Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling
A Recap of May 1952
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The first day of May opened with the Thursday night card in New Orleans. Charley Keene defeated Baron Von Harben in the opening one fall match.
The second match, also a one fall bout, saw Al Perry and Elmer Davis battle to a draw.
In the third one fall match, Nick Carter defeated Pat Cronin.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match with Dick Hatcher, Prince Emir Badu, Al Perry, Charley Keene & Nick Carter teaming to take on Baron Von Harben, Jack Steele, Pat Cronin, Elmer Davis & the Super Zebra Kid. The foursome of Von Harben, Steele, Cronin, Davis & the Kid scored the winning fall to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson, Charlie Laye and Irish Jack Kelly battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
George Cologne scored an impressive win over Buff Sirois in the second match of the night.
In the semi-final match, Al Getz faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Newman continued his win streak as he took two out of three falls from Getz to win the match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis once again put his title on the line against the challenge of the Skull. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. In the third fall Curtis knocked the Skull from the ring and the masked man was unable to get back in before referee Jack Roberts counted him out. The fall and the match went to Curtis, who kept his title safe. The Skull grabbed the ringside microphone and complained loud and long about Roberts, who like Curtis was from Vicksburg, gave a hometown decision to the champion. The jeers from the crowd finally drowned him out and he stormed back to his dressing room.
That same Friday evening in Mobile the card opened with a challenge match between Jack Steele and Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin. It was to be a best two out of three fall match with the loser of the match to leave the area. Steele took the match in two straight falls. Cronin had no choice but to leave town, because after the match he took a swing at the referee and drew a 60 day suspension from Commissioner Harold Irby.
In the main event, the Super Zebra Kid was looking to continue his winning ways as he faced Sheik Ben-Ali in a best two out of three fall match. Ben-Ali was a new name but a familiar figure. He had previously competed in the area as Sheik Ali Khan and was using the name Prince Emir Badu in other parts of the territory. Ben-Ali took the first fall by forcing the Kid to submit to a leglock. The Kid roared back taking the next two falls with his patented backbreaker.
Also on Friday wrestling returned to Anniston. Promoter Al Bragg introduced a new location as the future cards would be held as the Sports Arena. Charley Keene defeated Elmer Davis in the opening match of the night.
Nick Carter defeated Al Perry in the second match of the evening.
In the main event, Keene & Carter joined forces to take on the duo of Davis & Perry in a tag team match. Keene & Carter took two out of three falls to win the match.
The regular Monday night card in Birmingham was moved to Wednesday the following week, so the week opened with a Monday night card in Shreveport. The card opened with Charlie Laye and Al Getz meeting in a one fall match with a 30 minute time limit. Laye pinned Getz to win the match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match with Ida May taking on Dot Dotson. Dotson won the first fall when she pinned May after some rough tactics. May came back to take the next two falls to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Charlie Laye to take on Lou “Shoulders” Newman & Al Getz. Newman pinned Curtis to win the first fall, while Laye pinned Getz to win the second. The third and final fall saw Newman pin Laye to give the fall and the match to his team.
On Tuesday in Monroe, George Cologne and Lou “Shoulders” Newman battled to a draw in the opening match.
The second match of the night was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. This match also ended in a draw.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Cologne & May facing Newman & Dotson. Newman & Dotson kept Cologne trapped in their corner for much of the first fall, with Dotson raking his eyes with her fingernails. At one point while May and Dotson were in the ring, May caught Dotson in a leglock and kept her there for 5 minutes. Dotson refused to submit, however, and finally managed to tag Newman, which brought he and Cologne back into the ring. Cologne was once again trapped in the corner until Newman pinned him to win the first fall in 25 minutes. The men started the second fall, but soon turned things over to the women. Once the men were tagged back in Cologne bodyslammed Newman and pinned him to win the fall in 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Dotson dominated the action as she applied arm and leg locks on May. She also draped May across the bottom rope and dropped both knees into her stomach. May fought back and managed to chase Dotson from the ring. The two battled at ringside, but may slid back into the ring just ahead of the referee’s count. Dotson was counted out and the fall and the match went to May & Cologne.
That same Tuesday night in Baton Rouge the card featured a double main event. In the opening event Dick Hatcher squared off with Al Perry. Hatcher pinned Perry in two straight falls to win the match.
In the final event, Elmer Davis took on the Skull. This match-up had a history because these two had been a team earlier in the year when Davis had a brief turn under a mask as the Skull #2. In fact the Skull had beaten him and removed his mask in a match in Baton Rouge. Davis had lingering hard feelings and was anxious to get his hands on his masked foe. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Davis appeared on his way to victory in the deciding fall until the Skull fouled him. This enraged Davis and he slugged the Skull and sent him through the ropes and onto the arena floor. Referee Phil Brummett tried to calm Davis down but Davis slugged him as well. Davis then kicked Brummett to the arena floor. Both the referee and the Skull tried to re-enter the ring, but Davis kept kicking them both out. Finally, Brummett called for a halt to the proceedings and disqualified Davis, awarding the fall and the match to the Skull.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Elmer Davis and Al Perry met in the opening match. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was event going into the deciding fall. Davis pinned Perry in the third fall to win the match. The two men shook hands at the end of the match to roar of approval from the crowd.
In the main event, popular Dick Hatcher took on the Skull. The Skull weakened Hatcher with arm twists and punched to the head before pinning him to win the first fall. Hatcher came back and gave the masked man a dose of his own medicine and pinned him to win the second fall. The Skull spent much of the third and final fall avoiding Hatcher, hoping to run out the time limit.
Hatcher total outclassed the masked man and finally swept him up and held him in a pinning position. As referee Phil Brummett started his count, the Skull struggled to get a foot over the bottom rope. Just as Brummett counted to three, the Skull draped a foot over the bottom rope but it was after the count. Brummett started to award the fall to Hatcher but noticed the foot on the rope. As he and Hatcher were arguing over this situation, the Skull got to his feet. He slugged Hatcher from behind, fell on him and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, Jack Curtis and Irish Jack Kelly squared off in the opening match. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Kelly got carried away in the final fall when he continued to kick and stomp Curtis along the ring ropes. Referee Pat Wilson, after many warnings, disqualified Kelly and awarded the fall and the match to Curtis.
The main event was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. Dotson used a flying body press to pin May to win the first fall in 16 minutes. May came back and pinned Dotson in each of the next two falls in 8 minutes apiece to win the match.
That same Wednesday night in Birmingham, the card featured three one fall single matches. The opening match had Jack Steele taking on George Harben
Joe Corbett took on Prince Emir Badu in the second match of the night.
The main event was a match between Nick Carter and the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
The following night in New Orleans, the Skull defeated Prince Emir Badu in the opening match of the evening.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Charley Keene & Dick Hatcher taking on the odd combination of Jack Steele & Joe Corbett. At one point during the final fall Corbett was holding Keene when Steele tried to land a haymaker on him. Keene ducked and Steele flattened Corbett instead. Keene quickly pinned Corbett to win the match for his team. Corbett and Steele got into a heated confrontation following the match.
In the main event Nick Carter squared off with the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid had pinned Carter to win the 10 man tag team match the two had participated in the previous week in New Orleans. That pin gave the Kid’s team the victory and Carter was anxious to even the score. Try as he might, Carter was just no match for the masked giant and was pinned to lose the match.
On Friday night in Jackson, George Cologne continued to impress as he defeated veteran Buff Sirois in the opening match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. May won two out of three falls from Dotson to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with the team of Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye taking on the twosome of Jack Kelly & Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Curtis & Laye won the first fall handily but that’s where their luck stopped. Newman & Kelly took the next two falls, mainly on the strength of Newman, to win the match.
