take on Al Getz. Mobley was just too weak from having been in the previous match and Getz won the match in two straight falls.
On Friday in Jackson the opening matches saw Charlie Laye facing Dutch Schultz in one and Al Getz facing Paddy Mack in the other.
No results are known for either of these matches.
The main event in Jackson was a grudge match with Henry Harrell & Rex Mobley taking on Buff Sirois & Pat (Big Boy) Cronin in a tag team encounter. Harrell, the reigning World Light-Heavyweight champion had a run-in with Cronin during his title match against Sirois the previous week in Jackson. He wanted to face them both at the same time but promoter Billy Romanoff insisted he get a partner. Harrell recruited veteran Mobley, himself a former World Light-Heavyweight champion. Romanoff also assigned two referees, Al Perry and Pat Willis, to the match to try and maintain some order. Sirois & Cronin won the first fall while Harrell & Mobley took the second. Cronin pinned Harrell in the third and final fall and his team was awarded the match, but that’s when the fireworks really began. Harrell and Cronin got into a wild melee and by the time things were cleared Harrell was in the hospital and Cronin was in jail. Once Harrell was checked and released from the hospital he asked for any charges against Cronin to be dropped, stating that he would handle things himself in the wrestling ring.
The following Monday in Shreveport, the card featured 3 one fall opening matches and a 6 man Battle Royal.
In the first opening match Rex Mobley defeated Al Getz. Buff Sirois defeated Charlie Laye in the second bout. In the third match Henry Harrell defeated Prince Omar.
All 6 men returned to the ring for the Battle Royal. Rex Mobley pinned Henry Harrell to become the last man in the ring and was awarded the victory.
Wrestling returned to Monroe on Tuesday, a month ahead of when it was originally planned to. In the opening match Rex Mobley faced Prince Omar, who was substituting for Paddy Mack, who was unable to compete due to an injury. Mobley won the match by winning two straight falls.
In the main event Jack Curtis returned to action and squared off with Buff Sirois. Curtis had lost the World Light-Heavyweight title to Sirois in February and lost a long awaited rematch with him in May. This was Curtis’ first appearance in the area since losing the rematch and although Sirois was no longer champion, Curtis still wanted some payback. Sirois won the first fall after punching Curtis in the face several times and pinning him. Curtis won the second fall in much the same manner as he battered Sirois around the ring before pinning him to even the score. Curtis was a whirlwind during the third and deciding fall and flattened Sirois in quick fashion and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Baton Rouge, newcomer Lou Britton took two out of three falls to win the opening match over Al Massey. Britten was the road manager for the traveling troupe of wrestling midgets.
The main event raptured two of those midgets with Sonny Boy Cassidy, the pint sized cowboy, taking on Fuzzy Cupid, billed as the Gorgeous George of the midget class. Cupid was disqualified in the first fall to give Cassidy an early advantage. Cassidy used kangaroo kicks and a cross body block on Cupid to pin him to take the second fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Lou Britton was once again appeared in the opening bout of the evening. This time Britton was serving as a substitute for Danny Ferrazzo, who was unable to appear. His opponent was once again Al Massey, who was anxious to avenge his loss in two straight falls the night before in Baton Rouge. Britton used a series of low blows on Massey, which went unobserved by referee Phil Brummett. Severely weakened by these tactics Massey was easily pinned to give the first fall to Britton. In the second round Massey punished Britton with a short arm-scissors before pinning him to take the fall. Massey and Britton spent much of the third and deciding fall slugging away at each other. Massey once again caught Britton in the short arm-scissors but was able to claw his way to the ropes. As Britton gripped the bottom rope, referee Brummett demanded that he let go. When Britton refused, Brummett kicked his hand from the rope. Britton then reached out and untied Brummett’s shoe. When Brummett went to a corner to re-tie his shoe Britton raked Massey’s eyes and broke free of the hold he was in. Massey was enraged and started choking Britton. Brummett began counting for Massey to break the choke but Massey refused. Brummett disqualified him and awarded the fall and the match to Britton.
In the feature event Sonny Boy Cassidy and Fuzzy Cupid met in a midgets’ match. Once again Cupid found himself disqualified for foul tactics to give the first fall to Cassidy. During the second fall Cassidy was giving Cupid a hard time until Cupid bit him on the leg. This only served to make the cowboy mad and he bounced Cupid all over the ring before jumping on him from the ropes and pinning him to take the fall and the match.
That same evening in Gulfport, the main event was a tag team match with Rex Mobley & Pat Newman teaming to take on Al Getz & Buff Sirois. Sirois was a fill-in for the absent Paddy Mack who was unable to appear. Sirois proved to be a capable replacement as he forced Mobley to submit to a half Boston Crab to win the first fall after 12 minutes. Newman used a series of body slams on Getz and pinned him after 15 minutes to win the second fall. Mobley & Newman held the advantage for most of the third and deciding fall. Mobley tangled Getz in the ropes by his feet and repeatedly rammed him headfirst into the canvas. Getz finally broke free and tagged in Sirois while Mobley tagged in Newman. Sirois met Newman with a punch to the head but Newman came back and started body slamming Sirois to set him up for a pin. After one slam Sirois was able to grab Newman by the leg and trip him. Sirois then applied a half Boston Crab and forced Newman to submit. The ringside fans yelled to referee Charlie Laye that Sirois had done something illegal and Laye checked with Newman. Newman admitted that there was nothing out of the way in the way Sirois took the fall and Laye awarded the fall and the match to Sirois & Getz.
The Gulfport card opened with two one fall preliminary matches with Mobley and Sirois meeting in one; Newman and Getz facing off in the other. Both matches ended in 15 minute draws.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur, the card featured two matches. Charley Keene faced Bill Cazzell in the first match, which was a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minutes time limit.
