Then came the main event. The match everyone had come to see. Shane was the first to enter the ring. He appeared supremely confident as he stood in the ring jawing with referee Lynn Sasser and awaiting the arrival of his opponent.

When Lee Fields appeared from behind the curtain, the cheers were deafening. The fans were 100% behind him. They had endured Shane’s taunts and insults for as long as the popular promoter had and wanted to see him teach “Mr. Personality” a lesson. Lee was determined to give the fans what they wanted. Without waiting for the bell, he charged the ring and chased Shane out to the floor. Several times, Shane would slip out of the ring and away from the raging Fields. Bobby was a master at psyching his opponent out. But he couldn’t escape forever. Lee finally caught up to him and the wild brawl from the previous Saturday continued.

The battle waged back and forth, with neither man able to hold a clear advantage. But slowly the tide turned towards Fields. Soon Bobby Shane was a bloody mess as Lee continued to pound on him in the ring corner. All the frustration that had been building up inside Lee Fields for months poured out with each blow to Bobby’s already bloody head. Finally, Shane collapsed in the middle of the ring and Lee covered him for the 3 count. Lee Fields had beaten Bobby Shane. In fact he had humiliated him as Bobby had been humiliating everyone else for so long. Shane quickly dragged himself from the ring and rushed to the sanctity of his dressing room. Lee Fields stood triumphant in the center of the ring and took in the cheers of the fans.

Bobby Shane left the Gulf Coast after that night. Moving on to Florida, where he went on to run roughshod over territory there. He only made two more appearances in the Gulf Coast after that night before his tragic death in 1975.

Lee Fields took several months off after this night, allowing Bob Kelly to continue as matchmaker. Lee then came back and continued to promote until selling the territory to Southeastern Championship Wrestling in 1977. He did come out of retirement one last time in 1976, teaming with his now grown son Ricky to do battle with another brash blonde, Billy Spears, and his stable of wrestlers. Lee Fields passed away in 2000.

Anyone who was there that night will never forget the battle between Lee Fields and Bobby Shane. I know I won’t. This was the first live card I had ever attended. I was twelve years old and I still remember every minute of it.

NEXT MONTH:

I will take a look at another monumental feud in the Gulf Coast. Cowboy Bob Kelly and his war with the Fargo family, particularly Donnie Fargo.