The same night in Mobile, Dick Hatcher and Jack Steele battled to a 20 minute draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match, Al Perry and Elmer Davis met in a best two out of three falls bout. Davis pinned Perry with a cradle to win the first fall. Perry used a series of dropkicks to flatten Davis and pinned him to win the second fall. Davis forced Perry to submit to a figure four leglock to win the third and final fall and the match.
In the main event, the Skull made his first appearance in Mobile. He teamed with Jack Steele in his initial match to face the team of Dick Hatcher & Joe Corbett in a tag team match. Corbett used his sleeper hold on Steele to win the first fall, but Hatcher fell to the Skull’s and Steele’s knee drops in the second. Hatcher was injured so severely that he was unable to continue in the third fall, so Corbett decided to go it alone rather than forfeit the match. He was doing very well for himself and had Steele once again trapped in the sleeper when the Skull pulled him off. Steele and the Skull then applied their knee drops to Corbett and took the final fall.
Also on Friday in Anniston Prince Emir Badu faced George Harben in the opening match. Harben pinned Badu in two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event, the growing rivalry between Nick Carter and the Super Zebra Kid continued as they squared off. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Carter was disqualified in the final fall to give the match to the Kid.
The following week began with Huntsville promoter Mike Miller announcing a delay in presenting his first card. He was still in search of an appropriate location.
Miller also announced that he was taking over as wrestling promoter for the city of Decatur, Alabama. He would hold in first card there later in the month.
On Monday in Birmingham Dick Hatcher and Prince Omar met in the opening match. Omar was making his return to the area after a lengthy absence. The two battled to a time limit draw.
Joe Corbett defeated George Harben in the second match of the night.
In the semi-final Nick Carter took on Jim Champion. Carter won two out of three falls from Champion to win the match.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Super Zebra Kid. Steele pinned the Kid to win the first fall. The Kid used his backbreaker to subdue Steele in the next two falls to win the match.
Also on Monday in Shreveport the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and the “New” Dot Dotson. Dotson entered the ring with a new bleached blonde hairdo, shades of Gorgeous George. May pinned Dotson to win the one fall match.
In the second event, also a one fall match, George Cologne defeated Al Getz.
The main event featured a mixed tag team match with Ida may teaming with Jack Curtis to take on Dot Dotson & Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Curtis and Newman swapped falls in the match, with Curtis taking the first and Newman the second. May pinned Dotson to take the third and final fall to win the match for her team.
On Tuesday in Monroe the main event was a tag team match with Charlie Laye & Rex Mobley teaming to take on Al Getz & Lou “Shoulders” Newman.
The two opening preliminary matches were one fall bouts made up of these same four wrestlers, but the particulars are not known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Elmer Davis and Prince Omar met in the opening match of the evening, scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit.
The second event, also a one fall match with a 10 minute time limit, featured Jack Steele taking on the Skull.
No results are known for either of these matches.
The main event was a tag team match with Davis & Steele facing Omar & the Skull. Steele pinned the Skull to win the first fall. Omar came back and evened things up when he pinned Davis to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull tossed Steele from the ring and onto the arena floor. Steele was unable to make it back into the ring before the count of 20 and was counted out, giving the fall and the match to the Skull & Omar.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Elmer Davis faced Prince Omar in the first half of a double main event. Omar pinned Davis to win the first fall. Davis came back and battered Omar before pinning him to win the second. Omar was still weakened during the third and final fall, but managed to avoid being pinned by Davis. Omar managed to upend Davis and pinned him to win the final fall and the match. Davis complained bitterly to referee Phil Brummett following the loss, but the decision stood.
In the final half of the double main event, Jack Steele faced the Skull. Steele pinned the Skull following a series of monkey flips to win the first fall. Steele again used monkey flips on the masked man in the second fall but the Skull managed to reverse one of them and send Steele flying through the ropes and onto the concrete floor. Steele was counted out and the fall went to the Skull. Steele was helped back to the dressing room by ringside fans but was unable to continue at the start of the third and final fall. Referee Phil Brummett awarded the fall and the match to the Skull by forfeit.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport George Cologne & Pat Newman teamed to take on Jack Kelly & Lou “Shoulders” Newman in the main event tag team match. Lou Newman was billed as “Lou Shoulders” to prevent a connection being made between himself and Pat Newman. Allegedly the two men were actually brothers. This has never been confirmed.
Two 15 minute preliminary match involving these same four wrestlers preceded the main event. The particulars are no known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Wednesday wrestling returned to Pensacola under a new promoter John Morton, a longtime promoter of stock car racing. Morton presented his first card at the Pensacola Motor Speedway, featuring a double main event.
In the first event, Dick Hatcher faced Sheik Ben-Ali in a match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The second event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, featured Joe Corbett facing the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
Gulfport promoter Tony Everts presented a second card the on Thursday evening as well. On that card Pat Newman and Rex Mobley fought to 15 minute draw in the opening match.
The second bout on the card was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. May bodyslammed Dotson and pinned her to win the match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Newman & May taking on Mobley & Dotson. Mobley forced Newman to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall in 17 minutes. Newman came back and pinned Mobley following a bodyslam to take the second fall. May used a series of snap mares on Dotson and pinned her to take the final fall in 10 minutes.
That same Thursday night in New Orleans, Charley Keene and Prince Omar battled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Prince Emir Badu faced the Skull. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The Skull pinned Badu to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Nick Carter & Joe Corbett teaming to take on the duo of Jack Steele & the Super Zebra Kid. Each team had won a fall apiece and the match was even at the start of the third and final fall. Steele & the Kid were disqualified for illegal tactics in the third fall so the fall and the match were awarded to Carter & Corbett.
On Friday in Jackson, Charlie Laye and Al Getz battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match of the night, George Cologne used a series of snap mares on Jack Kelly and pinned him for the win.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Jack Curtis & Ida May joining forced to take on the team of Lou “Shoulders” Newman & Dot Dotson. Two referees, Pat Willis and Jack Roberts, were assigned to the match. Curtis & May scored two falls out of three to win the match.
That same Friday evening in Mobile, Elmer Davis and Prince Omar squared off in the opening match. Omar used a series of backbreakers on Davis and pinned him to win the first fall. Davis came back to slam Omar and pinned him to win the second fall. Omar made use of a series of bodyslams on Davis to pin him to win the final fall and the match.
In the semi-final match, Sheik Ben-Ali was matched with Jack Steele. Steele used a neck breaker on Ben-Ali and pinned him to win the first fall. Ben-Ali fared no better in the second fall as Steele forced him to submit to an arm stretch in take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
In the main event Joe Corbett faced the Skull. The Skull pinned Corbett following a bodyslam to win the first fall. Corbett came back and put the masked man out with a sleeper hold to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull tossed Corbett from the ring. Every time Corbett attempted to get back into the ring, the Skull punched him and knocked him back to the arena floor. The final time Corbett climbed to the ring apron, the Skull swung at him again. Corbett ducked and the wild swing sent the masked man spinning around. Corbett clamped a sleeper hold on the Skull and put him out. But Corbett had done all of this while standing outside on the ring apron while the Skull was actually in the ring. Referee Jimmy Barrett counted Corbett out and awarded the fall and the match to the Skull, who was fast asleep on the mat.
Also on Friday in Anniston, the Super Zebra Kid pinned Charley Keene to win the opening match of the evening.
Nick Carter and George Harben fought to a draw in the second match.
In the main event Keene & Carter teamed to tag on Harben & the Kid in a tag team match. Each team had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Harben & the Kid were disqualified in the third fall to give the fall and the match to Keene & Carter.
An article in the Panama City, Florida Sunday News newspaper that an unnamed promoter was planning on presenting weekly wrestling cards at Panama City Beach. These events never came to fruition.
No wrestling was held in Birmingham on Monday the following week.
Wrestling was held in Shreveport on Monday. The card opened with a tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Charlie Laye to take on Rex Mobley & Al Getz.