In the second match, a best two out of three fall match with a 90 minute time limit, Lee Savoldi took on Ripper Leone.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans the card opened with Cyclone Johnny Bence and Irish Jack Kelly meeting in a one fall match. They wrestled to a fast 20 minute draw.
The semi-final match was a mixed tag team match with Charley Keene & Sonny Boy Cassidy combining their talents to take on the duo of Lou Britton & Fuzzy Cupid. Britton & Cupid came out on top in that match.
The main event was yet another return match between Al Massey and Ripper Leone. Leone took two out of three falls to ear his third straight victory over Massey in New Orleans.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg, the card opened with a match between Charlie Laye and Al Perry. Laye scored two out of three falls to take the victory over Perry.
The main event saw Henry Harrell, World Light-Heavyweight champion, taking on Al Getz in a non-title match. Harrell pinned Getz in each of the first two falls to win the match.
On Friday night in Jackson, the opening matches featured Charlie Laye meeting Al Getz and Rex Mobley taking on Buff Sirois. No results are known for either of these matches.
In the main event Henry Harrell and Pat (Big Boy) Cronin continued their seething feud. The match was a set as a one fall to a finish match and was a fast and furious one from the start with both men bleeding just a few minutes into the match. Each man Harrell won the match when he managed to catch Cronin in an octopus hold and forced him to submit.
The following week in Shreveport, Charlie Laye defeated Al Getz in a one fall opening match.
In the second match of the evening Jack Curtis totally outclassed Buff Sirois and beat him in two straight falls to win their match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell met Rex Mobley, who had held the same title 5 times previously, in a non-title match. Harrell scored the first fall when his used a reverse jackknife on Mobley and pinned him. Mobley battered Harrell around in the second fall and tossed him from the ring. Harrell was unable to recover and reenter the ring before being counted out to give Mobley the fall. Mobley was totally out of control during the third and final fall. He tossed both Harrell and referee Bob Seeley from the ring and went out after them. He then rammed both of their heads into the ringpost. When Seeley finally regained his senses he called for the bell. He disqualified Mobley and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the main event was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis joining forces to take on the rugged duo of Rex Mobley & Al Getz.
The card opened with tow single fall preliminary matches made up of these same four combatants.
No results are known for this card.
That same night in Baton Rouge Cyclone Johnny Bence faced Lou Britton in the opening match. After Britton won the first fall Bence came back and won the final two fall to win the match.
In the feature match Sonny Boy Cassidy took two out of three falls to defeated Irish Jackie in a midgets’ match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card opened with a midgets’ match between Sonny Boy Cassidy and Irish Jackie. Jackie pinned Cassidy to win the first fall. Cassidy came back and won the next two in a row to score the victory.
In the main event Cyclone Johnny Bence faced off with Lou Britton. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Bence flattened Britton with a dropkick and pinned him to win the deciding fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport George Curtis faced Al Getz in the opening match. Curtis pinned Getz to win the first fall. Curtis took the match in two straight falls when referee Pat Newman disqualified Getz in the second fall.
The main event was a match for the World Light-Heavyweight title with champion Henry Harrell putting his title on the line against the man that he took it from, Buff Sirois. Sirois forced Harrell to submit to a half Boston Crab to win the first fall after 16 minutes. Harrell returned the favor when he forced Sirois to submit to an abdominal stretch to win the second fall in 12 minutes. In the deciding fall Sirois continually clamped a headlock on Harrell and rammed his head into the corner turnbuckle. When he tried the tactic for a final time Harrell managed to slip free enough to catch Sirois in a jackknife and pinned him to win the fall and the match and remain champion.
That same evening in Decatur the card opened with a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit. That match featured Joe Corbett taking on Ripper Leone.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Charley Keene teaming with the Mighty Fritz to take on Prince Omar & Irish Jackie.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Joe Corbett defeated Lou Britton in the one fall opening match of the evening.
Ripper Leone continued his winning ways in New Orleans when he defeated Johnny Bence by taking two out of three falls over him to win the second match.
The main event was an all midgets tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz faced off with Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz won the match in two straight falls.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg Al Perry was scheduled to face Al Getz in the opening match.
The main event was to be World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell facing Charlie Laye, a 2 time former holder of the same title, in a non-title match.
The card was cancelled due to a severe rain storm.
On Friday in Jackson Rex Mobley and Charlie Laye wrestled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
George Curtis and Ripper Leone wrestled to a draw in the second event, also scheduled for one fall.
The semi-final match featured midget wrestlers as Sunny Boy Cassidy faced Irish Jackie. Jackie was a substitute for Fuzzy Cupid who had suffered an injury the night before in New Orleans. Jackie totally overwhelmed Cassidy and took two straight falls to win the match.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced off with his old nemesis Buff Sirois. Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match.
The following week in Shreveport Jack Curtis defeated Lou Britton in the one fall opening match.
In the second match of the evening, also a one fall affair, George Curtis and Al Getz wrestled to a draw.
The semi-final match was a midgets’ tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz taking on Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz won the match when they won two straight falls.
The main event was a return match between Henry Harrell and Rex Mobley. Harrell’s World Light-Heavyweight title was not on the line in this match. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the deciding fall. During the third fall both men fell from the ring and were fighting on the arena floor and were counted out. The match was declared a draw. Mobley went immediately to promoter Gladden Harrison and demanded another match. Harrison agreed and announced that the match would take place on the next Shreveport card.
