Pepper Gomez

Early life Gomez was born in Los Angeles, California in 1927. While at high school, he competed at football, gymnastics and track. He took part in a series of bodybuilding competitions over the next five years, winning the "Mr. Muscle Beach" contest in Santa Monica, California in 1950. In 1951, he placed fifth in the AAU Mr. America contest. Gomez was featured in the November 1948 issue of Strength & Health and the January 1952 issue of Muscle Power.

In the mid-1950s, Gomez joined the Dallas, Texas-based promotion Big Time Wrestling, winning the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship 15 times between 1955 and 1971. Gomez also held the NWA Texas Tag Team Championship on ten occasions between 1955 and 1961 and the Texas-version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship five times between 1958 and 1961. Gomez won the vacant AWA United States Heavyweight Championship in July 1962, losing the championship to Stevens in February 1963. The feud saw Kowalski unable to apply his signature stomach claw to Gomez' muscular stomach.

In the mid-1970s, Gomez joined the Indianapolis, Indiana-based World Wrestling Association. In November 1975, he defeated Ox Baker for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship. He held the championship until May 1976, when he was defeated by The Masked Strangler. Gomez also won the WWA World Tag Team Championship with Wilbur Snyder in 1974 and 1978. He had five children.

Championships and accomplishments

Bodybuilding Amateur Athletic Union "Junior Mr. America" (8th, 1952) American Wrestling Alliance / Big Time Wrestling (San Francisco) AWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) NWA World Tag Team Championship (Texas version) (5 times) – with El Medico (1 time), Rito Romero (1 time), Ciclone Anaya (1 time), Torbellino Blanco/Wilbur Snyder (1 time), and Dory Dixon (1 time) Cauliflower Alley Club Other honoree (1992) Championship Wrestling from Florida NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time) Pacific Northwest Wrestling NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Herb Freeman World Wrestling Association WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time) WWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Wilbur Snyder Other Titles Fort Myers Heavyweight Championship ( time )