The semi-final featured the first appearance of a newcomer named Barlow Samson. Samson was billed as the “Pride of the Smokey Mountains”. Samson faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman in his debut.
The main event featured the first appearance of the year for Gorgeous George. The famed Toast of the Coast was matched with George Cologne.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Monday promoter Al Bragg presented a special card in Anniston. The card opened with Elmer Davis taking on Prince Omar in the opening match.
In the second match of the night, Joe Corbett faced George Harben
The main event was a women’s match with Ida May facing Mars Bennett.
No results are known for this card.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Howard Cantonwine faced Irish Jack Kelly in the first half of a double main event. Kelly scored two out of three falls over Cantonwine to win the match.
The finale of the evening saw Gorgeous George take on popular Charlie Laye. George, “the Human Orchid”, was accompanied to the ring by his valet Jefferies, who doused the ring with perfume before spreading out an ermine mat for his employer to step on. George tossed his gold Georgie pins to the female ringsiders as referee Bill Barney tried to go over the ring instructions. George refused to have Barney touch him until Jefferies doused him with perfume. After all of the histrionics, the match got started and George showed why his was such a top attraction. George tossed Laye with two flying mares and a bodyslam before pinning him to win the first fall in 8 minutes. Laye came back and applied a rolling armlock to force George to submit the second fall in 6 minutes. Following the second fall, George asked for the public microphone to address the audience. He stated that he did his best wrestling in complete silence and asked the crowd to accommodate him with such. This brought the expected results from the jeering crowd. In the third and deciding fall George was taking liberties with Laye until Laye lost his temper. Laye battered George from pillar to post until George feigned a heart attack. Referee Barney halted the action and went to check on George who was crouched in a corner. Laye also move in to take a look but was surprised when George swept his legs from under him and went for the pin. George also gained some extra leverage when his put his feet on the middle turnbuckle. Barney was so perplexed that he failed to see George’s feet in the ropes and counted the fall. George and Laye both got to their feet and while George was strutting around the ring, Laye was questioning Barney as to why he counted the fall with George’s feet on the turnbuckle. Laye tried to go after George but Barney stopped him and informed him that the match was over and that Gorgeous George was the winner.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. May had quickly become a fan favorite over the last few weeks in her matches with Dot Dotson. Bennett, the former circus performer, was making her first appearance in the area in nearly two years. May took two out of three falls over Bennett to win the match.
In the main event, Jack Steele was matched with the Skull. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the final fall. During the third fall Steele had managed to tear the top of the Skull’s mask and had him reeling with a series of flying tackles. Steele missed on tackle and rammed head first into a corner turnbuckle. The blow stunned Steele long enough for the Skull to pin him to win the third fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday promoter Mike Miller presented his first card at the Armory in Decatur. Sheik Ben-Ali faced George Harben in the opening match of the evening, scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit.
In the second bout, also a one fall match with a 10 minute time limit, Joe Corbett faced the Super Zebra Kid.
The main event was a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. In that match Ben-Ali & Corbett faced Harben & the Kid.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. Bennett surprised May with a dropkick and pinned her to win the first fall. Bennett tried for another dropkick in the second fall but May moved and she missed. May pinned the stunned Bennett and won the fall to tie the match. In the third and deciding fall Bennet had May trapped in a corner and was ramming her stomach with her head. On the third go round, May kicked her legs in the air and wrapped them around Bennett’s neck. May then rolled her over with a headscissors and pinned her to take the fall and the match.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Skull again in a return match. The Skull pinned Steele to win the first fall while Steele came back to win the second. In the third and deciding fall both men threw the rules aside and worked each other with some questionable tactics. Steele mainly concentrated in trying to remove the Skull’s mask while the masked man continually pulled Steele’s hair. Referee Phil Brummett warned both men constantly only to be ignored. The Skull finally laid a haymaker on Steele and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport, the card opened with two one fall 15 minute time limit preliminary matches. Pat Newman faced Al Getz in one, while George Cologne took on Rex Mobley in the other. Both matches ended in 15 minute draws.
The main event was a tag team match with Newman & Cologne facing Getz & Mobley. Newman & Cologne took two out of three falls to earn the victory over the veteran pair.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, Charley Keene faced Sheik Ben-Ali in the opening match, scheduled for one fall with a 30 minute time limit.
The main event was a tag team match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. In that one Charley Keene teamed with Nick Carter to take on Sheik Ben-Ali & the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Charley Keene defeated Prince Emir Badu in the one fall opening match.
In the second event, also a one fall match, the Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine.
The third match of the night was a women’s match that saw Ida May defeating Mars Bennett.
The semi-final match had Nick Carter facing the Skull. This was the masked man’s first appearance in New Orleans and he made the best of it. He pinned the popular Carter to win the match.
In the main event Gorgeous George made another appearance and faced Jack Steele. George once again was accompanied by Jefferies and entered the arena to the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance. The match itself was fairly even with neither man paying too particular to the rules. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. George managed to upend Steele and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
It was reported that this set a new attendance record for wrestling at the Coliseum in New Orleans. 5184 people paid $5551, which topped the record set by a match between Ed (Strangler) Lewis and Mike Roman set in the early 1930s.
On Friday in Jackson, the card opened with a match between Howard Cantonwine and Lou “Shoulder” Newman. Newman used his superior strength to overwhelm Cantonwine and pinned him to win the match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye taking on Rex Mobley & Jack Kelly. Curtis & Laye had formed an impressive tam and had several victories under their belt throughout the area. Prior to the start of the match, ring announcer Bob Neblett read a wire that had been received from Sockeye Jack McDonald and addressed to Curtis. McDonald issued a challenge to Curtis regarding the World Light-Heavyweight title that Curtis was now in possession of. McDonald was the man Curtis had relieved of the title and he was aiming to get it back. Curtis showed no response to the challenge as he & Laye handily defeated Mobley & Kelly to win the tag team match.
In the main event, the famed Gorgeous George made another of his heralded appearances. This time his opponent was George Cologne, the speedy wrestler from New Orleans. Cologne gave George all he could handle throughout the match, mainly by using a corkscrew paralyzer. Finally George went into his heart attack routine to lure Cologne into the corner. George quickly upended Cologne and pinned him with his feet on the turnbuckles for added leverage. Referee Jack Roberts failed to see the infraction and counted Cologne’s shoulders down and awarded the victory to George.
That same Friday evening in Mobile, Jack Steele faced the Skull in the opening match. Steele used a backbreaker on the Skull to force a submission and won the first fall in 18 minutes. The Skull came back to drop a knee into the throat of Steele and pinned him to win the second fall in 12 minutes. Steele was still groggy at the start of the third and deciding fall and was easy prey for the Skull. The masked man bodyslammed Steele several time before pinning him to win the fall and the match in 5 minutes.
In the semi-final match Nick Carter took on the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid forced Carter to submit to a backbreaker to win the first fall. Carter flattened the hulking Kid with dropkicks and pinned him to win the second fall. Carter showed his strength in the third and deciding fall as he managed to bodyslam the Kid and pinned him to win the fall and the match. Afterwards the Kid argued with Carter and referee Charley Keene but they ganged up on him and chased him from the ring.
The main event was a women’s match with Ida May taking on Mars Bennett. Bennett won the first fall when she tossed May with a flying mare and pinned her in 12 minutes. May came roaring back in the second fall winning it in 8 minutes after pinning Bennett following a series of dropkicks. In the third and deciding fall, May rolled Bennett up with a jackknife and pinned her in 7 minutes to take the fall and the match.
Also on Friday promoter Al Bragg held his second card of the week in Anniston, this one on his regular Friday night slot.
The card featured a double main event with both matches being return matches from the card he had held in Anniston on Monday. First up was a match between Elmer Davis and Prince Omar, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The other was a grudge match between Joe Corbett and George Harben. This match was also scheduled for best two out of three falls, but carried no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The following Monday wrestling returned to Birmingham after a week off. The Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the opening match of the evening.