On Tuesday in Monroe things got off to a wild start in the opening match. In that match, a midgets’ match, Sonny Boy Cassidy faced Irish Jackie. Cassidy pinned Jackie in 25 minutes to win the first fall. While Cassidy headed back to the dressing room between falls, Jackie remained in the ring taunting the jeering fans. He challenged anyone who dared to get in the ring with him and one spectator took him up on his offer. He jumped into the ring and before Jackie could react slapped the mighty mite across the face. Referee Jack Britton, who was the brother of Lou Britton and like Lou a road manager for the midget troupe, rushed back into the ring and attacked the man. Monroe police officers quickly swarmed the ring and arrested both Britton and the spectator. The match continued with Billy Romanoff taking over as referee. Jackie pinned Cassidy following a series of body slams to win the second fall and even the match after 10 minutes. The third and deciding fall was a quick one as it only took Cassidy 5 minutes to subdue Jackie and pin him to win the fall and the match.
The feature match was between George Curtis and Charlie Laye. Curtis was trying to climb the ladder and gain a shot at the World Light-Heavyweight crown. Curtis’ older brother Jack had held the title several times and he was hoping to uphold the family tradition by winning the title himself. That title was now in the hands of Henry Harrell, a close friend of both of the Curtis brothers. Laye, a former champion himself, was also trying to earn a shot at Harrell and the title he’d once held. Laye won the first fall when he knocked the wind out of Curtis with a punch to the stomach and pinned him. Curtis came into the second fall like a house afire and flattened Laye with dropkicks and pinned him to take the fall and even the score. Curtis was in complete control of the third and deciding fall as he had Laye reeling from punches and knee-lifts. Just when it seemed Curtis was about to put Laye away, Laye upended him and pinned him to take the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card opened with a match between Joe Corbett and Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly pinned Corbett in 15 minutes to win the first fall. Corbett applied a Japanese sleeper hold on Kelly and forced him into submission in 7 minutes to take the second fall. Corbett used the same hold with the same results after 5 minutes of the third and final fall to win the match.
In the main event Cyclone Johnny Bence faced off with the unpopular Persian, Prince Omar. Bence used a series of kangaroo kicks and a pin on Omar to take the first fall. Omar came back with a series of body slams and a pin to beat Bence and take the second fall. Bence once again levelled Omar with kangaroo kicks and pinned him to win the deciding fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Joe Corbett met Irish Jack Kelly once again in the opening match. Corbett won the first fall when he used the Japanese sleeper hold on Kelly to put him to sleep. It took ringside officials a full four minutes to revive Kelly between falls. Though still slightly groggy, Kelly managed to pin Corbett to win the second fall and even the match. Corbett once again used his sleeper to subdue Kelly to win the third fall and the match. This time Corbett woke Kelly up himself.
The main event was yet another match between Cyclone Johnny Bence and Prince Omar. Omar won the first fall in 25 minutes after using a series of knee drops on Bence and pinning him. Bence came back with dropkicks and pinned Omar to win the second fall. Bence was using dropkicks again in the final fall when Omar suddenly pulled referee Phil Brummett in front of him to use as a shield. Bence flattened Brummett and then wound up tangled in the ropes. Omar quickly covered the prone Bence and Brummett, still dazed, tolled the count despite the fact that Bence had his feet in the ropes. As soon as Brummett awarded the fall and the match to Omar, the Persian Prince raced for the safety of his dressing room. After arguing with Brummett, Bence remained in the ring for nearly a half hour after the match trying to get Omar to return and face him, but to no avail.
That same night in Gulfport, Henry Harrell met Rex Mobley in the 45 minute opening match. Mobley used his rolling cradle on Harrell to pin him to win the first fall in 7 minutes. Harrell came back to win the second fall in 4 minutes when he used a jackknife on Mobley and pinned him. In the third fall Mobley had Harrell backed into the corner and was punching away at him when referee Jack Britton stepped in to break things up. Mobley ignored him so Britton, himself a wrestler, clamped a full nelson on him and began dragging him to the center of the ring. Harrell bounced off the ropes and levelled Mobley with a punch to the jaw while Britton was still holding him. Harrell then pinned the stunned Mobley and won the third fall and the match. Harrell, who is usually popular with the fans, was soundly booed as was referee Britton.
The main event was another midgets’ match with Sonny Boy Cassidy once again taking on Irish Jackie. Referee Jack Britton disqualified Jackie after 23 minutes of the first fall and awarded the fall to Cassidy. Cassidy used a series of dropkicks on Jackie and pinned him after 10 minutes to win the second fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur the only thing known about the card there was that Millie Stafford was scheduled to face an unnamed opponent in a women’s match. Nothing else is known about the card nor are any results known.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Charley Keene and Prince Omar wrestled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the second match, also a one fall match, Joe Corbett used his sleeper hold to subdue Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly then got into a scuffle with Ripper Leone outside the dressing room following the match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match with popular Gloria Barattini, the former opera singer from Baltimore, taking on Millie Stafford of Minneapolis. Barattini took two out of three falls to score the victory over Stafford.
In the main event was a return match between Cyclone Johnny Bence and Ripper Leone. Leone won two out of three falls to win his sixth match in a row in New Orleans and his second consecutive over Bence.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg, Sonny Boy Cassidy and Irish Jackie met in the first feature match of the night. No result for this match is known.
In the second feature George Curtis once again met Charlie Laye. Laye won the first fall in 28 minutes when he pinned Curtis. Curtis came back and won the second fall after pinning Laye in 14 minutes. Curtis took the match when he pinned Laye in less than 3 minutes in the final fall. After the match Laye argued with referee Glenn Orr claiming that he had been the victim of a fast count. His pleas fell on deaf ears and he stormed from the ring. As Laye stomped back to the dressing room, ring announcer Andy Andersen grabbed the house mic and counted a cadence in step with Laye’s stomping. Laye turned and gave Andersen a dirty look before disappearing into the dressing room.
