Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of June 1952
#PWHS #Review #Recap #GCCW #GulfCoast #Wrestling #ProWrestling
On Monday in Birmingham the opening match was between Nick Carter and Jack Steele. The two battled to a draw.
In the second match, Jim Champion and George Harben also fought to a draw.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match with Carter, Champion, Charley Keene, Elmer Davis and Joe Corbett teaming to take on Steele, Harben, Prince Omar, the Super Zebra Kid and a newcomer called The Baby Blimp. The Blimp was a 297 pounder from Dyersburg, Tennessee whose real name was George Harris. The team of Steele, Harben, Omar, the Kid & the Blimp took two out of three falls to win the match.
The same Monday evening in Shreveport, Rex Mobley and Al Getz met in a one fall match with a 30 minute time limit. Mobley used his famed rocking chair cradle to pin Getz and win the match.
In the semi-final match George Cologne wrestled Lou “Shoulders” Newman in a match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. Cologne won two out of three falls to score an upset victory over Newman.
The main event was a return title match between World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis and former champion Sockeye Jack McDonald. McDonald had beaten Curtis by count out the previous Friday in Jackson, but was not given the title. This match was for best two out of three falls and carried a 90 minute time limit. McDonald pinned Curtis following a backbreaker to win the first fall. Curtis came back to use a python hold, his version of a sleeper hold, and put McDonald away to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the two spent most of the fall fighting outside the ring. McDonald opened a cut on Curtis’ head and had him bleeding severely. Just before the referee counted them out, McDonald got back into the ring. Curtis was still on the arena floor and was counted out. The fall and the match were awarded to McDonald, but for the second time in four days he was denied the championship.
Also on Monday, promoter Mike Miller scheduled his first card in Huntsville after several delays. The card was to be held at the Huntsville Park Arena.
The card was scheduled to have Elmer Davis facing Rube Wright in the opening match.
The main event was to feature Bill Barney, the wrestler from West Monroe, Louisiana who was generally more a referee than wrestler, facing newcomer Butch Boyette.
Miller cancelled the card at the last minute because it was not suitable enough for Huntsville fans. Not only that, but Elmer Davis was actually in Birmingham that same night.
The following night in Monroe the card opened with a match between Rex Mobley and Irish Jack Kelly. Mobley, a former World Light-Heavyweight champion, was now claiming the Louisiana State Light-Heavyweight title and was defending it against Kelly. Kelly pinned Mobley following a series of bodyslams to win the first fall. Mobley came by and pinned Kelly with his rocking chair cradle in the last two falls to win the match and retain his title.
The main event was grudge match between George Cologne and Sockeye Jack McDonald, scheduled for best two out of three falls with no time limit. The two had tangled during a tag team match the previous week in Monroe and Cologne suffered a bloody cut on his head. Cologne was seeking revenge and had asked for the match with McDonald. Cologne forced McDonald to submit to a corkscrew toehold to win the first fall. McDonald came back and applied a backbreaker to Cologne and pinned him to win the second fall. In the third and final fall, which lasted just over one minute, Cologne was holding McDonald in an armbar and slugged him in the head. The blow opened a cut on McDonald’s head and Cologne continued to punch away at him. Referee Bill Barney tried to stop Cologne but was knocked to the mat twice. Barney disqualified Cologne and awarded the fall and the match to the bleeding McDonald.
The same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the card opened with a one fall match between Joe Corbett and the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid pinned Corbett after a series of bodyslams to win the match.
The main event had Elmer Davis pitting his hair against the mask of the Skull. Davis had once been the Skull’s masked partner, Skull #2, but the two had a falling out. They met in several matches throughout the territory but nothing had been settled between them. This match was meant to decide which was the better of the two once and for all. Davis pinned the Skull in two straight falls to win the match and keep his hair. The Skull was forced to unmask and once again Don Martin was revealed to be the man behind the mask.
Also on Tuesday in Decatur, the card opened with two preliminary matches. Rube Wright wrestled the Baby Blimp in one match, while Elmer Davis faced Jack Steele in the other.
The main event was a six man tag team match with Wright & Davis teaming with Nick Carter to take on the threesome of the Baby Blimp, Steele & George Harben. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The following night in Alexandria, the card opened with another match between Elmer Davis and the Skull. Davis pinned the masked man after leaping on his off the ropes to win the first fall in 12 minutes. The Skull came back and forced Davis to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall in 12 minutes and even things up. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull once again used a Boston Crab to force Davis to concede the fall in 14 minutes to take the match.
