Ella Waldek

Elsie Schevchenko (December 2, 1929 – April 17, 2013), better known as Ella Waldek (Mecouch), was an American professional wrestler. She was one of the subjects of the 2005 documentary film Lipstick & Dynamite: The First Ladies of Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career Ella Waldek was born as Elsie Schevchenko in Custer, Washington, daughter of a Ukrainian father and German mother (divorced when their daughter was three) who were farm labourers and lived in a converted barn, and grew up as a self-described "farm girl". Originally a roller derby performer, "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. 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.

Championships and accomplishments Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Florida Women's Championship (1 time) NWA Southern Women's Championship (Florida version) (6 times) National Wrestling Alliance NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time, inaugural) – with Mae Young