On Friday in Jackson, George Curtis and Charlie Laye met once again in the opening match. They both put up a valiant struggle but the match ended in a draw.
Jack Curtis earned one victory for the family as he pinned Jack Britton in the second match of the evening, also a one faller.
The semi-final match was a midgets’ tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz taking on Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz took two straight falls from their opponents to win the match.
In the main event Henry Harrell, World Light-Heavyweight champion, met Al Getz in a non-title match. Harrell got a surprise, one he was none too happy about, when Getz was accompanied to the ring by Pat Cronin. Cronin was quickly becoming Harrell’s most hated rival and Harrell had to be restrained to keep from going after him. Cronin took the ringside microphone from announcer Bob Neblett and challenged Harrell to a future tag team match. He claimed to be importing a tag team partner that could beat any combination of what he called the Vicksburg Gang, meaning Harrell and the Curtis Brothers. Harrell responded by saying that he and Jack Curtis would gladly accept the challenge.
As for the match with Getz, each man scored one of the first two falls and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. The two went at each other hammer and tongs until Harrell whipped Getz into the ropes. As Getz rebounded Harrell caught him in a jackknife, rolled him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The final two days in July began on Monday in Shreveport. Charlie Laye faced newcomer Colonel George Harben, the Southern gentleman from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Despite Harben’s rough tactics, Laye scored an upset when he pinned Harben to win the one fall match.
In the semi-final match Roland Meeker, a former Shreveport police officer, returned to his hometown after being away several years. He faced Al Getz in a best two out of three falls match. Meeker won the first and third fall to score a popular victory over Getz.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell put his title on the line against Rex Mobley, who was trying to win the title for the 6th time. These two had engaged in a series of rough matches in Shreveport and this match was no exception. Mobley was disqualified in the first fall to give Harrell an early advantage. Harrell caught Mobley in his jackknife hold and pinned him to win the second fall, winning the match in straight falls and retaining his title.
The last day of July featured cards in two cities. In Monroe the card featured two matches. Roland Meeker and Rex Mobley met in the first feature. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In that fall Mobley had Meeker trapped in the ropes and was slugging away at him. Referee Bill Barney moved in to break things up and Mobley slugged him as well. Barney disqualified Mobley and awarded the fall and the match to Meeker.
In the second feature Henry Harrell faced Charlie Laye. Laye took an early advantage when he pinned Harrell after 22 minutes to win the first fall. During the second fall Laye tossed Harrell from the ring twice. After the second time he followed him out and slugged him while he was on the floor. After Harrell got back into the ring Laye attempted to toss him out again but Harrell managed to bounce off the ropes instead. He jumped on top of Laye and pinned him to take the fall in 15 minutes. In the third and deciding fall Laye had Harrell backed into the ropes and was pummeling him. Referee Bill Barney stepped in to break things up and pushed Laye to the center of the ring. Harrell once again bounced from the ropes and jumped on Laye, riding him to the mat. As Barney moved in to count the fall Laye managed to drape his foot across the bottom rope. Barney counted the fall anyway and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell after 12 minutes. Laye ranted and raved for several minutes following the match but finally gave up and left the ring.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Cyclone Johnny Bence and Charley Keene wrestled to a draw in the one fall opener.
Joe Corbett and Prince Omar also wrestled to a draw in the one fall second match of the evening.
In the main event Bence & Corbett teamed up to face Keene & Omar in a tag team match. Corbett scored the first fall for his team when he forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab after 26 minutes. In the second fall referee Blackie Harrelson disqualified Keene & Omar for excessive roughness and awarded the fall and the match to Bence & Corbett.
July opened with a card on Monday the 2nd in Shreveport. Charlie Laye defeated Dutch Schultz in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final match Laye teamed with Rex Mobley to take on Schultz & Paddy Mack in a tag team match. Mack pinned Mobley to win the first fall for his side but Mobley returned the favor when he pinned Mack with a rolling cradle to take the second. Mack forced Laye to submit to a Boston Crab to win the deciding fall and the match for he & Schultz.
The main event was another return title match between World Light-heavyweight champion Henry Harrell and former champion Buff Sirois. This rivalry was turning into one of the most bitter in the area in recent years and this match was no exception. Harrell gained an early advantage when he was awarded the first fall when Sirois was disqualified. Sirois had Harrell in a Boston Crab when Harrell managed to make it to the ropes. Sirois refused to break the hold and was disqualified. Harrell was irate over this turn of events and started the second fall aggressively. The two fought toe to toe for several minutes before Harrell caught Sirois in a jackknife and pinned him to win the fall and the match and retain his title.
Also on Monday Jim Murtagh presented his second card in Franklin. Charley Keene took two out of three falls to win the opening match over Prince Omar.
In the second match on the card, Bill Cazzell won over Lee Savoldi in two straight falls.
This was the last card held in Franklin until 1954.
On Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card featured a double main event. Charley Keene met Bill Cazzell in the first event.
The second event had Lee Savoldi facing Prince Omar.
No results are known for this card.
Wrestling was also held in Gulfport on Tuesday because Wednesday was the Fourth of July Holiday. The card featured two matches, both two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
In the opening match Rex Mobley took on Paddy Mack. Mobley took the first fall with a rolling cradle and pin on Mack in 10 minutes. Mack had Mobley in an armlock at the 11 minute mark of the second fall. Mobley submitted but Mack refused to release the hold. Referee Al Perry reversed the decision and disqualified Mack, giving the fall and the match to Mobley.
