Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of June 1950
#PWHS #Review #Recap #GCCW #GulfCoast #Wrestling #ProWrestling
The first card in June was held on Thursday in Pensacola. Vic Kalfus, Jr. and Pat Cronin met in a rematch demanded by Cronin after Kalfus had knocked him out in a boxing match the previous week. This time they met in a best two out of three falls, 90 minute wrestling match.
The main event on the Pensacola card saw Billy (Cue Ball) Rush make his first appearance in the city. He faced Don Keene in another best two out of three falls, 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
The same night in New Orleans, the card opened with a one fall match between Charlie Laye and George Cologne. Laye wound up with cuts over both eyes but was awarded the match when Cologne was disqualified.
In the semi-final match Pat Malone faced a new masked wrestler called The Black Panther. The Panther won two out of three falls to defeat Malone and win the match.
The main event featured Jack Curtis meeting Paddy Mack. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. At one point the two were struggling near the ropes when they both fell through to the arena floor. Mack managed to return to the ring before the count of 20, but Curtis was counted out. Mack was awarded the fall and the match.
The next evening in Montgomery, the card was made up of three matches. In the opening match Henry Harrell facing Pat Malone.
The second event of the evening was a women’s match with Violet Viann facing Dot Dotson.
The main event featured a mixed tag team match with Harrell & Viann going against Malone & Dotson.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday in Jackson, the card featured 3 singles matches with George Curtis meeting Bobby Segura, Don Keene taking on Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe facing the Black Phantom.
The main event was an 8 man tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with his brother George Curtis, Don Keene & Joe Wolfe to meet the foursome of Bobby Segura, Rex Mobley, the Black Phantom & Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
No results are known for this card.
The following week in Shreveport Rex Mobley met Don Keene in the opening match. Mobley won the first fall when he pinned Keene after a series of bodyslams. In the second fall Mobley tossed Keene from the ring.
Keene hit his head on a ringside chair and was unable to return to the ring. Mobley was awarded the fall by countout and took the match in two straight falls. With this victory Mobley was promised a shot at the World Light-Heavyweight title held by Bobby Segura.
In the semi-final match the Green Shadow was matched with Ginger the wrestling bear. The masked man was no match for the bear and lost the match.
The main event saw George Curtis taking on Bobby Segura in a non-title match. Each man had won a fall apiece entering the third and deciding fall. Segura was disqualified during the third fall and the fall and the match was awarded to Curtis.
The next night in Monroe George Curtis and Billy Rush wrestled to a draw in a one fall match. Jack Curtis and Bobby Segura also went to a draw in a second one fall match.
The Curtis Brothers joined forces in the main event tag team match to take on Rush & Segura. Jack Curtis pinned Segura to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Segura came back to take the second fall when he pinned George Curtis in 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall the Curtis Brothers tossed Rush & Segura from the ring where they were counted out, giving the fall and the match to the Curtis combo.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the remaining Black Panther made his first appearance in that city as he faced George Cologne in the main event.
Also making his first appearance in Baton Rouge was Bill Barney who took on Paddy Mack in the opening match.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the Black Phantom and Paddy Mack met in a rough match in the opener. The Phantom whipped Mack into the corners several times and then forced him to submit to an armlock to win the first fall. Mack was unable to continue so referee Phil Brummett awarded the second fall and the match to the Phantom on a forfeit.
The main event was a title match with World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis defending his title against the challenge of George Cologne. Cologne took the first fall when he forced the champion to submit to a punishing leglock. Curtis used a series of flying mares on Cologne and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the two were battling on the arena floor as referee Jake Guercio began to count them out. Curtis managed to return to the ring just before the count of 20 but Cologne was counted out. Curtis was awarded the fall and the match and retained his title.
That same night in Gulfport the Green Shadow made his debut in Gulfport a successful on by defeated newcomer Lester Welch in a one fall match.
The Shadow had less luck in the second event on the card, in which he also competed. His foe in that match was Ginger, the wrestling bear. After a bit of a slow start Ginger pinned the masked man and then was awarded with two bottles of cola, which she guzzled down quickly.
In the main event in Gulfport Don Keene faced Billy (Cue Ball) Rush, with Pat Cronin serving as the special referee. Keene took the first fall when he nailed Rush with a dropkick and pinned him. Rush came back and applied a series of backbreakers on Keene and pinned him to take the second fall. Keene forced Rush to submit to a leg twist to win the deciding fall and the match. Afterwards Keene, Rush and Cronin all got into a free-for-all before they could be separated and sent from the ring.
The next night in Pensacola, Billy (Cue Ball) Rush and Pat Cronin met in the first match of the evening. The match promised to be a rough one as neither man was known to care much for the rules.