In the main event, popular Joe Corbett took on the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid used a backbreaker on Corbett and pinned him to win the fall in 15 minutes. Corbett started the second fall quickly and caught the Kid in a sleeper hold to put him away in just 2 minutes. In the third and final fall the Kid tossed Corbett through the ropes onto the arena floor. each time Corbett tried to get back into the ring, the masked man knocked him back to the floor. Finally Corbett grabbed the Kid by the feet and dragged him out of the ring as well. Referee Phil Brummett began to count the two out but the Kid managed to roll under the bottom rope at the count of 19. Corbett was counted out and the fall and the match were awarded to the Super Zebra Kid.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, Sockeye Jack McDonald faced Lou Shoulders in the opening match. This was McDonald’s first ever appearance in Gulfport and by facing the despised Shoulders, he was cheered by the crowd. McDonald pinned Shoulders following a back body drop to win the first fall in 32 minutes. Shoulders continually fouled McDonald throughout the second fall, which caused him to be disqualified by referee Pat Newman, giving the fall and the match to McDonald. McDonald, not satisfied with the outcome asked promoter Tony Everts for a return match.
In the main event George Cologne faced Rex Mobley in a rematch with no time limit. The two had wrestled the previous week in Gulfport and Cologne had suffered a cut head at the hands of Mobley. Cologne used an airplane spine on Mobley and pinned him to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Mobley came back and forced Cologne to submit to a Boston Crab to take the second fall in 17 minutes. In the third and final fall Mobley had Cologne wrapped in the ring ropes and refused referee Pat Newman’s order to break. Newman broke the hold by knocking Mobley loose which resulted in a slugfest between the two. Newman knocked Mobley from the ring and awarded the third fall and the match to Cologne by disqualification.
That same Wednesday evening in Pensacola Jack Steele faced Prince Omar in the opening match, scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit.
In the second event, also a one fall match with a 10 minute time limit, Nick Carter took on George Harben.
The main event was a tag team match scheduled for best two out of the falls with a 90 minute time limit. In that match Steele & Carter teamed to take on Omar & Harben.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Elmer Davis scored an upset when he defeated Baron Von Harben in the opening match.
In the second match of the night Don Martin, the former masked Skull, took on Prince Omar. A strange change seemed to overcome Martin after each time he was unmasked. Once he was no longer under the mask as the Skull, he started following the rules. In his match with Omar, he wrestled clean while Omar used his normal rough tactics. Martin pinned Omar to win the match.
In the semi-final match, Nick Carter faced Jack Steele. The two battled to a 60 minute draw.
Following the semi-final match, promoter Ernestine Murtagh announced that the following week in New Orleans Gorgeous George would face NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz in a title match. This announcement brought a load roar from the 2800 fans in attendance.
In the main event, Joe Corbett faced the Super Zebra Kid in another match in their growing rivalry. The Kid used a backbreaker on Corbett and pinned him to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson Pat Newman and George Cologne faced off in the opening match. Cologne was scheduled to face Lou “Shoulders” Newman in what was originally planned as the semi-final event. With one Newman failing to show and another Newman replacing him, the match was moved to the opening slot. Cologne used his corkscrew toehold on Newman to force him to submit and win the match.
The original opening match was moved into the semi-final spot which featured a tag team match Rex Mobley & Charley Laye facing Al Getz & Jack Kelly. Mobley used his rocking chair cradle to pin Kelly to win the winning fall.
The main event was a return title match with World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis defending the title against Sockeye Jack McDonald, the man he relieved of the crown. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. McDonald was hitting Curtis with flying tackles off the ropes until he missed one and flew through the ropes. As McDonald scrambled to get to his feet on the arena floor, referee Pat Willis started counting him out. McDonald managed to get back into the ring at the count of 18 and Curtis charged him. The two men rammed their heads together and fell to the mat. McDonald managed to crawl on top of Curtis and Willis counted to three. McDonald took the third fall and the match and was the World Light-Heavyweight champion for the second time.
That same Friday evening in Mobile Nick Carter faced the Skull in a one fall opening match. During the match the Skull managed to get his hands on a paper cup from the ringside floor. He used the edge of the cup to rub into Carter’s eyes and was disqualified by referee Jimmy Barrett.
In the semi-final match Elmer Davis faced Prince Omar. Davis won the first and third falls to win the match.
In the main event Joe Corbett & Nick Carter faced the Super Zebra Kid & the Skull in a tag team match. The masked duo continually double teamed Carter in the first fall. Finally as referee Jimmy Barrett was tried to get the Skull out of the ring, Joe Corbett jumped on the Kid’s back and applied his sleeper hold. As the Kid slumped to the mat, referee Barrett turned around to see Carter pinning the unconscious Kid. In the second fall, Carter found himself the victim of double-teaming once again as the Kid continually rammed his head into the outreached boot of the Skull. After suffering this maneuver several times, Carter was pinned by the Kid to give the masked men the second fall. The hooded duo attempted to do the same trick to Joe Corbett in the third fall, but Carter yanked his partner free at the last minute. This caused the Kid to ram his own head into the Skull’s boot and he was quickly pinned by Corbett to lose the fall and the match. The Kid was so upset that he threw the Skull from the ring and chased referee Jimmy Barrett out as well.
Also on Friday in Anniston, Rube Wright and George Harben fought to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match of the night Jack Steele defeated Charley Keene.
The main event was a tag team match with Wright & Keene teaming to take on Harben & Steele. The Baby Blimp served as the special referee for this match. Harben & Steele took two out of three falls to win the match.
