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JR's Blog: JR Remembers the late, Johnnie Mae Young.

JR's Blog: JR Remembers the late, Johnnie Mae Young.

Posted: Jan 16th 2014 By: CMBurnham

Thanks for stopping by on such a melancholy day. Please proceed as I remember the late, Mae Young.

Johnnie Mae Young was born in born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma on March 12, 1923 and she passed away at the age of 90 on January 14, 2014.

To say that Mae was a pioneer might be an understatement. She always defied the odds and the societal stereotyping that many women could not escape.

To think that a 15 year old high school student would be so bold as to travel to downtown Tulsa from the Sand Springs suburb that she lived to challenge the best women's wrestler in the world to a legit, wrestling match is incredible.

It was, at worst, 'great.'

That's the day that the "The Great" Mae Young found her true calling in life.

Mildred Burke was the 'Queen of the Ring' as author Jeff Leen's epic book described. She was the Hulk Hogan of her era....Millie was Ric Flair in her world as she traveled the globe defending her professional, women's championship.

Mildred's promoter, Billy Wolfe, fearing his money maker would either lose or be injured in a UFC like fight, long before anyone ever thought of selling PPV's featuring Ronda Rousey, agreed to pit Mae vs. his legitimately toughest female Gladys Gillem.

This 'shoot match' was held in an empty arena in Tulsa the afternoon before the evening event where Burke was to 'defend' her title against "Killem" Gillem.

Mae made quick, decisive work of Gladys impressing women's wrestling impresario Billy Wolfe into offering Mae a contract to which she accepted after leaving high school two years later.

In those days, travel was done by car with 2-4 women riding together for endless journeys of one night stands in a business that was physically and mentally demanding and without an offseason. The women paid their own road expenses and also had to pay the demanding Wolfe a commission for all that they earned.

Life as a touring, female wrestler with no home territory to establish one's roots was enormously challenging to all that attempted it. Through it all, Mae young survived and thrived.

Mae was Wolfe's 'policewoman' inasmuch as Mae policed the traveling troupe and would put any unprofessional or rowdy female wrestler in their place...by any means necessary.

It was widely known that Mae Young was the bona fide toughest and most dangerous female in the rough and tumble world of old school, pro wrestling.

Mae told me many stories of smoking cigars and playing poker with her male peers that only enhanced the legend that was 'The Great' Mae Young. Mae once discovered a male wrestler cheating at cards for which he paid an embarrassingly physical price.

Mae was also a world class softball player in high school playing on a national championship team in the 30's. Adding to that, Mae also played tackle football on the boy's team in Sand Springs.

What Mae saw, heard, experienced and lived in her amazing life would make an amazing film and/or book but every time that I suggested that she do a book Mae seemed somewhat reluctant perhaps preferring to keep her life as it was...a personal journey that was unduplicated in the annuals of sports and entertainment.

Johnnie Mae performed in the ring in nine different decades which in itself is astonishing.

The tough Okie was powerbombed through a table by Bubba Dudley on Monday Night Raw not once but twice at the age of 76. I vividly recall that she was beaming at the end of each night for experiencing a maneuver that many male wrestlers were reluctant to endure.

The genre will never know another performer like Mae Young. She was indeed one of the most off the radar greatest, female athletes that most of the world never knew. She lead her industry of women's professional wrestling against the "good, old boy" establishment ran with an iron fist by mostly alpha males as Mae paved the way for every woman who ever earned a living inside the squared circle.

So...the toughest woman in Heaven is once again young and vibrant and likely holding court and telling some of the same stories that she told me over the years. I hope that her new audience is enjoying them as much as I did.

Thank you Johnnie Mae for always being a mentor and a friend. You will always be remembered with respect and fondness and, at the end of the day, isn't that a wonderful accomplishment?

RIP my fellow Oklahoman and WWE Hall of Fame member. I hope that our paths cross again some day.

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title

Week of Sun 06-14 to Sat: 06-20

  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat (substituting for Se7en) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Title
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Title
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Title
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Pastor Brent def. Dr. Corvus for the WAH Living Hope Title
  • 06-14 2025 Skylar Slice became the WAH Womens Champion
  • 06-14 2025 Military Express (Sgt. Todd & Sgt. Hartman) def. Speeding Bullet (Mike Gunnz & Stephen Nitro) for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-14 2025 Scotty Rose def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-14 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Scotty Rose for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
  • 06-15 2024 Cade Fite became the TIW No Pressure Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Ozzy Hendrix & Adrian Vega def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-15 2024 The Gatekeeper def. Rick Russo for the EPW All-American Title
  • 06-15 2024 Trench Blythe became the EPW International Champion
  • 06-15 2024 Malachi def. Kevin James Sanchez for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Title
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Title
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Title
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Title
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Titles
06-17
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th Today!
  • Talos Jun 17th Today!
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th Today!
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th Today!
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Phantom Star Jun 21st
  • Athena Jun 23rd
  • Don Kent Jun 24th
  • Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
  • Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
  • X-Storms Jun 25th
  • Kody Lane Jun 25th
  • D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
  • Jax Samuel Jun 26th
  • Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
  • Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
  • Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
  • Jason Kirby Jun 27th
  • Reckless Jun 27th
  • Ignition Jun 27th
  • Kuda Jun 27th
  • Doc Hearon Jun 28th
  • John Tidwell Jun 28th
  • Claire Jun 28th
  • J. J. Blake Jun 28th
  • Malico Jun 28th
  • Kenny Mack Jun 28th
  • Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
  • Boris Malenko Jun 28th
  • Bill Dromo Jun 28th
  • Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
  • Barbara Galento Jun 29th
  • Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
  • Terry Funk Jun 30th
  • Ed Lewis Jun 30th

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