The main event saw the first appearance in Pensacola of Bobby Segura since winning the World Light-Heavyweight title. His opponent was Don Keene, but it was a non-title match.
No results are known for this card which was the final card held in Pensacola in 1950.
That same Thursday evening in New Orleans the Black Panther defeated Charlie Laye by countout in the opening match.
George Cologne took two out of three falls over Joe Wolfe to win the semi-final event.
Jack Curtis and Paddy Mack met in a return grudge match in the main event. Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with Joe Wolfe facing the Black Panther. Both men were making their first appearance in Montgomery.
The main event featured Henry Harrell taking on George Cologne.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Jackson, the card opened with Don Keene and Billy Rush battling to a draw in a one fall match.
Rex Mobley defeated Lester Welch in the second match of the evening.
In the semi-final match George Curtis was awarded the decision over Bobby Segura when Segura was disqualified for hitting referee Claude Skidmore.
A new masked grappler made his debut in the main event. Hailing from Cuba The Green Ghost faced Ginger the wrestling bear. Despite his massive size, the Ghost was no match for the bear, who easily won the match.
The next week in Shreveport Don Keene defeated Lester Welch by pinning him after a series of dropkicks to win the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final Ginger the bear returned, this time facing two men Billy Rush & the Green Shadow. Ginger pinned the Shadow to win the match in 24 minutes.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura met challenger Rex Mobley in a title match. Each man scored a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. The third fall was a wild brawl that resulted in both men bleeding. They were fighting outside on the area floor when referee Conway Baker counted them out and declared the match a no contest.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the Green Ghost defeated Lester Welch in 8 minutes to win the one fall opening match.
The Ghost didn’t fare as well when he returned in the semi-final to face Ginger the bear. Ginger pinned the masked man in 5 minutes to win the match.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced off with Billy (Cue Ball) Rush. Curtis took the first fall when he pinned Rush in 12 minutes. 12 minutes was also all it took Rush to pin Curtis to win the second fall. Curtis pinned Rush again to win the third fall and the match. When the match was over Rush offered to shake the hand of Curtis
but punched his instead. Curtis fought back and the two battled for several minutes before referee Pat Willis could restore order.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Charlie Laye and Charley Keene battled to a 10 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the night also ended in a 10 minute stalemate when George Curtis drew the Black Phantom.
In the main vent Keene & the Black Phantom joined forced to defeat Laye & Curtis in two straight falls to win the match.
The next night in Alexandria, Charlie Laye and Charley Keene met in the first half of the double main event. Laye won the first fall when he hit Keene with a series of body blocks and pinned him after 20 minutes. In the second fall Keene used a series of bodyslams on Laye and covered him for the pin to take the fall. During the third fall both men fell through the ropes and onto the arena floor. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could return to the ring or take the decisive fall. Referee Phil Brummett called the match a draw.
In the second main event George Curtis faced the Black Phantom. Curtis pinned the Phantom after a series of dropkicks to win the first fall. In the second fall the Phantom used his dreaded piledriver for the first time in months and laid Curtis out with it. The masked man pinned Curtis to win the second fall and tied the match. Curtis was unable to continue in the deciding fall so the fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom on a forfeit.
That same night in Gulfport Joe Wolfe pinned Lester Welch with a rolling split cradle to win the one fall match in 12 minutes.
Ginger the bear made another appearance in the semi-final match. This time she faced the Green Shadow & Joe Wolfe. The Shadow & Wolfe spent as much time arguing with each other as they did wrestling the bear. Finally they ganged up on Ginger, which referee Pat Willis took exception to. He disqualified the two of them and awarded the match to the bear.
In the main event Rex Mobley was matched with Billy Rush. Mobley took the first fall when he forced Rush to submit to a Boston Crab after 9 minutes. Despite receiving a vicious beating by Rush in the second fall, Mobley managed to catch him in a rolling split cradle to pin his and win the match in two straight falls.
The next evening in New Orleans the card opened with George Curtis and George Cologne battling to a 15 minute draw.
Charlie Laye took two out of three falls to defeated Paddy Mack in the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to take on George Cologne & the Black Panther in a tag team match. The Curtis Brothers won two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with a 60 minute match between Charlie Laye and Paddy Mack.
The main event featured George Curtis facing George Cologne in a 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Jackson the Green Ghost defeated Lester Welch in the opening match.
In the second match of the night Don Keene defeated Billy Rush.
In the semi-final Ginger the bear faced the Green Ghost & Rex Mobley. Mobley was a last minute replacement for Billy Rush. Rush refused to get into the ring with the bear so Mobley was recruited to take his place. The Ghost & Mobley both jumped on the bear at the same time and wound up being disqualified for their troubles.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura put his title on the line against Joe Wolfe, a former champion. Segura forced Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Wolfe had his best opportunity to take the second fall when he tried to apply a body scissors on Segura. Segura managed to escape from it and it seemingly took all the wind out of Wolfe’s sails. Segura battered him mercilessly before pinning him to win the fall and take the match in straight falls to retain his title. Following the match, World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis issued a challenge to Segura to face him in a future match.