The second event saw Gulfport’s favorite son, Pat Newman, taking on former World Light-Heavyweight champion Buff Sirois. Newman was awarded the first fall after 23 minutes when Sirois was disqualified by referee Al Perry for illegal punching. Newman pinned Sirois to take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Lee Savoldi and Charley Keene met in the first of two matches booked on the card. Keene won the first fall of the match when he pinned Savoldi. Savoldi came back and took the second fall to even the score. In the third and deciding fall Keene started taking shortcuts and Savoldi lost his temper. He chased Keene all over the ring but the wily veteran managed to stay out of harm’s way. Finally Savoldi was worn out form all of the chasing so Keene was able to catch him in a pinning combination and won the fall and the match.
After the excitement of the Savoldi-Keene match, the battle of bullies between Bill Cazzell and Prince Omar was a bit anti-climactic. Cazzell took the first and third falls over Omar to win the match.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur the card opened with a one fall match between Irish Jack Kelly and newcomer Joe Corbett.
The semi-final was a midgets’ match, best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. The combatants in that match were Sonny Boy Cassidy and Fuzzy Cupid.
The feature event was a best two out of three falls match between Danny Ferrazzo and Ripper Leone with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Cyclone Johnny Bence and Charley Keene battled to a 20 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the evening saw Fuzzy Cupid defeat Sonny Boy Cassidy in a one fall midgets’ match.
Ripper Leone scored two out of three falls to take the third match over Al Massey.
In the final match of the night Prince Omar & Bill Cazzell took two out of three falls to win their match against Lee Savoldi & Danny Ferrazzo.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg the card had to be revamped when Paddy Mack failed to appear with no explanation or substitute. Mack & Al Getz were scheduled to face Rex Mobley & Tuffy Olsen. With Mack a no show, the first match on the card was changed to Mobley facing Olsen. Mobley won the match in two straight falls.
Mobley then returned to the ring after a brief intermission to take on Al Getz. Mobley was just too weak from having been in the previous match and Getz won the match in two straight falls.
On Friday in Jackson the opening matches saw Charlie Laye facing Dutch Schultz in one and Al Getz facing Paddy Mack in the other.
No results are known for either of these matches.
The main event in Jackson was a grudge match with Henry Harrell & Rex Mobley taking on Buff Sirois & Pat (Big Boy) Cronin in a tag team encounter. Harrell, the reigning World Light-Heavyweight champion had a run-in with Cronin during his title match against Sirois the previous week in Jackson. He wanted to face them both at the same time but promoter Billy Romanoff insisted he get a partner. Harrell recruited veteran Mobley, himself a former World Light-Heavyweight champion. Romanoff also assigned two referees, Al Perry and Pat Willis, to the match to try and maintain some order. Sirois & Cronin won the first fall while Harrell & Mobley took the second. Cronin pinned Harrell in the third and final fall and his team was awarded the match, but that’s when the fireworks really began. Harrell and Cronin got into a wild melee and by the time things were cleared Harrell was in the hospital and Cronin was in jail. Once Harrell was checked and released from the hospital he asked for any charges against Cronin to be dropped, stating that he would handle things himself in the wrestling ring.
The following Monday in Shreveport, the card featured 3 one fall opening matches and a 6 man Battle Royal.
In the first opening match Rex Mobley defeated Al Getz. Buff Sirois defeated Charlie Laye in the second bout. In the third match Henry Harrell defeated Prince Omar.
All 6 men returned to the ring for the Battle Royal. Rex Mobley pinned Henry Harrell to become the last man in the ring and was awarded the victory.
Wrestling returned to Monroe on Tuesday, a month ahead of when it was originally planned to. In the opening match Rex Mobley faced Prince Omar, who was substituting for Paddy Mack, who was unable to compete due to an injury. Mobley won the match by winning two straight falls.
In the main event Jack Curtis returned to action and squared off with Buff Sirois. Curtis had lost the World Light-Heavyweight title to Sirois in February and lost a long awaited rematch with him in May. This was Curtis’ first appearance in the area since losing the rematch and although Sirois was no longer champion, Curtis still wanted some payback. Sirois won the first fall after punching Curtis in the face several times and pinning him. Curtis won the second fall in much the same manner as he battered Sirois around the ring before pinning him to even the score. Curtis was a whirlwind during the third and deciding fall and flattened Sirois in quick fashion and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
That same evening in Baton Rouge, newcomer Lou Britton took two out of three falls to win the opening match over Al Massey. Britten was the road manager for the traveling troupe of wrestling midgets.
The main event raptured two of those midgets with Sonny Boy Cassidy, the pint sized cowboy, taking on Fuzzy Cupid, billed as the Gorgeous George of the midget class. Cupid was disqualified in the first fall to give Cassidy an early advantage. Cassidy used kangaroo kicks and a cross body block on Cupid to pin him to take the second fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Lou Britton was once again appeared in the opening bout of the evening. This time Britton was serving as a substitute for Danny Ferrazzo, who was unable to appear. His opponent was once again Al Massey, who was anxious to avenge his loss in two straight falls the night before in Baton Rouge. Britton used a series of low blows on Massey, which went unobserved by referee Phil Brummett. Severely weakened by these tactics Massey was easily pinned to give the first fall to Britton. In the second round Massey punished Britton with a short arm-scissors before pinning him to take the fall. Massey and Britton spent much of the third and deciding fall slugging away at each other. Massey once again caught Britton in the short arm-scissors but was able to claw his way to the ropes. As Britton gripped the bottom rope, referee Brummett demanded that he let go. When Britton refused, Brummett kicked his hand from the rope. Britton then reached out and untied Brummett’s shoe. When Brummett went to a corner to re-tie his shoe Britton raked Massey’s eyes and broke free of the hold he was in. Massey was enraged and started choking Britton. Brummett began counting for Massey to break the choke but Massey refused. Brummett disqualified him and awarded the fall and the match to Britton.
