Betty Wade-Murphy (November 9, 1952 – September 29, 2023), better known by her ring name Joyce Grable, was an American

professional wrestler Professional wrestling, often shortened to either pro wrestling or wrestling,The term "wrestling" is most often widely used to specifically refer to modern scripted professional wrestling, though it is also used to refer to real-life wrest ...

. She was the long-term

tag team Tag team wrestling is a type of professional wrestling in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. Tag teams may be made up of wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of establis ...

partner of

Wendi Richter Victoria "Wendi" Richter (born September 8, 1960) is an American former professional wrestler. She began her professional wrestling career in companies such as the National Wrestling Alliance, where she teamed with Joyce Grable, with whom she ...

. She held the

NWA United States Women's Championship The NWA United States Women's Championship was a sporadically used women's professional wrestling championship in the National Wrestling Alliance from 1957 until 1988. Title history Footnotes See also *List of National Wrestling Allianc ...

once and the

NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship The NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship is a women's professional wrestling tag team championship defended in member promotions of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Ella Waldek and Mae Young are the inaugural champions. The current ch ...

six times—three with Richter and three with her other tag team partner

Vicki Williams Vicki Williams (born April 21, 1956) is a retired female professional wrestler. She held the NWA Women's World Tag Team Championship three times with Joyce Grable. Professional wrestling career During a match in June 1971, midget wrestler Da ...

Professional wrestling career

Training

Joyce Fowler (who also competed as Joyce Becker) was the first female wrestler to use the

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons ...

"Joyce Grable". Fowler was active from 1963–1974 and then retired from professional wrestling to focus on her family. In the early 1970s, Betty Wade-Murphy was trained by professional wrestler

Judy Grable Nellya Baughman (August 21, 1935 – May 9, 2008) was an American professional wrestler who was best known by her ring name Judy Grable. She was an active wrestler during the 1950s and 1960s. In addition to her nickname "The Barefoot Contessa" d ...

(who was her childhood idol) to become a female wrestler. Upon her professional debut, she was given the ring name "Joyce Grable" both as a tribute to her idol and trainer, Judy Grable, and because

Fabulous Moolah Mary Lillian Ellison (July 22, 1923 – November 2, 2007) was an American professional wrestler, promoter and trainer better known by her ring name The Fabulous Moolah. She began her career working with promoter Billy Wolfe and his wife, wr ...

felt she bore a strong physical resemblance to the original Joyce Grable (portrayed by Fowler).

National Wrestling Alliance

The team of Grable and

won the

from

Donna Christanello Mary Alfonsi (May 23, 1942 – August 25, 2011), better known by her ring name Donna Christanello, was an American professional wrestler active between 1963 and 1991. Trained by The Fabulous Moolah, she frequently wrestled Ann Casey, Vicki Will ...

and

Toni Rose Toni Rose (born December 22, 1945) is an American retired professional wrestler. During her wrestling career, Rose captured the NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship on five occasions; three times with Donna Christanello, and twice with her ...

on October 15, 1973 in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. It was not until October 1975 that Rose and Christanello regained the title from Grable and Williams. In 1978 at Superbowl of Wrestling II, she defeated seven other wrestlers in an eight-woman

battle royal Battle royal (, also battle royale) traditionally refers to a fight involving many combatants, usually conducted under either boxing or wrestling rules, where the winner is the one who registers the most wins. In recent times, the term has been ...

. Later that year, she defeated

Ann Casey Lucille Ann Casey (September 29, 1938 – March 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Ann Casey, or Panther Girl. Early life Casey was born in Saraland, Alabama, one of nine children to John and Viola C ...

to win the

. In 1979, she helped train Judy Martin. In August 1979, the team of Grable and Williams defeated The Glamour Girls (

Leilani Kai Patty Seymour (born January 23, 1957) is an American retired professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Leilani Kai. She is best known for her work in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, All Japan Women's Pro Wrestl ...

and Martin) to begin their second reign as NWA Women's Tag Champions. During the time period from 1973–1983, Grable frequently competed in the

World Wrestling Federation World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) is an American professional wrestling promotion. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority-owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. A global integrated media and entertainment company, ...