The next week in Shreveport Don Keene defeated Billy Rush by disqualification in the one fall opening match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Don Keene taking on Billy Rush & the Green Shadow. Curtis & Keene won the match in two straight falls.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura put the title up for grabs against the challenge of Rex Mobley, another former champion. Before the match Jack Curtis issued a challenge to the winner of the bout. Segura used a backbreaker on Mobley and pinned him to win the first fall. The second fall turned into a slugfest with Mobley getting the better of it. He floored Segura with a right to the jaw and pinned him to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall Mobley tossed Segura from the ring. While Mobley was arguing with referee Conway Baker, Segura climbed back in and tossed Mobley out. Each time Mobley got back into the ring Segura would toss him back out. On the third time Mobley landed awkwardly and injured his ankle. He managed to get back in the ring but was too hobbled by the injury to put up much of a defense. Segura battered him around and pinned him to win the fall and the match and retain the title.
The next evening in Monroe the card opened with George Curtis meeting Billy Rush in a one fall 10 minute match. Rush was disqualified after 6 minutes of action to give Curtis the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Rex Mobley & Billy Rush. The Curtis Brothers took the first fall in 14 minutes. Rush & Mobley came back to score the second fall in 9 minutes. The Curtis team took only 8 minutes to win the third and deciding fall to take the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye took on Lester Welch in the opening match. Laye pinned Welch with a shoulder slide to win the first fall in 27 minutes. Welch won the second fall in 16 minutes when he forced Laye to submit to an abdominal stretch. Laye used a series of bodyslams and pinned Welch in 18 minutes to win the third fall and the match.
Ginger the bear defeated Charley Keene in the main event. Keene managed to last 35 minutes with the bear before losing the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye defeated Bill Barney in 23 minutes of the one fall opening match.
Charley Keene and Lester Welch met in the semi-final match of the evening. Keene used a series of bodyslams on Welch and pinned him to win the first fall. Welch came back and used a dropkick to flatten Keene and pinned him to win the second fall. Welch went for another dropkick in the deciding fall but Keene sidestepped it. Welch crashed to the mat and Keene pinned him to take the fall and the match.
In the main event Ginger the bear made another appearance, this time facing three opponents, Charlie Laye, Charley Keene & Bill Barney. Even three men were no match for the bear and Ginger handled them easily for the win.
That same night in Gulfport Don Keene and Joe Wolfe met in the opening match on the card. Wolfe took the first fall in 12 minutes when he pinned Keene with a rolling body scissors. Keene came back and won the next two falls by landing dropkicks on Wolfe and pinning him to win the match.
The main event in Gulfport was another World Light-Heavyweight title match between champion Bobby Segura and challenger Rex Mobley, himself a former holder of the crown. Mobley won the first fall in 14 minutes with his rolling split cradle used to pin Segura. Segura came back and applied a backbreaker on Mobley and pinned him to win the second fall. Segura forced Mobley to submit to a Boston Crab hold to take the third fall and win the match, thus retaining his title.
On Thursday in New Orleans Ginger the bear used a bear hug to win over Paddy Mack in the opening match of the evening.
Newcomer Chico Ortiz teamed with the Black Panther to defeated Charlie Laye & Lester Welch in the semi-final tag team match.
In the main event George Cologne won two out of three falls over Jack Curtis to win the match.
The next night in Montgomery, the opening match featured Lester Welch taking on the Black Panther.
In the main event, Ginger the bear was matched with Paddy Mack.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Don Keene and Rex Mobley battled to a draw in a clean, scientific opening match.
Joe Wolfe won the semi-final event of the evening when his opponent, Billy Rush, was disqualified in the deciding fall for punching referee Pat Willis.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to take on Bobby Segura & the Green Ghost in a tag team match. Jack Curtis pinned Segura to take the opening fall. All four men were battling it out in the ring at the same in the second fall. The Green Ghost was knocked from the ring so Segura tried to take on both brothers at the same time. He was holding his own until George Curtis applied a flying head scissors on him and pinned him to give the match to the Curtis Brothers in two straight falls.
The final week of June started on Monday in Shreveport. On that card Joe Wolfe and Rex Mobley battled to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Don Keene took on Billy Rush. Rush was disqualified in the first fall for raking Keene’s eyes. Despite being nearly blinded Keene came back on caught Rush in a reverse cradle to pin him and win the match in straight falls.
