Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of May 1950
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With no wrestling in Shreveport for the second week in a row, the month of May opened with a card on Tuesday in Monroe. That card featured Rex Mobley facing newcomer Bobby Segura in the opening match. Segura was a replacement for Joe Wolfe, who was injured in his match against Balk Estes in Jackson the previous Friday.
The main event was Jack Curtis meeting Balk Estes, the new (and once again) World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Paddy Mack faced the Red Shadow in the opening match of the evening. Mack tossed the Shadow to the mat several times and pinned him to win the first fall. The masked man came back with a series of flips of his own and pinned Mack to take the second fall and tie the match. The third and deciding fall was a rough one with Mack spending much of the time trying to rip the mask off of the Shadow. Referee Kelly Mixon tried to stop his actions and Mack argued with him about it. The Shadow took advantage of this distraction and rolled up Mack and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a shadow of another color as Charlie Laye took on the Green Shadow. Laye used a pinwheel hold on the Shadow to win the second fall. The Shadow came back and used a series of punches to the head and pinned Laye to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye had the Shadow in the ropes and attempted a bodyblock. The masked man moved and Laye crashed into the ropes and sent repelling back onto the mat. The Shadow then covered him for the pin although Laye had his feet draped across the bottom rope. Referee Kelly Mixon failed to see Laye’s feet in the ropes and counted the pinfall, awarding the fall and the match to the Green Shadow.
The Wednesday night card in Alexandria saw the opening match in which the Red Shadow who faced Charlie Laye in a best two out of three falls match. Laye forced the Red Shadow to submit to an arm scissors to win the first fall. In the second fall the masked man slammed Laye into the corner turnbuckle three times and pinned him to win the fall. During the third and deciding fall, Laye tossed the Shadow from the ring and punched him every time he tried to get back in. Referee Blondie Stracener tried to back Laye up but was shoved aside each time. Then Laye tried to toss Stracener from the ring but he floored Laye with a punch instead. The Red Shadow took advantage of that turn of events to scramble back into the ring and pin Laye to win the fall and the match.
In the main event, the shadow of another color, the Green Shadow, took on Paddy Mack. The Green Shadow took the first fall when he pinned Mack with a head scissors. Mack hit the masked man with a series of body tackles and pinned him to win the second fall and even the match. In the third and deciding fall, the Shadow forced Mack to submit to a Boston Crab to win the fall and the match and give the night’s victories to the masked Shadows.
In Gulfport that same evening, Rex Mobley took on Henry Harrell in a best two out of three fall opening match. Mobley won the first fall in 7 minutes when he forced Harrell to submit to a Boston Crab. Mobley used a rolling split cradle to pin Harrell in 8 minutes to take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
The main event in Gulfport was a return match between Balk Estes and Don Keene. The two had battled to a 45 minute draw the previous week and each requested a match with a 90 minute time limit. Estes won the first fall in 6 minutes when he used a Boston Crab to force Keene to submit. Keene came back and pinned Estes with a jackknife in 9 minutes to win the second fall. Keene won the third and deciding fall when he applied a Boston crab on Estes, the same hold Estes used to win the first fall. Estes submitted and the fall and the match were awarded to Keene.
The next evening in Pensacola, the Black Phantom defeated George Cologne in the opening match.
The main event in Pensacola was a challenge match between Balk Estes and the Black Cat. The Cat had injured Estes in a tag team match the previous week and Estes was anxious to get revenge. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the final fall Estes managed to remove the mask from the Cat, revealing Pat Cronin. Cronin was so stunned following the loss of his mask that he was easily pinned by Estes, who won the fall and the match.
That same evening in New Orleans, the one fall opening match saw Lee Savoldi take the win over Paddy Mack. Mack suffered an injured ankle during the match.
The semi-final match was a six-man tag team match with Al Massey, Rex Mobley & Savoldi taking on the threesome of Charlie Laye, Billy Rush & Charley Keene, who was substituting for the injured Mack. Laye, Rush & Keene won two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event was a World Jr. Heavyweight title match with champion Pat Malone defending against the man he had relieved of the title, Jack Curtis. The match was a best three out of five falls with no time limit. Lee Savoldi served as the special referee. Each man had scored a fall apiece going into the third fall. Curtis flattened Malone with a series of flying dropkicks and pinned him to win the third fall and go up two falls to one. Malone was unable to continue and referee Savoldi awarded the fourth fall by default, giving him the match. Jack Curtis was once again the World Jr. Heavyweight champion.
The following night in Mobile saw the debut of a new masked man known as The Red Terror. He defeated Bob Feeley, also making his Mobile debut, in two straight falls. In the main event the Green Shadow won two out of three falls to defeat Paddy Mack.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, Lee Savoldi faced Charley Keene in the 60 minute opener. Al Massey and Charlie Laye wrestled in the 90 minute main event. Promoter Joe Gunther served as the special referee for both bouts.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday evening in Jackson, the one fall opening match saw Rex Mobley and George Cologne battle to a draw.
In the semi-final match the team of Jack Curtis & Don Keene faced the rugged team of Bobby Segura & the Black Phantom. In the first fall Keene whipped Segura toward the corner. Segura managed to jump up on the ropes, turn around and jump feet first into the chest of Keene. Keene was flatted and Segura tagged the Phantom who pinned Keene to win the opening fall. Curtis & Keene spent much of the second fall working over the Phantom until he was weak enough for Curtis to pin him to take the fall. In the third and deciding fall Segura scaled the ropes again but this time Curtis attempted to dropkick him from his perch. Curtis mistimed his kicked and missed Segura, crashing to the mat instead. Segura easily pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event in Jackson was a 10 round boxing match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. These two were bitter rivals and most of their matches ended up in fisticuffs so a boxing match was a natural way for them to meet. During the third fall Estes threw a wild swing and his glove flew off and out of the ring. George Cologne, serving as Estes’ second, retrieved the glove and placed it back on Estes’ hand. Estes then proceeded to lay Harrell flat with a crushing blow to the jaw. Joe Wolfe, in Harrell’s corner as his second, protested to referee Claude Skidmore to check the glove. Estes refused until Wolfe climbed into the ring and grabbed him from behind. Skidmore stripped the glove from Estes and discovered that it had been packed down with plaster of Paris. Skidmore immediately disqualified Estes and awarded the match to Harrell, who was still unconscious on the mat.
The following week opened in Monroe on Tuesday. The main event was a tag team match with Rex Mobley teaming with Don Keene to face the team of Bobby Segura & George Cologne. Prior to the main event there were two singles matches involving those same four wrestlers.