The following Monday in Birmingham, the card featured four matches. Joe Corbett faced the Baby Blimp in the opening match.
In the second match Charley Keene took on Prince Omar.
In the third event was a match between Nick Carter and Jack Steele.
In the main event, NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defended his title against the Super Zebra Kid.
The only result known for this card was that Thesz successfully defended his title by defeating the Kid. Thesz also unmasked the Kid, revealing him to be Big Ben Morgan from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
That same Monday in Shreveport, the opening match was between Charlie Laye and Irish Jack Kelly. Kelly was disqualified for illegal tactics, giving the match to Laye.
In the semi-final match George Cologne faced Rex Mobley. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was all even going into the third and final fall. Before either man could score a deciding fall the time limit expired and the match ended in a draw.
The main event was a match for the World Light-Heavyweight title match between Jack Curtis and Sockeye Jack McDonald. Although McDonald had apparently won the title from Curtis the previous Friday in Jackson, he was not wearing the championship belt when he entered the ring. Instead, Curtis had the belt in his possession as he arrived in the ring. What occurred to reverse the decision that had been rendered in Jackson is not known. As it was Curtis won the first fall by putting McDonald out with the python hold. McDonald came back and flattened Curtis with a series of flying tackles and pinned him to win the second fall. McDonald used the same tactics in the third and final fall, pinning Curtis to win the fall and the match and claim the title decisively.
Also on Monday, Huntsville promoter Mike Miller continued to have his problems. He scheduled a card once again for Huntsville Park. The opening match was to be a one fall 15 minute bout between Elmer Davis and the Skull.
The second match, also scheduled for one fall with a 15 minute time limit, was to be between Rube Wright and Baron George Von Harben.
The main event was to be a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, with Davis & Wright taking on the Skull & Von Harben.
A severe thunderstorm forced Miller to once again postpone his debut card.
On Tuesday in Monroe, the card opened with a title match with newly named Louisiana State Light-Heavyweight champion Rex Mobley defending his title against Jack Kelly. Kelly pinned Mobley to win the first fall while Mobley came back to pin Kelly to take the second. The two men spent much of the third and final fall trading punches until Mobley rolled Kelly up in a barrel roll and pinned him, winning the fall and the match to retain his title.
The main event was a return match between George Cologne and Sockeye Jack McDonald. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was tied going into the final fall. The third fall didn’t last long as Cologne quickly had McDonald bleeding from a cut on his forehead. Referee Bill Barney continually warned Cologne about the use of his fist only to be punched for his troubles. Barney disqualified Cologne and awarded the fall and the match to McDonald.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Don Martin faced the Baby Blimp in the first match of a double main event card. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the final fall. The Blimp was disqualified to give the third fall and the match to Martin.
In the final half of the double main event, Joe Corbett faced the Super Zebra Kid. This match also went into the third and deciding fall even with each man having won a fall apiece. The Kid was disqualified to give the third fall and the match to Corbett.
That same Tuesday evening in Decatur, Rube Wright faced Butch Boyette in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a grudge match between Nick Carter and Jack Steele. This match was scheduled for best two out of thee falls with no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Joe Corbett faced the Super Zebra Kid in one opening match while the Skull faced the Baby Blimp in the second. Both matches ended in a draw.
In the main event the odd pairing of Corbett & the Skull faced the huge team of the Kid & the Blimp. The Kid pinned the Skull to win the first fall to take an early lead for his team. Corbett came back and pinned the Blimp to win the second fall and tie things up. The Kid pinned the Skull once again in the third and final fall to take the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, the opening match featured Sockeye Jack McDonald taking on Lou Shoulders. McDonald pinned Shoulders to win the first fall. Shoulders applied a backbreaker on McDonald and pinned him to win the second fall. McDonald used a jackknife to pin Shoulders to take the third fall and the match.
In the main event popular Pat Newman faced Rex Mobley. Newman hit Mobley with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the first fall in 23 minutes. Mobley forced Newman to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall in 10 minutes. The third and deciding fall only lasted 5 minutes as Mobley used his rocking chair cradle to pin Newman to win the fall and the match.
That same Wednesday evening in Pensacola, Charley Keene faced Don Martin in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a grudge match between Nick Carter and Jack Steele. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans, the Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the opening match of the evening.
In the second bout of the night, Charley Keene defeated the Baby Blimp.
In the semi-final match, Nick Carter defeated his arch-rival Jack Steele.
The main event featured arguably the two most famous wrestlers in the sport, NWA World Heavyweight champion Lou Thesz defending his title against Gorgeous George. George was accompanied by his valet Jefferies, while Thesz had the great Ed (Strangler) Lewis at his side. In the first fall Thesz used an airplane spin on George and pinned him to win the fall in 15 minutes. In the process of releasing the spin, Thesz dumped George headfirst onto the canvas. George was still woozy at the beginning of the second fall and was examined by commission doctor, Dr. N.K. Edrington. Edrington determined that George was unable to continue the match, so Thesz was awarded the second fall and the match by forfeit.