In the main event World Jr. Heavyweight and former World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis face current World Light-Heavyweight kingpin Bobby Segura in a non-title match. Curtis was hoping to beat Segura and force him to meet him in a title match. Segura won the first fall when he applied a backbreaker on Curtis and pinned him. Curtis came back to caught Segura in a hangman’s hold to force him to submit to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall, Curtis hit Segura with a series of body tackles and then a dropkick. He quickly pinned Segura to take the fall and the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe George Curtis met Joe Wolfe in the opening match. Curtis won the first fall in 20 minutes. Wolfe came back to take the second fall in 7 minutes to even the score. Curtis won the third and deciding fall in 4 minutes to win the match.
Older brother Jack Curtis met Rex Mobley in the main event. Mobley won the first fall when he pinned Curtis in 10 minutes. Curtis came back to win the second fall in 7 minutes. Mobley came close to pinning Curtis several times in the third and deciding fall but Curtis managed to escape each time. Finally Curtis managed to pin Mobley in 11 minutes to win the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye faced Jack (Stinger) Steele in the opening match. Steele was a veteran campaigner and former World Light-Heavyweight champion and was returning to the area after an absence. Steele pinned Laye after applying a neckbreaker to win the first. Laye came back with a pinwheel hold to pin Steele to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the two men spent much of the time fighting outside the ring until referee Joe Gunther threatened to disqualify them. Once back in the ring, Steele flattened Laye with a series of punches and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a match between a pair of ruffians as Paddy Mack took on the Black Phantom. The Phantom pinned Mack with a shoulder slide to win the first fall in 17 minutes. Mack used a series of snap mares on the Phantom and pinned him in 16 minutes to win the second fall. The Phantom used a series of bodyslams on Mack and pinned him to win the third fall and the match after 22 minutes.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye faced Jack (Stinger) Steele in the opening match. Steele pinned Laye after a series of bodyslams to win the first fall. Laye forced Steele to submit to a leglock to come back and win the second fall. Steele won the third fall and the match when he forced Laye to submit to a hammerlock.
In the main event Paddy Mack took on the Black Phantom once again. Mack used bodyslams and flying mares on the masked man before pinning him to win the first fall in 15 minutes. In the second fall the Phantom applied his piledriver on Mack and pinned him to win the fall. It took referee Phil Brummett and four other men to carry Mack to the dressing room for the rest between falls. When the third and deciding fall began Mack was unable to continue and the fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom.
On the same night, the Gulfport card opened with Pat Newman and Billy (Cue Ball) Rush battling to a 15 minute draw,
In the second match Bobby Segura pinned Don Keene with the help of his feet on the ropes to win the match. Segura’s infraction went unnoticed by referee Claude Skidmore.
Skidmore also made a controversial decision in the first fall of the main event, which was a tag team match between the teams of Newman & Keene and Rush & Segura. For most of the 12 minutes the fall lasted all four men were in the ring battling it out. Skidmore lost track of who was the legal men in the ring. When both Segura and Rush wound up flattened on the mat, Skidmore counted them both out and awarded the first fall to Newman & Keene. The second fall ended pretty much the same way with Segura & Rush being counted out, giving the match to Newman & Keene in two straight falls.
On Thursday in New Orleans the main event was an eight man tag team match with Jack Kelly, Jack Purdin, Charlie Laye & Charley Keene taking on the foursome of Paddy Mack, Jack Steele, Chico Ortiz & the Black Panther. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Jack Purdin had injured his neck in the second fall and was unable to compete in the final fall. With the odds of four against three in their favor Mack, Steele, Ortiz & the Panther won the final fall and the match despite Steele suffering a cut over his eye.
On Friday in Montgomery, the opening match featured newcomer Chief Little Fox making his first appearance and facing Jack Kelly.
In the main event Jack Steele squared off with the Black Panther.
No results are known for this card.
The final card of June was held on that same Friday evening in Jackson. The card opened with a match between Don Keene and Billy Rush. The two battle furiously but the match ended in a draw.
In the main event George Curtis took on Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match. George’s older brother Jack Curtis was in his corner despite protests lodged by Segura to referee Pat Willis. Segura was disqualified by Willis in the first fall to give Curtis the leg up. In the second fall Segura continued to batter Curtis with questionable tactics. Jack Curtis could take no more and enter the ring to complain to referee Willis. Segura turned his attention to Jack Curtis and did not see George Curtis coming up behind him. George applied his flying head scissors on Segura and pinned him to take the fall and the match.
The first card in June was held on Thursday in Pensacola. Vic Kalfus, Jr. and Pat Cronin met in a rematch demanded by Cronin after Kalfus had knocked him out in a boxing match the previous week. This time they met in a best two out of three falls, 90 minute wrestling match.
