Betty Jo Hawkins
| Betty Jo Hawkins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Elizabeth J. Floyd |
| Born | October 22, 1930 Boyd, Kentucky, US |
| Died | December 4, 1987 (aged 57) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Betty Jo Hawkins Betty Hawkins |
| Trained by | Ella Waldek |
| Debut | 1948 |
| Retired | 1959 |
Elizabeth "Bettie" J. Floyd (October 22, 1930 – December 4, 1987), better known by her ring name Betty Jo Hawkins , was an American professional wrestler.
Wrestling career
[edit]As a child Floyd suffered from rheumatoid arthritis which caused her pain in her joints. It was misdiagnosed as polio.[1] Hawkins began her wrestling debut in 1948 and trained by Ella Waldek. She won the NWA Florida Women's Championship in 1952 where she became a three-time champion.[2] She later worked in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling and other territories. Hawkins retired from wrestling in 1959 after the arthritis came back.
Personal life and death
[edit]Hawkins was married to professional wrestler Brute Bernard. Bernard died in 1984 of a self-inflicted gunshot; it was not determined if his death was a suicide or an accident.[3] One story states that Bernard was playing Russian roulette.[4][5]
Hawkins passed away from a heart attack on December 4, 1987. She was 57.
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]References
[edit]General
- Nevada, Vance (2022). (Un)Controlled Chaos: Canada's Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy. FriesenPress. ISBN 9781039154797.
- Banner, Penny (2005). Banner Days: The Life of Pro Wrestling Legend Penny Banner. Flying Mare Productions. ISBN 9780975255704.
Specific
- ^ Laprade, Pat; Murphy, Dan (2017). "Betty Jo Hawkins". Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women's Wrestling. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-7730-5-014-0.
- ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories, 4th Edition. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (July 25, 2004). "Penny Banner Was Original Diva". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ Geddes, Jon (December 7, 2007). "The gurus of grapple". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ "Johnny Weaver Interview: Part Two". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on November 29, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
- ^ "N.W.A. Florida Women's Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
- ^ "World Women's Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com.
External links
[edit]
- 1930 births
- 1987 deaths
- Professional wrestlers from Minnesota
- Professional wrestlers from Kentucky
- American female professional wrestlers
- 20th-century female professional wrestlers
- 20th-century American professional wrestlers
- Stampede Wrestling alumni
- NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions
- People from Harrison County, Kentucky
- 20th-century American sportswomen
- American professional wrestling biography stubs