On Friday in Jackson, George Cologne and Jack Kelly faced off in the one fall opening match. Kelly used a shoulder slide on Cologne to pin him and win the match.
Charlie Laye & Rex Mobley scored two out of three falls over Lou (Shoulders) Newman & Al Getz to win the semi-final tag team match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald put his title on the line against former champion Jack Curtis. Curtis hit McDonald with a flying tackle and pinned him to win the first fall. In the second fall, McDonald was working over Curtis’ leg when Curtis made his way to the ropes. McDonald refused to release the hold but suddenly Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin made his way to ringside and punched McDonald in the face. McDonald fell back into the ring and Cronin quickly made his way into the ring and continued to slug away at him. For some reason referee Pat Willis made a confusing decision and raised the hand of Curtis, giving him the match in straight falls. Although it had been McDonald that Cronin had attacked, Curtis was declared the winner on a disqualification. A confused Curtis made his way back to the dressing room while Cronin and McDonald continued their slugfest in the ring. Promoter Billy Romanoff made his way into the ring and things finally came to a halt. Lost in all of the confusion was the announcement that McDonald was still champion due to the fact that a title could not change hands on a disqualification.
Also on Friday in Mobile, Jack Steele took on the Super Zebra Kid in the one fall opening match. The Kid scooped Steele up and tossed him from the ring. Steele injured his back in hitting the arena floor and was unable to continue the match, giving the win to the Kid by forfeit.
In the semi-final match Joe Corbett took on the Baby Blimp. Corbett used a sleeper hold on the Blimp to win the first fall. The Blimp came back and battered Corbett into submission to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall the Blimp continually rubbed Corbett’s eyes across the top rope, which forced a disqualification to give the fall and the match to Corbett.
The main event was a challenge match with Nick Cater putting his hair on the line against the mask of the Skull. The Skull won the first fall when he pinned Cater after a series of knee drops and bodyslams. Carter came back with a series of bodyslams of his own before pinning the Skull to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall each man fought as hard as he could to protect their hair and mask. Carter finally flattened the Skull with a series of dropkicks and pinned him to win the fall and the match. The Skull unmasked and once again identified as Don Martin.
That same Friday evening in Anniston, Rube Wright and Butch Boyette met in the first match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
In the main event Elmer Davis met Prince Omar in a grudge match. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The following Monday in Birmingham, the card opened with a match between Jim Champion and Elmer Davis, scheduled for one fall with a 15 minute time limit.
The second match of the evening, also scheduled for one fall with a 15 minute time limit, was between Joe Corbett and Raoul Lopez.
The main event was a tag team match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. Nick Carter & Raoul Lopez teamed to take on Jack Steele & the Big Ben Morgan in this match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport, George Curtis and Al Getz met in the one fall opening match. Curtis pinned Getz after a series of Atomic Drops to win the match in 17 minutes.
In the semi-final match, Ida May and Mars Bennett faced off in a women’s match. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. The advantage swung back and forth several times until Bennett upended May and held her down for the pin, winning the fall and the match. May protested loudly, claiming to be the victim of a fast count.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald put his title on the line once again against the man he took the title from, Jack Curtis. McDonald forced Curtis to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall. Curtis tossed McDonald with several snap mares and applied his Cobra Hold to put McDonald to sleep and win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Curtis used his fists to open a cut on McDonald’s forehead. Curtis continued to punch away despite the warnings of the referee. Curtis went as far as to punch the referee and wound up being disqualified, giving the fall and the match to McDonald.
That same Monday, promoter Mike Miller finally presented in first card in Huntsville. Charley Keene and Prince Omar fought to a 10 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the evening, between Rube Wright and Butch Boyette, also ended in a 10 minute draw.
The main event was a tag team match with Keene & Wright facing Omar & Galento. Wright applied a series of monkey flips on Boyette and pinned him to win the first fall. Boyette even things up when he forced Wright to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall. Keene used a roll-up to pin Omar to win the third fall and the match for his team. Omar protested by claiming that Keene was not the legal man from his team in the ring, but the decision stood.
On Tuesday in Monroe Rex Mobley, Louisiana State Light-Heavyweight champion, defended his title against Lou “Shoulders” Newman in a special challenge match. In this match Newman claimed he beat Mobley in two straight falls with a 39 minute time limit. Mobley would only have to win one fall within that odd time limit in order to win the match and keep his title. Mobley pinned Newman in 30 minutes to win the match.
In the main event George Cologne met World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald in a non-title match. This was the third week in a row that these two met in the Monroe ring. Cologne and McDonald spent most of the first fall swapping holds until Cologne spun McDonald into the ropes and met him with a forearm as he rebounded. McDonald staggered but swiftly turned around and grabbed Cologne by the leg and tripped him to the mat. McDonald then turned Cologne over and applied a single leg Boston Crab, forcing Cologne to submit and win the fall in 20 minutes. The second fall went pretty much the same as the first until McDonald growing progressively more aggressive. Cologne fought back and caught McDonald in a corkscrew cradle and pinned him to win the fall in 12 minutes. In the third and deciding fall the two were trading bodyslams until McDonald caught Cologne in an airplane spin. McDonald spun Cologne around several times, dumped him to the mat and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Dom Martin took on the Super Zebra Kid in the one fall opening match. The two fought to a 15 minute draw.