No result is known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the Red Shadow scored a victory over newcomer Maurice Laverne by winning two out of three falls.
The main event was a return match between Charlie Laye and the Green Shadow. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Laye was attempting to unmask the Shadow while referee Kelly Mixon tried to stop him. Laye shoved Mixon to the mat which brought a second referee, Jake Guercio, out to the ring. Laye also shoved him to the mat. The Shadow used the distraction to secure his mask and slide out of the ring. Mixon disqualified Laye and the fall and the match were awarded to the Green Shadow.
Wrestling returned to Shreveport after a two week absence with a rare Wednesday card. The card started with Joe Wolfe, former World Light-Heavyweight king, facing Bobby Segura in the one fall opening match. The advantage went back and forth until Segura tossed Wolfe from the ring and kept kicking him each time he tried to reenter the ring. Finally referee Conway Baker disqualified Segura and awarded the match to Wolfe after 18 minutes.
Segura was also pressed into action in the semi-final match. In that match Jack Curtis was scheduled to face the Black Phantom, but the masked man was kept from competing by a court order filed with the Louisiana State Athletic Commission over the use of the Black Phantom name. So Segura stepped in and took his place against Curtis. Curtis used an abdominal stretch to force Segura to submit to take the first fall in 12 minutes. Segura came back and pinned Curtis after applying a backbreaker to win the second fall in 13 minutes. In the third and deciding fall the two were battling on the arena floor when Segura rammed Curtis headfirst into the ring post. Segura then returned to the ring as the dazed Curtis lay on the area floor. Referee Conway Baker counted Curtis out and awarded the fall and the match to Segura.
The main event was another 10 round boxing match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. The match was even for the first two rounds until Estes knocked Harrell down for an 8 count in round 2. Harrell knocked Estes down for a 6 count in the third and a 7 count in the fourth. Finally Harrell kayoed Estes in round 5 to win the match.
Also on Wednesday in Alexandria the card featured the two Shadows, Green and Red in the double main event. In the first match the Green Shadow faced Bill Barney, the Wild Cajun from West Monroe. The Shadow forced Barney to submit to an arm scissors to take the first fall. Barney came back and used a head scissors on the masked man to pin him to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Green Shadow used a rocking chair cradle to pin Barney to win the fall and the match.
In the second main event Charlie Laye met the Red Shadow in a return match. Laye scored the first fall when he pinned the masked man after a series of flying mares. The Red Shadow came back to win the second fall by pinning Laye in 23 minutes after applying a backbreaker. The Shadow took the third and deciding fall with the same hold and pin after 15 minutes to win the match.
In Gulfport the same night, Rex Mobley defeated Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin with a Boston Crab in 6 minutes in the opening match.
In the second match of the night Don Keene and George Cologne battled to a 15 minute draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Mobley & Keene teamed to take on Cronin & Cologne in a tag team match. Keene caught Cronin in a jackknife and pinned him to win the first fall in 20 minutes. Keene was the main target of Cronin & Cologne in the second fall as they focused on punishing his left leg. Finally Cologne applied a step-over toehold on Keene and forced him to submit after 36 minutes of the second fall. Instead of ending the fall, Cronin & Cologne continued to punish Keene until referee Claude Skidmore disqualified them and awarded the match to Keene & Mobley in straight falls.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne was matched with Rex Mobley in a best two out of three falls opening match
In the main event, a strange match was presented. The Black Phantom, who had been the scourge of Pensacola fans, was facing The Black Phantom, a new masked man who claimed to be the original.
No results are known for this card.
The same evening in New Orleans Lee Savoldi & Bill Barney teamed to take on Billy Rush & Paddy Mack in the tag team opener. Savoldi & Barney won the match when Rush & Mack were disqualified for their illegal activities.
The semi-final saw Pat Malone winning two out of three falls to take the match from Al Massey.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced Charlie Laye in a best two out of three falls match. Each man had scored a fall apiece but the 60 minute time limit expired before either could gain the deciding fall. The match was declared a draw.
The following evening in Mobile, Lee Savoldi and Paddy Mack battled to a 45 minute draw in the opening match.
The main event in Mobile was a battle of masked men as the Green Shadow faced the Red Terror. The Green Shadow won two straight falls to win the match and unmasked the Red Terror along the way. Billy (Cue Ball) Rush was revealed to be the man behind the mask of the Red Terror. After the match Rush pulled the mask from the Green Shadow and revealed Pat Malone.
It was announced following this card that wrestling in Mobile would take a hiatus until after the summer.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, Bill Barney and Charley Keene wrestled in the 60 minute opening match.
The main event was a return match between Al Massey and Charlie Laye. Promoter Joe Gunther served as the special referee.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Henry Harrell and Don Keene battle to a fast paced draw in the one fall opening match.
Rex Mobley took two out of three falls over George Cologne to win the semi-final match of the evening.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes putting his title on the line against the challenge of Bobby Segura. Segura took the first fall in 30 minutes when he forced Estes to submit to a Boston Crab. The second fall mainly consisted of the two men standing toe to toe and slugging it out. Both men wound up bloody from the multiple cuts on their heads. Segura finally tossed Estes from the ring causing the champion to injure an arm as he slammed into the ringside chairs. Estes managed to return to the ring but was severely weak. Segura locked a hammerlock on the injured arm and forced Estes to submit, taking the match and the title in two straight falls. Bobby Segura was now the new World Light-Heavyweight champion.
Wrestling in Shreveport returned to its regular Monday slot the following week. In the opening match Rex Mobley defeated George Cologne by taking the single fall.
In the semi-final match Mobley teamed with Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin to take on Cologne & Bobby Segura. Segura & Cologne won the first fall when Segura pinned Cronin. During the second fall Segura & Cologne continually double teamed Mobley. Each time Mobley attempted to tag Cronin, Cronin turned his back to him. Mobley finally slugged Cronin and sent him scurrying to the dressing room. Segura & Cologne continued to double team Mobley until he was easily pinned to give the fall and the match to Segura & Cologne.
The main event was scheduled to be another long awaited showdown between the two Black Phantoms. When the time arrived for the match to start, only one masked man was in the ring. This was the Phantom that had claimed to be the original, making his first appearance in the area. The masked man who had been wrestling in the area as the Black Phantom for months was nowhere to be found. Joe Wolfe came to ringside and challenged the new man to a match, but under the stipulation that he unmask if beaten. The Phantom agreed and the match went on. The Phantom won the first fall but Wolfe came back and won the next two to take the match. After the loss the Phantom tried to hedge on his promise to unmask, but Wolfe didn’t give him a choice. He grabbed the Phantom and stripped the mask from his head. This Black Phantom, who claimed he was the original, was revealed to be Leo Jensen.