The second match of the night was a women’s match. Ida May defeated Mars Bennett to win that match.
The semi-final match saw the team of Joe Corbett & Elmer Davis defeat the duo of Jack Steele & George Harben to win a tag team match
In the main event Nick Carter took on the one and only Gorgeous George. Cater pinned George to win the first fall. George came back and won the final two falls to take the match.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport Charlie Laye and Irish Jack Kelly wrestled to a draw in the opening match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Laye teaming with Jack Curtis to face Kelly & Rex Mobley. Laye & Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match and continue their winning streak as a team.
The main event saw the return of Sockeye Jack McDonald after an absence. McDonald faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman in his return. The winner of this match was promised a title match with World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis. McDonald defeated the previously undefeated Newman to win the match and earn the title shot.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Charlie Laye teamed with George Cologne to take on Sockeye Jack McDonald and Irish Jack Kelly in the main event tag team match. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
The main event was preceded by two one fall 10 minute preliminary matches. The participants in these matches were made up of the four men involved in the main event, but the particulars are not known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charley Keene faced Prince Omar in the opening match of the evening. Omar pinned Keene to win the first fall. Keene came back and forced Omar to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the second fall. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall. The match ended in a draw.
The main event was another match between Elmer Davis and the Skull. Davis pinned the Skull to win the first fall and take an early advantage. The masked man came back and forced Davis to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall and even things up. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull pinned Davis with referee Phil Brummett making a very fast three count. Brummett declared the Skull as the winner of the fall and the match, but Davis complained bitterly about a fast count. The ringside fans felt the same way and began moving in close to the ring to show their displeasure. The police swarmed the ring and escorted Brummett and the Skull to the dressing room.
That same Tuesday night in Decatur, the card opened with a women’s match with Ida May taking on Mars Bennett. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a return grudge match between Nick Carter and George Harben. Carter had requested the match, which was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
An extra card was held in Anniston also on Tuesday. The Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the one fall opening match.
In the main event Gorgeous George won two out of three falls over Joe Corbett to win their match.
The following evening in Alexandria, Elmer Davis faced Prince Omar in the opening match. Omar forced Davis to submit to a hammerlock to win the first fall. Omar tried the same hold in the second fall but Davis managed to escape and pinned Omar to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall the two spent much of their time punching each other in the head. Davis finally backed Omar into a corner and punched him in the stomach. This caused Omar to lose his breath and he was easily pinned by Davis, who won the fall and the match.
In the main event, Charley Keene faced the Skull. The Skull continually kept Keene off balance by pulling his hair throughout much of the first fall. he finally forced Keene to surrender to an arm wringer to win the fall. In the second fall Keene came back and gave the masked man some of his own medicine, continually working over his arm until the Skull conceded the fall. In the third and final fall, Keene applied a bodyslam on the Skull three different times and came close to pinning him each time. But when he tried it a fourth time, Keene lost his balance and fell to the mat with the Skull on top of him. The masked man added a punch to the face for good measure and pinned Keene to win the fall and the match.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport, Pat Newman faced Lou Shoulders in the opening match of the evening. Despite a drizzling rain, the match went on with Shoulders proving to be as foul as the weather. He was disqualified by referee pat Wilson just 2 minutes into the first fall and the fall was awarded to Newman. It just took 10 minutes into the second fall for Wilson to again disqualify Shoulders and award the match to Newman in straight falls.
In the main event, George Cologne faced Rex Mobley as the rain continued. Cologne pinned Mobley following a bodyslam to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Mobley made use of his famed rocking chair split to pin Cologne to win the second fall in 13 minutes. In the third and deciding fall Mobley resorted to stomping Cologne in the head, which opened a slight cut. Cologne was incensed and batter Mobley around the ring before tossing him through the ropes and unto the arena floor. Referee Pat Wilson tried to calm Cologne down and was tossed out as well. Wilson promptly stopped the action and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley on a disqualification.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, the opening match was a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a match between two veteran wrestlers, Rube Wright and Jack Steele. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Prince Omar defeated Elmer Davis in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match, Joe Corbett faced Howard Cantonwine. Corbett used a sleeper hold to put Cantonwine out and win the match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Nick Carter & Charley Keene teaming to take on Baron Von Harben & the Super Zebra Kid. Carter & Keene, a a slight assist of Joe Corbett, took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event, Gorgeous George returned to face the Skull. Despite the severe weather that night, a crowd of 4100 were in attendance and most of them were solidly behind George as he faced the much despised masked man. George didn’t disappoint them as he not only defeated the Skull by taking two out of three falls; he unmasked him for good measure. Once again Don Martin was identified as being the man behind the mask of the Skull.
On Friday night in Jackson the card opened with a six man Battle Royal. The participants were Charlie Laye, Jack Kelly, George Cologne, Rex Mobley, Al Getz and Lou “Shoulders” Newman. The last two men standing were Laye and Kelly. They met in a single match in the semi-final match. Kelly pinned Laye to win the match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis put his title on the line against the man he’d taken it from, Sockeye Jack McDonald. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. At one point McDonald left the ring and Curtis followed him out. The two got into a skirmish at ringside with McDonald getting the better of it. He slammed Curtis headfirst into the arena floor. As Curtis rolled around on the floor in pain, McDonald returned to the ring. Referee Jack Roberts counted Curtis out and awarded the fall and the match to McDonald. A jubilant McDonald demanded the title belt, but Roberts refused to award it to him. He stated that he would not award the title to McDonald on a count out. Commissioner Gordon Childress also entered the ring and conferred with Roberts. Childress appeared to be in agreement with McDonald but refused to issue a ruling. Promoter Billy Romanoff also got involved and sided with Robert’s decision. He declared McDonald the winner, but not the new champion.
That same Friday night in Mobile, the Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final Nick Carter took on Baron George Von Harben. Carter pinned Von Harben in two straight falls to win the match.
The main event featured Joe Corbett taking on the one and only Gorgeous George. Corbett put George out with a sleeper hold to win the first fall. George came back to pin Corbett in the final two falls to win the match.
Also on Friday the second card of the week was held in Anniston. On that card Jack Steele and Prince Omar met in the opening match.
The main event was a return grudge match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. This match was to be a one fall to a finish match with no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The final card of May was held on Saturday in Jasper, as wrestling returned there for promoter Joe Gunther’s first card there since the end of 1951. Jasper was a weekly city during the previous year, but Gunther would only run shows there periodically during this year.
This card featured a double main event. In the opening event Ida May met Mars Bennett in a women’s match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The final event featured Elmer Davis taking on Prince Omar. This match was also scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The first day of May opened with the Thursday night card in New Orleans. Charley Keene defeated Baron Von Harben in the opening one fall match.
The second match, also a one fall bout, saw Al Perry and Elmer Davis battle to a draw.
In the third one fall match, Nick Carter defeated Pat Cronin.
The main event was a 10 man tag team match with Dick Hatcher, Prince Emir Badu, Al Perry, Charley Keene & Nick Carter teaming to take on Baron Von Harben, Jack Steele, Pat Cronin, Elmer Davis & the Super Zebra Kid. The foursome of Von Harben, Steele, Cronin, Davis & the Kid scored the winning fall to win the match.
On Friday in Jackson, Charlie Laye and Irish Jack Kelly battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
George Cologne scored an impressive win over Buff Sirois in the second match of the night.
In the semi-final match, Al Getz faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Newman continued his win streak as he took two out of three falls from Getz to win the match.
In the main event, World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis once again put his title on the line against the challenge of the Skull. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. In the third fall Curtis knocked the Skull from the ring and the masked man was unable to get back in before referee Jack Roberts counted him out. The fall and the match went to Curtis, who kept his title safe. The Skull grabbed the ringside microphone and complained loud and long about Roberts, who like Curtis was from Vicksburg, gave a hometown decision to the champion. The jeers from the crowd finally drowned him out and he stormed back to his dressing room.