In the second preliminary match, also a one fall event, Joe Corbett and the Baby Blimp also wrestled to a 15 minute draw.
The main event was a tag team match with Martin & Corbett joining forces to face the hefty team of the Kid & the Blimp. Martin managed to pin the rotund Blimp to win the first fall. The Kid pinned Corbett to win the second fall and even the match. Corbett rolled up the Kid and pinned him to win the third fall and the match for his team.
That same Tuesday night in Decatur Rube Wright and Prince Omar battled to a draw in the opening match.
In the second preliminary match of the night, Nick Carter won over Butch Boyette when Boyette was disqualified for using a closed fist to punch Carter.
In the main event Wright & Carter teamed to take on Omar & Boyette in a tag team match. Omar & Boyette took the opening fall in 15 minutes. Wright and Carter took the second fall in 14 minutes and the final fall in 20 minutes to win the match.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Joe Corbett faced the Baby Blimp in the first match of the evening. The Blimp used his weight advantage over Corbett to wear him down and pin him to win the first fall. Corbett came back and used a nerve pinch on the shoulders and neck of the Blimp to force him to submit, taking the second fall. Corbett used the same hold to once and again force a submission to win the final fall and the match.
The main event was a “mask vs mask” match between the Skull and the Super Zebra Kid. The loser of the match would have to unmask and reveal his identity. In the first fall the Kid had the Skull reeling from a series of bodyblocks until the Skull duck one. As the Kid stumbled, the Skull rolled him up and pinned him to win the first fall. The Kid came back and used a backbreaker on the Skull and pinned him to win the second fall. During the rest period the Skull remained sprawled on the canvas and was still there when the bell rang for the third and final fall. The Skull was no match for his much larger foe during the final fall and was battered into submission and pinned. The Skull lost the match and had to unmask, despite the protest of the fans. He removed his mask and once again Don Martin was revealed.
That same Wednesday in Gulfport Rex Mobley tangled with World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald in a non-title match to open the card. McDonald forced Mobley to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the first fall in 17 minutes. Mobley used a rolling body scissors to pin McDonald to win the second fall in 18 minutes. McDonald pinned Mobley in the third and deciding fall in 9 minutes to win the match.
The main event was a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. Bennett pinned May in 19 minutes to win the first fall. May came back to roll up Bennett with a body scissors to pin her and take the second fall in 10 minutes. Bennett spent much of the third and deciding fall arguing with referee Jack Roberts but was forced to submit to a Boston Crab to give May the fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday a promotional war erupted in Pensacola. John Morton, who had been promoting wrestling at the Pensacola Motor Speedway since mid-May, continued presenting his cards but was challenged by another promoter presenting cards on the same night.
Morton’s card featured Elmer Davis facing Prince Omar in a one fall, 10 minute opening match.
Following the opener was another one fall match, also with a 10 minute time limit. Jack Steele faced Raoul Lopez that match.
The main event was a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. Davis & Steele teamed to take on Omar & Lopez in that bout.
No results are known for this card.
Across town at the Sports Palace, located on the corner of Spring and Garden Streets, promoter Mal Tait presented his card. That card featured a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Jack Kelly & Charlie Laye as the main event.
Prior to the main event were two preliminary singles matches made up of these same four wrestlers. The particulars are unknown.
No results are known for this card either.
Since all of the wrestlers appearing on these two cards were all regulars in the territory, it appears that Morton and Tait were using the same bookers. It can be assumed that rather than being in competition, the two may have been working together hoping to draw crowds on both ends of the city.
On Thursday in New Orleans Prince Omar defeated Elmer Davis in the one fall opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final match the odd pairing of Joe Corbett & Raoul Lopez taking on the twosome of Jack Steele & the Baby Blimp in a tag team match. The match was even with each team having scored a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. At one point in the third fall, Lopez was holding Steele for Corbett to hit with a punch. Steele moved and Corbett accidentally hit his own partner. After that Lopez lost all interest in teaming with Corbett and took sides with Steele & the Blimp. Lopez refused to tag Corbett every time he reached for help. Left to his own accord, Corbett was easily beaten down and pinned to give the final fall and the match to Steele & the Blimp.
The main event was a grudge match between Don Martin and the Super Zebra Kid. Martin, the former masked Skull had twice been forced to unmask by the Kid in recent weeks and was anxious to avenge these losses. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was event going into the third and final fall. The Kid continued to keep his record over Martin intact as he pinned him following a backbreaker to win the fall and the match.