The following evening in Monroe, Don Keene and George Cologne squared off in the first half of a double main event. Cologne won the first fall but Keene came back to take the next two straight to win the match.
The main event had Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, facing Rex Mobley in a non-title match. Mobley, who had held the same title 4 times previously, was anxious to get back into the title picture and was hoping a win over the current champion would put him there. Segura scored the opening fall when he pinned Mobley after using some rough tactics. In the second fall Segura opened a gash on Mobley’s forehead. Referee Pat Cronin stopped the match and searched Segura, finding what appeared to be a small knife. Segura was disqualified and the second fall was awarded to Mobley. Commissioner Dave Silverstein called promoter Gus Kallio to ringside and informed him that he was fining Segura $25 for the use of the foreign object. Mobley wasn’t caring about Segura being fined and tore into him at the opening bell of the third and deciding fall. The enraged Mobley tossed Segura out of the ring and then got into a scuffle with referee Cronin.
Mobley also tossed Cronin from the ring resulting in a disqualification and giving the fall and the match to Segura.
On the same Tuesday night in Baton Rouge popular Lee Savoldi took on Charley Keene in a best two out of three falls match. Savoldi pinned Keene to win the first fall. Keene came back and won the next two falls to win the match.
In the main event Charlie Laye switched his attention from the Green Shadow to the Red Shadow. The Shadow forced Laye to submit to an arm wringer to win the first fall. Laye came back with a series of neck breakers and pinned the Shadow to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye used a pinwheel hold on the masked man and won the fall and the match. The Red Shadow was unmasked and revealed to be Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
The following night in Alexandria, Charlie Laye met Charley Keene in the opening match of the evening. Keene won the first fall when he pinned Laye using a rolling cradle. Laye came back and pinned Keene, also using a cradle, to win the second fall. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could win a deciding fall. Referee Lee Savoldi declared the match a draw.
The main event was a match between Jack Curtis and the Red Shadow. In this match Curtis was placing his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line against the mask of the Shadow. Curtis won the first fall by pinning the masked man after a series of flying mares. Curtis used an Alligator Clutch to pin the Shadow to take the second fall, giving him the match in two straight falls in 14 minutes. Curtis retained his title and the Red Shadow attempted to escape without revealing himself. It took the combined efforts of Curtis, referees Lee Savoldi, Phil Brummett and Blondie Stracener along with Commissioner Emile Delcomyn to remove the mask. The Red Shadow was revealed once again to be Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
The same evening in Gulfport, Joe Wolfe met Don Keene in a 45 minute, best two out of three fall match.
The main event saw Rex Mobley taking on Bobby Segura in a best two out of three falls, 90 minute time limit match.
No results are known for this card.
The following night in Pensacola the card began with a match between Vic Kalfus, Jr. and Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin.
The main event had Rex Mobley taking on the Black Phantom. This particular Phantom was the one who arrived the previous week claiming to be the original. To sort this all out, promoter Vic Kalfus stipulated that win, lose or draw that this masked man would have to unmask after the match.
No results are known for this card.
The same night in New Orleans, Charley Keene defeated Bill Barney in the opening bout.
Paddy Mack proved to be too much for Lee Savoldi and defeated the popular Italian to win the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack Curtis and Charlie Laye met in a return match. Laye scored two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with a 60 minute match between Bill Barney and Charlie Laye.
The main event saw Henry Harrell taking on Pat Malone in a 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
The same evening in Jackson, Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe battled to a draw in a fast paced scientific opening match.
The semi-final was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Don Keene teaming to take on Bobby Segura & George Cologne. Curtis & Keene took two out of three falls to win the match. Following the match, Curtis issued a challenge to Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, to meet him in a title match.
The main event was another match between the two Black Phantoms. The one who been in the area claimed that he had missed the scheduled match in Shreveport because he had been injured. The original Phantom claimed that it was because he was afraid, but either way the match would take place in Jackson. The Black Phantom wound up taking two out of three falls to defeat the original Black Phantom. It took every referee and wrestler on the card along with a squad of policemen to strip the mask from the original’s face, once again revealing him to be Leo Jenson.
The following week in Shreveport the card opened with a one fall grudge match between Rex Mobley and Pat Cronin. The two had been partners in a tag team match the previous week in Shreveport and Cronin abandoned Mobley and cost him the match. Mobley won the match in 14 minutes when he forced Cronin to submit to a rolling leg lock.
Mobley gained further revenge in the semi-final match as he teamed with Don Keene to defeated Cronin & George Cologne in two straight falls to win the match.
The main event was a match between Joe Wolfe and Bobby Segura. Wolfe was a former World Light-Heavyweight champion and Segura was the current titleholder. This match was a non-title match and was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. Segura used a backbreaker on Wolfe and pinned him to win the first fall in 22 minutes. Wolfe caught Segura in a rolling cradle and pinned him after 4 minutes to take the second fall. The third and deciding fall was an all-out war as Segura used every dirty trick he knew and Wolfe gave back in much the same manner. Finally referee Conway Baker stopped the match and declared it a no contest. Segura grabbed Wolfe and tossed him out of the ring and into the ringside chairs before departing for the dressing room.
The next night in Monroe, Don Keene met Pat Cronin in the first half of the double main event. The second match featured Rex Mobley taking on Bobby Segura in a return match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge, the card opened with a match between veterans Charlie Laye and Charley Keene. Laye won the first and third falls over Keene to win the match.
In the main event Paddy Mack took on the Green Shadow. The Shadow won the first fall but Mack came back to win the next two to take the match. The conditions of the mask called for the Shadow to remove his mask should he lose. After much hesitation, he finally removed the mask but refused to reveal his name.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charley Keene and Paddy Mack met in the one fall opening match. Keene was awarded the match on a disqualification when Mack attacked Keene and referee Phil Brummett with a chair.