In the feature event Sonny Boy Cassidy and Fuzzy Cupid met in a midgets’ match. Once again Cupid found himself disqualified for foul tactics to give the first fall to Cassidy. During the second fall Cassidy was giving Cupid a hard time until Cupid bit him on the leg. This only served to make the cowboy mad and he bounced Cupid all over the ring before jumping on him from the ropes and pinning him to take the fall and the match.
That same evening in Gulfport, the main event was a tag team match with Rex Mobley & Pat Newman teaming to take on Al Getz & Buff Sirois. Sirois was a fill-in for the absent Paddy Mack who was unable to appear. Sirois proved to be a capable replacement as he forced Mobley to submit to a half Boston Crab to win the first fall after 12 minutes. Newman used a series of body slams on Getz and pinned him after 15 minutes to win the second fall. Mobley & Newman held the advantage for most of the third and deciding fall. Mobley tangled Getz in the ropes by his feet and repeatedly rammed him headfirst into the canvas. Getz finally broke free and tagged in Sirois while Mobley tagged in Newman. Sirois met Newman with a punch to the head but Newman came back and started body slamming Sirois to set him up for a pin. After one slam Sirois was able to grab Newman by the leg and trip him. Sirois then applied a half Boston Crab and forced Newman to submit. The ringside fans yelled to referee Charlie Laye that Sirois had done something illegal and Laye checked with Newman. Newman admitted that there was nothing out of the way in the way Sirois took the fall and Laye awarded the fall and the match to Sirois & Getz.
The Gulfport card opened with two one fall preliminary matches with Mobley and Sirois meeting in one; Newman and Getz facing off in the other. Both matches ended in 15 minute draws.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur, the card featured two matches. Charley Keene faced Bill Cazzell in the first match, which was a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minutes time limit.
In the second match, a best two out of three fall match with a 90 minute time limit, Lee Savoldi took on Ripper Leone.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans the card opened with Cyclone Johnny Bence and Irish Jack Kelly meeting in a one fall match. They wrestled to a fast 20 minute draw.
The semi-final match was a mixed tag team match with Charley Keene & Sonny Boy Cassidy combining their talents to take on the duo of Lou Britton & Fuzzy Cupid. Britton & Cupid came out on top in that match.
The main event was yet another return match between Al Massey and Ripper Leone. Leone took two out of three falls to ear his third straight victory over Massey in New Orleans.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg, the card opened with a match between Charlie Laye and Al Perry. Laye scored two out of three falls to take the victory over Perry.
The main event saw Henry Harrell, World Light-Heavyweight champion, taking on Al Getz in a non-title match. Harrell pinned Getz in each of the first two falls to win the match.
On Friday night in Jackson, the opening matches featured Charlie Laye meeting Al Getz and Rex Mobley taking on Buff Sirois. No results are known for either of these matches.
In the main event Henry Harrell and Pat (Big Boy) Cronin continued their seething feud. The match was a set as a one fall to a finish match and was a fast and furious one from the start with both men bleeding just a few minutes into the match. Each man Harrell won the match when he managed to catch Cronin in an octopus hold and forced him to submit.
The following week in Shreveport, Charlie Laye defeated Al Getz in a one fall opening match.
In the second match of the evening Jack Curtis totally outclassed Buff Sirois and beat him in two straight falls to win their match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell met Rex Mobley, who had held the same title 5 times previously, in a non-title match. Harrell scored the first fall when his used a reverse jackknife on Mobley and pinned him. Mobley battered Harrell around in the second fall and tossed him from the ring. Harrell was unable to recover and reenter the ring before being counted out to give Mobley the fall. Mobley was totally out of control during the third and final fall. He tossed both Harrell and referee Bob Seeley from the ring and went out after them. He then rammed both of their heads into the ringpost. When Seeley finally regained his senses he called for the bell. He disqualified Mobley and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the main event was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis joining forces to take on the rugged duo of Rex Mobley & Al Getz.
The card opened with tow single fall preliminary matches made up of these same four combatants.
No results are known for this card.
That same night in Baton Rouge Cyclone Johnny Bence faced Lou Britton in the opening match. After Britton won the first fall Bence came back and won the final two fall to win the match.
In the feature match Sonny Boy Cassidy took two out of three falls to defeated Irish Jackie in a midgets’ match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card opened with a midgets’ match between Sonny Boy Cassidy and Irish Jackie. Jackie pinned Cassidy to win the first fall. Cassidy came back and won the next two in a row to score the victory.
In the main event Cyclone Johnny Bence faced off with Lou Britton. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Bence flattened Britton with a dropkick and pinned him to win the deciding fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport George Curtis faced Al Getz in the opening match. Curtis pinned Getz to win the first fall. Curtis took the match in two straight falls when referee Pat Newman disqualified Getz in the second fall.
The main event was a match for the World Light-Heavyweight title with champion Henry Harrell putting his title on the line against the man that he took it from, Buff Sirois. Sirois forced Harrell to submit to a half Boston Crab to win the first fall after 16 minutes. Harrell returned the favor when he forced Sirois to submit to an abdominal stretch to win the second fall in 12 minutes. In the deciding fall Sirois continually clamped a headlock on Harrell and rammed his head into the corner turnbuckle. When he tried the tactic for a final time Harrell managed to slip free enough to catch Sirois in a jackknife and pinned him to win the fall and the match and remain champion.
That same evening in Decatur the card opened with a best two out of three falls match with a 60 minute time limit. That match featured Joe Corbett taking on Ripper Leone.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Charley Keene teaming with the Mighty Fritz to take on Prince Omar & Irish Jackie.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Joe Corbett defeated Lou Britton in the one fall opening match of the evening.