The main event on the Pensacola card saw Billy (Cue Ball) Rush make his first appearance in the city. He faced Don Keene in another best two out of three falls, 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
The same night in New Orleans, the card opened with a one fall match between Charlie Laye and George Cologne. Laye wound up with cuts over both eyes but was awarded the match when Cologne was disqualified.
In the semi-final match Pat Malone faced a new masked wrestler called The Black Panther. The Panther won two out of three falls to defeat Malone and win the match.
The main event featured Jack Curtis meeting Paddy Mack. Each man had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. At one point the two were struggling near the ropes when they both fell through to the arena floor. Mack managed to return to the ring before the count of 20, but Curtis was counted out. Mack was awarded the fall and the match.
The next evening in Montgomery, the card was made up of three matches. In the opening match Henry Harrell facing Pat Malone.
The second event of the evening was a women’s match with Violet Viann facing Dot Dotson.
The main event featured a mixed tag team match with Harrell & Viann going against Malone & Dotson.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday in Jackson, the card featured 3 singles matches with George Curtis meeting Bobby Segura, Don Keene taking on Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe facing the Black Phantom.
The main event was an 8 man tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with his brother George Curtis, Don Keene & Joe Wolfe to meet the foursome of Bobby Segura, Rex Mobley, the Black Phantom & Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
No results are known for this card.
The following week in Shreveport Rex Mobley met Don Keene in the opening match. Mobley won the first fall when he pinned Keene after a series of bodyslams. In the second fall Mobley tossed Keene from the ring.
Keene hit his head on a ringside chair and was unable to return to the ring. Mobley was awarded the fall by countout and took the match in two straight falls. With this victory Mobley was promised a shot at the World Light-Heavyweight title held by Bobby Segura.
In the semi-final match the Green Shadow was matched with Ginger the wrestling bear. The masked man was no match for the bear and lost the match.
The main event saw George Curtis taking on Bobby Segura in a non-title match. Each man had won a fall apiece entering the third and deciding fall. Segura was disqualified during the third fall and the fall and the match was awarded to Curtis.
The next night in Monroe George Curtis and Billy Rush wrestled to a draw in a one fall match. Jack Curtis and Bobby Segura also went to a draw in a second one fall match.
The Curtis Brothers joined forces in the main event tag team match to take on Rush & Segura. Jack Curtis pinned Segura to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Segura came back to take the second fall when he pinned George Curtis in 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall the Curtis Brothers tossed Rush & Segura from the ring where they were counted out, giving the fall and the match to the Curtis combo.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the remaining Black Panther made his first appearance in that city as he faced George Cologne in the main event.
Also making his first appearance in Baton Rouge was Bill Barney who took on Paddy Mack in the opening match.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the Black Phantom and Paddy Mack met in a rough match in the opener. The Phantom whipped Mack into the corners several times and then forced him to submit to an armlock to win the first fall. Mack was unable to continue so referee Phil Brummett awarded the second fall and the match to the Phantom on a forfeit.
The main event was a title match with World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis defending his title against the challenge of George Cologne. Cologne took the first fall when he forced the champion to submit to a punishing leglock. Curtis used a series of flying mares on Cologne and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the two were battling on the arena floor as referee Jake Guercio began to count them out. Curtis managed to return to the ring just before the count of 20 but Cologne was counted out. Curtis was awarded the fall and the match and retained his title.
That same night in Gulfport the Green Shadow made his debut in Gulfport a successful on by defeated newcomer Lester Welch in a one fall match.
The Shadow had less luck in the second event on the card, in which he also competed. His foe in that match was Ginger, the wrestling bear. After a bit of a slow start Ginger pinned the masked man and then was awarded with two bottles of cola, which she guzzled down quickly.
In the main event in Gulfport Don Keene faced Billy (Cue Ball) Rush, with Pat Cronin serving as the special referee. Keene took the first fall when he nailed Rush with a dropkick and pinned him. Rush came back and applied a series of backbreakers on Keene and pinned him to take the second fall. Keene forced Rush to submit to a leg twist to win the deciding fall and the match. Afterwards Keene, Rush and Cronin all got into a free-for-all before they could be separated and sent from the ring.
The next night in Pensacola, Billy (Cue Ball) Rush and Pat Cronin met in the first match of the evening. The match promised to be a rough one as neither man was known to care much for the rules.
The main event saw the first appearance in Pensacola of Bobby Segura since winning the World Light-Heavyweight title. His opponent was Don Keene, but it was a non-title match.
No results are known for this card which was the final card held in Pensacola in 1950.
That same Thursday evening in New Orleans the Black Panther defeated Charlie Laye by countout in the opening match.
George Cologne took two out of three falls over Joe Wolfe to win the semi-final event.
