Golden Girls: The Women Behind the 1950's Wrestling Boom

Hayley-L Graham by Analyst Written on July 04, 2009
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How many times have you had it where you have been talking to an older person who can't stop talking about the "good old days"?

Every sport in the world is known for having its classic period which helped to define and shape it into the product it has become today, and wrestling is no exception.

The last really significant 'wrestling boom' that occurred was in the late 1970s and the early 1980s.

This was when wrestling became a worldwide phenomenon.

All over the world, wrestling, whether it was WWF, NWA, or AWA, came to the forefront of people's minds. It entered mainstream publications and introduced millions of fans to legendary names like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Ric Flair.

However, before this, another major wrestling boom happened. This was during the 1950s.

In this decade, wrestling moved away from the legitimate amateur background and adopted a more modern feel that helped to create the current wrestling business.

Huge names were introduced for the first time. Names such as Bruno Sammartino, Buddy Rogers, Lou Thesz and Harley Race who are now immortal in the sport of professional wrestling.

Despite the large emphasis on male wrestlers, this was also the start of women's wrestling.

Before the 1950s, wrestling was seen as too violent and dangerous a sport for women to enter. However, with the new styles that were created, women were finally given an equal opportunity to perform on a grand stage.

Some of these women are directly responsible for making women's wrestling what it is today. If not for them, wrestling might still be a male-dominated sport.

That is why I have decided to look back on a few of the original wrestling divas; the golden girls who single-handedly redefined what it meant to be in the wrestling business.

 

June Byers

Born DeAlva Eyvonnie Sibley, June Byers was one of the first women to be featured on the main stage of women's wrestling.

Debuting in 1944, she spent the first few years of her career attempting to score upset wins over established veterans such as Mae Young and Mildred Burke.

It wasn't until eight years after her first match, in 1952, that she first gained a title in professional wrestling with her tag team partner, Millie Stafford.

Her next taste of gold would come on June 14, 1953, when she won the women's title in a 13-woman gauntlet.

It was from this point onwards that she really entered into the realms of mainstream pop culture, guest starring in many popular television shows.

The biggest challenge of her career would come again in the form of Mildred Burke, who vacated the title before Byers won it herself.

After a year in the making, it was decided that the ultimate champion would be decided in a two out of three falls match.

This match has since been heralded as one of the greatest women's title matches in the history of pro wrestling, and helped to cement the legacy of June Byers as one of the greatest females of her generation.

This title would stick with her throughout the rest of her career, even when she didn't hold a respective championship.

However, the title would also be the scene of her biggest controversy, as she was stripped of the title by the Baltimore Athletic Commission in 1956 after she publicly announced her desire to retire as champion.

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written on July 04, 2009 History


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