In the main event, Jack Curtis was after another mask to add to his collection as he faced off with the Green Shadow. Curtis had defeated and unmasked the Red Shadow the previous week in Alexandria and he was anxious to add to his collection. The Green Shadow had unmasked himself earlier in the year in New Orleans after a match with Curtis but was still competing incognito everywhere else. The Shadow got off to a good start when he pinned Curtis to win the first fall after 10 minutes. Curtis came back and pinned the masked man to take the second fall and even the score. In the third and deciding fall, the Shadow pinned Curtis again, but used the ring ropes for unfair leverage. Just as referee Jack Purdin was about to award the fall to the masked man, the ringside fans yelled to him about what had happened. Purdin restarted the match and Curtis quickly grabbed the Shadow and pinned him to take the fall and the match. The Shadow argued with Purdin but slowly began to unmask, revealing himself once again to be Pat Malone.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, the card began with a match between Don Keene and Pat Cronin. Keene won the first fall in 15 minutes when he hit Cronin with a dropkick and pinned him. The dropkick hit Cronin square above his left eye and opened a cut. During the second fall Cronin was caught using brass knuckles by referee Claude Skidmore, who promptly disqualified him giving the fall and the match to Keene.
In the main event, Rex Mobley continued his chase of World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura as they met in another non-title match. Mobley won the first fall with a rolling split cradle and pin in 18 minutes. Segura slammed Mobley and pinned him in 4 minutes to win the second fall. Segura used a Boston Crab to force Mobley to submit in 10 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match.
The following night in Pensacola, Vic Kalfus, Jr. squared off with Pat Cronin in a 10 round boxing match. Kalfus was a former amateur boxer and he issued the challenge to Cronin who claimed to be the bare-knuckles champion of Mississippi.
In the main event Rex Mobley was matched with Don Keene in a 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 women’s match between Violet Viann and Dot Dotson. Dotson pinned Viann to win the one fall match. By winning this match Dotson was promised a chance to face Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke in the near future.
In the semi-final match, Pat Malone took two out of three falls to defeat Paddy Mack in a rousing roughhouse match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Violet Viann to face Charley Keene & Dot Dotson. Keene was a last minute substitute for an ailing Charlie Laye. Curtis & Viann won the match when they took two straight falls.
On Friday in Montgomery, Henry Harrell took two out of three falls to defeat Billy (Cue Ball) Rush in the opening match.
The main event was a women’s match featuring Vivian Viann and Dot Dotson. Viann took two out of three falls to win the match.
That same night in Jackson, the card opened with a clean scientific match between Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe. The one fall match ended in a draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene defeated George Cologne by taking two straight falls over him.
The main event was a match between the World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis and World Light-Heavyweight king Bobby Segura. Only Segura’s title was on the line. Each man had taken a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The two slugged away at each other throughout the fall, with neither man paying particular attention to the rules. Finally referee Claude Skidmore stopped the made and declared it a no contest.
The last week in May opened with a card held in Shreveport. In the opening match George Curtis, younger brother of Jack, made his first appearance of the year as he faced Rex Mobley. The two battled to a 30 minute draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene beat George Cologne in two straight falls.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura laid his title on the line against former champion Joe Wolfe. Wolfe caught Segura in a rolling leg scissors and pinned him to take the first fall. Segura came back and applied a backbreaker on Wolfe and pinned him to even the score. In the third fall the two started slugging each other. Referee Conway Baker tried to restore order but Wolfe tossed him from the ring. Wolfe continued to batter Segura and had him down for the pin before he realized that he’d tossed the referee out of the ring. Wolfe went over and was helping Baker get back into the ring when Segura slugged him from behind. Segura then pinned Wolfe to win the fall and the match and retain his title.
The following evening in Monroe George Curtis met Bobby Segura in the first match of the double main event. Curtis pinned Segura with a body scissors to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Segura spent much of the second fall stomping the arm of Curtis before forcing him to submit to an armlock to win the fall in 5 minutes. Segura pinned Curtis to win the third and deciding fall in 5 minutes to take the match.
The main event was a 10 round boxing match between Don Keene and Pat Cronin. Cronin, the former professional fighter, would seem to have the advantage but Keene knocked him out in round 6 to win the match.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye and George Cologne wrestled to a draw in the opening preliminary match.
The main event was scheduled to be a mixed tag team match with Bobby Lane teaming with Violet Viann to face George Cologne & Dot Dotson. But it was changed due to Dotson being injured earlier in the week. Lane instead teamed with Charlie Laye to take on Cologne & Maurice Laverne. Laye pinned Cologne with a shoulder slide to win the first fall. During the second fall Lane sustained an injury and was unable to help Laye as he was double teamed by Cologne & Laverne. Cologne finally pinned Laye to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Lane was able to return and he and Laye battered Cologne & Laverne all over the ring. Laverne managed to catch Laye in a full nelson and was holding him while Cologne went to punch him. Laye ducked at the last moment and Cologne slugged Laverne instead. Laye quickly pinned Laverne to win the fall and the match for his team.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the opening match was to have been a women’s match between Violet Viann and Dot Dotson. However Dotson was still injured and the match was cancelled. The substitute match was between Bill Barney and Charlie Laye. Kaye score the first fall when he pinned Barney with a head scissors. Barney came back and pinned Laye after a series of bodyslams to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye caught Barney with a rolling cradle to pin him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a match between Jack Curtis and George Cologne. Curtis used a series of flying mares on Cologne and pinned him to win the first fall. Cologne came back and used an Alligator Clutch on Curtis and pinned him to win the second fall. In the deciding fall, Curtis tossed Cologne from the ring and followed him out. Curtis chased Cologne around the ring and proved to be his downfall. Cologne got into the ring just ahead of referee Phil Brummett counting to 20. Curtis didn’t make it back in time and was counted out. Cologne was awarded the fall and the match.
That same night in Gulfport, Rex Mobley met Joe Wolfe with the winner promised a match with Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight title holder. Mobley scored the first fall in 12 minutes by pinning Wolfe with a rolling split cradle. Wolfe used a variation of the same hold to pin Mobley to take the second fall in 9 minutes. Mobley pinned Wolfe using the rolling split cradle in 6 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match.
The main event saw Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin once again donning boxing gloves, this time with Don Keene as his opponent in a 10 round boxing match. In round 4 Cronin backed Keene into the ropes and attempted to land a haymaker on him. Keene moved and Cronin’s wild swing caused him to miss and fall through the ropes. Cronin landed hard on the arena floor and was unable to return to the ring before being counted out, giving the match to Keene.
With no wrestling in Shreveport for the second week in a row, the month of May opened with a card on Tuesday in Monroe. That card featured Rex Mobley facing newcomer Bobby Segura in the opening match. Segura was a replacement for Joe Wolfe, who was injured in his match against Balk Estes in Jackson the previous Friday.
