Title History
- AWA World Tag Team titles (as Mr. Low) w/Mr. High (aka Dick Steinborn) defeating Stan & Art Neilson (December 16, 1962);
- AWA Midwest Tag Team titles w/Reggie Parks defeating Dale Lewis & Mitsu Arakawa (August 12, 1967);
- AWA Midwest Tag Team titles w/Reggie Parks defeating Mike DiBiase & Bob Orton Sr. (November ??, 1967);
- AWA Midwest Tag Team titles w/Reggie Parks defeating Mad Dog Vachon & Bob Orton Sr. (March 22, 1968);
- NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Tarzan Tyler (August 23, 1968);
- NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Johnny Valentine (December 6, 1968);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Assassin #2 defeating Alberto & Ramon Torres (January 25, 1969);
- NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating El Mongol (May 16, 1969);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/El Mongol defeating Assassins (June 27, 1969);
- NWA Georgia Heavyweight title defeating Paul DeMarco (November 28, 1969);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Bobby Shane defeating Homer O` Dell & Buddy Colt [Tournament] (July 3, 1970);
- NWA (Los Angeles) Beat the Champ Television title defeating Takachiho [Tournament] (January 30, 1971);
- NWA Florida Tag Team titles w/Mike Webster defeating Bob Roop & Boris Malenko (May 31, 1972);
- NWA Macon Tag Team titles w/Don Smith (as Super Infernos) won a Tournament (February 27, 1973);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Don Smith (as Super Infernos) defeating Mike & Eddie Graham (May ??, 1973);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Don Smith (as Super Infernos) defeating Bob Orton Jr. & Mr. Wrestling II (August ??, 1973);
- NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Don Smith (as Super Infernos) defeating Bob Armstrong & Bill Dromo (August 7, 1973);
- NWA Central States Heavyweight title defeating Bob Sweetan (August 31, 1978);
Career History
- Doug Gilbert was one the first (possibley the very first) to body slam Andre the Giant in Montreal, Canada …
- January 2, 1958: Doug & Johnny Gilbert defeated Ali Bey & Jack O’Brien in Atlanta, Georgia.
- January 9, 1958: Doug & Johnny Gilbert defeated Ali Bey & Prince Omar in Atlanta, Georgia.
- October 24, 1969: The Professional & Aldo Bogni faced the Assassins in Atlanta, Georgia..Robert Louis Howell wrote: Bogni was technically still managed by the Assassins, but wanted the match to show them up for forcing him to unmask as the Super Pro and thus protect their masks. The match is listed as a win for the Pro and Bogni but they were at each other the next week and Ray Mackay wrote in the Atlanta program “The Ringsider” that the Bogni/Pro alliance was disastrous. Bogni must have turned on Gilbert at some point. The Assassins were likely DQ’ed. Did anyone see this match to confirm/deny this typo?
- November 7, 1969: The Professional defeated Aldo Bogni in Atlanta, Georgia..
- January 15, 1971: The Professional defeated Robaire Duranton in Los Angeles, California..
- ~~~This was the same night the Professional won the 22 man LA battle Royal with a little help from a packet of powder he threw in Rocky Johnson’s eyes. Atlanta fans could not believe the photos of The Pro committing such a clear foul in the national mags..
- February 10, 1971: The Professional defeated Dutch Savage in Los Angeles, California..
- May 7, 1971: The Professional returned to Atlanta, Georgia at the Municipal Auditorium..
- ~~~The Professional & El Mongol & Ray Gunkle beat Buddy Colt & the Assassins in a six man tag..
- May 8, 1971: The Professional destroyed Gene (The Cougar) Bobo on Atlanta TV
- ~~~The Professional won the match with Gene Bobo using a Double corkscrew called a Gun Fu hold.
- ~~~This was a new hold and Gilbert favored it claiming to have picked it up on tour in Japan.
- ~~~By comparison it was quite similar to one used by Stan Pulaski in Nebraska.
- ~~~It should be noted that the Pro returned sporting an orange afro and black moustache.
- ~~~This was happily replaced soon by the return of his ruby and gold mask.
- ~~~This was the first sign of Gilbert Redbeard image which was a couple of years to come..
- June 22, 1971: The Professional & Derrell Cochran beat Guillotine Gordon & Krusher Karlson in Macon, Georgia
- June 22, 1971: The Professional deeated Krusher Karlson in Macon, Georgia
- October 1, 1971: The Professor defeated Angelo Poffo in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- October 21, 1971: The Professor & Moose Cholak & Wilbur Snyder beat Baron Von Raschke & The Blackjacks in Fort Wayne..
- 197?: The Professor wrestled Baron Von Raschke all over the WWA and came extremley close to winning the WWA World’s Title..
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~However, the Baron managed to pull it out in spite of high expectation of a new Champion.
- March 28, 1972: The Professional wrestled Bob Roop in Tampa Florida
- 1972: While working the WWA as the Professor, Doug Gilbert appeared in Montreal for Grand Prix Wrestling..
- ~~~He was there professional offering Andre the Giant his first major test and feuding with Yvon Robert Jr.
