Ella Waldek

Elsie Schevchenkocite web|url=http://www.lipstickanddynamitethemovie.com/ella.html|title=Ella Waldek profile at Lipstick & Dynamite Official website|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006] (born 1929 or 1930)Cite web|title=Hollywood, the Global Village: Festivals Feed a Love of Movies|publisher=New York Times|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/movies/16fest.html?ex=1155182400&en=b9d8f71675d20db5&ei=5070|last=Lyons|first=Charles|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006] better known as Ella Waldek, is a former American professional wrestler. She is one of the subjects of the 2005 documentary film "".cite web|url=http://www.austin360.com/movies/content/shared/movies/reviews/L/lipstickanddynamite/ajc.html|title='Lipstick & Dynamite': You'll fall for these ladies|author=Eleanor Ringel Gillespie|publisher=Atlanta Journal-Constitution|accessdate=2008-07-14]

Professional wrestling career

Ella Waldek was born as Elsie Schevchenko in Custer, Washington and grew up as a self-described "farm girl".cite web|title=Guts & endurance calling card of Lipstick & Dynamite|last=Renwick|first=Meredith|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/05/04/446816.html|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006] Originally a roller derby performer, Waldek's professional wrestling career began in 1952 after a male friend took her to a professional wrestling event.cite web|title=Lipstick & Dynamite|last=Belcher|first=Karen|publisher=ProWrestlingDaily|url=http://ladysports.com/stories/lipstick2.htm|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006] “I didn’t even know there was such a thing” she claimed years later.

Despite her limited knowledge of professional wrestling at the time, Waldek began a career in Chicago, Illinois. She adopted the name "Ella Waldek" because, in her words, “who could stand in a ring and autograph an eleven letter last name?” Waldek earned the nickname "The Policeman" and also worked under the names "Jackie Lee" and "Charming Carmen". She adopted the short arm scissor lift as one her signature maneuvers. Over the course of her career, Waldek worked matches with other female wrestlers, including Mae Young.

Janet Boyer Wolfe died after a body slam she had received from Waldek during a tag team match, though she was not injured by the move. Wolfe rolled out of the ring and collapsed at ringside. Waldek called for the timekeeper to assist her and get her away from the ring. Wolfe, who was apparently being pushed to be a major wrestling star by her soon-to-be father, promoter Billy Wolfe, had been complaining about her head hurting before the match. Despite Waldek's reported pleas to Wolfe that she see a doctor, Wolfe—who wanted to impress her father—worked the match nonetheless.Fact|date=July 2008 Though Wolfe's death was eventually ruled to be an accident, police initially arrested Waldek and the other participants in the match—Mae Young and Eva Lee. The police reportedly considered charging the three with manslaughter, but all three women were eventually released. Ironically, as a result of the incident, people attended wrestling events to see Waldek, who had to endure crowd chants of "murderer" directed at her.

Over the course of her wrestling career, Waldek held several titles including the NWA Florida Women's Championship, the NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship with Mae Young and two reigns with the NWA Southern Women's Championship, Florida version.

Post-wrestling career

After almost twenty years of wrestling, Waldek ended her career in 1971. She then became a private investigator and subsequently founded her own security firm, before taking up gardening part-time.Cite web|title=Documentary honors women of '50s: Lipstick & Dynamite, Piss & Vinegar: The First Ladies of Wrestling hits the screen|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2004/04/26/437175.html|last=Oliver|first=Greg|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006] Her professional career had apparently taken its toll though, as she had been rendered unable to have children due to a kick she had taken to the solar plexus.

Waldek recounted her experiences as a professional wrestler for the documentary film "Lipstick & Dynamite", reuniting with some of her fellow female wrestlers in the process. Through her involvement in the film, Waldek found out that singer-songwriter Neko Case, who had been working on music for the film, is her great-niece.Cite web|title=RUTH LEITMAN: LIPSTICK & DYNAMITE DIRECTOR WRESTLES WITH WOMEN ON THE EDGE AT HOT DOCS FESTIVAL|publisher=NOW|url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2004-04-29/cover_story.php|last=Banks|first=Wendy|accessdate=August 8|accessyear=2006]

Championships and accomplishments

*Championship Wrestling from Florida:*NWA Florida Women's Championship (1 time) cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/fl-wm.html |title=N.W.A. Florida Women's Title |accessdate=2008-05-13 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo ] :*NWA Southern Women's Championship "(Florida version)" (2 times) cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/fl/nwa/fl-south-wm.html |title=N.W.A. Women's Southern Title (Florida) |accessdate=2008-05-13 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo ]

*National Wrestling Alliance:*NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mae Young (First)cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/world/world-wt.html |title=World Women's Tag Team Title |accessdate=2008-05-13 |publisher=Puroresu Dojo ]

References

External links

* [http://www.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingChats/ladies.html SLAM! Wrestling Interview with Waldek, Penny Banner and Ida May Martinez]