The main event was Jack Curtis meeting Balk Estes, the new (and once again) World Light-Heavyweight champion, in a non-title match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Paddy Mack faced the Red Shadow in the opening match of the evening. Mack tossed the Shadow to the mat several times and pinned him to win the first fall. The masked man came back with a series of flips of his own and pinned Mack to take the second fall and tie the match. The third and deciding fall was a rough one with Mack spending much of the time trying to rip the mask off of the Shadow. Referee Kelly Mixon tried to stop his actions and Mack argued with him about it. The Shadow took advantage of this distraction and rolled up Mack and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a shadow of another color as Charlie Laye took on the Green Shadow. Laye used a pinwheel hold on the Shadow to win the second fall. The Shadow came back and used a series of punches to the head and pinned Laye to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye had the Shadow in the ropes and attempted a bodyblock. The masked man moved and Laye crashed into the ropes and sent repelling back onto the mat. The Shadow then covered him for the pin although Laye had his feet draped across the bottom rope. Referee Kelly Mixon failed to see Laye’s feet in the ropes and counted the pinfall, awarding the fall and the match to the Green Shadow.
The Wednesday night card in Alexandria saw the opening match in which the Red Shadow who faced Charlie Laye in a best two out of three falls match. Laye forced the Red Shadow to submit to an arm scissors to win the first fall. In the second fall the masked man slammed Laye into the corner turnbuckle three times and pinned him to win the fall. During the third and deciding fall, Laye tossed the Shadow from the ring and punched him every time he tried to get back in. Referee Blondie Stracener tried to back Laye up but was shoved aside each time. Then Laye tried to toss Stracener from the ring but he floored Laye with a punch instead. The Red Shadow took advantage of that turn of events to scramble back into the ring and pin Laye to win the fall and the match.
In the main event, the shadow of another color, the Green Shadow, took on Paddy Mack. The Green Shadow took the first fall when he pinned Mack with a head scissors. Mack hit the masked man with a series of body tackles and pinned him to win the second fall and even the match. In the third and deciding fall, the Shadow forced Mack to submit to a Boston Crab to win the fall and the match and give the night’s victories to the masked Shadows.
In Gulfport that same evening, Rex Mobley took on Henry Harrell in a best two out of three fall opening match. Mobley won the first fall in 7 minutes when he forced Harrell to submit to a Boston Crab. Mobley used a rolling split cradle to pin Harrell in 8 minutes to take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
The main event in Gulfport was a return match between Balk Estes and Don Keene. The two had battled to a 45 minute draw the previous week and each requested a match with a 90 minute time limit. Estes won the first fall in 6 minutes when he used a Boston Crab to force Keene to submit. Keene came back and pinned Estes with a jackknife in 9 minutes to win the second fall. Keene won the third and deciding fall when he applied a Boston crab on Estes, the same hold Estes used to win the first fall. Estes submitted and the fall and the match were awarded to Keene.
The next evening in Pensacola, the Black Phantom defeated George Cologne in the opening match.
The main event in Pensacola was a challenge match between Balk Estes and the Black Cat. The Cat had injured Estes in a tag team match the previous week and Estes was anxious to get revenge. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. During the final fall Estes managed to remove the mask from the Cat, revealing Pat Cronin. Cronin was so stunned following the loss of his mask that he was easily pinned by Estes, who won the fall and the match.
That same evening in New Orleans, the one fall opening match saw Lee Savoldi take the win over Paddy Mack. Mack suffered an injured ankle during the match.
The semi-final match was a six-man tag team match with Al Massey, Rex Mobley & Savoldi taking on the threesome of Charlie Laye, Billy Rush & Charley Keene, who was substituting for the injured Mack. Laye, Rush & Keene won two out of three falls to win the match.
The main event was a World Jr. Heavyweight title match with champion Pat Malone defending against the man he had relieved of the title, Jack Curtis. The match was a best three out of five falls with no time limit. Lee Savoldi served as the special referee. Each man had scored a fall apiece going into the third fall. Curtis flattened Malone with a series of flying dropkicks and pinned him to win the third fall and go up two falls to one. Malone was unable to continue and referee Savoldi awarded the fourth fall by default, giving him the match. Jack Curtis was once again the World Jr. Heavyweight champion.
The following night in Mobile saw the debut of a new masked man known as The Red Terror. He defeated Bob Feeley, also making his Mobile debut, in two straight falls. In the main event the Green Shadow won two out of three falls to defeat Paddy Mack.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, Lee Savoldi faced Charley Keene in the 60 minute opener. Al Massey and Charlie Laye wrestled in the 90 minute main event. Promoter Joe Gunther served as the special referee for both bouts.
No results are known for this card.
That same Friday evening in Jackson, the one fall opening match saw Rex Mobley and George Cologne battle to a draw.
In the semi-final match the team of Jack Curtis & Don Keene faced the rugged team of Bobby Segura & the Black Phantom. In the first fall Keene whipped Segura toward the corner. Segura managed to jump up on the ropes, turn around and jump feet first into the chest of Keene. Keene was flatted and Segura tagged the Phantom who pinned Keene to win the opening fall. Curtis & Keene spent much of the second fall working over the Phantom until he was weak enough for Curtis to pin him to take the fall. In the third and deciding fall Segura scaled the ropes again but this time Curtis attempted to dropkick him from his perch. Curtis mistimed his kicked and missed Segura, crashing to the mat instead. Segura easily pinned him to win the fall and the match.
The main event in Jackson was a 10 round boxing match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. These two were bitter rivals and most of their matches ended up in fisticuffs so a boxing match was a natural way for them to meet. During the third fall Estes threw a wild swing and his glove flew off and out of the ring. George Cologne, serving as Estes’ second, retrieved the glove and placed it back on Estes’ hand. Estes then proceeded to lay Harrell flat with a crushing blow to the jaw. Joe Wolfe, in Harrell’s corner as his second, protested to referee Claude Skidmore to check the glove. Estes refused until Wolfe climbed into the ring and grabbed him from behind. Skidmore stripped the glove from Estes and discovered that it had been packed down with plaster of Paris. Skidmore immediately disqualified Estes and awarded the match to Harrell, who was still unconscious on the mat.
The following week opened in Monroe on Tuesday. The main event was a tag team match with Rex Mobley teaming with Don Keene to face the team of Bobby Segura & George Cologne. Prior to the main event there were two singles matches involving those same four wrestlers.
No result is known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge the Red Shadow scored a victory over newcomer Maurice Laverne by winning two out of three falls.
The main event was a return match between Charlie Laye and the Green Shadow. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Laye was attempting to unmask the Shadow while referee Kelly Mixon tried to stop him. Laye shoved Mixon to the mat which brought a second referee, Jake Guercio, out to the ring. Laye also shoved him to the mat. The Shadow used the distraction to secure his mask and slide out of the ring. Mixon disqualified Laye and the fall and the match were awarded to the Green Shadow.
