Joyce Grable
Joyce Grable | |
---|---|
![]() Grable in 2012 | |
Birth name | Betty Wade |
Born | [1] LaGrange, Georgia, U.S.[2] | November 9, 1952
Died | September 29, 2023 | (aged 70)
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Joyce Grable |
Trained by | The Fabulous Moolah[3] |
Debut | 1971[2] |
Retired | 1991[2] |
Betty Wade-Murphy (November 9, 1952 – September 29, 2023), better known by her ring name Joyce Grable, was an American
Professional wrestling career
Training
Joyce Fowler (who also competed as Joyce Becker) was the first female wrestler to use the
National Wrestling Alliance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/Joyce_Grable_in_the_ring_1983.png)
The team of Grable and
In 1978 at Superbowl of Wrestling II, she defeated seven other wrestlers in an eight-woman battle royal. Later that year, she defeated Ann Casey to win the NWA United States Women's Championship.[8] In 1979, she helped train Judy Martin.[9] In August 1979, the team of Grable and Williams defeated The Glamour Girls (Leilani Kai and Martin) to begin their second reign as NWA Women's Tag Champions.[7] During the time period from 1973–1983, Grable frequently competed in the World Wrestling Federation, often in singles matches against WWF Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah and in tag team matches with Williams.
In 1982,
In 1986, Grable participated in a 10-woman battle royal at the American Wrestling Association's WrestleRock 86 event, losing to Sherri Martel. She continued to appear sporadically on the independent circuit and competed in the Delta Tiger Lilies promotion in 1988.
Retirement
Grable retired in 1991 and had back surgery.[2] On January 29, 2005, Grable appeared at WrestleReunion managing Sherri Martel, Peggy Lee Leather, Krissy Vaine, and Amber O'Neal in an eight-woman tag team match against Wendi Richter, Bambi, Malia Hosaka, and Jenny Taylor.[5] Grable continued to make appearances at wrestling reunions and conventions, as well as occasional independent shows. Grable appeared at a Magnificent Ladies Wrestling event on April 30, 2011, where she managed Melanie Cruise in a match against "Pryme Tyme" Amy Lee, and also managed Million Dollar Baby in a street fight against Robbie Rage. On May 20, 2011, she (along with several other retired professional wrestlers) was a guest at a Total Nonstop Action Wrestling live event in Amsterdam, New York.[12]
Personal life
Grable was originally from Columbus, Georgia.[3] Grable had one biological son, Derek Murphy and a step daughter, Melissa Wade and stepson, Richard Wade from her second husband, Richard Wade's first marriage.[2] She worked as a trainer at the women's wrestling training facility run by Fabulous Moolah and was responsible for training several notable female wrestlers, including Wendi Richter and Sherri Martel. After retiring from wrestling, Grable worked as a receptionist at a center for mentally and physically disabled people.[2]
In 2013, Grable revealed she had
Joyce Grable died on September 29, 2023, at the age of 70. A few days earlier, her son had posted online that she was in hospice care.[14]
Championships and accomplishments
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Women's Wrestling Award (2010)[2]
- Courage Award Winner (2022)
- Deep South Wrestling
- DSW Women's Championship (1 time, final champion)
- National Wrestling Alliance
- NWA Texas Women's Championship (1 time)
- NWA United States Women's Championship (1 time)[8]
- NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Vicki Williams (3) and Wendi Richter (3)[7]
- NWA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)[15]
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2013[16]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Girl Wrestler of the Year (1973)[17]
- Pro Wrestling This Week
- Wrestler of the Week (November 23–29, 1986)[18]
- St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2022
- Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2024 – with Wendi Richter[19]
References
- ^ "Joyce Grable's Showa Puroresu profile".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Van Der Griend, Blaine (April 14, 2010). "Joyce Grable to be honoured by CAC". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ ISBN 978-0-06-001258-8.
- ^ "Joyce Becker's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- ^ a b "Joyce Grable's profile". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- ^ "Wrestling's "SECOND" Joyce Grable". Cauliflower Alley Club. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ Johnson, Steven (August 8, 2007). "Return of a "Glamour Girl"". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on July 15, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - St. Petersburg Times. p. 8. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
- ^ a b c Nevada, Vance (June 30, 2005). "Results for Velvet McIntyre". SLAM! Wrestling. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved 2008-11-02.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Pro Wrestling Hall Of Famers Appear At TNA Live Event In Amsterdam, NY". Impact Wrestling. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
- The Miami Herald. July 19, 2013. Archivedfrom the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
- ^ Tessier, Colin (September 30, 2023). "Joyce Grable Passes Away at Age 70". Fightful. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2012-11-17). "Sat. update: Great TV show, WWE multiple releases, Austin talks WWE Hall of Fame, Best night for Bellator, PPV predictions, NWA Hall of Fame, James Storm headlines benefit show, Devitt takes another title". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
- ^ Meltzer, Dave (2012-12-10). "Mon. update: Major Spike announcement tomorrow, Aces & 8s identity, TNA injury updates, Hall of Fame inductions announced, WWE two PPVs this weekend, Jericho schedule, Amateur wrestling hits MSG first time ever". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2012-12-10.
- ^ PWI Staff (1996). 1996 Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts. Kappa Publishing.
- Atlanta, Georgia. Syndicated. WATL.
- ^ Wilkinson, Nick (January 17, 2024). "Jacqueline, Rockin' Robin, Lisa Marie Varon, and More Inductees WWHOF 2024". Diva Dirt. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
External links
- Joyce Grable's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database