Betty Niccoli
Encyclopedia
Betty Jo Niccoli is an American
former female professional wrestler. She wrestled in the United States, Canada, and Japan. She was also influential in helping lift the ban of women's wrestling in the state of New York.
in Sedalia, Missouri
.
She wrestled in a series of matches with and against Kay Noble
in the 1960s. In August 1970, Niccoli was awarded the NWA United States Women's Championship
, but she vacated it later that year, and the title remained inactive until December 1974. She teamed with Paul Peller in February 1971 for s series of mixed tag team matches against Jean Antone and Gil Hayes
. Three years after holding the US Championship, in August 1973, she won the AWA World Women's Championship
from Vivian Vachon
in Canada. She held the title in November 1984, when Candi Devine
defeated her for it. While still holding the AWA title, she spent three months in Japan in 1974, during which time she held All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
's WWWA World Tag Team Championship
four times with partner Sandy Parker
. Back in the United States, she helped lift the ban on women's wrestling by the New York State Athletic Commission
in the state of New York. Niccoli, however, never got a chance to wrestle in the state herself.
After retiring in 1976, Niccoli stayed out of the wrestling world until she visited a Cauliflower Alley Club
(CAC) reunion in 2007. The following year, she was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in the "Lady Wrestler" category. She was also honored by the CAC in 2008.
's promotion in the Central United States. The two married a year later, and in 1976, she retired from wrestling. The couple had two daughters, both of whom Niccoli stayed at home to raise. After her children were old enough to move out of the house, Niccoli began working at the Argosy Casino.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former female professional wrestler. She wrestled in the United States, Canada, and Japan. She was also influential in helping lift the ban of women's wrestling in the state of New York.
Professional wrestling career
Niccoli first saw a professional wrestling match at the age of 12 in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1958, when promoter Gust Karras suggested she might one day make a good female professional wrestler. Several years later in 1963, Karras arranged for her to start training. Her first match was a battle royalBattle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
in Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia, Missouri
Sedalia is a city located about south of the Missouri River in Pettis County, Missouri. U.S. Highway 50 and U.S. Highway 65 intersect in the city. As of 2006, the city had a total population of 20,669. It is the county seat of Pettis County. The Sedalia Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of...
.
She wrestled in a series of matches with and against Kay Noble
Kay Noble
Mary Charlene Noble , known from childhood by her nickname Kay Noble, was an American female professional wrestler. Her career spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, during which time she was known for her toughness in the ring...
in the 1960s. In August 1970, Niccoli was awarded the 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 she vacated it later that year, and the title remained inactive until December 1974. She teamed with Paul Peller in February 1971 for s series of mixed tag team matches against Jean Antone and Gil Hayes
Gil Hayes
Gilbert "Gil" Hayes is a retired Canadian professional wrestler who competed in North American promotions during the 1960s and 1970s including All Star Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling where he would remain a mainstay for the majority of his 17-year career...
. Three years after holding the US Championship, in August 1973, she won the AWA World Women's Championship
AWA World Women's Championship
The AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
from Vivian Vachon
Vivian Vachon
Vivian Vachon was a female professional wrestler. She was the sister of wrestlers Maurice and Paul Vachon. She was also the aunt of wrestler Luna Vachon...
in Canada. She held the title in November 1984, when Candi Devine
Candi Devine
Candace Maria Rummel is a semi-retired American professional wrestler better known by her ring name Candi Devine...
defeated her for it. While still holding the AWA title, she spent three months in Japan in 1974, during which time she held All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
, nicknamed Zenjo was a joshi puroresu promotion established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga and his brothers. The group held their first card on June 4 of that year...
's WWWA World Tag Team Championship
WWWA World Tag Team Championship
The World Women's Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was the top doubles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005...
four times with partner 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...
. Back in the United States, she helped lift the ban on women's wrestling by the New York State Athletic Commission
New York State Athletic Commission
The New York State Athletic Commission or NYSAC, also known as the New York Athletic Commission, regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat within the state of New York, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, seconds, ring officials,...
in the state of New York. Niccoli, however, never got a chance to wrestle in the state herself.
After retiring in 1976, Niccoli stayed out of the wrestling world until she visited a Cauliflower Alley Club
Cauliflower Alley Club
The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
(CAC) reunion in 2007. The following year, she was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in the "Lady Wrestler" category. She was also honored by the CAC in 2008.
Personal life
In the late 1970s, Niccoli met male professional wrestler Akio Sato during a mixed tag team match in Bob GeigelBob Geigel
Robert "Bob" Geigel is a former American professional wrestling promoter and also a former professional wrestler. Geigel ran the NWA Central States promotion between 1963 and 1986, until it was bought out by Jim Crockett Promotions...
's promotion in the Central United States. The two married a year later, and in 1976, she retired from wrestling. The couple had two daughters, both of whom Niccoli stayed at home to raise. After her children were old enough to move out of the house, Niccoli began working at the Argosy Casino.
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Women's Pro-WrestlingAll Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, nicknamed Zenjo was a joshi puroresu promotion established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga and his brothers. The group held their first card on June 4 of that year...
- WWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipWWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Women's Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was the top doubles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005...
(4 times)
- WWWA World Tag Team Championship
- American Wrestling AssociationAmerican Wrestling AssociationThe American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
- AWA World Women's ChampionshipAWA World Women's ChampionshipThe AWA World Women's Championship was the female title in the American Wrestling Association from 1961 until 1990.-Title history:Silver-shaded lines in the history indicate periods of unknown lineage.-See also:*American Wrestling Association...
(1 time)
- AWA World Women's Championship
- Cauliflower Alley ClubCauliflower Alley ClubThe Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America....
- Ladies Wrestling (2008)
- National Wrestling AllianceNational Wrestling AllianceThe 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 United States Women's ChampionshipNWA United States Women's ChampionshipThe NWA United States Women's Championship was a sporadically used title in the National Wrestling Alliance from 1968 until 1987.-Title history:...
(1 time)
- NWA United States Women's Championship
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Lady Wrestler (2008)
- Other titles
- North American Women's Championship