Wrestling returned to Shreveport after a two week absence with a rare Wednesday card. The card started with Joe Wolfe, former World Light-Heavyweight king, facing Bobby Segura in the one fall opening match. The advantage went back and forth until Segura tossed Wolfe from the ring and kept kicking him each time he tried to reenter the ring. Finally referee Conway Baker disqualified Segura and awarded the match to Wolfe after 18 minutes.
Segura was also pressed into action in the semi-final match. In that match Jack Curtis was scheduled to face the Black Phantom, but the masked man was kept from competing by a court order filed with the Louisiana State Athletic Commission over the use of the Black Phantom name. So Segura stepped in and took his place against Curtis. Curtis used an abdominal stretch to force Segura to submit to take the first fall in 12 minutes. Segura came back and pinned Curtis after applying a backbreaker to win the second fall in 13 minutes. In the third and deciding fall the two were battling on the arena floor when Segura rammed Curtis headfirst into the ring post. Segura then returned to the ring as the dazed Curtis lay on the area floor. Referee Conway Baker counted Curtis out and awarded the fall and the match to Segura.
The main event was another 10 round boxing match between Henry Harrell and Balk Estes. The match was even for the first two rounds until Estes knocked Harrell down for an 8 count in round 2. Harrell knocked Estes down for a 6 count in the third and a 7 count in the fourth. Finally Harrell kayoed Estes in round 5 to win the match.
Also on Wednesday in Alexandria the card featured the two Shadows, Green and Red in the double main event. In the first match the Green Shadow faced Bill Barney, the Wild Cajun from West Monroe. The Shadow forced Barney to submit to an arm scissors to take the first fall. Barney came back and used a head scissors on the masked man to pin him to take the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Green Shadow used a rocking chair cradle to pin Barney to win the fall and the match.
In the second main event Charlie Laye met the Red Shadow in a return match. Laye scored the first fall when he pinned the masked man after a series of flying mares. The Red Shadow came back to win the second fall by pinning Laye in 23 minutes after applying a backbreaker. The Shadow took the third and deciding fall with the same hold and pin after 15 minutes to win the match.
In Gulfport the same night, Rex Mobley defeated Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin with a Boston Crab in 6 minutes in the opening match.
In the second match of the night Don Keene and George Cologne battled to a 15 minute draw.
In the main event in Gulfport, Mobley & Keene teamed to take on Cronin & Cologne in a tag team match. Keene caught Cronin in a jackknife and pinned him to win the first fall in 20 minutes. Keene was the main target of Cronin & Cologne in the second fall as they focused on punishing his left leg. Finally Cologne applied a step-over toehold on Keene and forced him to submit after 36 minutes of the second fall. Instead of ending the fall, Cronin & Cologne continued to punish Keene until referee Claude Skidmore disqualified them and awarded the match to Keene & Mobley in straight falls.
The next night in Pensacola, George Cologne was matched with Rex Mobley in a best two out of three falls opening match
In the main event, a strange match was presented. The Black Phantom, who had been the scourge of Pensacola fans, was facing The Black Phantom, a new masked man who claimed to be the original.
No results are known for this card.
The same evening in New Orleans Lee Savoldi & Bill Barney teamed to take on Billy Rush & Paddy Mack in the tag team opener. Savoldi & Barney won the match when Rush & Mack were disqualified for their illegal activities.
The semi-final saw Pat Malone winning two out of three falls to take the match from Al Massey.
In the main event Jack Curtis faced Charlie Laye in a best two out of three falls match. Each man had scored a fall apiece but the 60 minute time limit expired before either could gain the deciding fall. The match was declared a draw.
The following evening in Mobile, Lee Savoldi and Paddy Mack battled to a 45 minute draw in the opening match.
The main event in Mobile was a battle of masked men as the Green Shadow faced the Red Terror. The Green Shadow won two straight falls to win the match and unmasked the Red Terror along the way. Billy (Cue Ball) Rush was revealed to be the man behind the mask of the Red Terror. After the match Rush pulled the mask from the Green Shadow and revealed Pat Malone.
It was announced following this card that wrestling in Mobile would take a hiatus until after the summer.
Also on Friday in Montgomery, Bill Barney and Charley Keene wrestled in the 60 minute opening match.
The main event was a return match between Al Massey and Charlie Laye. Promoter Joe Gunther served as the special referee.
No results are known for this card.
That same evening in Jackson, Henry Harrell and Don Keene battle to a fast paced draw in the one fall opening match.
Rex Mobley took two out of three falls over George Cologne to win the semi-final match of the evening.
The main event featured World Light-Heavyweight champion Balk Estes putting his title on the line against the challenge of Bobby Segura. Segura took the first fall in 30 minutes when he forced Estes to submit to a Boston Crab. The second fall mainly consisted of the two men standing toe to toe and slugging it out. Both men wound up bloody from the multiple cuts on their heads. Segura finally tossed Estes from the ring causing the champion to injure an arm as he slammed into the ringside chairs. Estes managed to return to the ring but was severely weak. Segura locked a hammerlock on the injured arm and forced Estes to submit, taking the match and the title in two straight falls. Bobby Segura was now the new World Light-Heavyweight champion.
Wrestling in Shreveport returned to its regular Monday slot the following week. In the opening match Rex Mobley defeated George Cologne by taking the single fall.
In the semi-final match Mobley teamed with Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin to take on Cologne & Bobby Segura. Segura & Cologne won the first fall when Segura pinned Cronin. During the second fall Segura & Cologne continually double teamed Mobley. Each time Mobley attempted to tag Cronin, Cronin turned his back to him. Mobley finally slugged Cronin and sent him scurrying to the dressing room. Segura & Cologne continued to double team Mobley until he was easily pinned to give the fall and the match to Segura & Cologne.
The main event was scheduled to be another long awaited showdown between the two Black Phantoms. When the time arrived for the match to start, only one masked man was in the ring. This was the Phantom that had claimed to be the original, making his first appearance in the area. The masked man who had been wrestling in the area as the Black Phantom for months was nowhere to be found. Joe Wolfe came to ringside and challenged the new man to a match, but under the stipulation that he unmask if beaten. The Phantom agreed and the match went on. The Phantom won the first fall but Wolfe came back and won the next two to take the match. After the loss the Phantom tried to hedge on his promise to unmask, but Wolfe didn’t give him a choice. He grabbed the Phantom and stripped the mask from his head. This Black Phantom, who claimed he was the original, was revealed to be Leo Jensen.
