By Jagmohan Singh Barhok

Internationally wrestling came into vogue around 1940 in England, India, America, Japan and some other Asian countries. Female wrestling started a few years later. ‘May Young’ & The Fabulous Moolah were the oldest and most acclaimed female wrestlers. Most of the matches were played between a select group of wrestlers, regions or countries.

After the 1960s, the popularity of wrestling gained momentum & competitions began to take place at the international level. Wrestling received a shot in the arm after the rise & popularity of the ‘World Wrestling Federation'(WWF) as wrestlers from Russia, Canada, Iran, Bulgaria and African countries started entering the ring to compete. Later, more interestingly, wrestling matches became synonymous with glamour, excitement and entertainment. Resultantly, wrestling has now reached every household. Wrestling & grappling have bean a part of the ancient world & such events used to take place in Greece & Rome.

The Fabulous Moolah-01

Noted American female wrestler Mary Lillian Allison, known in the wrestling world as the Fabulous Moolah, was the youngest sister of four brothers in a family of 5 siblings. She was was born in Kershaw County, South Carolina on 22 July 1923.

Promoter Billy Wolfe, his wife and well-known wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, & professional wrestler “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers helped & trained the budding, aspiring & too promising wrestler to carve a nice niche in the world of female wrestling. Moolah learnt intricacies of wrestling including moves like how to attack & defend during a bout. Resultantly, Moola grew up as a confident wrestler & won the NWA World Women’s Championship in 1956 , the title she held for a record 28 years.

Moolah joined WWF ( Now ‘World Wrestling Entertainment’ ) In 1980. In 1984 Wendy Richter ended Moola’s decades long winning streak by defeating her .In all ,She won the title 8 times in life. A close friend of famous female wrestler Mae Young, Moola surprised everyone to win the Championship again in 1999, then aged 76 , to become the oldest Women’s Champion in the history of professional wrestling. According to experts & witnesses Moolah’s reign was not as longer as was believed. In fact she had lost several times in between.

Moola who stood 5 feet 6 inch with a well toned curvy body, entered the ring as a wrestler in 1949, sought full-time retirement from wrestling in September 2004 .Keeping in mind her achievements in the wrestling world, the ‘World Wrestling Federation’ honored her with the ‘Hall of Fame’ in 1995 .She was the first recipient of the Award. The charismatic ‘Fabulous Moolah’ died on 2 November 2007.