Ripper Leone continued his winning ways in New Orleans when he defeated Johnny Bence by taking two out of three falls over him to win the second match.
The main event was an all midgets tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz faced off with Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz won the match in two straight falls.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg Al Perry was scheduled to face Al Getz in the opening match.
The main event was to be World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell facing Charlie Laye, a 2 time former holder of the same title, in a non-title match.
The card was cancelled due to a severe rain storm.
On Friday in Jackson Rex Mobley and Charlie Laye wrestled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
George Curtis and Ripper Leone wrestled to a draw in the second event, also scheduled for one fall.
The semi-final match featured midget wrestlers as Sunny Boy Cassidy faced Irish Jackie. Jackie was a substitute for Fuzzy Cupid who had suffered an injury the night before in New Orleans. Jackie totally overwhelmed Cassidy and took two straight falls to win the match.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced off with his old nemesis Buff Sirois. Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match.
The following week in Shreveport Jack Curtis defeated Lou Britton in the one fall opening match.
In the second match of the evening, also a one fall affair, George Curtis and Al Getz wrestled to a draw.
The semi-final match was a midgets’ tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz taking on Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz won the match when they won two straight falls.
The main event was a return match between Henry Harrell and Rex Mobley. Harrell’s World Light-Heavyweight title was not on the line in this match. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the deciding fall. During the third fall both men fell from the ring and were fighting on the arena floor and were counted out. The match was declared a draw. Mobley went immediately to promoter Gladden Harrison and demanded another match. Harrison agreed and announced that the match would take place on the next Shreveport card.
On Tuesday in Monroe things got off to a wild start in the opening match. In that match, a midgets’ match, Sonny Boy Cassidy faced Irish Jackie. Cassidy pinned Jackie in 25 minutes to win the first fall. While Cassidy headed back to the dressing room between falls, Jackie remained in the ring taunting the jeering fans. He challenged anyone who dared to get in the ring with him and one spectator took him up on his offer. He jumped into the ring and before Jackie could react slapped the mighty mite across the face. Referee Jack Britton, who was the brother of Lou Britton and like Lou a road manager for the midget troupe, rushed back into the ring and attacked the man. Monroe police officers quickly swarmed the ring and arrested both Britton and the spectator. The match continued with Billy Romanoff taking over as referee. Jackie pinned Cassidy following a series of body slams to win the second fall and even the match after 10 minutes. The third and deciding fall was a quick one as it only took Cassidy 5 minutes to subdue Jackie and pin him to win the fall and the match.
The feature match was between George Curtis and Charlie Laye. Curtis was trying to climb the ladder and gain a shot at the World Light-Heavyweight crown. Curtis’ older brother Jack had held the title several times and he was hoping to uphold the family tradition by winning the title himself. That title was now in the hands of Henry Harrell, a close friend of both of the Curtis brothers. Laye, a former champion himself, was also trying to earn a shot at Harrell and the title he’d once held. Laye won the first fall when he knocked the wind out of Curtis with a punch to the stomach and pinned him. Curtis came into the second fall like a house afire and flattened Laye with dropkicks and pinned him to take the fall and even the score. Curtis was in complete control of the third and deciding fall as he had Laye reeling from punches and knee-lifts. Just when it seemed Curtis was about to put Laye away, Laye upended him and pinned him to take the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the card opened with a match between Joe Corbett and Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly pinned Corbett in 15 minutes to win the first fall. Corbett applied a Japanese sleeper hold on Kelly and forced him into submission in 7 minutes to take the second fall. Corbett used the same hold with the same results after 5 minutes of the third and final fall to win the match.
In the main event Cyclone Johnny Bence faced off with the unpopular Persian, Prince Omar. Bence used a series of kangaroo kicks and a pin on Omar to take the first fall. Omar came back with a series of body slams and a pin to beat Bence and take the second fall. Bence once again levelled Omar with kangaroo kicks and pinned him to win the deciding fall and the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Joe Corbett met Irish Jack Kelly once again in the opening match. Corbett won the first fall when he used the Japanese sleeper hold on Kelly to put him to sleep. It took ringside officials a full four minutes to revive Kelly between falls. Though still slightly groggy, Kelly managed to pin Corbett to win the second fall and even the match. Corbett once again used his sleeper to subdue Kelly to win the third fall and the match. This time Corbett woke Kelly up himself.
The main event was yet another match between Cyclone Johnny Bence and Prince Omar. Omar won the first fall in 25 minutes after using a series of knee drops on Bence and pinning him. Bence came back with dropkicks and pinned Omar to win the second fall. Bence was using dropkicks again in the final fall when Omar suddenly pulled referee Phil Brummett in front of him to use as a shield. Bence flattened Brummett and then wound up tangled in the ropes. Omar quickly covered the prone Bence and Brummett, still dazed, tolled the count despite the fact that Bence had his feet in the ropes. As soon as Brummett awarded the fall and the match to Omar, the Persian Prince raced for the safety of his dressing room. After arguing with Brummett, Bence remained in the ring for nearly a half hour after the match trying to get Omar to return and face him, but to no avail.
That same night in Gulfport, Henry Harrell met Rex Mobley in the 45 minute opening match. Mobley used his rolling cradle on Harrell to pin him to win the first fall in 7 minutes. Harrell came back to win the second fall in 4 minutes when he used a jackknife on Mobley and pinned him. In the third fall Mobley had Harrell backed into the corner and was punching away at him when referee Jack Britton stepped in to break things up. Mobley ignored him so Britton, himself a wrestler, clamped a full nelson on him and began dragging him to the center of the ring. Harrell bounced off the ropes and levelled Mobley with a punch to the jaw while Britton was still holding him. Harrell then pinned the stunned Mobley and won the third fall and the match. Harrell, who is usually popular with the fans, was soundly booed as was referee Britton.
