The Fabulous Moolah
| The Fabulous Moolah | |
|---|---|
The Fabulous Moolah in April 2001
|
|
| Birth name | Mary Lillian Ellisor |
| Born |
July 22, 1923 Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States |
| Died | November 2, 2007 (aged 84) Columbia, South Carolina, United States |
| Spouse(s) | Walter Carroll (divorced) Buddy Lee (m. 1961; div. 1970) |
| Children | 1 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Fabulous Moolah The Fabulous Moolah Slave Girl Moolah The Spider Lady |
| Billed height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Billed weight | 138 lb (63 kg) |
| Billed from | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Trained by |
Mildred Burke Mae Young Johnny Long |
| Debut | 1949 |
| Retired | 2004 |
Mary Lillian Ellison (July 22, 1923 – November 2, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. She won the NWA World Women's Championship in 1956 and was the most prominent holder of the title for approximately the next 30 years.
In the 1980s, she joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) as part of the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection storyline, feuding with Cyndi Lauper and Wendi Richter, the latter of whom defeated her for the WWF Women's Championship in 1984. Ellison was marketed by the WWF as holding the record for the longest title reign by any athlete in any professional sport. According to WWE, she was also the first WWF Women's Champion and held the title a total of four times.
In addition, Ellison was a prominent trainer and promoter in women's professional wrestling, but other female wrestlers have accused her of financial and sexual exploitation. In the 1990s, she returned to the WWF in a comedic role with longtime friend Mae Young. Ellison became the first woman to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995 and became the oldest champion in the history of professional wrestling when she won the WWF Women's Championship at age 76, in 1999. In 2010, WWE recognized her as the 27th best wrestler ever.
Mary Lillian Ellison was born in 1923 in Kershaw County, South Carolina, and grew up in Tookiedoo, 12 miles from Columbia. The youngest of five children, Ellison was the only daughter of a part Cherokee father and an Irish mother. Her parents owned a farm, a grocery store, and a service station.
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