The Fabulous moolah
Real Name: Lillian Ellison Height: 158cm Weight: 58kg D.O.B: July 22nd, 1923 Died: November 2nd, 2007 Wrestling Debut: As the valet "Slave Girl Moolah" in 1949, Lillian came to the ring with male wrestler "The Elephant Boy" (Tony Olivas.) In the 1950's Moolah then went on to valet for "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Lillian then went on to become a wrestler in her own right. Influences: Lillian grew up watching Mildred Burke and wanted to be a wrestler like her.
Title History
Women's World Title Championship: Sept 18th, 1956. Moolah won a Women's World Title Belt. This was a new title belt formed in alliance with Vince McMahon Sr and some other east coast promoters that was owned by Moolah. (June Byers was still recognised as the NWA Women's World Title holder at this time and NWA was the biggest promotion)
After the death of Billy Wolfe in 1962 (the top Women's Promoter and trainer) and the retirement of June Byers in 1964 The Fabulous Moolah was recognized as NWA Champion.
Moolah held the Women's World Title belt until she lost to Betty Boucher on Sept, 17th 1966. Only without the title for a few weeks Moolah quickly recovered it for another title reign before losing it briefly on a Japanese tour to Japanese wrestler Yukiko Tomoe in 1968. This was the start of an alliance between Lillian Ellison and All Japan Women that would be utilized further in the World Wrestling Federation during the 1980's.
In the 1970's Moolah became closely aligned with Vince McMahon Sr. and the WWWF. In 1972 Women's wrestling returned to Madison Square Garden in New York with a match between Moolah & Vicki Williams. Moolah remained the reigning champion and held the title belt until 1976 when Sue Green won the title. In usual Moolah style Lillian quickly recovered the title loosing it again in 1978 for two days to Evelyn Stevens.
Vince McMahon Jr in the 1980's used popstar "Cyndi Lauper" as Wendi Richter's wrestling manager to push the women's division to the front of the storyline. The feud also involved women's wrestling legend and veteran "The Fabulous Moolah." Wendi Richter ended Moolah's reign as the champion on July 23, 1984. The title match was live on MTV which cemented the "Rock N Wrestling" catch-phrase. For the better part of that year and the next, Richter feuded with Moolah and her wrestling protégé, Leilani Kai who was billed as being from Hawaii. Leilani Kai won the title in February of 1985 when Moolah hit Wendi from outside and Leilani pinned Wendi. Wendi was to win the title back at Wrestlemania. Moolah won back the belt at the end of 1985 when Wendi's contract was up for renewal. It is reported that Wendi and wrestling promoter Vince McMahon had not come to an agreement as Vince was looking to make some changes to the contract that Wendi thought were not good for her whilst Wendi was also one of the promotions top drawcards and felt that her contract should reflect that in the form of a pay rise.
On November 11 1985 at Madison Square garden in a title defense against Moolah under the masked gimmick of "Spider lady" which was usually played by Penny Mitchell. Some claim Wendi was set up in a screw job finish similar to that of Bret Hart's where the referee did a fast three count to a stunned Wendi, the other story claims Wendi was hit with a new contract as she was basically going to the ring and when she refused to sign it on the spot was told to loose the match at the last minute and that a new ending was worked out in the ring whilst the match was on. Whatever the real version is Wendi Richter lost the match at Madison Square Garden when small packaged by Moolah as Spiderlady and then never wrestled in the WWF again.
Moolah on the other hand being unmasked as "Spiderlady" claimed the WWF
title and held onto it until 1986 on an Australian wrestling tour where she
lost the title for 6 days to Velvet McIntyre.
On July 24th, 1987 Moolah lost to the WWF Women's title belt new queen of wrestling Sherri Martel and retired shortly after. On June 24, 1995 Moolah was the first woman to be inducted into the WWF Wrestling Hall of Fame. In Sept 1999 Moolah returned to the WWE and in October won the WWE Women's title again at the age of 76 to become the oldest WWE champion ever.
On November 3rd 2007 wwe.com a statement stating:
"WWE is saddened by the passing of Lillian Ellison, who was known to sports-entertainment fans as Hall of Famer Fabulous Moolah. She passed away last night in Columbia, S.C. In the world of women’s wrestling, there will always be one irrefutable legend that stands head and shoulders above the rest: The Fabulous Moolah. She was the longest reigning champion in the history of her chosen sport, or any sport for that matter. And with more than 50 years in the business to her credit, she established a legacy that will never be forgotten, making her name synonymous with female wrestling."