Jack Curtis and Paddy Mack met in a return grudge match in the main event. Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with Joe Wolfe facing the Black Panther. Both men were making their first appearance in Montgomery.
The main event featured Henry Harrell taking on George Cologne.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Jackson, the card opened with Don Keene and Billy Rush battling to a draw in a one fall match.
Rex Mobley defeated Lester Welch in the second match of the evening.
In the semi-final match George Curtis was awarded the decision over Bobby Segura when Segura was disqualified for hitting referee Claude Skidmore.
A new masked grappler made his debut in the main event. Hailing from Cuba The Green Ghost faced Ginger the wrestling bear. Despite his massive size, the Ghost was no match for the bear, who easily won the match.
The next week in Shreveport Don Keene defeated Lester Welch by pinning him after a series of dropkicks to win the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final Ginger the bear returned, this time facing two men Billy Rush & the Green Shadow. Ginger pinned the Shadow to win the match in 24 minutes.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura met challenger Rex Mobley in a title match. Each man scored a fall apiece going into the deciding fall. The third fall was a wild brawl that resulted in both men bleeding. They were fighting outside on the area floor when referee Conway Baker counted them out and declared the match a no contest.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the Green Ghost defeated Lester Welch in 8 minutes to win the one fall opening match.
The Ghost didn’t fare as well when he returned in the semi-final to face Ginger the bear. Ginger pinned the masked man in 5 minutes to win the match.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced off with Billy (Cue Ball) Rush. Curtis took the first fall when he pinned Rush in 12 minutes. 12 minutes was also all it took Rush to pin Curtis to win the second fall. Curtis pinned Rush again to win the third fall and the match. When the match was over Rush offered to shake the hand of Curtis
but punched his instead. Curtis fought back and the two battled for several minutes before referee Pat Willis could restore order.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Charlie Laye and Charley Keene battled to a 10 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the night also ended in a 10 minute stalemate when George Curtis drew the Black Phantom.
In the main vent Keene & the Black Phantom joined forced to defeat Laye & Curtis in two straight falls to win the match.
The next night in Alexandria, Charlie Laye and Charley Keene met in the first half of the double main event. Laye won the first fall when he hit Keene with a series of body blocks and pinned him after 20 minutes. In the second fall Keene used a series of bodyslams on Laye and covered him for the pin to take the fall. During the third fall both men fell through the ropes and onto the arena floor. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could return to the ring or take the decisive fall. Referee Phil Brummett called the match a draw.
In the second main event George Curtis faced the Black Phantom. Curtis pinned the Phantom after a series of dropkicks to win the first fall. In the second fall the Phantom used his dreaded piledriver for the first time in months and laid Curtis out with it. The masked man pinned Curtis to win the second fall and tied the match. Curtis was unable to continue in the deciding fall so the fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom on a forfeit.
That same night in Gulfport Joe Wolfe pinned Lester Welch with a rolling split cradle to win the one fall match in 12 minutes.
Ginger the bear made another appearance in the semi-final match. This time she faced the Green Shadow & Joe Wolfe. The Shadow & Wolfe spent as much time arguing with each other as they did wrestling the bear. Finally they ganged up on Ginger, which referee Pat Willis took exception to. He disqualified the two of them and awarded the match to the bear.
In the main event Rex Mobley was matched with Billy Rush. Mobley took the first fall when he forced Rush to submit to a Boston Crab after 9 minutes. Despite receiving a vicious beating by Rush in the second fall, Mobley managed to catch him in a rolling split cradle to pin his and win the match in two straight falls.
The next evening in New Orleans the card opened with George Curtis and George Cologne battling to a 15 minute draw.
Charlie Laye took two out of three falls to defeated Paddy Mack in the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to take on George Cologne & the Black Panther in a tag team match. The Curtis Brothers won two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with a 60 minute match between Charlie Laye and Paddy Mack.
The main event featured George Curtis facing George Cologne in a 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Jackson the Green Ghost defeated Lester Welch in the opening match.
In the second match of the night Don Keene defeated Billy Rush.
In the semi-final Ginger the bear faced the Green Ghost & Rex Mobley. Mobley was a last minute replacement for Billy Rush. Rush refused to get into the ring with the bear so Mobley was recruited to take his place. The Ghost & Mobley both jumped on the bear at the same time and wound up being disqualified for their troubles.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura put his title on the line against Joe Wolfe, a former champion. Segura forced Wolfe to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Wolfe had his best opportunity to take the second fall when he tried to apply a body scissors on Segura. Segura managed to escape from it and it seemingly took all the wind out of Wolfe’s sails. Segura battered him mercilessly before pinning him to win the fall and take the match in straight falls to retain his title. Following the match, World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis issued a challenge to Segura to face him in a future match.
