Cora Combs - Professional Wrestling Career

Professional Wrestling Career

In the early 1950s, Cora joined the World Women's Wrestling Association (WWWA), which lead to the immediate rise of her career. In addition to wrestling all over the United States, Combs competed in Canada, Mexico, Japan, pre-Castro Cuba, the Fiji Islands, and Nigeria, and competed with many greats including her original inspiration Mildred Burke, Mae Young, The Fabulous Moolah, Kay Noble, June Byers, and many others. In 1967, she was proclaimed the United States Women's Wrestling Champion (belt no longer in use) after a reported series of elimination matches.

Her most famous match was on March 3, 1972 in New York City. Her match with Princess Ti Ti was the first female professional wrestling match in New York State, effectively breaking the 50-year ban on women's wrestling. The match was extensively covered by television, radio, newspapers, and other media outlets throughout the city. After that, Combs continued to wrestle and signed with a new wrestling promotion based out of Cleveland called the International Wrestling Association (IWA). During her time in the IWA, Cora wrestled as Lady Satan, wearing a mask and changing her clothes to create the character. In the mid-1970s, Cora's daughter Debbie joined the ranks of s professional wrestling. Cora and Debbie then formed the only mother-daughter tag team duo in wrestling history.

Cora was considered one of the best-dressed women in the wrestling business. Her ring attire, which was made by her sister, consisted of a wide variety of colorful jackets and robes. Combs differentiated herself from her competition and established new ground for female wrestlers. Combs finally retired in 1985.