LadySports ::: SUSAN GREEN

NEW PGWA COMMISSIONER!

With the passing of Penny Banner earlier this year, not only did the world of women’s wrestling lose a passionate advocate, but the Professional Girl Wrestling Association had lost its commissioner. Since the founding of the PGWA in 1992, Penny had been with us every step of the way in our goal to preserve and promote the Old School style of ladies wrestling.

Appointing a new commissioner was not a task we were terribly keen to do. It’s not that the choice of her successor was a difficult one; rather, there was simply a feeling that to announce a new commissioner would be to truly acknowledge that Penny Banner was gone... and that was a terrible truth we weren’t anxious to admit just yet.

However, with the next PGWA show approaching... A BANNER NIGHT, dedicated both to Penny’s legacy as well as her dream for women’s wrestling... we knew we could not put off the decision any longer. Luckily, determining who would be the new commissioner wasn’t much of a challenge at all. Indeed, there was only one woman who could carry on for Penny.

Susan Green, like Penny, has been with the PGWA from Day One. Although in her case, it was as a wrestler. She worked the very first PGWA-sanctioned match (against Judy Martin, historians!), and went on to become the first PGWA Champion (and the only woman to hold the belt twice).

The PGWA also enjoyed a working relationship with Susan’s wrestling school, sending young hopefuls her way for proper training.

And like fans worldwide, we were on tenterhooks earlier this year as Susan fought for her life against a ravaging illness. Against the odds (which is nothing new to the ‘Texas Cowgirl’), she battled back. And although still convalescing and unable to travel to Tennessee for A BANNER NIGHT, Susan is most definitely on the mend, and she will be with us in spirit (not to mention over the phone, making backstage decisions throughout the night from afar).

Naming Susan Green as the new PGWA Commissioner marks the end of an era... but the start of a brand new one as well! Fans and wrestlers alike can expect guidance from a woman as well-versed in the art of professional wrestling as anyone who has stepped into the squared circle. The Professional Girl Wrestling Association is proud and honored to not only know her as a great competitor, a great teacher and a great friend, but now also as our Commissioner!

FUN FACTS ABOUT SUSAN GREEN:

• Tex isn’t simply her nickname... it’s her legal middle name as well.
• Susan got her start as a wrestler at the tender age of 14 in 1969. Because her age was in violation of the state child labor laws, Susan had to personally appeal to Texas Governor John Connelly to sign a special waiver allowing her to work.
• Susan held the PGWA Championship twice, for a combined period of 8 years, longer than any other titleholder.
• After several years in the business, Green sought out the Fabulous Moolah for additional training and to take advantage of Moolah’s ability to book matches across North America and in Japan.
• Even though Moolah claimed to have been “undefeated” for more than two decades, in fact Susan did beat her for the Women’s Championship belt, and she held it for all of two weeks before Moolah stole it back.