On Friday in Jackson the card opened with a tag team match with Rex Mobley teaming with Charlie Laye to face the team of Jack Kelly & Al Getz. Mobley pinned Laye with his rocking chair split to win the one fall event.
The semi-final was a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. Each had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Bennett spent most of the final fall punishing May with some highly questionable tactics before May managed to score a pin to win the fall and the match. Despite her victory, May was not happy with the treatment she’d gotten at the hands of Bennett and asked for another match with her.
In the main event Sockeye Jack McDonald, World’s Light-Heavyweight champion, faced Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin in a non-title grudge match. Cronin had interfered in a title match between McDonald and Jack Curtis the previous week in Jackson, and McDonald was anxious to get his hands on him in a sanctioned match. McDonald jumped on Cronin at the bell and beat him mercilessly before pinning him to win the first fall. McDonald kept up his barrage throughout the second fall until Cronin reached into his trunks and brought out a foreign object. He made no attempt to hide the weapon, which he lovingly referred to as “The Thing”, and nailed McDonald with it twice. Referee Jack Roberts spotted the weapon and promptly disqualified Cronin for using it, giving the match to McDonald in straight falls.
That same Friday evening in Mobile, Don Martin faced the Baby Blimp in the one fall opening match. The two battled back and forth until the time limit expired and the match was declared a draw.
In the semi-final match, Raoul Lopez made his first appearance in Mobile and took on Jack Steele. Lopez won the first fall when he dropped a knee across the throat of Steele and pinned him. Steele forced Lopez to concede to a Boston Crab to win the second fall and even the score. Lopez proved to be just too rough for Steele in the third and final fall as he battered him all over the ring. Lopez then applied a reverse leg bridge to pin Steele and won the fall and the match.
In the main event, Don Martin & Elmer Davis joined forces to meet Prince Omar & the Baby Blimp in a tag team match. Martin & Davis, who had teamed previously under masks as the Skulls, had spent more time as opponents unmasking each other than partners so it remained to be seen how well they would fare in this match. The Blimp pinned Davis after dropping his hefty frame on him to win the first fall. Davis came back and pinned Omar to win the second fall and even things up. In the third and final fall, Martin & Davis double slammed the Blimp before Martin pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Friday in Anniston the opening match featured Nick Carter taking on the Super Zebra Kid. Special stipulations for this match were if Carter lost he would have his hair shaved off. If the Super Zebra Kid lost he would have to unmask.
The second match of the night saw Rube Wright facing Butch Boyette.
The main event was a tag team match with Carter & Wright facing Boyette & the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card, except that Carter defeated the Super Zebra Kid in the opening match, forcing the Kid to unmask. He was revealed as Big Ben Morgan
The following Monday in Birmingham the card opened with a one fall match between frequent opponents Elmer Davis and Prince Omar. This match carried a 30 minute time limit.
The semi-final, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit, had Tarzan White & Jim Champion taking on Jack Steele & Ben Morgan in a tag team match.
The main event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, featured Nick Carter taking on Raoul Lopez.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Monday in Shreveport, the card opened with a one fall women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. The two bitter rivals tore into each other from the opening bell but Bennett managed to pin May following a series of bodyslams to win the match.
The two ladies were not done, however. They met again in the semi-final, which was a mixed tag team match. May was teamed with Rex Mobley to take on Bennett & Jack Kelly. May & Mobley took two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event was another match between Jack Curtis and Sockeye Jack McDonald. This match had a twist, however. This was a 10 round boxing match with the two wearing 5 ounce gloves. The two battered each other around until a minute and 42 seconds into the third round. Curtis floored McDonald and had apparently knocked him out. Before the referee could render an official 10 count Rex Mobley, serving as McDonald’s second, tossed a towel into the ring. The match was awarded to Curtis on a TKO. McDonald got to his feet thinking that the bout was still in progress. After being informed that his second had thrown in the towel, McDonald was livid. He jumped on Mobley and the two men slugged it out before things could be brought under control.
That same Monday evening in Huntsville, Charley Keene faced the Baby Blimp in the one fall opening match. The two fought to a 10 minute draw.
In the second match of the night, also a one fall event, Joe Corbett and Butch Boyette also fought to a 10 draw.
Keene & Corbett teamed up to face the Blimp & Boyette in the main event tag team match. Keene applied used a series of bodyslams on Boyette and pinned him to win the first fall. Boyette evened things up when he forced Keene to submit to a Boston Crab to take the second fall. In the third and final fall the Blimp was battering Corbett severely until Corbett managed to slip behind him. Corbett clamped on a sleeper hold and put the Blimp out to win the fall and the match for his team.
On Tuesday in Monroe Charlie Laye and Red Kirkpatrick fought to a 10 minute draw in the opening match.
