20.08.2007, 17:00
Atlanta Constitution & Journal
Atlanta, Georgia
15 June 1974
Wrestler's Lib and now, a lady promoter
Ann Gunkel didn't expect the photographer. she excused herself to comb her hair and di a little primping.
"after all," she said, "i've got to stay ahead of paul jones."
she smiled an infectious smile.
ann gunkel is a rarity in the field of sports. a wrestling promoter. not only a promoter, but a lady promoter. not only a lady, but a lovely lady. somehow it seems incongruous, beauty among all the 'beasts.' oh, there was a aldy promoter in los angeles, but she sort of retired.
paul jones is the 'other' wrestling promoter in town. for years he had the professional sport to himself. the late ray gunkel, ann's husband, was part of thejones operation. but after gunkel died from a freakish injury in the ring, ann said jones "restructed the organization leaving me out" and she went into combat.
she set up a wrestling emporium on the other side of the street and landed 27 of the top grapplers. "only one wrestler stayed i the other outfit and he was a local gu," she said. "and today all 27 are still in our sanctioning body."
ann gunkel doesn't look like a fighter, but the facts prove otherwise.
"at first, she said, "the national wrestling alliance (nwa) frowned upon a woman in wrestling.
"a lot of people were against me. they said it was too tough for a woman. and now they're saying i'm too tough for the sport.
i told them that the nwa stood for 'no women allowed.' sure, at the beginning, the whole thing was completely new for me, and it was difficult. but i have it organized now and it is functioning well.
"we have our shows here, of course, but it is much more than that. our wrestlers are out every night of the week in surrounding towns.
"we have grossed more than $1 million in a year's time. the next week i am going to puerto rico to sign up that country's champion, carlos colon, and perhaps promote there."
sure, she said, there are raised eyebrows when wrestlers and promoters see the boss is a lady.
she laughed.
"but one promoter told me it was kind of nice not having to go to dinner with an old wrestler with cauliflower ears."
mrs. gunkel retains her perspective.
"oh, wrestling is not the only thing in my life," she said. "i have a step-son and two small children and ibelong to the pta and i am a room mother and i play tennis and love to have large tennis parties. and the other day when someone called on business, i told them they had to wait because i had a load in the washing machine.
"i don't see why a woman can't be in a competitive business and retain her femininity."
no problem there for ann gunkel.
there were those who said she couldn't fight the competitive battles.
"but, she said, "it's like the nfl. it never thought the world football league would pop up and compete and it did. then, when i was told it couldn't be done, i checked the tablets of moses and found there was nothing there that said i couldn't do it."
mrs. gunkel, a one-time drum majorette at west fulton, had some business experience. she worked in hotel management on the west coast, under the direction of actress doris day, and became accustomed to the pressure of meeting people.
she smiles.
"still," she said, "when i went on tv with ed capral for my first show i forgot the names of all the wrestlers. just drew a blank. but the situation has improved."
wrestlers accept her as the boss, the businesswoman, but a few among the general public can't get used to the idea.
such as the coach from tennessee who wrote he was "avaiable for wrestling and dating." and the voice on the phone recording from the guy obviously under the influence.
:the first time he called he said he wanted a picture of ann gunkel," she said with a smile. "the next time he wanted a bathing suit picture. then a shot of me in a bikini. i'm glad he didn't call again."
wrestlers are usually regarded as nomads who move from town to town without any local interest, but mrs. gunkel said that wasn't true.
"ernie ladd speaks with kids at the local schools and encourages them to continue their education," she said. "at 6-8, 350, he is one of our more popular wrestlers. and you should see him eat 12 barbecued ribs before he fights. thatis just an appetizer until the main meal later."
she grew serious for a monent.
"going into business was therapy for my grief," she said. "it kept me busy and i enjoy it. but i never want to get so involved that i get jaded."
she has proved one thing. there are not two worlds, one for women and one for men.
Atlanta, Georgia
15 June 1974
Wrestler's Lib and now, a lady promoter
Ann Gunkel didn't expect the photographer. she excused herself to comb her hair and di a little primping.
"after all," she said, "i've got to stay ahead of paul jones."
she smiled an infectious smile.
ann gunkel is a rarity in the field of sports. a wrestling promoter. not only a promoter, but a lady promoter. not only a lady, but a lovely lady. somehow it seems incongruous, beauty among all the 'beasts.' oh, there was a aldy promoter in los angeles, but she sort of retired.
paul jones is the 'other' wrestling promoter in town. for years he had the professional sport to himself. the late ray gunkel, ann's husband, was part of thejones operation. but after gunkel died from a freakish injury in the ring, ann said jones "restructed the organization leaving me out" and she went into combat.
she set up a wrestling emporium on the other side of the street and landed 27 of the top grapplers. "only one wrestler stayed i the other outfit and he was a local gu," she said. "and today all 27 are still in our sanctioning body."
ann gunkel doesn't look like a fighter, but the facts prove otherwise.
"at first, she said, "the national wrestling alliance (nwa) frowned upon a woman in wrestling.
"a lot of people were against me. they said it was too tough for a woman. and now they're saying i'm too tough for the sport.
i told them that the nwa stood for 'no women allowed.' sure, at the beginning, the whole thing was completely new for me, and it was difficult. but i have it organized now and it is functioning well.
"we have our shows here, of course, but it is much more than that. our wrestlers are out every night of the week in surrounding towns.
"we have grossed more than $1 million in a year's time. the next week i am going to puerto rico to sign up that country's champion, carlos colon, and perhaps promote there."
sure, she said, there are raised eyebrows when wrestlers and promoters see the boss is a lady.
she laughed.
"but one promoter told me it was kind of nice not having to go to dinner with an old wrestler with cauliflower ears."
mrs. gunkel retains her perspective.
"oh, wrestling is not the only thing in my life," she said. "i have a step-son and two small children and ibelong to the pta and i am a room mother and i play tennis and love to have large tennis parties. and the other day when someone called on business, i told them they had to wait because i had a load in the washing machine.
"i don't see why a woman can't be in a competitive business and retain her femininity."
no problem there for ann gunkel.
there were those who said she couldn't fight the competitive battles.
"but, she said, "it's like the nfl. it never thought the world football league would pop up and compete and it did. then, when i was told it couldn't be done, i checked the tablets of moses and found there was nothing there that said i couldn't do it."
mrs. gunkel, a one-time drum majorette at west fulton, had some business experience. she worked in hotel management on the west coast, under the direction of actress doris day, and became accustomed to the pressure of meeting people.
she smiles.
"still," she said, "when i went on tv with ed capral for my first show i forgot the names of all the wrestlers. just drew a blank. but the situation has improved."
wrestlers accept her as the boss, the businesswoman, but a few among the general public can't get used to the idea.
such as the coach from tennessee who wrote he was "avaiable for wrestling and dating." and the voice on the phone recording from the guy obviously under the influence.
:the first time he called he said he wanted a picture of ann gunkel," she said with a smile. "the next time he wanted a bathing suit picture. then a shot of me in a bikini. i'm glad he didn't call again."
wrestlers are usually regarded as nomads who move from town to town without any local interest, but mrs. gunkel said that wasn't true.
"ernie ladd speaks with kids at the local schools and encourages them to continue their education," she said. "at 6-8, 350, he is one of our more popular wrestlers. and you should see him eat 12 barbecued ribs before he fights. thatis just an appetizer until the main meal later."
she grew serious for a monent.
"going into business was therapy for my grief," she said. "it kept me busy and i enjoy it. but i never want to get so involved that i get jaded."
she has proved one thing. there are not two worlds, one for women and one for men.