Sandy Parker
Encyclopedia
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. She also had an unofficial NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship
reign with partner Sue Green
.
's training school in South Carolina for further training, but left when she began having problems with Moolah. After leaving the school, Parker worked for Mildred Burke
.
Parker worked under her real name instead of a ring name
, because she was once unable to cash a check when it was written for her under the wrestling name; she could not provide identification for it, so she vowed never to use a ring name again.
In the early 1970s, Parker formed a partnership with Sue Green
, with whom she defeated Donna Christanello
and Toni Rose
in November 1971 for the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship
. They lost the title back to Christanello and Rose in February 1972. The title change is unrecognized. In August of that year, Parker competed at the Superbowl of Wrestling
, where she teamed with Debbie Johnson to take on Rose and Christanello, but they failed to defeat them for the championship.
She began a tour of Japan also in the early 1970s. In 1973, she held All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
's WWWA World Championship for approximately two months. Between June of that year and July 1974, she also held the promotion's WWWA World Tag Team Championship
eight times, twice with Masked Lee, twice with Jean Antoine
, and four times with Betty Niccoli
. It is possible, however, that only six of the tag title reigns are officially recognized.
Back in the United States in 1975, Parker wrestled against Antoine in the first women's wrestling match in the state of Oregon in 50 years. Parker retired in 1986. In 2004, she was honored by the Cauliflower Alley Club
, a society of retired professional wrestlers.
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
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
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...
, holding numerous titles. She also had an unofficial 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...
reign with partner Sue 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,...
.
Professional wrestling career
After attending a professional wrestling match, Parker became addicted to the sport. At first, she went to the matches several times every week. She then decided to try the profession at the suggestion of a friend. Although she lived in Ontario, she traveled to Michigan three times a week to train with Lou Klein, Mary Jane Mull, and Lucille Dupree. She officially debuted in the early 1970s at the age of 23. She later went to The Fabulous MoolahThe 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...
's training school in South Carolina for further training, but left when she began having problems with Moolah. After leaving the school, Parker worked for Mildred Burke
Mildred Burke
Mildred Bliss was an American professional wrestler, who wrestled under the name Mildred Burke. She is a member of the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as well as the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame. Her heyday lasted from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s, when she held the World Women's...
.
Parker worked under her real name instead of a ring name
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
, because she was once unable to cash a check when it was written for her under the wrestling name; she could not provide identification for it, so she vowed never to use a ring name again.
In the early 1970s, Parker formed a partnership with Sue 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,...
, with whom she defeated Donna Christanello
Donna Christanello
Mary Alfonsi , better known by her ring name Donna Christanello , was a professional wrestler trained by The Fabulous Moolah...
and Toni Rose
Toni Rose
-Professional wrestling career:Rose grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana. 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 in 1965...
in November 1971 for the 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...
. They lost the title back to Christanello and Rose in February 1972. The title change is unrecognized. In August of that year, Parker competed 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...
, where she teamed with Debbie Johnson to take on Rose and Christanello, but they failed to defeat them for the championship.
She began a tour of Japan also in the early 1970s. In 1973, 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 Championship for approximately two months. Between June of that year and July 1974, she also held the promotion'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...
eight times, twice with Masked Lee, twice with Jean Antoine
Jean Antoine
Jean Antoine is an American former professional wrestler. After debuting in 1961, she worked a series of mixed tag team matches with partner Terry Funk. In the early 1970s, she went to Japan to work for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. While part of the company, she held the WWWA World Championship...
, and four times with Betty Niccoli
Betty Niccoli
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....
. It is possible, however, that only six of the tag title reigns are officially recognized.
Back in the United States in 1975, Parker wrestled against Antoine in the first women's wrestling match in the state of Oregon in 50 years. Parker retired in 1986. In 2004, she was honored by the 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....
, a society of retired professional wrestlers.
Personal life
Parker was raised by her grandmother, as her mom was unable to take care of her. As a child, she considered herself a "tomboy", participating in fights, baseball, and tree climbing. Parker is a lesbian. She, however, was once married to a man. After leaving the business, Parker worked as a bartender, store manager, and security guard.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 Championship (1 time)
- 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...
(8 times) - with Masked Lee (2), Jean Antoine (2), and Betty Niccoli (4)
- 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 (2004)