The second match of the night was a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. Bennett tossed May with a back body drop and jumped on her for the pin to win the one fall match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match, with Laye & May joining up to face Red Kirkpatrick & Bennett. In the first fall, Laye spent much of the fall working over Kirkpatrick’s arm. Laye also had to continually avoid Bennett, who kept entering the ring to help her partner by pulling Laye’s hair. Kirkpatrick was finally able to tag Bennett to allow her to legally enter the fray. This brought May into the ring and she tossed Bennett with a series of flying mares. May then applied a Boston Crab on Bennett and had her on the verge of conceding when Kirkpatrick reached in and grabbed May by the hair, breaking the hold. The mad may irate and she jumped onto Kirkpatrick and began yanking his hair. While this was going on, Bennett and Laye were also busy pulling each other’s hair. Kirkpatrick finally broke free from May and went after Laye. He rammed Laye into the corner turnbuckle until Laye’s arm was injured sufficiently enough to cause his to submit, giving the first fall to Bennett & Kirkpatrick in 25 minutes. Laye and Kirkpatrick started the second fall, which went quickly. Kirkpatrick tried to grab Laye’s injured arm, only to be tossed with a series of flying mares. Laye then pinned Kirkpatrick to win the fall in 2 minutes. The third fall saw all four wrestlers in the ring at the same time, with referee Bill Barney running from one corner to the other to break things up. Finally May applied a Boston Crab on Bennett and forced her to submit to win the final fall and the match in 5 minutes.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Don Martin and Rube Wright fought to a draw in the one fall opening match.
In the second event of the night, also a one fall match, Joe Corbett and the Super Zebra Kid also fought to a draw.
The main event was a tag team match with Martin & Corbett facing Wright & the Super Zebra Kid. Wright & the Kid double-teamed Martin throughout the first fall until Wright was able him to win the fall. Martin returned the favor when he pinned Wright to take the second fall and even the score. In the third and final fall, Corbett used a sleeper hold to put both Wright & the Kid to sleep to win the fall and the match for his team.
That same Tuesday evening in Decatur, Tarzan White faced the Baby Blimp in a one fall 10 minute opening match.
The second match, also scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit, featured Nick Carter taking on Butch Boyette.
In the main event, a tag team match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, White & Carter faced the Blimp & Boyette.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday, wrestling was presented in Florala, Alabama as part of the annual Masonic Day Celebration. Promoter Joe Gunther committed four wrestlers to the proceedings, Jack Steele, Charley Keene, Prince Omar and Elmer Davis were all scheduled to appear, but no particulars or results are known.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Don Martin and Rube Wright met in a one fall opening match. The two fought furiously but the match ended in a time limit draw.
In the second one fall preliminary match, Joe Corbett squared off with the Super Zebra Kid. This match also ended in a time limit draw.
Martin & Corbett teamed up once again to face Wright & the Kid in the main event tag team match. In this match if the Super Zebra Kid was pinned in any fall, he agreed to remove his mask. Martin in particular was anxious to get his hands on the Kid, who had beaten him the previous week in Alexandria and forced him end his run as the Skull. Much like the match these two teams had the previous night in Baton Rouge, Wright & the Kid double-teamed Martin throughout the first fall. Finally the Kid slammed him and pinned him to win the fall. In the second fall Martin was once again trapped in the corner of Wright & the Kid, but Corbett came to his aid. All four men fought until referee Phil Brummett broke things up, leaving Martin and Wright as the two legal men in the ring. Wright whipped Martin into the corner and followed him in with a shoulder block. When Wright tried this again, Martin moved and Wright slammed into the corner and fell back into the ring. Martin picked him up and slammed him before pinning him to take the fall. In the third and deciding fall Corbett had Wright caught in a sleeper hold but the Kid jumped in and broke it up. Later in the fall Corbett was applying the same hold to the Kid when Wright rushed it to break it up. Corbett let go of the Kid and wrapped Wright up in the hold. Wright was put out and referee Brummett awarded the fall and the match to Corbett & Martin despite the fact that Wright was not the legal man in the ring for his team. Wright & the Kid protested loudly, but the decision stood.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport Pat Newman and Charlie Laye met each other in the opening match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 45 minute time limit. The match was only 2 minutes old when Laye got tangled in the ropes and sustained an injury to his leg. The match was stopped and Laye was taken to Gulfport Memorial Hospital for treatment. Newman refused to accept a victory on those terms so the match was declared a no contest.
In the main event Rex Mobley faced World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald in a non-title match. McDonald forced Mobley to submit to a full Boston Crab to win the first fall in 19 minutes. After Mobley conceded McDonald refused to release the hold. It took a threat of disqualification by referee Jack Roberts before he would relinquish the hold. Mobley came back and applied his rocking chair cradle to pin McDonald to win the second fall in 15 minutes. McDonald applied a backbreaker on Mobley and pinned him in 10 minutes to win the third fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday the cross town promotional rivalry continued. At John Morton’s card at the Speedway the card opened with a 5 man Battle Royal. The participants were Raoul Lopez, Prince Omar, Elmer Davis, Jack Steele and Charley Keene. The first man eliminated from the Royal would serve as the referee of the final two matches. The second and third men eliminated would meet in a best two out of three fall match with a 60 minute time limit. The final two men would also meet in a best two out of three fall match with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
Across town at the Sports Palace, promoter Mal Tait’s card opened with George Curtis taking on Red Kirkpatrick in a one fall preliminary match.