That same Friday evening in Mobile the card opened with a challenge match between Jack Steele and Pat (Bad Boy) Cronin. It was to be a best two out of three fall match with the loser of the match to leave the area. Steele took the match in two straight falls. Cronin had no choice but to leave town, because after the match he took a swing at the referee and drew a 60 day suspension from Commissioner Harold Irby.
In the main event, the Super Zebra Kid was looking to continue his winning ways as he faced Sheik Ben-Ali in a best two out of three fall match. Ben-Ali was a new name but a familiar figure. He had previously competed in the area as Sheik Ali Khan and was using the name Prince Emir Badu in other parts of the territory. Ben-Ali took the first fall by forcing the Kid to submit to a leglock. The Kid roared back taking the next two falls with his patented backbreaker.
Also on Friday wrestling returned to Anniston. Promoter Al Bragg introduced a new location as the future cards would be held as the Sports Arena. Charley Keene defeated Elmer Davis in the opening match of the night.
Nick Carter defeated Al Perry in the second match of the evening.
In the main event, Keene & Carter joined forces to take on the duo of Davis & Perry in a tag team match. Keene & Carter took two out of three falls to win the match.
The regular Monday night card in Birmingham was moved to Wednesday the following week, so the week opened with a Monday night card in Shreveport. The card opened with Charlie Laye and Al Getz meeting in a one fall match with a 30 minute time limit. Laye pinned Getz to win the match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match with Ida May taking on Dot Dotson. Dotson won the first fall when she pinned May after some rough tactics. May came back to take the next two falls to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Charlie Laye to take on Lou “Shoulders” Newman & Al Getz. Newman pinned Curtis to win the first fall, while Laye pinned Getz to win the second. The third and final fall saw Newman pin Laye to give the fall and the match to his team.
On Tuesday in Monroe, George Cologne and Lou “Shoulders” Newman battled to a draw in the opening match.
The second match of the night was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. This match also ended in a draw.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Cologne & May facing Newman & Dotson. Newman & Dotson kept Cologne trapped in their corner for much of the first fall, with Dotson raking his eyes with her fingernails. At one point while May and Dotson were in the ring, May caught Dotson in a leglock and kept her there for 5 minutes. Dotson refused to submit, however, and finally managed to tag Newman, which brought he and Cologne back into the ring. Cologne was once again trapped in the corner until Newman pinned him to win the first fall in 25 minutes. The men started the second fall, but soon turned things over to the women. Once the men were tagged back in Cologne bodyslammed Newman and pinned him to win the fall in 5 minutes. In the third and deciding fall, Dotson dominated the action as she applied arm and leg locks on May. She also draped May across the bottom rope and dropped both knees into her stomach. May fought back and managed to chase Dotson from the ring. The two battled at ringside, but may slid back into the ring just ahead of the referee’s count. Dotson was counted out and the fall and the match went to May & Cologne.
That same Tuesday night in Baton Rouge the card featured a double main event. In the opening event Dick Hatcher squared off with Al Perry. Hatcher pinned Perry in two straight falls to win the match.
In the final event, Elmer Davis took on the Skull. This match-up had a history because these two had been a team earlier in the year when Davis had a brief turn under a mask as the Skull #2. In fact the Skull had beaten him and removed his mask in a match in Baton Rouge. Davis had lingering hard feelings and was anxious to get his hands on his masked foe. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. Davis appeared on his way to victory in the deciding fall until the Skull fouled him. This enraged Davis and he slugged the Skull and sent him through the ropes and onto the arena floor. Referee Phil Brummett tried to calm Davis down but Davis slugged him as well. Davis then kicked Brummett to the arena floor. Both the referee and the Skull tried to re-enter the ring, but Davis kept kicking them both out. Finally, Brummett called for a halt to the proceedings and disqualified Davis, awarding the fall and the match to the Skull.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Elmer Davis and Al Perry met in the opening match. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was event going into the deciding fall. Davis pinned Perry in the third fall to win the match. The two men shook hands at the end of the match to roar of approval from the crowd.
In the main event, popular Dick Hatcher took on the Skull. The Skull weakened Hatcher with arm twists and punched to the head before pinning him to win the first fall. Hatcher came back and gave the masked man a dose of his own medicine and pinned him to win the second fall. The Skull spent much of the third and final fall avoiding Hatcher, hoping to run out the time limit.
Hatcher total outclassed the masked man and finally swept him up and held him in a pinning position. As referee Phil Brummett started his count, the Skull struggled to get a foot over the bottom rope. Just as Brummett counted to three, the Skull draped a foot over the bottom rope but it was after the count. Brummett started to award the fall to Hatcher but noticed the foot on the rope. As he and Hatcher were arguing over this situation, the Skull got to his feet. He slugged Hatcher from behind, fell on him and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
Also on Wednesday in Gulfport, Jack Curtis and Irish Jack Kelly squared off in the opening match. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Kelly got carried away in the final fall when he continued to kick and stomp Curtis along the ring ropes. Referee Pat Wilson, after many warnings, disqualified Kelly and awarded the fall and the match to Curtis.
The main event was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. Dotson used a flying body press to pin May to win the first fall in 16 minutes. May came back and pinned Dotson in each of the next two falls in 8 minutes apiece to win the match.
That same Wednesday night in Birmingham, the card featured three one fall single matches. The opening match had Jack Steele taking on George Harben
Joe Corbett took on Prince Emir Badu in the second match of the night.
The main event was a match between Nick Carter and the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
The following night in New Orleans, the Skull defeated Prince Emir Badu in the opening match of the evening.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Charley Keene & Dick Hatcher taking on the odd combination of Jack Steele & Joe Corbett. At one point during the final fall Corbett was holding Keene when Steele tried to land a haymaker on him. Keene ducked and Steele flattened Corbett instead. Keene quickly pinned Corbett to win the match for his team. Corbett and Steele got into a heated confrontation following the match.
In the main event Nick Carter squared off with the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid had pinned Carter to win the 10 man tag team match the two had participated in the previous week in New Orleans. That pin gave the Kid’s team the victory and Carter was anxious to even the score. Try as he might, Carter was just no match for the masked giant and was pinned to lose the match.
On Friday night in Jackson, George Cologne continued to impress as he defeated veteran Buff Sirois in the opening match.
The semi-final match was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. May won two out of three falls from Dotson to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with the team of Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye taking on the twosome of Jack Kelly & Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Curtis & Laye won the first fall handily but that’s where their luck stopped. Newman & Kelly took the next two falls, mainly on the strength of Newman, to win the match.
The same night in Mobile, Dick Hatcher and Jack Steele battled to a 20 minute draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match, Al Perry and Elmer Davis met in a best two out of three falls bout. Davis pinned Perry with a cradle to win the first fall. Perry used a series of dropkicks to flatten Davis and pinned him to win the second fall. Davis forced Perry to submit to a figure four leglock to win the third and final fall and the match.
In the main event, the Skull made his first appearance in Mobile. He teamed with Jack Steele in his initial match to face the team of Dick Hatcher & Joe Corbett in a tag team match. Corbett used his sleeper hold on Steele to win the first fall, but Hatcher fell to the Skull’s and Steele’s knee drops in the second. Hatcher was injured so severely that he was unable to continue in the third fall, so Corbett decided to go it alone rather than forfeit the match. He was doing very well for himself and had Steele once again trapped in the sleeper when the Skull pulled him off. Steele and the Skull then applied their knee drops to Corbett and took the final fall.
Also on Friday in Anniston Prince Emir Badu faced George Harben in the opening match. Harben pinned Badu in two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event, the growing rivalry between Nick Carter and the Super Zebra Kid continued as they squared off. The match was even at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Carter was disqualified in the final fall to give the match to the Kid.