The following evening in Monroe, Don Keene and George Cologne squared off in the first half of a double main event. Cologne won the first fall but Keene came back to take the next two straight to win the match.
The main event had Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, facing Rex Mobley in a non-title match. Mobley, who had held the same title 4 times previously, was anxious to get back into the title picture and was hoping a win over the current champion would put him there. Segura scored the opening fall when he pinned Mobley after using some rough tactics. In the second fall Segura opened a gash on Mobley’s forehead. Referee Pat Cronin stopped the match and searched Segura, finding what appeared to be a small knife. Segura was disqualified and the second fall was awarded to Mobley. Commissioner Dave Silverstein called promoter Gus Kallio to ringside and informed him that he was fining Segura $25 for the use of the foreign object. Mobley wasn’t caring about Segura being fined and tore into him at the opening bell of the third and deciding fall. The enraged Mobley tossed Segura out of the ring and then got into a scuffle with referee Cronin.
Mobley also tossed Cronin from the ring resulting in a disqualification and giving the fall and the match to Segura.
On the same Tuesday night in Baton Rouge popular Lee Savoldi took on Charley Keene in a best two out of three falls match. Savoldi pinned Keene to win the first fall. Keene came back and won the next two falls to win the match.
In the main event Charlie Laye switched his attention from the Green Shadow to the Red Shadow. The Shadow forced Laye to submit to an arm wringer to win the first fall. Laye came back with a series of neck breakers and pinned the Shadow to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye used a pinwheel hold on the masked man and won the fall and the match. The Red Shadow was unmasked and revealed to be Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
The following night in Alexandria, Charlie Laye met Charley Keene in the opening match of the evening. Keene won the first fall when he pinned Laye using a rolling cradle. Laye came back and pinned Keene, also using a cradle, to win the second fall. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could win a deciding fall. Referee Lee Savoldi declared the match a draw.
The main event was a match between Jack Curtis and the Red Shadow. In this match Curtis was placing his World Jr. Heavyweight title on the line against the mask of the Shadow. Curtis won the first fall by pinning the masked man after a series of flying mares. Curtis used an Alligator Clutch to pin the Shadow to take the second fall, giving him the match in two straight falls in 14 minutes. Curtis retained his title and the Red Shadow attempted to escape without revealing himself. It took the combined efforts of Curtis, referees Lee Savoldi, Phil Brummett and Blondie Stracener along with Commissioner Emile Delcomyn to remove the mask. The Red Shadow was revealed once again to be Billy (Cue Ball) Rush.
The same evening in Gulfport, Joe Wolfe met Don Keene in a 45 minute, best two out of three fall match.
The main event saw Rex Mobley taking on Bobby Segura in a best two out of three falls, 90 minute time limit match.
No results are known for this card.
The following night in Pensacola the card began with a match between Vic Kalfus, Jr. and Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin.
The main event had Rex Mobley taking on the Black Phantom. This particular Phantom was the one who arrived the previous week claiming to be the original. To sort this all out, promoter Vic Kalfus stipulated that win, lose or draw that this masked man would have to unmask after the match.
No results are known for this card.
The same night in New Orleans, Charley Keene defeated Bill Barney in the opening bout.
Paddy Mack proved to be too much for Lee Savoldi and defeated the popular Italian to win the semi-final match.
In the main event Jack Curtis and Charlie Laye met in a return match. Laye scored two out of three falls to win the match.
On Friday in Montgomery, the card opened with a 60 minute match between Bill Barney and Charlie Laye.
The main event saw Henry Harrell taking on Pat Malone in a 90 minute match.
No results are known for this card.
The same evening in Jackson, Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe battled to a draw in a fast paced scientific opening match.
The semi-final was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Don Keene teaming to take on Bobby Segura & George Cologne. Curtis & Keene took two out of three falls to win the match. Following the match, Curtis issued a challenge to Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight champion, to meet him in a title match.
The main event was another match between the two Black Phantoms. The one who been in the area claimed that he had missed the scheduled match in Shreveport because he had been injured. The original Phantom claimed that it was because he was afraid, but either way the match would take place in Jackson. The Black Phantom wound up taking two out of three falls to defeat the original Black Phantom. It took every referee and wrestler on the card along with a squad of policemen to strip the mask from the original’s face, once again revealing him to be Leo Jenson.
The following week in Shreveport the card opened with a one fall grudge match between Rex Mobley and Pat Cronin. The two had been partners in a tag team match the previous week in Shreveport and Cronin abandoned Mobley and cost him the match. Mobley won the match in 14 minutes when he forced Cronin to submit to a rolling leg lock.
Mobley gained further revenge in the semi-final match as he teamed with Don Keene to defeated Cronin & George Cologne in two straight falls to win the match.
The main event was a match between Joe Wolfe and Bobby Segura. Wolfe was a former World Light-Heavyweight champion and Segura was the current titleholder. This match was a non-title match and was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. Segura used a backbreaker on Wolfe and pinned him to win the first fall in 22 minutes. Wolfe caught Segura in a rolling cradle and pinned him after 4 minutes to take the second fall. The third and deciding fall was an all-out war as Segura used every dirty trick he knew and Wolfe gave back in much the same manner. Finally referee Conway Baker stopped the match and declared it a no contest. Segura grabbed Wolfe and tossed him out of the ring and into the ringside chairs before departing for the dressing room.
The next night in Monroe, Don Keene met Pat Cronin in the first half of the double main event. The second match featured Rex Mobley taking on Bobby Segura in a return match.
No results are known for this card.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge, the card opened with a match between veterans Charlie Laye and Charley Keene. Laye won the first and third falls over Keene to win the match.
In the main event Paddy Mack took on the Green Shadow. The Shadow won the first fall but Mack came back to win the next two to take the match. The conditions of the mask called for the Shadow to remove his mask should he lose. After much hesitation, he finally removed the mask but refused to reveal his name.
On Wednesday in Alexandria Charley Keene and Paddy Mack met in the one fall opening match. Keene was awarded the match on a disqualification when Mack attacked Keene and referee Phil Brummett with a chair.
