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Many modern wrestling fans may never have heard of the great Mildred Burke
but every wrestling historian should take some time to become acquainted
with this talented lady's contribution to the Sport of Kings, which she
made equally the Sport of Queens. She competed from the mid 1930s with
a career spanning nearly 20 years and held the World Women's Championship
in the United States for nearly the entire time, UNDEFEATED. The title
would eventually become adopted as the National Wrestling Alliance World
Women's Title, which became the WWF World Women's Title that is currently
being defended in WWE. She would meet and feud with some of the all time
great women wrestlers including Ella Waldek, Rose Evans, Corah Combs, Clara
Mortensen and June Byers.
She began her career wrestling and defeating men in the carnival circuit and, during this time, fell in love with promoter Billy Wolfe who would become her manager. Burke became a headliner and within four years of her debut, she defeated the legendary Clara Mortensen to win the World Women's title in 1937. She lost the title on August 20th, 1954 after a remarkable reign to June Buyers. She would go on to establish the World Women's Wrestling Association in Los Angeles California and named herself the first WWWA World Heavyweight Champion. She would retire in 1956 and the WWWA folded, but the belt was later picked up by All Japan. She became a notable coach, opening a wrestling school and was responsible for introducing Rhonda Singh to the business in the 1970s. Burke passed away in 1989 at the age of 73, leaving a rich legacy as one of the all time great women's wrestlers in the history of the sport. Without question she belongs here in the UWOW Hall of Fame. |
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