The following week began with Huntsville promoter Mike Miller announcing a delay in presenting his first card. He was still in search of an appropriate location.
Miller also announced that he was taking over as wrestling promoter for the city of Decatur, Alabama. He would hold in first card there later in the month.
On Monday in Birmingham Dick Hatcher and Prince Omar met in the opening match. Omar was making his return to the area after a lengthy absence. The two battled to a time limit draw.
Joe Corbett defeated George Harben in the second match of the night.
In the semi-final Nick Carter took on Jim Champion. Carter won two out of three falls from Champion to win the match.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Super Zebra Kid. Steele pinned the Kid to win the first fall. The Kid used his backbreaker to subdue Steele in the next two falls to win the match.
Also on Monday in Shreveport the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and the “New” Dot Dotson. Dotson entered the ring with a new bleached blonde hairdo, shades of Gorgeous George. May pinned Dotson to win the one fall match.
In the second event, also a one fall match, George Cologne defeated Al Getz.
The main event featured a mixed tag team match with Ida may teaming with Jack Curtis to take on Dot Dotson & Lou “Shoulders” Newman. Curtis and Newman swapped falls in the match, with Curtis taking the first and Newman the second. May pinned Dotson to take the third and final fall to win the match for her team.
On Tuesday in Monroe the main event was a tag team match with Charlie Laye & Rex Mobley teaming to take on Al Getz & Lou “Shoulders” Newman.
The two opening preliminary matches were one fall bouts made up of these same four wrestlers, but the particulars are not known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge, Elmer Davis and Prince Omar met in the opening match of the evening, scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit.
The second event, also a one fall match with a 10 minute time limit, featured Jack Steele taking on the Skull.
No results are known for either of these matches.
The main event was a tag team match with Davis & Steele facing Omar & the Skull. Steele pinned the Skull to win the first fall. Omar came back and evened things up when he pinned Davis to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull tossed Steele from the ring and onto the arena floor. Steele was unable to make it back into the ring before the count of 20 and was counted out, giving the fall and the match to the Skull & Omar.
On Wednesday in Alexandria, Elmer Davis faced Prince Omar in the first half of a double main event. Omar pinned Davis to win the first fall. Davis came back and battered Omar before pinning him to win the second. Omar was still weakened during the third and final fall, but managed to avoid being pinned by Davis. Omar managed to upend Davis and pinned him to win the final fall and the match. Davis complained bitterly to referee Phil Brummett following the loss, but the decision stood.
In the final half of the double main event, Jack Steele faced the Skull. Steele pinned the Skull following a series of monkey flips to win the first fall. Steele again used monkey flips on the masked man in the second fall but the Skull managed to reverse one of them and send Steele flying through the ropes and onto the concrete floor. Steele was counted out and the fall went to the Skull. Steele was helped back to the dressing room by ringside fans but was unable to continue at the start of the third and final fall. Referee Phil Brummett awarded the fall and the match to the Skull by forfeit.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport George Cologne & Pat Newman teamed to take on Jack Kelly & Lou “Shoulders” Newman in the main event tag team match. Lou Newman was billed as “Lou Shoulders” to prevent a connection being made between himself and Pat Newman. Allegedly the two men were actually brothers. This has never been confirmed.
Two 15 minute preliminary match involving these same four wrestlers preceded the main event. The particulars are no known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Wednesday wrestling returned to Pensacola under a new promoter John Morton, a longtime promoter of stock car racing. Morton presented his first card at the Pensacola Motor Speedway, featuring a double main event.
In the first event, Dick Hatcher faced Sheik Ben-Ali in a match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The second event, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit, featured Joe Corbett facing the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
Gulfport promoter Tony Everts presented a second card the on Thursday evening as well. On that card Pat Newman and Rex Mobley fought to 15 minute draw in the opening match.
The second bout on the card was a women’s match between Ida May and Dot Dotson. May bodyslammed Dotson and pinned her to win the match.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Newman & May taking on Mobley & Dotson. Mobley forced Newman to submit to a Boston Crab to win the first fall in 17 minutes. Newman came back and pinned Mobley following a bodyslam to take the second fall. May used a series of snap mares on Dotson and pinned her to take the final fall in 10 minutes.
That same Thursday night in New Orleans, Charley Keene and Prince Omar battled to a 30 minute draw in the opening match.
In the semi-final match Prince Emir Badu faced the Skull. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. The Skull pinned Badu to win the match.
The main event was a tag team match with Nick Carter & Joe Corbett teaming to take on the duo of Jack Steele & the Super Zebra Kid. Each team had won a fall apiece and the match was even at the start of the third and final fall. Steele & the Kid were disqualified for illegal tactics in the third fall so the fall and the match were awarded to Carter & Corbett.
On Friday in Jackson, Charlie Laye and Al Getz battled to a draw in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match of the night, George Cologne used a series of snap mares on Jack Kelly and pinned him for the win.
The main event was a mixed tag team match with Jack Curtis & Ida May joining forced to take on the team of Lou “Shoulders” Newman & Dot Dotson. Two referees, Pat Willis and Jack Roberts, were assigned to the match. Curtis & May scored two falls out of three to win the match.
That same Friday evening in Mobile, Elmer Davis and Prince Omar squared off in the opening match. Omar used a series of backbreakers on Davis and pinned him to win the first fall. Davis came back to slam Omar and pinned him to win the second fall. Omar made use of a series of bodyslams on Davis to pin him to win the final fall and the match.
In the semi-final match, Sheik Ben-Ali was matched with Jack Steele. Steele used a neck breaker on Ben-Ali and pinned him to win the first fall. Ben-Ali fared no better in the second fall as Steele forced him to submit to an arm stretch in take the second fall and win the match in straight falls.
In the main event Joe Corbett faced the Skull. The Skull pinned Corbett following a bodyslam to win the first fall. Corbett came back and put the masked man out with a sleeper hold to win the second fall. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull tossed Corbett from the ring. Every time Corbett attempted to get back into the ring, the Skull punched him and knocked him back to the arena floor. The final time Corbett climbed to the ring apron, the Skull swung at him again. Corbett ducked and the wild swing sent the masked man spinning around. Corbett clamped a sleeper hold on the Skull and put him out. But Corbett had done all of this while standing outside on the ring apron while the Skull was actually in the ring. Referee Jimmy Barrett counted Corbett out and awarded the fall and the match to the Skull, who was fast asleep on the mat.
Also on Friday in Anniston, the Super Zebra Kid pinned Charley Keene to win the opening match of the evening.
Nick Carter and George Harben fought to a draw in the second match.
In the main event Keene & Carter teamed to tag on Harben & the Kid in a tag team match. Each team had won a fall apiece going into the third and deciding fall. Harben & the Kid were disqualified in the third fall to give the fall and the match to Keene & Carter.
An article in the Panama City, Florida Sunday News newspaper that an unnamed promoter was planning on presenting weekly wrestling cards at Panama City Beach. These events never came to fruition.
No wrestling was held in Birmingham on Monday the following week.
Wrestling was held in Shreveport on Monday. The card opened with a tag team match with Jack Curtis teaming with Charlie Laye to take on Rex Mobley & Al Getz.
The semi-final featured the first appearance of a newcomer named Barlow Samson. Samson was billed as the “Pride of the Smokey Mountains”. Samson faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman in his debut.
The main event featured the first appearance of the year for Gorgeous George. The famed Toast of the Coast was matched with George Cologne.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Monday promoter Al Bragg presented a special card in Anniston. The card opened with Elmer Davis taking on Prince Omar in the opening match.
In the second match of the night, Joe Corbett faced George Harben
The main event was a women’s match with Ida May facing Mars Bennett.
