September 18th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Billy Robinson 1938
Otis Sistrunk 1946
Juan Banos\Lizmark 1949
Happy Birthday:
Genaro Vazquez\The Blue Panther (65)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
Ed Don George 9-18-1985 at the age of 80
Lester Welch 9-18-2009 at the age of 85
Don Hatfield\Don Fields 9-18-2012 at the age of 80
75 Year Flashback
9-18-1950: The Green Hornet (Pat O'Brien) defeated Danny Dusek in a Title vs Mask Match to win the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship at the Municipal Auditorium in Tampa, Florida
The championship was actively traded among established heels and faces in the Florida circuit. On July 17, 1950, in Tampa, Florida, Johnny Valentine defeated Danny Dusek to capture the title. Dusek, a veteran wrestler from the prominent Dusek family from Nebraska, a promoted kayfabe relationship, quickly regained it on August 7, 1950, also in Tampa—marking his second reign with the belt. This back-and-forth reflected the territorial style of "trading" the title to build storylines and draw crowds during the summer touring season in Florida.
The Green Hornet, A masked babyface wrestler who portrayed a mysterious, agile fighter inspired by the popular radio/TV character. Welch, under the Pat O'Brien alias, was a journeyman competitor known for his technical skills and high-flying elements, often working mid-to-upper card matches. He used multiple personas (including Irish Angel and Pat Walsh) throughout his career to refresh his booking. At around 6'0" and 220 lbs, he was positioned as a credible challenger to established champions.
Dusek, A 6'1", 240-lb powerhouse heel from the wrestling Dusek clan (kayfabe brothers like Joe, Emil, and Wally). Dusek was a multi-time champion across territories, known for his brawling style, stiff strikes, and involvement in angles involving his family. By 1950, he was a key figure in Florida promotions, often defending titles aggressively to establish dominance.
The match occurred during a hot period for wrestling in Florida, promoted "Cowboy" Luttrull and the NWA-affiliated group. Tampa was a key hub for events, as the territory was being established and talent was being booked by Luttrall through the state in various towns from the office in Tampa. The storyline for this match built on Dusek's recent title win, positioning the masked Green Hornet as an underdog challenger to create intrigue about his identity and abilities. Masked wrestlers were a big draw in the 1950s, adding mystery and potential for unmasking angles and matches.
The Green Hornet (Pat O'Brien) defeated Danny Dusek to win the Southern Heavyweight Title, ending Dusek's brief second reign after just over a month. This victory marked the first (and only) time O'Brien held the Florida version of the title under the Green Hornet mask. O'Brien's reign was short-lived; he lost the title to Pat O'Hara (a fellow Irish-style wrestler) on October 9, 1950, in an unspecified Florida location. The rapid changes kept the title in the spotlight, contributing to strong attendance in the Florida Territory.
69 Year Flashback
9-18-1956: Slave Girl Moolah (Lillian Ellison) won the 13-Woman One-Night Tournament to win the vacant NWA World Women's Championship at The Coliseum in Baltimore, Maryland.
Pictured: Moolah with the NWA World Women’s Championship Belt
The NWA World Women's Championship, originally established in 1953 after promoter Billy Wolfe (a key figure in early women's wrestling) stripped inaugural champion Mildred Burke of the title amid their contentious 1952 divorce and set up a tournament won by June Byers (Wolfe's daughter-in-law), became vacant in 1956. Byers, who had defended the title successfully for about three years, announced her retirement that year, leading the Baltimore Athletic Commission (which sanctioned the event) to strip her of the championship. This created an opportunity for a new tournament to determine the next champion, amid ongoing tensions in the fractured world of women's professional wrestling at the time, where promoters like Wolfe wielded significant influence over title lineages.
Quarter-Final Match 1: Judy Grable defeated Mary Jane Mull
Quarter-Final Match 2: Jeanetta Collins defeated Carol Cook
Quarter-Final Match 3: Slave Girl Moolah defeated Ruth Waters
Quarter-Final Match 4: Eva Lee defeated Mae Young
Semi-Final Match 1: Slave Girl Moolah defeated Jeanetta Collins
Semi-Final Match 2: Judy Grable defeated Eva Lee
Men's Match: Buddy Rogers & Hans Schmidt defeated Jack Allen & Herb Gerwig by 2 falls to 0
Finals for NWA World Women's Title: Slave Girl Moolah defeated Judy Grable to win the Championship
Winning this tournament marked Moolah's first World Title win. At the time, she was a rising star who had trained under Burke and was building her reputation through tours and alliances with promoters. This victory launched her into a dominant era, as she held the title (which later transitioned into WWE's recognized women's championship lineage) for nearly a decade before losing it briefly in 1966, only to regain it multiple times and maintain overall control for 28 cumulative years until 1984.
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History
Lillian Ellison broke into the business in the early 1950s as Slave Girl Moolah, working as the valet for The Elephant Boy.
Thank You for Reading
I'm Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
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