Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
George Bothner 1867
Dr. Bill Miller 1927
Danny Miller 1932
Princess Toma Tomas 1935
Ivan Putski 1944
Happy Birthday:
Glen Osbourne (55)
Madison Eagles (42)
Kona Reeves (35)
Gigi Dolan (29)
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.
Juan Humberto 6-5-1991 at the age of 86
Leo Numa 6-5-1992 at the age of 83
Significant Debut:
Ron Hutchinson 6-5-1983 at the age of 19
The Life and Career of Leon Baxter, The Wrestling Pro
Edward Leon Baxter, born on June 4, 1938, in Donaldson, Georgia, and raised in Malone, Florida, lived a multifaceted life that blended military service, law enforcement, athletic competition, and one of the most memorable personas in Southern professional wrestling history. He passed away on August 15, 2019, at the age of 81 in Dothan, Alabama. Best known as the masked heel The Wrestling Pro (or simply The Pro), Baxter carved out a significant niche in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) territories during the 1960s and 1970s, particularly in the Gulf Coast region. His career exemplified the territorial era’s blend of athleticism, storytelling, and regional stardom, while his post-wrestling life highlighted a grounded commitment to community and family.
Pictured: Leon Baxter, NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
Baxter’s early years prepared him for the physical and disciplined demands of wrestling. He served in the United States Navy, where he excelled as a boxer. This background in combat sports gave him a solid foundation in toughness and ring presence. Before fully committing to wrestling, he worked as a deputy sheriff in Houston County, Alabama (Dothan area), eventually rising to the rank of Sergeant—a full-time law enforcement career he maintained even during his wrestling prime, a rarity in the profession.
Baxter debuted in professional wrestling around 1963. He initially competed under the name Tarzan Baxter in Oklahoma and other Southern NWA territories, including Tri-State (Mid-South), Georgia, and Tennessee. His early work featured strong performances against established stars like Danny Hodge, with whom he feuded over the U.S. Junior Heavyweight Championship. In 1969, he achieved notable success in the Tri-State territory by capturing the NWA North American Heavyweight Championship from Chuck Karbo and the NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) with partner Karl Karlson.
During this period, Baxter also worked as part of a masked tag team, The Masked Gauchos, alongside Juan Sebastian in Georgia Championship Wrestling and Jim Crockett Promotions. This experience helped him develop heel tactics and an understanding of how masks could enhance a wrestler’s mystique and marketability. He occasionally teamed with friends like Night Hawk (Man Lassiter). His work in these territories established him as a capable in-ring performer known for technical skills, including a signature German suplex.
Pictured: The Wrestling Pros in 1975, Gordon Nelson and Leon Baxter as NWA Gulf Coast Tag Team Champions
In 1970, Baxter transitioned to the Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling (GCCW) territory, based in Mobile, Alabama, and adopted the masked persona that would define his legacy. He initially teamed with Tim Tyler (sometimes referred to as Rip Tyler or similar) as The Wrestling Pros, a masked duo. After the team split—following the unmasking of his partner—Baxter continued as a singles competitor: The Wrestling Pro. He wore a distinctive white mask and costume, which became iconic in the territory.
Though his voice was distinctive and many fans suspected (or knew) his true identity as Leon “Tarzan” Baxter, the mask provided an air of enigma that fueled storylines. Promoter and wrestler “Cowboy” Bob Kelly played a key role in his Gulf Coast run. Baxter’s character oscillated between fan favorite and villain but is best remembered as a top heel, using cunning tactics alongside strong wrestling ability. He quickly became one of the most hated and popular antagonists in GCCW history, drawing consistent crowds through intense rivalries.
Pictured: Leon Baxter as The Wrestling Pro
Baxter’s most famous angle involved the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship and Ken Mantell in the mid-1970s. In a high-stakes match on September 17, 1974, Pro challenged Mantell with his mask on the line. After a controversial finish involving referee distractions, Pro was recognized locally as the champion despite NWA President Sam Muchnick’s objections. This led to a memorable series of promos, a custom belt presentation, and sold-out arenas. The angle highlighted Baxter’s ability to generate heat and emotional investment from audiences.
Pictured: Battle of the Masked Men, Dr X (Jim Osbourne) puts The Wrestling Pro (Leon Baxter) in the Abdominal Stretch
He also earned title shots against NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jack Brisco. In one memorable bout, Pro appeared to win the world title only for the referee to reverse the decision due to feet on the ropes, leading to a rematch. These encounters with national champions elevated his status.
Baxter was a versatile performer who succeeded in both singles and tag team competition. He won the NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship multiple times (reportedly nine), the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (six times), and various tag team titles with partners including Mike Boyette, The Mysterious Medic, Eddie Sullivan, Mighty Yankee, Duke Miller, and Ken Lucas. He was part of the innovative stable Murder Inc. alongside Duke Miller, Gorgeous George Jr., and Billy Spears—an early precursor to groups like The Four Horsemen, focused on protecting the heavyweight champion.
Pictured: Dick Dunn and Leon Baxter as The Masked Superstars with manager General Big Bad John as NWA Southeastern Tag Team champions
In 1976, he teamed with fellow Dothan native Dick Dunn as The Masked Superstars in Ron Fuller’s Southeastern Championship Wrestling, capturing tag team gold. Later in his career, he feuded with and eventually unmasked Randy Rose (as The Super Pro) in a mask vs. mask match. Baxter also helped put over emerging talents like Austin Idol and a young Terry “The Hulk” Boulder (Hulk Hogan).
Baxter retired from full-time in-ring competition around 1978, though he made occasional appearances. His final notable wrestling moment came in 2004 at “The Continental Reunion” event, where he finally unmasked as The Wrestling Pro in front of fans. He remained connected to the wrestling community through Gulf Coast Wrestlers Reunions and was remembered fondly by figures like Percy Pringle III (Paul Bearer), who cited him as a childhood idol.
In retirement, Baxter continued working at the Dothan Livestock stockyard, often joking that he would do the job for free. He valued his family life with his wife Sara, son David, daughter Leona, and grandchildren. He largely avoided dwelling on his wrestling past publicly, focusing instead on his law enforcement career and community ties.
Baxter passed away on Thursday, August 15th, 2019 at his home. He was 81 years old.
Leon Baxter’s career spanned key NWA territories in the South, where he mastered the art of the masked heel. His success stemmed not just from athletic ability but from understanding psychology, promos, and territory-specific storytelling. In an era of larger-than-life characters, The Wrestling Pro stood out through consistency, rivalries that sold tickets, and a persona that balanced menace with in-ring credibility.
Though he never achieved national mainstream fame like some contemporaries, Baxter left an indelible mark on Gulf Coast wrestling. His life illustrated the reality of territorial wrestlers: dedicated athletes who balanced demanding travel and physical risks with everyday jobs and family responsibilities. As one commentator noted, he was among the toughest and most skilled performers of his time, a master craftsman who commanded respect both in and out of the ring.
One Thing I Learned About Dr. Bill Miller
In one of his more violent feuds, Dr. Bill Miller faced Ray Stevens in a “death match” on June 21, 1969, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. Guest referee Rocky Marciano (the legendary undefeated former heavyweight boxing champion) grew so disgusted with Miller’s rule-breaking tactics that he knocked Miller out himself during the match.
This crossover moment between pro wrestling and boxing royalty is a quirky, rarely highlighted footnote in Miller’s career as both a top heel and a legitimate tough guy
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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