Professional wrestling career

Rose grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

. She decided to become a professional wrestler at the age of seven, but first attended high school and college. She trained under The Fabulous Moolah

The Fabulous Moolah

Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...

 in 1965. During her first match, which occurred in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

, her opponent Bambi Bell knocked Rose unconscious.

During a match in Australia in 1969, Rose was injured and left partially blind in one eye. In the early 1970s, Rose held the National Wrestling Alliance

National Wrestling Alliance

The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...

's NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship

NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship

The NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship was a women's professional wrestling tag team title sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance from the early 1950s through 1983...

 twice with The Fabulous Moolah. They first won the title in May 1970, but lost it to Donna Christanello

Donna Christanello

Mary Alfonsi , better known by her ring name Donna Christanello , was a professional wrestler trained by The Fabulous Moolah...

 and Kathy O'Day. During a rematch in June, Rose and Moolah regained the title. Later that November, Rose won the title once again, this time with Christanello. In 1972 at the Superbowl of Wrestling

Superbowl of Wrestling

The Superbowl of Wrestling was an event held in the 1970s. It was one of the first professional wrestling "Supercards".-1972:The first Superbowl of Wrestling was held in Cleveland, Ohio at Municipal Stadium on August 12, 1972. Three rings were set up, side by side, and often more than one match...

, they defended the World Women's Tag Team Championship against Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker is a retired Black Canadian female professional wrestler. She debuted in 1969, wrestling in Canada, the United States, and Japan. In Japan, she worked for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, holding numerous titles...

 and Debbie Johnson. During their reign, there was an unrecorded title change; Susan "Tex" Green

Sue Green

Susan Tex Green is an American professional wrestler. She began wrestling at the age of 15 and was trained by The Fabulous Moolah. She was the frequent tag team partner of Sandy Parker, with whom she won the National Wrestling Alliance 's NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship. The title reign,...

 and Parker won the title from Christanello and Rose in November 1971 in Hawaii, but they regained it in February 1972 in Hong Kong. After a three year reign as champions, they were officially defeated for the title by the team of Joyce Grable

Joyce Grable

Betty Wade-Murphy is a American former professional wrestler better known by her ring name Joyce Grable. She was the long-term tag team partner of Wendi Richter...

 and Vicki Williams

Vicki Williams

Vicki Williams is a retired female professional wrestler. She held the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship twice with Joyce Grable.-Professional wrestling career:...

 on October 15, 1973 in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

. It was not until October 1975 that Rose and Christanello regained the title from Grable and Williams, holding it for approximately four years.

During this time, she also wrestled against Susan "Tex" Green in Leroy McGuirk

Leroy McGuirk

Leroy Michael McGuirk was an American wrestler and professional wrestling promoter. He was involved in professional wrestling for more than fifty years. As one of the longest surviving members of the National Wrestling Alliance , he was affiliated with the promotion from 1949 to 1982.-Early...

's promotion. During her career, Rose was also a contender for Moolah's NWA World Women's Championship

NWA World Women's Championship

The NWA World Women's Championship is the National Wrestling Alliance's women's singles professional wrestling title. It is descended from the original Women's World Championship won by Mildred Burke in 1935 from Clara Mortensen. June Byers was then recognized as the succeeding champion after her...

, but never won the title. In December 1974, Rose was in a match to crown the vacated NWA United States Women's Championship

NWA United States Women's Championship

The NWA United States Women's Championship was a sporadically used title in the National Wrestling Alliance from 1968 until 1987.-Title history:...

, but lost to Ann Casey

Ann Casey

Lucille Ann Casey , better known by her ring name Ann Casey, is a retired American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:...

.

Championships and accomplishments

• National Wrestling Alliance
  National Wrestling Alliance
  The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
  
  
  • NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship
    NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship
    The NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship was a women's professional wrestling tag team title sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance from the early 1950s through 1983...
    
     (4 times) – with The Fabulous Moolah
    The Fabulous Moolah
    Mary Lillian Ellison , better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah, was an American female professional wrestler. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wrestler and trainer Mildred Burke, as well as working alongside professional wrestler "Nature Boy" Buddy...
    
     (2) and Donna Christanello
    Donna Christanello
    Mary Alfonsi , better known by her ring name Donna Christanello , was a professional wrestler trained by The Fabulous Moolah...
    
    (2)

External links

• Profile at Online World of Wrestling