Lilian Ellison [1], better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah (born July 22, 1923), is a female professional wrestler who is marketed by World Wrestling Entertainment for holding the record for the longest title reign by any athlete in any professional sport. She is well known as being the first NWA and WWF Women's Champion.
Wrestling career
1950s-1980s
Moolah won the first World Women's Championship by defeating Judy Grable in the finals of a tournament in September 1956, and according to WWE history, she held on to the belt until July 1984 when she lost to Wendi Richter in the main event at a show at Madison Square Garden. This match was televised live on MTV, since pop superstar Cyndi Lauper was Richter's manager for the bout. Moolah was seconded by wrestling manager Captain Lou Albano. Although this reign is disputed by many, both the WWE and Moolah maintain she did not lose the belt for 28 years (although, according to Obsessed With Wrestling, Moolah held the belt three times between 1956 and 1984, her last title gain being in 1966).
After losing the title to Richter, Moolah trained Leilani Kai, who beat Richter for the title in February 1985. Richter won it back at Wrestlemania I. Moolah then set out to win the title for herself. She disguised herself as the masked "Spider Lady" to win the belt back in November 1985, but she was unmasked by Richter after the match. This bout had an infamous "screwjob" finish; Richter was not aware she was going to lose, and she subsequently quit the WWF after this match.
Moolah would trade the belt back and forth with Velvet McIntyre during a tour of Australia in 1986, and retired from full time competition shortly after losing the belt to Sherri Martel in July 1987. Moolah would captain a team at Survivor Series 1987. Her team (Moolah, Velvet McIntyre, Rockin' Robin, and the Jumping Bomb Angels) defeated then champion Martell and her team (Leilani Kai, Judy Martin, Donna Christanello, and Dawn Marie).
1995-2000
Moolah was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1995, becoming the first female wrestler to enter the Hall of Fame. In 1999, she re-emerged along with Mae Young on the September 9th episode of SmackDown! when Jeff Jarrett invited Moolah into the ring. He then proceeded to crack a guitar over Moolah's head.
On the September 27 edition of Monday Night Raw, Moolah and Young defeated Ivory in a "Handicapped Evening Gown Match". This led to a title match at the No Mercy 1999 on October 17. The then 76 year old Moolah beat Ivory to win the women's title, thus becoming the oldest WWE Women's Champion ever, but she lost the title back to Ivory two weeks later. Also in 1999, Moolah and Young appeared on the 10th annual Billboard Music Awards. Since then, Moolah and Young have made several cameo appearances on WWE programming. The two ladies both currently reside in Columbia, South Carolina.
2001-2006
On the September 15, 2003 edition of RAW Moolah was scheduled to be in a match against Victoria. Moolah had been promised a match for her 80th birthday. After Moolah's victory the "Legend Killer" Randy Orton came out and gave Moolah an RKO. Moohlah and Mae Young made another appearance at New Years Revolution 2006, during a Bra and Panties Gauntlet Match attacking Victoria and stripping her of her top.
Moolah and Young, along with several other lady wrestlers, starred in the 2004 film "Lipstick and Dynamite" which is a documentary about the women wrestlers from the 1950s era. They appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to promote the film.
2007-present
On March 31, 2007, The Fabulous Moolah, along with Mae Young, attented the WWE Hall of Fame 2007 Ceremonies on the eve of WrestleMania 23. At WrestleMania 23, she appeared along with Slick, Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Hart, Irwin R. Schyster, Dusty Rhodes, Sgt. Slaughter, Gene Okerlund, Pat Patterson and Gerald Brisco dancing backstage with Eugene, Cryme Tyme, Kelly Kelly, Layla El, and Brooke Adams. Moolah, along with Mae Young, made another appearance at the 2007 Draft Lottery on June 11 2007.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Wrestler(s) managed by The Fabulous Moolah
- Mae Young
- Terri Runnels (WrestleMania 2000)
- Leilani Kai
- Mad Maxine
- The Spider Lady (Penny Mitchell)
- Judy Martin
- Donna Christanello
Championships and accomplishments
- NWA Women's Championship (5 times) [1]
- Other
- JWPA Women's Champion [1]
Personal life
Her father took her to wrestling events to get Moolah interested in something.
An animated version of Moolah was also included on a CBS Saturday morning cartoon during this lucrative time, titled Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n Wrestling. A Fabulous Moolah action figure was released in 2006 by Jakks Pacific as part of their Classic Superstars series.