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Betty Jo Hawkins

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Betty Jo Hawkins
Birth nameElizabeth J. Floyd
Born(1930-10-22)October 22, 1930
Boyd, Kentucky, US
DiedDecember 4, 1987(1987-12-04) (aged 57)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Betty Jo Hawkins
Betty Hawkins
Trained byElla Waldek
Debut1948
Retired1959

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

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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

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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

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References

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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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories, 4th Edition. Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  3. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (July 25, 2004). "Penny Banner Was Original Diva". The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  4. ^ Geddes, Jon (December 7, 2007). "The gurus of grapple". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  5. ^ "Johnny Weaver Interview: Part Two". Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived from the original on November 29, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  6. ^ "N.W.A. Florida Women's Title". Puroresu Dojo. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  7. ^ "World Women's Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com.
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