The second bout, also a one fall match, featured Ida May facing Mars Bennett in a women’s match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. Curtis & May teamed to face Red Kirkpatrick & Bennett in this event.
No results are known for this card either.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Jack Steele defeated Elmer Davis in the one fall opening match.
In the second event, also a one fall match, Charley Keene and Rube Wright fought to a time limit draw.
In the third one fall match, Prince Omar defeated Don Martin.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match which was to see the two teams captained by Joe Gunther and the Super Zebra Kid. Prior to the match, Gunther failed a physical and commission doctor, Dr. Edrington, refused to let him wrestle. Gunther then named Charley Keene to captain his team and was replaced on the team by Danny Novak, making his professional debut. Novak was a former football star at Warren Easton High School and Tulane in New Orleans. Besides Novak, Keene also had Joe Corbett, Don Martin & Elmer Davis on his team. The Super Zebra Kid had Prince Omar, Raoul Lopez, Rube Wright & Jack Steele on his team. The Kid’s team scored two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson, George Curtis and Red Kirkpatrick fought to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the semi-final Jack Curtis & Ida May teamed to take on Rex Mobley & Mars Bennett in a mixed tag team match. Curtis & May won two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event was a return match between Sockeye Jack McDonald and Pat Cronin. Cronin was disqualified by referee Pat Willis for refusing to break on the ropes to give McDonald the first fall. At the beginning of the second fall Cronin smashed a soda bottle across McDonald’s head and pinned him to take the fall in 47 seconds. Referee Willis failed to see Cronin use the bottle, which had been handed to him by a spectator. McDonald suffered a cut from the blow and was worked on in the dressing room between falls. McDonald entered the ring at the start of the third and deciding fall with his head wrapped in bandages. The two men fought furiously until referee Willis attempted to separate them. McDonald floored Willis with a solid right hand and was disqualified to give the fall and the match to Cronin.
That same Friday night in Mobile, Joe Corbett and the Super Zebra Kid met in the one fall opening match, scheduled for a 15 minute time limit.
In the second one fall preliminary match, scheduled for a 20 minute time limit, Jack Steele faced Prince Omar.
In yet another one fall match, this one scheduled for a 30 minute time limit, Don Martin faced Raoul Lopez.
The main event was a 6 man tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. Corbett, Steele & Martin teamed in that one to take on the Kid, Omar & Lopez.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Friday in Anniston, the main event was a tag team match with Tarzan White & Nick Carter teaming to take on Butch Boyette & the Baby Blimp.
There were two preliminary matches involving these same four wrestlers but the particulars are not known.
There are no known results for this card.
The month of June ended with three cards held on Monday. In Birmingham Charley Keene & Red Byrd faced Ginger the bear in the opening match.
The semi-final was a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. Tiger Joe Marsh, who spent as much time making movies in Hollywood as he did wrestling, made his debut in this match. Marsh teamed Pat Malone to face Jack Steele & Big Ben Morgan.
The main event was a match between Tarzan White and Raoul Lopez, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
That same Monday in Shreveport George Curtis won a decision over Red Kirkpatrick in the one fall opening match. Kirkpatrick was disqualified for unnecessary roughness.
The semi-final was a tag team match with Jack & George Curtis taking on Jack Kelly & Red Kirkpatrick. The Curtis Brothers took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event Rex Mobley faced World Light-Heavyweight champion Sockeye Jack McDonald in another non-title match. Mobley had held the same title several times in the past and was anxious to gain it once again. Promoter Gladden Harrison stated that if Mobley defeated McDonald in this match he would arrange a title bout. Mobley won two out of three falls from McDonald to win the match and secure a title shot.
Also on Monday in Huntsville the card opened with local hillbilly musician Monty Crowder taking on The Hero, a masked newcomer. The two fought to a 15 minute draw in the one fall match.
In the semi-final match Nick Carter took on the Baby Blimp. Carter pinned the Blimp with a reverse jackknife to win the first fall. In the second fall the Blimp had Carter trapped in the ropes and refused to let him free. Referee Walter Carver disqualified the Blimp to give the match to Carter in two straight falls.
In the main event, veteran Rube Wright took on the Skull with the condition that the Skull would unmask should he lose the match. Wright forced the Skull to submit to a stepover toehold to win the first fall. In the second fall the Skull repeatedly rammed Wright headfirst into the turnbuckles before pinning him to win the fall. Wright used a series of back bodydrops on the Skull before pinning him to win the third fall and the match. The Skull was forced to unmask and was once again revealed to be Jim Champion.
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 1952.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 25, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
All research has been completed by the Professional Wrestling Historical Society or by a trusted contributor.
Review of Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling: A Recap of June 1952.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 25, 2020.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of September 1951.
Click Here for a recap of October 1951.
Click Here for a recap of November 1951.
Click Here for a recap of December 19551.