No results are known for this card.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Howard Cantonwine faced Irish Jack Kelly in the first half of a double main event. Kelly scored two out of three falls over Cantonwine to win the match.
The finale of the evening saw Gorgeous George take on popular Charlie Laye. George, “the Human Orchid”, was accompanied to the ring by his valet Jefferies, who doused the ring with perfume before spreading out an ermine mat for his employer to step on. George tossed his gold Georgie pins to the female ringsiders as referee Bill Barney tried to go over the ring instructions. George refused to have Barney touch him until Jefferies doused him with perfume. After all of the histrionics, the match got started and George showed why his was such a top attraction. George tossed Laye with two flying mares and a bodyslam before pinning him to win the first fall in 8 minutes. Laye came back and applied a rolling armlock to force George to submit the second fall in 6 minutes. Following the second fall, George asked for the public microphone to address the audience. He stated that he did his best wrestling in complete silence and asked the crowd to accommodate him with such. This brought the expected results from the jeering crowd. In the third and deciding fall George was taking liberties with Laye until Laye lost his temper. Laye battered George from pillar to post until George feigned a heart attack. Referee Barney halted the action and went to check on George who was crouched in a corner. Laye also move in to take a look but was surprised when George swept his legs from under him and went for the pin. George also gained some extra leverage when his put his feet on the middle turnbuckle. Barney was so perplexed that he failed to see George’s feet in the ropes and counted the fall. George and Laye both got to their feet and while George was strutting around the ring, Laye was questioning Barney as to why he counted the fall with George’s feet on the turnbuckle. Laye tried to go after George but Barney stopped him and informed him that the match was over and that Gorgeous George was the winner.
That same Tuesday evening in Baton Rouge the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. May had quickly become a fan favorite over the last few weeks in her matches with Dot Dotson. Bennett, the former circus performer, was making her first appearance in the area in nearly two years. May took two out of three falls over Bennett to win the match.
In the main event, Jack Steele was matched with the Skull. Each man had won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the final fall. During the third fall Steele had managed to tear the top of the Skull’s mask and had him reeling with a series of flying tackles. Steele missed on tackle and rammed head first into a corner turnbuckle. The blow stunned Steele long enough for the Skull to pin him to win the third fall and the match.
Also on Tuesday promoter Mike Miller presented his first card at the Armory in Decatur. Sheik Ben-Ali faced George Harben in the opening match of the evening, scheduled for one fall with a 10 minute time limit.
In the second bout, also a one fall match with a 10 minute time limit, Joe Corbett faced the Super Zebra Kid.
The main event was a tag team match, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit. In that match Ben-Ali & Corbett faced Harben & the Kid.
No results are known for this card.
On Wednesday in Alexandria the card opened with a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. Bennett surprised May with a dropkick and pinned her to win the first fall. Bennett tried for another dropkick in the second fall but May moved and she missed. May pinned the stunned Bennett and won the fall to tie the match. In the third and deciding fall Bennet had May trapped in a corner and was ramming her stomach with her head. On the third go round, May kicked her legs in the air and wrapped them around Bennett’s neck. May then rolled her over with a headscissors and pinned her to take the fall and the match.
In the main event Jack Steele faced the Skull again in a return match. The Skull pinned Steele to win the first fall while Steele came back to win the second. In the third and deciding fall both men threw the rules aside and worked each other with some questionable tactics. Steele mainly concentrated in trying to remove the Skull’s mask while the masked man continually pulled Steele’s hair. Referee Phil Brummett warned both men constantly only to be ignored. The Skull finally laid a haymaker on Steele and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport, the card opened with two one fall 15 minute time limit preliminary matches. Pat Newman faced Al Getz in one, while George Cologne took on Rex Mobley in the other. Both matches ended in 15 minute draws.
The main event was a tag team match with Newman & Cologne facing Getz & Mobley. Newman & Cologne took two out of three falls to earn the victory over the veteran pair.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, Charley Keene faced Sheik Ben-Ali in the opening match, scheduled for one fall with a 30 minute time limit.
The main event was a tag team match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit. In that one Charley Keene teamed with Nick Carter to take on Sheik Ben-Ali & the Super Zebra Kid.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans, Charley Keene defeated Prince Emir Badu in the one fall opening match.
In the second event, also a one fall match, the Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine.
The third match of the night was a women’s match that saw Ida May defeating Mars Bennett.
The semi-final match had Nick Carter facing the Skull. This was the masked man’s first appearance in New Orleans and he made the best of it. He pinned the popular Carter to win the match.
In the main event Gorgeous George made another appearance and faced Jack Steele. George once again was accompanied by Jefferies and entered the arena to the sounds of Pomp and Circumstance. The match itself was fairly even with neither man paying too particular to the rules. Each man won a fall apiece and the match was even going into the third and deciding fall. George managed to upend Steele and pinned him to win the fall and the match.
It was reported that this set a new attendance record for wrestling at the Coliseum in New Orleans. 5184 people paid $5551, which topped the record set by a match between Ed (Strangler) Lewis and Mike Roman set in the early 1930s.
On Friday in Jackson, the card opened with a match between Howard Cantonwine and Lou “Shoulder” Newman. Newman used his superior strength to overwhelm Cantonwine and pinned him to win the match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Jack Curtis & Charlie Laye taking on Rex Mobley & Jack Kelly. Curtis & Laye had formed an impressive tam and had several victories under their belt throughout the area. Prior to the start of the match, ring announcer Bob Neblett read a wire that had been received from Sockeye Jack McDonald and addressed to Curtis. McDonald issued a challenge to Curtis regarding the World Light-Heavyweight title that Curtis was now in possession of. McDonald was the man Curtis had relieved of the title and he was aiming to get it back. Curtis showed no response to the challenge as he & Laye handily defeated Mobley & Kelly to win the tag team match.
In the main event, the famed Gorgeous George made another of his heralded appearances. This time his opponent was George Cologne, the speedy wrestler from New Orleans. Cologne gave George all he could handle throughout the match, mainly by using a corkscrew paralyzer. Finally George went into his heart attack routine to lure Cologne into the corner. George quickly upended Cologne and pinned him with his feet on the turnbuckles for added leverage. Referee Jack Roberts failed to see the infraction and counted Cologne’s shoulders down and awarded the victory to George.
That same Friday evening in Mobile, Jack Steele faced the Skull in the opening match. Steele used a backbreaker on the Skull to force a submission and won the first fall in 18 minutes. The Skull came back to drop a knee into the throat of Steele and pinned him to win the second fall in 12 minutes. Steele was still groggy at the start of the third and deciding fall and was easy prey for the Skull. The masked man bodyslammed Steele several time before pinning him to win the fall and the match in 5 minutes.
In the semi-final match Nick Carter took on the Super Zebra Kid. The Kid forced Carter to submit to a backbreaker to win the first fall. Carter flattened the hulking Kid with dropkicks and pinned him to win the second fall. Carter showed his strength in the third and deciding fall as he managed to bodyslam the Kid and pinned him to win the fall and the match. Afterwards the Kid argued with Carter and referee Charley Keene but they ganged up on him and chased him from the ring.
The main event was a women’s match with Ida May taking on Mars Bennett. Bennett won the first fall when she tossed May with a flying mare and pinned her in 12 minutes. May came roaring back in the second fall winning it in 8 minutes after pinning Bennett following a series of dropkicks. In the third and deciding fall, May rolled Bennett up with a jackknife and pinned her in 7 minutes to take the fall and the match.
Also on Friday promoter Al Bragg held his second card of the week in Anniston, this one on his regular Friday night slot.
The card featured a double main event with both matches being return matches from the card he had held in Anniston on Monday. First up was a match between Elmer Davis and Prince Omar, scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The other was a grudge match between Joe Corbett and George Harben. This match was also scheduled for best two out of three falls, but carried no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The following Monday wrestling returned to Birmingham after a week off. The Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the opening match of the evening.