, often in singles matches against WWF Women's Champion Fabulous Moolah and in tag team matches with Williams. In 1982,

became her

partner after Grable trained her for six months in

Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

. She wrestled in a series of matches in

Stampede Wrestling Stampede Wrestling was a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta. For nearly 50 years, it was one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies. Originally established by Stu Hart in 1948, the prom ...

with partner Richter against

Velvet McIntyre Velvet McIntyre (born November 24, 1962) is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. After beginning her career in 1980, she wrestled in American independent promotions before joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). She had rival ...

and Judy Martin. Joyce Grable also appeared in Puerto Rico for the

World Wrestling Council The World Wrestling Council (WWC; Spanish: "Consejo Mundial de Lucha") is a professional wrestling promotion based in Puerto Rico. It was originally established as Capitol Sports Promotions in 1973 by Carlos Colón, Victor Jovica, and Goril ...

. The teams continued their rivalry into April 1983 in

Verne Gagne the Minnesota Golden Gophers wrestling, Minnesota Golden Gophers Laverne Clarence "Verne" Gagne ( ; February 26, 1926 – April 27, 2015) was an American amateur wrestling, amateur and professional wrestling, professional wrestler, Amer ...

American Wrestling Association The American Wrestling Association (AWA) was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 until 1991. It was founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo. The promotion was born out of the Minneapolis ...

. In May 1983, she returned to Stampede Wrestling, where she once again teamed with Richter against McIntyre and Penny Mitchell. In 1986, Grable participated in a 10-woman battle royal at the

WrestleRock 86 WrestleRock was a professional wrestling supercard event promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). In June 2016 the event was added to the WWE Network. Background The event was held at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapol ...

event, losing to

Sherri Martel Sherry Lynn Schrull (née Russell; February 8, 1958 – June 15, 2007) was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri. Martel began her professional wrestling career in t ...

. She continued to appear sporadically on the independent circuit and competed in the Delta Tiger Lilies promotion in 1988.

Retirement

Grable retired in 1991 and had back surgery. On January 29, 2005, Grable appeared at

WrestleReunion WrestleReunion (or Wrestle Reunion) is a professional wrestling event, and fan convention, founded by Sal Corrente in 2005. WrestleReunion 1 The first WrestleReunion event occurred January 29, 2005, at Doubletree Hotel in Tampa, Florida. The at ...

managing

Peggy Lee Leather Peggy Lee Fowler (January 19, 1959 – May 22, 2023), also known by her stage names Peggy Lee Leather, Lady X, and Thug, was an American professional wrestler who worked in the WWF, AWA, and WCW. Professional wrestling career World Wrestling Fe ...

Krissy Vaine Kristin Eubanks (born January 12, 1981) is an American model, professional wrestler and valet. She is better known by her ring name Krissy Vaine and also for her time in World Wrestling Entertainment. She also trained at WWE's developmental terr ...

, and

Amber O'Neal Kimberly Dawn Davis (born June 22, 1974) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Amber O’Neal. She formerly wrestled in Ring of Honor (ROH) in their "Women of Honor" division as well as various promotions on the U ...

in an eight-woman tag team match against

Bambi ''Bambi'' is a 1942 American Animated film, animated Coming of age, coming-of-age drama film produced by Walt Disney Productions and released by RKO Radio Pictures. Loosely based on Felix Salten's 1923 novel ''Bambi, a Life in the Woods'', the ...

Malia Hosaka Malia Hosaka (born October 7, 1969) is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler. She is a former NWA World Women's Championship, NWA World Women's Champion. Professional wrestling career Hosaka was trained by Killer Kowalski at ...