The main event was another midgets’ match with Sonny Boy Cassidy once again taking on Irish Jackie. Referee Jack Britton disqualified Jackie after 23 minutes of the first fall and awarded the fall to Cassidy. Cassidy used a series of dropkicks on Jackie and pinned him after 10 minutes to win the second fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Decatur the only thing known about the card there was that Millie Stafford was scheduled to face an unnamed opponent in a women’s match. Nothing else is known about the card nor are any results known.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Charley Keene and Prince Omar wrestled to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the second match, also a one fall match, Joe Corbett used his sleeper hold to subdue Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly then got into a scuffle with Ripper Leone outside the dressing room following the match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match with popular Gloria Barattini, the former opera singer from Baltimore, taking on Millie Stafford of Minneapolis. Barattini took two out of three falls to score the victory over Stafford.
In the main event was a return match between Cyclone Johnny Bence and Ripper Leone. Leone won two out of three falls to win his sixth match in a row in New Orleans and his second consecutive over Bence.
Also on Thursday in Hattiesburg, Sonny Boy Cassidy and Irish Jackie met in the first feature match of the night. No result for this match is known.
In the second feature George Curtis once again met Charlie Laye. Laye won the first fall in 28 minutes when he pinned Curtis. Curtis came back and won the second fall after pinning Laye in 14 minutes. Curtis took the match when he pinned Laye in less than 3 minutes in the final fall. After the match Laye argued with referee Glenn Orr claiming that he had been the victim of a fast count. His pleas fell on deaf ears and he stormed from the ring. As Laye stomped back to the dressing room, ring announcer Andy Andersen grabbed the house mic and counted a cadence in step with Laye’s stomping. Laye turned and gave Andersen a dirty look before disappearing into the dressing room.
On Friday in Jackson, George Curtis and Charlie Laye met once again in the opening match. They both put up a valiant struggle but the match ended in a draw.
Jack Curtis earned one victory for the family as he pinned Jack Britton in the second match of the evening, also a one faller.
The semi-final match was a midgets’ tag team match with Sonny Boy Cassidy & the Mighty Fritz taking on Irish Jackie & Fuzzy Cupid. Cassidy & Fritz took two straight falls from their opponents to win the match.
In the main event Henry Harrell, World Light-Heavyweight champion, met Al Getz in a non-title match. Harrell got a surprise, one he was none too happy about, when Getz was accompanied to the ring by Pat Cronin. Cronin was quickly becoming Harrell’s most hated rival and Harrell had to be restrained to keep from going after him. Cronin took the ringside microphone from announcer Bob Neblett and challenged Harrell to a future tag team match. He claimed to be importing a tag team partner that could beat any combination of what he called the Vicksburg Gang, meaning Harrell and the Curtis Brothers. Harrell responded by saying that he and Jack Curtis would gladly accept the challenge.
As for the match with Getz, each man scored one of the first two falls and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. The two went at each other hammer and tongs until Harrell whipped Getz into the ropes. As Getz rebounded Harrell caught him in a jackknife, rolled him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The final two days in July began on Monday in Shreveport. Charlie Laye faced newcomer Colonel George Harben, the Southern gentleman from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Despite Harben’s rough tactics, Laye scored an upset when he pinned Harben to win the one fall match.
In the semi-final match Roland Meeker, a former Shreveport police officer, returned to his hometown after being away several years. He faced Al Getz in a best two out of three falls match. Meeker won the first and third fall to score a popular victory over Getz.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Henry Harrell put his title on the line against Rex Mobley, who was trying to win the title for the 6th time. These two had engaged in a series of rough matches in Shreveport and this match was no exception. Mobley was disqualified in the first fall to give Harrell an early advantage. Harrell caught Mobley in his jackknife hold and pinned him to win the second fall, winning the match in straight falls and retaining his title.
The last day of July featured cards in two cities. In Monroe the card featured two matches. Roland Meeker and Rex Mobley met in the first feature. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. In that fall Mobley had Meeker trapped in the ropes and was slugging away at him. Referee Bill Barney moved in to break things up and Mobley slugged him as well. Barney disqualified Mobley and awarded the fall and the match to Meeker.
In the second feature Henry Harrell faced Charlie Laye. Laye took an early advantage when he pinned Harrell after 22 minutes to win the first fall. During the second fall Laye tossed Harrell from the ring twice. After the second time he followed him out and slugged him while he was on the floor. After Harrell got back into the ring Laye attempted to toss him out again but Harrell managed to bounce off the ropes instead. He jumped on top of Laye and pinned him to take the fall in 15 minutes. In the third and deciding fall Laye had Harrell backed into the ropes and was pummeling him. Referee Bill Barney stepped in to break things up and pushed Laye to the center of the ring. Harrell once again bounced from the ropes and jumped on Laye, riding him to the mat. As Barney moved in to count the fall Laye managed to drape his foot across the bottom rope. Barney counted the fall anyway and awarded the fall and the match to Harrell after 12 minutes. Laye ranted and raved for several minutes following the match but finally gave up and left the ring.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Cyclone Johnny Bence and Charley Keene wrestled to a draw in the one fall opener.
Joe Corbett and Prince Omar also wrestled to a draw in the one fall second match of the evening.
In the main event Bence & Corbett teamed up to face Keene & Omar in a tag team match. Corbett scored the first fall for his team when he forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab after 26 minutes. In the second fall referee Blackie Harrelson disqualified Keene & Omar for excessive roughness and awarded the fall and the match to Bence & Corbett.
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Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of July 1951.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Updated: August 28, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of March 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of May 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of November 1951.
Click Here for a recap of December 19551.