- August 15, 1972: Eddie Graham defeated Redbeard in a Steel Cage match in Tampa Florida
- November 14, 1972: Tim Woods wrestled the Professional in Tampa, Florida
- ~~~This was one match Atlanta would not book. (The results are unknown)
- January 1975: Doug Gilbert became the first man to take Abdullah the Butcher off his feet on Atlanta TV..
- ~~~Butcher came back with his elbow smash to win but Gilbert was the first to dish Abdullah back as good as he gave.
- As a manager, Doug Gilbert managed Tex Mackenzie and The Challenger (Bobby Shane under a mask)..
Steve Lindzy (Doug Gilbert’s son) wrote: Doug Gilbert’s finishing move was a back flip off the top rope jumping on the opponent’s shoulder’s rolling forward into a cradle
Also Doug Gilbert was one the first ( possibley the very first) to body slam Andre the Giant in Montreal Canada and defeating the giant in that match. While Andre was tangled in the ropes, Doug Gilbert then Drop kicked the Giant through ropes to the floor, however, andre’s foot remain tangled hanging him upside down outside the ring for the count out.
Doug would also wrestle in prliminary bouts as ” Red Beard” then return masked for the main event as ” The Pro” in the same night. a lot of people never knew that.
Robert Louis Howell wrote: In September 1969: The Professional scientifically destroyed El Diablo (Inferno #1 possibly Frankie Cain) in an extremley colorful first match of the first round of the first GA TV title tournament held on Atlanta Wrestling TV. Diablo was on hiatus from the Infernos while the other one was injured and was teaming with Paul Demarco under Homer O’Dells management. The Pro wore Diablos right leg down to submission and scored a good first round win. Two weeks alter in the second round the Pro was DQ ed for pile driving Assassin 2 (Hamilton) — The Assassins won a handicap match the next week from the pro when Renesto kicked him in the head between falls. The stipulation was loser unmask and the Pro was revealed to be Doug Gilbert. The very next week Gilbert regained hi GA heavyweight title form Paul Demarco and never really lost it but was injured when the Assassins broke his neck after defeating him and El Mongol. And the Feud went on.
It should be noted that the second round of the handicap match that unmasked The Professional ended in a No Contest between The Pro and Tom Renesto. Since The Pro did not beat both Assassins but only Hamilton in round one he was obliged to unmask without actually losing the match. The Assassins of course claimed this as a technical victory. In a was it was.
Wrestlers Unmasked by the Professional: Mr Wrestling Dick Steinborn subbing for Tim woods Steinborn was later suspended for allegedly colluding with Woods to undermine the Professional by deceit —- Gene Kiniski said he thought the Professional was Bruno Sammartino seeking his title under a mask.
Robert Louis Howell wrote: In 1969, Atlanta TV Wrestling The Professional wrestled a new masked man The Blue Destroyer possibly sent in by Gene Kiniski to eliminate his top challenger. The Professional beat and unmasked the Blue Destroyer and revealed Gene Kiniski.
June 27, 1969 Atlanta: In a Mask vs Title match The Professional and El Mongol beat the Assassins for the GA Tag Team Title. The Professional had vowed to unmask if he did not win the title.
In 1970: A new masked man named The Eliminator entered the Atlanta ring with Joe Scarpa & El Mongol to meet The Assassins & Nick Bockwinkel. The Eliminator unmasked before the match revealing Doug Gilbert in there to get at The Assassins. The Assassins & Nick Bockwinkel were DQed for too many jump ins.
1971 The Masked Professional debuted in Los Angeles winning the annual 22 Man Battle Royal beating Rocky Johnson in the final. The Pro was photographed throwing powder in Johnsons eyes. The Pro then teamed with Kinji Shibuya and bet his mask and the $11.000 form the battle royal against Fred Blassies hair. The exact result of the Blassie match is unknown. Does anyone out there recall?
Ed Marcinov wrote: The outcome of the match was that Freddies Blassie defeated the Professional. Stipulation of the match was that the Professional was to unmask, but the Professional refused to do so in the middle of the ring. Supposedly, according to Dick Lane (the voice of professional wrestling and roller derby in Los Angeles), the Professional requested that he unmask in the locker to which Blassie agreed. Blassie did show up on TV with the mask, but the Professional/Doug Gilbert was not seen again after that match. .
In 1972: Doug Gilbert & Curtis Smith debuted as The New Infernos defeating the west coast team of Pantera Negra & El Sicodelico. They would later win the Georgia Tag Tam titles from Eddie & Mike Graham. They would lose and re-win the titles to Mr. Wrestling II & Bob Orton Jr.. JC Dykes, their manager would later dub them The Super Infernos.
Wrestlers Unmasked by Doug Gilbert in Atlanta: Professional #2 (Paul Demarco), The Spoiler (Mike Davis), Big Tex (Stan Frazior), The Blue Destroyer (Gene Kiniski), The Red Demon (Cisco Grimaldo)
The Professional and Tex Mackenzie beat the Super Protege and Big Tex the same night the Assassins and the The Super protege unmasked the Super Assailants and Mario Galento. In the course of the match Big Tex was unmasked as Stan Frazier, This took the edge off the defeat of the Super As later that night,