, and Jenny Taylor. Grable continued to make appearances at wrestling reunions and conventions, as well as occasional independent shows. Grable appeared at a Magnificent Ladies Wrestling event on April 30, 2011, where she managed

Melanie Cruise Melanie Goranson (born January 7, 1987) is an American former Professional wrestling, professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Melanie Cruise. She is best known for her appearances in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Shimmer Women Athletes ...

in a match against "Pryme Tyme" Amy Lee, and also managed Million Dollar Baby in a street fight against Robbie Rage. On May 20, 2011, she (along with several other retired professional wrestlers) was a guest at a

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (abbreviated as TNA Wrestling or TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment, a Canadian media company owned by busines ...

live event in Amsterdam, New York.

Personal life

Grable was originally from

Columbus, Georgia Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee ...

. Grable had one biological son, Derek Murphy and a step daughter, Melissa Wade and stepson, Richard Wade from her second husband, Richard Wade's first marriage. She worked as a trainer at the women's wrestling training facility run by Fabulous Moolah and was responsible for training several notable female wrestlers, including Wendi Richter and Sherri Martel. After retiring from wrestling, Grable worked as a receptionist at a center for mentally and physically disabled people. In 2013, Grable revealed she had

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

, prompting a benefit show to be held in Florida. Joyce Grable died on September 29, 2023, at the age of 70. A few days earlier, her son had posted online that she was in hospice care.

Championships and accomplishments

Cauliflower Alley Club The Cauliflower Alley Club is a non-profit fraternal organization, which includes a newsletter and website, comprising both retired and active professional wrestlers and boxers in North America. Established in 1965 by Mike Mazurki and Art Ab ...

** Women's Wrestling Award (2010) ** Courage Award Winner (2022) *

Deep South Wrestling Deep South Wrestling (DSW) is a professional wrestling promotion in the state of Georgia. Deep South worked in tandem with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) as a developmental territory from September 1, 2005, until April 18, 2007. Deep South w ...

** DSW Women's Championship (1 time, final champion) *

National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is an American professional wrestling professional wrestling promotion, promotion and governing body owned by Billy Corgan and operated by its parent company Lightning One, Inc. Founded in 1948, the NWA be ...

NWA Texas Women's Championship The NWA Texas Women's Championship is the National Wrestling Alliance's women's professional wrestling championship in the state of Texas. Title history See also *Jim Crockett Promotions *National Wrestling Alliance The National Wrest ...

(1 time) **

NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship The NWA World Women's Tag Team Championship is a women's professional wrestling tag team championship (professional wrestling), championship defended in List of National Wrestling Alliance territories#1948-1993, member promotions of the National ...

(6 times) – with

(3) and

(3) **

NWA Hall of Fame The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Hall of Fame is an American professional wrestling hall of fame maintained by the NWA. It was established in 2005 to honor select wrestling personalities, mostly alumni of the NWA. Inductees receive commemor ...

(Class of 2012) *

Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) and Museum was an American professional wrestling hall of fame and museum located in Wichita Falls, Texas; following the postponement of its 19th induction ceremony, planned for May 2020, and an annou ...

:* Class of 2013 * ''

Pro Wrestling Illustrated ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'' (''PWI'') is an American professional wrestling magazine that was founded in 1979 by publisher Stanley Weston. ''PWI'' is headquartered in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, and published by Kappa Publishing Group. The maga ...

'' ** Girl Wrestler of the Year (1973) * Pro Wrestling This Week ** Wrestler of the Week (November 23–29, 1986) * St. Louis Wrestling Hall of Fame ** Class of 2022 *

Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame The Women's Wrestling Hall of Fame (WWHOF) is a hall of fame which honors women who have performed in both women's professional wrestling and women's amateur wrestling as well as other forms of grappling. History The Hall of Fame was founded ...

** Class of 2024 – with Wendi Richter

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Grable, Joyce 1952 births 2023 deaths 20th-century American professional wrestlers 20th-century American sportswomen 20th-century female professional wrestlers 21st-century American women American female professional wrestlers Female professional wrestling trainers NWA World Women's Tag Team Champions Professional wrestlers from Georgia (U.S. state) Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Sportspeople from LaGrange, Georgia Stampede Wrestling alumni NWA United States Women's Champions NWA Texas Women's Champions