The Fabulous Moolah

Lillian Ellison, better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah (born July 22, 1923), is a former female professional wrestler who is marketed by World Wrestling Entertainment for holding the record for the longest title reign by any athlete in any professional sport.

Wrestling career

Moolah won the first World Women's Championship by defeating Judy Grable in the finals of a tournament in September 1956, and according to WWE history, she held on to the belt until July 1984 when she lost to Wendi Richter in the main event of a Madison Square Garden show. This match was televised live on MTV, since pop superstar Cyndi Lauper was Richter's manager for the bout. Moolah was seconded by wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano. Although this reign is disputed by many, both the WWE and Moolah maintain she did not lose for 28 years (although, according to Obsessed With Wrestling, Moolah held the belt three times between 1956 and 1984, her last title gain being in 1966). Regardless, her first title reign of 9 years and 364 days may be the longest ever, male or female.

After losing the title to Richter, Moolah made it her mission to strip Richter of the belt and trained Leilani Kai, who beat Richter for the title in February 1985. When Richter won it back at the inaugural Wrestlemania in 1985, Moolah then set out to win it herself and disguised herself as the masked "Spider Lady" to win the belt back in November 1985. She was unmasked by Richter after the match. Richter quit the WWF after this match. This bout is best known for the fact that it had a "screwjob" finish; Richter was not aware she was going to be losing the bout that night. Nearly 12 years later, a similar scenario happened in Montreal at the 1997 Survivor Series when Bret Hart lost his belt to Shawn Michaels, known to many as the Montreal Screwjob.

An animated version of Moolah was also included on a CBS Saturday morning cartoon during this lucrative time, titled Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling.

Retirement?

Moolah would trade the belt back and forth with Velvet McIntyre during a tour of Australia in 1986, and retired from full time competition shortly after losing the belt to Sherri Martel in July 1987.

Moolah would captain a team at the innagural Survivor Series in November 1987. Her team (Moolah, Velvet McIntyre, Rockin' Robin, and the Jumping Bomb Angels) faced then champion Martell and her team (Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, Donna Christanello, and Dawn Marie).

Moolah was inducted into the WWE hall of fame in 1995. In 1999, she re-emerged along with her friend Mae Young. Moolah and Young were sitting ringside during the September 9 Smackdown show when then-WWE star Jeff Jarrett invited Moolah into the ring. He then proceeded to crack a guitar over Moolah's head. Soon after this, Moolah entered into a storyline with then WWE Women's champion Ivory. On the September 27 edition of Monday Night Raw, Moolah and Young defeated Ivory in a "Handicapped Evening Gown Match". This led to a title match at the No Mercy pay per view on October 17, 1999. The then 76 year old Moolah upset Ivory to win the women's title. She lost the title back to Ivory two weeks later. Also in 1999, Moolah and Young appeared on the 10th annual Billboard Music Awards. Since then, Moolah and Young have made cameo appearances on WWE programming. The two ladies both currently reside in Columbia, South Carolina.

On the September 15, 2003 edition of Monday Night Raw Moolah was scheduled to be in a 2 on 1 handicap match with Mae Young against Victoria. Moolah had been promised a match for her 80th birthday. After Moolah and Mae's victory the "Legend Killer" Randy Orton came out and gave Moolah a birthday present ... the RKO.

Moolah's autobiography, "The Fabulous Moolah: First Goddess of the Squared Circle", was published in 2002.

Moolah and Young, along with several other lady wrestlers, starred in the 2004 film "Lipstick and Dynamite" which is a documentary about the women wrestlers from the 1950s era. They appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote the film.

Personal Life

The youngest of thirteen children, has twelve older brothers.

Mother died of cancer when Moolah was young and she nearly had a nervous breakdown because she and her mom were very close. Her father took her to wrestling events to get Moolah interested in something.

Has one biological child, a daughter named Mary. Moolah was 14 years old when she gave birth. The father was Moolah's first husband, Walter Carroll. Mary wrestled briefly in the late 60's and early 70's as Darling Pat Sherry.

Moolah has six grandchildren.

Finishing and signature moves

Wrestler(s) Managed by Fabulous Moolah

Leilani Kai

Championships and accomplishments

4-Time WWF Women's Champion
5-Time NWA Women's Champion
Member of WWE Hall of Fame (inducted in 1995)

Championship succession

NWA Women's Championship Preceded by:
Vacant First Succeeded by:
Betty Boucher Preceded by:
Betty Boucher Second Succeeded by:
Yukiko Tomoe Preceded by:
Yukiko Tomoe Third Succeeded by:
Sue Green Preceded by:
Sue Green Fourth Succeeded by:
Evelyn Stevens Preceded by:
Evelyn Stevens Fifth Succeeded by:
Vacant † WWF Women's Champion Preceded by:
Vacant † First Succeeded by:
Wendi Richter Preceded by:
Wendi Richter Second Succeeded by:
Velvet McIntyre Preceded by:
Velvet McIntyre Third Succeeded by:
Sherri Martel Preceded by:
Ivory Fourth Succeeded by:
Ivory

† Evelyn Stevens was the preceding title holder, however the WWF recognized Moolah as champion after she sold her rights to the championship to them, but does not acknowledge previous title changes.

External Links

Female professional wrestlers | American professional wrestlers | 1923 births | People from South Carolina | Living people

Gourt Home::Gourt :: The Fabulous Moolah