Eddie Gilbert

Professional wrestling career Early career (1977–1982)

Gilbert wanted to become a professional wrestler by the second grade, and wrote articles and took photographs for newsstand and ringside magazines as a way to become involved in the business. He was once rumored to have missed his own high school graduation so he could make it to Memphis to lose in the first match on the undercard at the Mid-South Coliseum. After graduating from high school, On February 10, 1979, he and Ricky Reed defeated Jake Dalton and Haiti Charlie. and the Global Wrestling Federation (GWF), as well as Philadelphia's Tri-State Wrestling Alliance promotion. Due to a pay dispute, Gilbert, along with his brother Doug (who wrestled under a mask as the Dark Patriot) left the GWF in 1992.

Championships and accomplishments Gilbert's Hardcore Hall of Fame banner in the former ECW Arena. Cauliflower Alley Club Family Award (2011) – with Doug Gilbert and Tommy Gilbert Central States Wrestling NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Ricky Romero Continental Wrestling Association AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time) AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Tommy Gilbert (2), Tommy Rich (1), and Ricky Morton (1) CWA International Heavyweight Championship (2 times) Eastern Championship Wrestling ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dark Patriot ECW Tag Team Championship Tournament (1993) – with Dark Patriot GWF Television Championship Tournament (October 1991) Hardcore Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Jim Crockett Promotions NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Rick Steiner Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2017 NWA Tri-State / Mid-South Wrestling Association / Universal Wrestling Federation Mid-South Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with The Nightmare NWA Tri-State Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Ricky Morton (1), and Tommy Gilbert (2) NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (1 time) – with Tommy Gilbert UWF World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Sting UWF World Television Championship (1 time) Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him #83 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003 United States Wrestling Association USWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time) USWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (1 time) USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Brian Christopher USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (4 times) GWF World Heavyweight Championship (actually GWF North American Championship brought over to USWA) Memphis Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 1995) World Wrestling Council WWC North American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Tommy Gilbert Wrestling Observer Newsletter Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic (1983) Broken neck angle Best Booker (1988)