The next week in Shreveport Don Keene defeated Billy Rush by disqualification in the one fall opening match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Don Keene taking on Billy Rush & the Green Shadow. Curtis & Keene won the match in two straight falls.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura put the title up for grabs against the challenge of Rex Mobley, another former champion. Before the match Jack Curtis issued a challenge to the winner of the bout. Segura used a backbreaker on Mobley and pinned him to win the first fall. The second fall turned into a slugfest with Mobley getting the better of it. He floored Segura with a right to the jaw and pinned him to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall Mobley tossed Segura from the ring. While Mobley was arguing with referee Conway Baker, Segura climbed back in and tossed Mobley out. Each time Mobley got back into the ring Segura would toss him back out. On the third time Mobley landed awkwardly and injured his ankle. He managed to get back in the ring but was too hobbled by the injury to put up much of a defense. Segura battered him around and pinned him to win the fall and the match and retain the title.
The next evening in Monroe the card opened with George Curtis meeting Billy Rush in a one fall 10 minute match. Rush was disqualified after 6 minutes of action to give Curtis the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Rex Mobley & Billy Rush. The Curtis Brothers took the first fall in 14 minutes. Rush & Mobley came back to score the second fall in 9 minutes. The Curtis team took only 8 minutes to win the third and deciding fall to take the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye took on Lester Welch in the opening match. Laye pinned Welch with a shoulder slide to win the first fall in 27 minutes. Welch won the second fall in 16 minutes when he forced Laye to submit to an abdominal stretch. Laye used a series of bodyslams and pinned Welch in 18 minutes to win the third fall and the match.
Ginger the bear defeated Charley Keene in the main event. Keene managed to last 35 minutes with the bear before losing the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye defeated Bill Barney in 23 minutes of the one fall opening match.
Charley Keene and Lester Welch met in the semi-final match of the evening. Keene used a series of bodyslams on Welch and pinned him to win the first fall. Welch came back and used a dropkick to flatten Keene and pinned him to win the second fall. Welch went for another dropkick in the deciding fall but Keene sidestepped it. Welch crashed to the mat and Keene pinned him to take the fall and the match.
In the main event Ginger the bear made another appearance, this time facing three opponents, Charlie Laye, Charley Keene & Bill Barney. Even three men were no match for the bear and Ginger handled them easily for the win.
That same night in Gulfport Don Keene and Joe Wolfe met in the opening match on the card. Wolfe took the first fall in 12 minutes when he pinned Keene with a rolling body scissors. Keene came back and won the next two falls by landing dropkicks on Wolfe and pinning him to win the match.
The main event in Gulfport was another World Light-Heavyweight title match between champion Bobby Segura and challenger Rex Mobley, himself a former holder of the crown. Mobley won the first fall in 14 minutes with his rolling split cradle used to pin Segura. Segura came back and applied a backbreaker on Mobley and pinned him to win the second fall. Segura forced Mobley to submit to a Boston Crab hold to take the third fall and win the match, thus retaining his title.
On Thursday in New Orleans Ginger the bear used a bear hug to win over Paddy Mack in the opening match of the evening.
Newcomer Chico Ortiz teamed with the Black Panther to defeated Charlie Laye & Lester Welch in the semi-final tag team match.
In the main event George Cologne won two out of three falls over Jack Curtis to win the match.
The next night in Montgomery, the opening match featured Lester Welch taking on the Black Panther.
In the main event, Ginger the bear was matched with Paddy Mack.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Don Keene and Rex Mobley battled to a draw in a clean, scientific opening match.
Joe Wolfe won the semi-final event of the evening when his opponent, Billy Rush, was disqualified in the deciding fall for punching referee Pat Willis.
In the main event Jack & George Curtis teamed to take on Bobby Segura & the Green Ghost in a tag team match. Jack Curtis pinned Segura to take the opening fall. All four men were battling it out in the ring at the same in the second fall. The Green Ghost was knocked from the ring so Segura tried to take on both brothers at the same time. He was holding his own until George Curtis applied a flying head scissors on him and pinned him to give the match to the Curtis Brothers in two straight falls.
The final week of June started on Monday in Shreveport. On that card Joe Wolfe and Rex Mobley battled to a draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Don Keene took on Billy Rush. Rush was disqualified in the first fall for raking Keene’s eyes. Despite being nearly blinded Keene came back on caught Rush in a reverse cradle to pin him and win the match in straight falls.
In the main event World Jr. Heavyweight and former World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis face current World Light-Heavyweight kingpin Bobby Segura in a non-title match. Curtis was hoping to beat Segura and force him to meet him in a title match. Segura won the first fall when he applied a backbreaker on Curtis and pinned him. Curtis came back to caught Segura in a hangman’s hold to force him to submit to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall, Curtis hit Segura with a series of body tackles and then a dropkick. He quickly pinned Segura to take the fall and the match.