In the main event, Jack Curtis was after another mask to add to his collection as he faced off with the Green Shadow. Curtis had defeated and unmasked the Red Shadow the previous week in Alexandria and he was anxious to add to his collection. The Green Shadow had unmasked himself earlier in the year in New Orleans after a match with Curtis but was still competing incognito everywhere else. The Shadow got off to a good start when he pinned Curtis to win the first fall after 10 minutes. Curtis came back and pinned the masked man to take the second fall and even the score. In the third and deciding fall, the Shadow pinned Curtis again, but used the ring ropes for unfair leverage. Just as referee Jack Purdin was about to award the fall to the masked man, the ringside fans yelled to him about what had happened. Purdin restarted the match and Curtis quickly grabbed the Shadow and pinned him to take the fall and the match. The Shadow argued with Purdin but slowly began to unmask, revealing himself once again to be Pat Malone.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, the card began with a match between Don Keene and Pat Cronin. Keene won the first fall in 15 minutes when he hit Cronin with a dropkick and pinned him. The dropkick hit Cronin square above his left eye and opened a cut. During the second fall Cronin was caught using brass knuckles by referee Claude Skidmore, who promptly disqualified him giving the fall and the match to Keene.
In the main event, Rex Mobley continued his chase of World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura as they met in another non-title match. Mobley won the first fall with a rolling split cradle and pin in 18 minutes. Segura slammed Mobley and pinned him in 4 minutes to win the second fall. Segura used a Boston Crab to force Mobley to submit in 10 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match.
The following night in Pensacola, Vic Kalfus, Jr. squared off with Pat Cronin in a 10 round boxing match. Kalfus was a former amateur boxer and he issued the challenge to Cronin who claimed to be the bare-knuckles champion of Mississippi.
In the main event Rex Mobley was matched with Don Keene in a 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 women’s match between Violet Viann and Dot Dotson. Dotson pinned Viann to win the one fall match. By winning this match Dotson was promised a chance to face Women’s World Champion Mildred Burke in the near future.
In the semi-final match, Pat Malone took two out of three falls to defeat Paddy Mack in a rousing roughhouse match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Violet Viann to face Charley Keene & Dot Dotson. Keene was a last minute substitute for an ailing Charlie Laye. Curtis & Viann won the match when they took two straight falls.
On Friday in Montgomery, Henry Harrell took two out of three falls to defeat Billy (Cue Ball) Rush in the opening match.
The main event was a women’s match featuring Vivian Viann and Dot Dotson. Viann took two out of three falls to win the match.
That same night in Jackson, the card opened with a clean scientific match between Rex Mobley and Joe Wolfe. The one fall match ended in a draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene defeated George Cologne by taking two straight falls over him.
The main event was a match between the World Jr. Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis and World Light-Heavyweight king Bobby Segura. Only Segura’s title was on the line. Each man had taken a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The two slugged away at each other throughout the fall, with neither man paying particular attention to the rules. Finally referee Claude Skidmore stopped the made and declared it a no contest.
The last week in May opened with a card held in Shreveport. In the opening match George Curtis, younger brother of Jack, made his first appearance of the year as he faced Rex Mobley. The two battled to a 30 minute draw.
In the semi-final match Don Keene beat George Cologne in two straight falls.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Bobby Segura laid his title on the line against former champion Joe Wolfe. Wolfe caught Segura in a rolling leg scissors and pinned him to take the first fall. Segura came back and applied a backbreaker on Wolfe and pinned him to even the score. In the third fall the two started slugging each other. Referee Conway Baker tried to restore order but Wolfe tossed him from the ring. Wolfe continued to batter Segura and had him down for the pin before he realized that he’d tossed the referee out of the ring. Wolfe went over and was helping Baker get back into the ring when Segura slugged him from behind. Segura then pinned Wolfe to win the fall and the match and retain his title.
The following evening in Monroe George Curtis met Bobby Segura in the first match of the double main event. Curtis pinned Segura with a body scissors to win the first fall in 15 minutes. Segura spent much of the second fall stomping the arm of Curtis before forcing him to submit to an armlock to win the fall in 5 minutes. Segura pinned Curtis to win the third and deciding fall in 5 minutes to take the match.
The main event was a 10 round boxing match between Don Keene and Pat Cronin. Cronin, the former professional fighter, would seem to have the advantage but Keene knocked him out in round 6 to win the match.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge Charlie Laye and George Cologne wrestled to a draw in the opening preliminary match.
The main event was scheduled to be a mixed tag team match with Bobby Lane teaming with Violet Viann to face George Cologne & Dot Dotson. But it was changed due to Dotson being injured earlier in the week. Lane instead teamed with Charlie Laye to take on Cologne & Maurice Laverne. Laye pinned Cologne with a shoulder slide to win the first fall. During the second fall Lane sustained an injury and was unable to help Laye as he was double teamed by Cologne & Laverne. Cologne finally pinned Laye to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Lane was able to return and he and Laye battered Cologne & Laverne all over the ring. Laverne managed to catch Laye in a full nelson and was holding him while Cologne went to punch him. Laye ducked at the last moment and Cologne slugged Laverne instead. Laye quickly pinned Laverne to win the fall and the match for his team.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, the opening match was to have been a women’s match between Violet Viann and Dot Dotson. However Dotson was still injured and the match was cancelled. The substitute match was between Bill Barney and Charlie Laye. Kaye score the first fall when he pinned Barney with a head scissors. Barney came back and pinned Laye after a series of bodyslams to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall Laye caught Barney with a rolling cradle to pin him to win the fall and the match.
The main event featured a match between Jack Curtis and George Cologne. Curtis used a series of flying mares on Cologne and pinned him to win the first fall. Cologne came back and used an Alligator Clutch on Curtis and pinned him to win the second fall. In the deciding fall, Curtis tossed Cologne from the ring and followed him out. Curtis chased Cologne around the ring and proved to be his downfall. Cologne got into the ring just ahead of referee Phil Brummett counting to 20. Curtis didn’t make it back in time and was counted out. Cologne was awarded the fall and the match.
That same night in Gulfport, Rex Mobley met Joe Wolfe with the winner promised a match with Bobby Segura, the World Light-Heavyweight title holder. Mobley scored the first fall in 12 minutes by pinning Wolfe with a rolling split cradle. Wolfe used a variation of the same hold to pin Mobley to take the second fall in 9 minutes. Mobley pinned Wolfe using the rolling split cradle in 6 minutes to win the deciding fall and the match.
The main event saw Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin once again donning boxing gloves, this time with Don Keene as his opponent in a 10 round boxing match. In round 4 Cronin backed Keene into the ropes and attempted to land a haymaker on him. Keene moved and Cronin’s wild swing caused him to miss and fall through the ropes. Cronin landed hard on the arena floor and was unable to return to the ring before being counted out, giving the match to Keene.
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 May 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: 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 May 1950.
Author: Michael Norris of Gulf Coast Wrestling History: 1950-1977.
Published: July 11, 2019.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Click Here for a recap of January 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of June 1950.
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Click Here for a recap of December 19551.
