Professional Wrestling in Mississippi: A History

by Jeffrey Martin, Gil Culkin (foreword)

Bounce off the ropes for a high-flying jaunt through the history of Magnolia State professional wrestling. At its peak, professional wrestling was arguably the most popular sport in Mississippi. The pageantry and colorful personalities appealed to grandparents and grandchildren alike. Author Jeffrey Martin invites readers to step inside the squared circle and revisit everything from the carnival wrestling days of the late 1800s to the chiseled melodrama of modern wrestling. Along the way, readers will learn about Billy Romanoff, the old-school wrestler turned promoter who made wrestling a weekly staple at the Jackson City Auditorium; Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee, who brought down the house on Friday nights at the Tupelo Sports Arena; and George and Gil Culkin, the father-and-son duo who split with "Cowboy" Bill Watts to create their own Mississippi territory, kickstarting the careers of Kamala, Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes and many other pivotal figures.

162 pages, Hardcover

Published June 5, 2023

About the author

Jeffrey Martin is a lifelong Mississippian and has been a public librarian for over a decade. He graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Master's in Library and Information Science. He lives in Fulton, MS with his wife and two young sons. When he is not having family time, his chief interests are sports, wrestling, music, and history. His first book, Professional Wrestling in Mississippi: A History will be released by The History Press on June 5, 2023.

Reviews

[Wackydeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look this isn't a five star for everyone. This is a five star for true sickos. If you're a wrestling fan for life, grew up in the south, and like detailed stories that are almost textbook like at times. This is a great book.

This is the only place I would have learned that the outlaw mud shows were being held on the same days as public hangings in Tupelo, because the house would be bigger. (And the local schools would take field trips on those days to see wrestling and hangings, truly wtf)

[Michael Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy read but very informative, especially for a wrestling history nerd like myself. I learned things I didn’t know before and got a taste of what the business was like in its early days. I hope there’s more volumes in the future that can focus on specific promotions and the towns in which they ran. Great book for any wrestling fan.