The second match of the night was a women’s match. Ida May defeated Mars Bennett to win that match.
The semi-final match saw the team of Joe Corbett & Elmer Davis defeat the duo of Jack Steele & George Harben to win a tag team match
In the main event Nick Carter took on the one and only Gorgeous George. Cater pinned George to win the first fall. George came back and won the final two falls to take the match.
That same Monday evening in Shreveport Charlie Laye and Irish Jack Kelly wrestled to a draw in the opening match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Laye teaming with Jack Curtis to face Kelly & Rex Mobley. Laye & Curtis took two out of three falls to win the match and continue their winning streak as a team.
The main event saw the return of Sockeye Jack McDonald after an absence. McDonald faced Lou “Shoulders” Newman in his return. The winner of this match was promised a title match with World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis. McDonald defeated the previously undefeated Newman to win the match and earn the title shot.
On Tuesday in Monroe, Charlie Laye teamed with George Cologne to take on Sockeye Jack McDonald and Irish Jack Kelly in the main event tag team match. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
The main event was preceded by two one fall 10 minute preliminary matches. The participants in these matches were made up of the four men involved in the main event, but the particulars are not known.
No results are known for this card.
Also on Tuesday in Baton Rouge Charley Keene faced Prince Omar in the opening match of the evening. Omar pinned Keene to win the first fall. Keene came back and forced Omar to submit to a single leg Boston Crab to win the second fall. The 60 minute time limit expired before either man could win the deciding fall. The match ended in a draw.
The main event was another match between Elmer Davis and the Skull. Davis pinned the Skull to win the first fall and take an early advantage. The masked man came back and forced Davis to submit to a Boston Crab to win the second fall and even things up. In the third and deciding fall, the Skull pinned Davis with referee Phil Brummett making a very fast three count. Brummett declared the Skull as the winner of the fall and the match, but Davis complained bitterly about a fast count. The ringside fans felt the same way and began moving in close to the ring to show their displeasure. The police swarmed the ring and escorted Brummett and the Skull to the dressing room.
That same Tuesday night in Decatur, the card opened with a women’s match with Ida May taking on Mars Bennett. The match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a return grudge match between Nick Carter and George Harben. Carter had requested the match, which was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
An extra card was held in Anniston also on Tuesday. The Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the one fall opening match.
In the main event Gorgeous George won two out of three falls over Joe Corbett to win their match.
The following evening in Alexandria, Elmer Davis faced Prince Omar in the opening match. Omar forced Davis to submit to a hammerlock to win the first fall. Omar tried the same hold in the second fall but Davis managed to escape and pinned Omar to win the fall. In the third and deciding fall the two spent much of their time punching each other in the head. Davis finally backed Omar into a corner and punched him in the stomach. This caused Omar to lose his breath and he was easily pinned by Davis, who won the fall and the match.
In the main event, Charley Keene faced the Skull. The Skull continually kept Keene off balance by pulling his hair throughout much of the first fall. he finally forced Keene to surrender to an arm wringer to win the fall. In the second fall Keene came back and gave the masked man some of his own medicine, continually working over his arm until the Skull conceded the fall. In the third and final fall, Keene applied a bodyslam on the Skull three different times and came close to pinning him each time. But when he tried it a fourth time, Keene lost his balance and fell to the mat with the Skull on top of him. The masked man added a punch to the face for good measure and pinned Keene to win the fall and the match.
That same Wednesday evening in Gulfport, Pat Newman faced Lou Shoulders in the opening match of the evening. Despite a drizzling rain, the match went on with Shoulders proving to be as foul as the weather. He was disqualified by referee pat Wilson just 2 minutes into the first fall and the fall was awarded to Newman. It just took 10 minutes into the second fall for Wilson to again disqualify Shoulders and award the match to Newman in straight falls.
In the main event, George Cologne faced Rex Mobley as the rain continued. Cologne pinned Mobley following a bodyslam to win the first fall in 10 minutes. Mobley made use of his famed rocking chair split to pin Cologne to win the second fall in 13 minutes. In the third and deciding fall Mobley resorted to stomping Cologne in the head, which opened a slight cut. Cologne was incensed and batter Mobley around the ring before tossing him through the ropes and unto the arena floor. Referee Pat Wilson tried to calm Cologne down and was tossed out as well. Wilson promptly stopped the action and awarded the fall and the match to Mobley on a disqualification.
Also on Wednesday in Pensacola, the opening match was a women’s match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The main event was a match between two veteran wrestlers, Rube Wright and Jack Steele. This match was scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 90 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
On Thursday in New Orleans Prince Omar defeated Elmer Davis in the opening match of the evening.
In the second match, Joe Corbett faced Howard Cantonwine. Corbett used a sleeper hold to put Cantonwine out and win the match.
The semi-final match was a tag team match with Nick Carter & Charley Keene teaming to take on Baron Von Harben & the Super Zebra Kid. Carter & Keene, a a slight assist of Joe Corbett, took two out of three falls to win the match.
In the main event, Gorgeous George returned to face the Skull. Despite the severe weather that night, a crowd of 4100 were in attendance and most of them were solidly behind George as he faced the much despised masked man. George didn’t disappoint them as he not only defeated the Skull by taking two out of three falls; he unmasked him for good measure. Once again Don Martin was identified as being the man behind the mask of the Skull.
On Friday night in Jackson the card opened with a six man Battle Royal. The participants were Charlie Laye, Jack Kelly, George Cologne, Rex Mobley, Al Getz and Lou “Shoulders” Newman. The last two men standing were Laye and Kelly. They met in a single match in the semi-final match. Kelly pinned Laye to win the match.
In the main event World Light-Heavyweight champion Jack Curtis put his title on the line against the man he’d taken it from, Sockeye Jack McDonald. The match was tied at a fall apiece going into the third and final fall. At one point McDonald left the ring and Curtis followed him out. The two got into a skirmish at ringside with McDonald getting the better of it. He slammed Curtis headfirst into the arena floor. As Curtis rolled around on the floor in pain, McDonald returned to the ring. Referee Jack Roberts counted Curtis out and awarded the fall and the match to McDonald. A jubilant McDonald demanded the title belt, but Roberts refused to award it to him. He stated that he would not award the title to McDonald on a count out. Commissioner Gordon Childress also entered the ring and conferred with Roberts. Childress appeared to be in agreement with McDonald but refused to issue a ruling. Promoter Billy Romanoff also got involved and sided with Robert’s decision. He declared McDonald the winner, but not the new champion.
That same Friday night in Mobile, the Super Zebra Kid defeated Howard Cantonwine in the one fall opening match.
In the semi-final Nick Carter took on Baron George Von Harben. Carter pinned Von Harben in two straight falls to win the match.
The main event featured Joe Corbett taking on the one and only Gorgeous George. Corbett put George out with a sleeper hold to win the first fall. George came back to pin Corbett in the final two falls to win the match.
Also on Friday the second card of the week was held in Anniston. On that card Jack Steele and Prince Omar met in the opening match.
The main event was a return grudge match between Ida May and Mars Bennett. This match was to be a one fall to a finish match with no time limit.
No results are known for this card.
The final card of May was held on Saturday in Jasper, as wrestling returned there for promoter Joe Gunther’s first card there since the end of 1951. Jasper was a weekly city during the previous year, but Gunther would only run shows there periodically during this year.
This card featured a double main event. In the opening event Ida May met Mars Bennett in a women’s match scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
The final event featured Elmer Davis taking on Prince Omar. This match was also scheduled for best two out of three falls with a 60 minute time limit.
No results are known for this card.
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 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 May 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 February 1951.
Click Here for a recap of March 1951.
Click Here for a recap of April 1951.
Click Here for a recap of May 1951.
Click Here for a recap of June 1951.
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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.