On Tuesday in Monroe George Curtis met Joe Wolfe in the opening match. Curtis won the first fall in 20 minutes. Wolfe came back to take the second fall in 7 minutes to even the score. Curtis won the third and deciding fall in 4 minutes to win the match.
Older brother Jack Curtis met Rex Mobley in the main event. Mobley won the first fall when he pinned Curtis in 10 minutes. Curtis came back to win the second fall in 7 minutes. Mobley came close to pinning Curtis several times in the third and deciding fall but Curtis managed to escape each time. Finally Curtis managed to pin Mobley in 11 minutes to win the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye faced Jack (Stinger) Steele in the opening match. Steele was a veteran campaigner and former World Light-Heavyweight champion and was returning to the area after an absence. Steele pinned Laye after applying a neckbreaker to win the first. Laye came back with a pinwheel hold to pin Steele to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the two men spent much of the time fighting outside the ring until referee Joe Gunther threatened to disqualify them. Once back in the ring, Steele flattened Laye with a series of punches and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a match between a pair of ruffians as Paddy Mack took on the Black Phantom. The Phantom pinned Mack with a shoulder slide to win the first fall in 17 minutes. Mack used a series of snap mares on the Phantom and pinned him in 16 minutes to win the second fall. The Phantom used a series of bodyslams on Mack and pinned him to win the third fall and the match after 22 minutes.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charlie Laye faced Jack (Stinger) Steele in the opening match. Steele pinned Laye after a series of bodyslams to win the first fall. Laye forced Steele to submit to a leglock to come back and win the second fall. Steele won the third fall and the match when he forced Laye to submit to a hammerlock.
In the main event Paddy Mack took on the Black Phantom once again. Mack used bodyslams and flying mares on the masked man before pinning him to win the first fall in 15 minutes. In the second fall the Phantom applied his piledriver on Mack and pinned him to win the fall. It took referee Phil Brummett and four other men to carry Mack to the dressing room for the rest between falls. When the third and deciding fall began Mack was unable to continue and the fall and the match were awarded to the Black Phantom.
On the same night, the Gulfport card opened with Pat Newman and Billy (Cue Ball) Rush battling to a 15 minute draw,
In the second match Bobby Segura pinned Don Keene with the help of his feet on the ropes to win the match. Segura’s infraction went unnoticed by referee Claude Skidmore.
Skidmore also made a controversial decision in the first fall of the main event, which was a tag team match between the teams of Newman & Keene and Rush & Segura. For most of the 12 minutes the fall lasted all four men were in the ring battling it out. Skidmore lost track of who was the legal men in the ring. When both Segura and Rush wound up flattened on the mat, Skidmore counted them both out and awarded the first fall to Newman & Keene. The second fall ended pretty much the same way with Segura & Rush being counted out, giving the match to Newman & Keene in two straight falls.
On Thursday in New Orleans the main event was an eight man tag team match with Jack Kelly, Jack Purdin, Charlie Laye & Charley Keene taking on the foursome of Paddy Mack, Jack Steele, Chico Ortiz & the Black Panther. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Jack Purdin had injured his neck in the second fall and was unable to compete in the final fall. With the odds of four against three in their favor Mack, Steele, Ortiz & the Panther won the final fall and the match despite Steele suffering a cut over his eye.
On Friday in Montgomery, the opening match featured newcomer Chief Little Fox making his first appearance and facing Jack Kelly.
In the main event Jack Steele squared off with the Black Panther.
No results are known for this card.
The final card of June was held on that same Friday evening in Jackson. The card opened with a match between Don Keene and Billy Rush. The two battle furiously but the match ended in a draw.
In the main event George Curtis took on Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match. George’s older brother Jack Curtis was in his corner despite protests lodged by Segura to referee Pat Willis. Segura was disqualified by Willis in the first fall to give Curtis the leg up. In the second fall Segura continued to batter Curtis with questionable tactics. Jack Curtis could take no more and enter the ring to complain to referee Willis. Segura turned his attention to Jack Curtis and did not see George Curtis coming up behind him. George applied his flying head scissors on Segura and pinned him to take the fall and the match.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of June 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Updated: July 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of June 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.
Click Here for a recap of February 1950.
Click Here for a recap of March 1950.
Click Here for a recap of April 1950.
Click Here for a recap of May 1950.
Click Here for a recap of July 1950.
Click Here for a recap of August 1950.
Click Here for a recap of September 1950.
Click Here for a recap of October 1950.
Click Here for a recap of November 1950.
Click Here for a recap of December 1950.
