October 13th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Kay Bell 1914
Blackjack Lanza 1935
Josip Paruzodic\Nikolai Volkoff 1947
Happy Birthday:
Mike Miller (73)
Dan Spivey (73)
Stacy Keibler (46)
Raquel Diaz\Shaul Guerrero (35)
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.
Mae Weston 10-14-1999 at the age of 76
Captain Lou Albano 10-14-2009 at the age of 76
50 Year Flashback
10-14-1975: Gorgeous George, Jr defeated Ken Lucas to win the City of Mobile Heavyweight Championship at Exhibition Hall in Mobile, Alabama
A Brief History of The Mobile, Alabama Heavyweight Championship
In 1975, there were still a few of these city championships around in the territory era. I have found city titles in Columbus, Georgia, Macon, Georgia, Ft. Myers, Florida and Mobile, Alabama. I did find a Pensacola, Florida Title, which figured into the Mobile Title unification in 1974.
I reached out to my Gulf Coast Historian and Analyst, Michael Norris about the Mobile Title. Here was his response:
“The Mobile title began in 1969 as part of the state wide tournament to name an Alabama state champion. Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery, Dothan and Mobile were supposed to hold individual tournaments with the winner of each to be named that city’s champion. Since Mobile and Dothan were the only cities under Lee Fields’ promotion, they were the only ones to actually hold tournament matches. The other three cities were all kayfabed. The five city champions were then to meet in a one night tournament to name the state champion. Bob Boyer was named Mobile city champion on May 7, 1969 after beating the Blue Yankee. Dick Steinborn was named the Dothan city champion on May 9, 1969, also beating the Blue Yankee. The Dothan city title never came into existence and was never mentioned again. On May 14, the state tournament was held in Mobile with only 4 participants instead of 5. Ken Lucas supposedly won in Birmingham and Billy Hines in Huntsville. No mention was made of Montgomery and as far as I know no tournaments were held in B’Ham or H’Ville and no city titles were created there. Lucas beat Steinborn in Mobile and was named Alabama State champion. Bob Boyer remained Mobile champion. In the Gulf Coast Pensacola and Panama City also had city championships. There were city tag team championships at various times in Dothan, Gulfport, Meridian, Pascagoula, Laurel and Hattiesburg. I’m attaching the title histories for Mobile, Pensacola and Panama City.”
Here is a little about what I have been able to discover about the Mobile City Title.
The City of Mobile Heavyweight Championship was a regional singles title specifically tied to Mobile, Alabama, within this territory, serving as a mid-card or local attraction belt to hype events in the promotion’s flagship city. It was introduced on May 7, 1969, in Mobile when Bob Boyer won it as part of the Alabama State Title tournament, (as mentioned by Michael) marking it as a “City of Mobile” distinction within the broader Gulf Coast framework. The title was defended primarily in Mobile, with occasional matches in nearby Pensacola, Florida, and it emphasized local rivalries, often incorporating unique stipulations like tag team finals for title wins or post-match drama.
It lasted until 1975, when it was retired dramatically after a match where Ken Lucas attacked champion Gorgeous George Jr., destroyed the title trophy by throwing it to the concrete floor, and effectively ended its lineage. During its run, the belt changed hands frequently, reflecting the territory’s fast-paced booking style, and it involved many of GCCW’s staple performers.
Here is a list I have put together about the champions of the Mobile Title: (All matches took place in Mobile, Alabama, except the unification match as noted)
May 7th, 1969, Bob Boyer Won in tournament as part of Alabama State Title event, inaugural champion.
November 4th, 1970, Rocket Monroe
December 9th, 1970, Joe Turner Competed as masked Intern; unmasked after victory.
December 16th, 1970, Mike Boyette
December 23rd, 1971, Cowboy Bob Kelly
February 3rd, 1971, Bobby Shane
March 17th, 1971, Cowboy Bob Kelly Later stripped for inactivity in defenses.
August 18th, 1971, Rip Tyler Defeated Ken Lucas in final fall of 17-man tag match.
September 22nd, 1971, Mike Boyette
November 11th, 1971, The Wrestling Pro
February 29th, 1972, Gorgeous George, Jr
March 22nd, 1971, Bill White
April 4th, 1972, Gorgeous George, Jr
May 24th, 1972, Cowboy Bob Kelly
December 5th, 1971, The Spoiler
December 13th, 1972, Cowboy Bob Kelly
February 20th, 1974, Billy Spears Later stripped for not defending within 90 days.
May 14th, 1973, Duke Miller Defeated Klondike Bill in final fall of 11-man tag match.
May 29th, 1974, Ken Lucas
July 16th, 1974, The Mighty Yankee Later stripped in November 1974 for leaving the area.
October 27th, 1974, Ken Lucas (match was in Pensacola, FL) As Pensacola champion, defeated Yankee in double title match.
October 14th, 1975, Gorgeous George, Jr Final champion; title retired after Ken Lucas destroyed the trophy post-match.
Notable figures associated with the title include Bob Kelly (four-time champion and a top babyface in the territory), Gorgeous George Jr. (three-time champion involved in its retirement), Mike Boyette (two reigns), and Ken Lucas (two reigns, key in the dramatic end). The championship’s history highlights GCCW’s emphasis on spectacle, with elements like masked wrestlers unmasking, title stripping for storyline purposes, and multi-man tags deciding winners, all common in NWA territories of the era.
One Thing I Learned Today About Pro Wrestling History
Mae Weston was a carnival acrobat and boxer before she began as a pro wrestler in the mid-1930s. She was the first wrestling manager I ever saw at a live wrestling card in 1973 as Maw Bass, the kayfabe mother of Don and Ron Bass, the Bass Brothers.
Pictured: Maw Bass (Weston) with Don and Ron Bass
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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