Fabulous Moolah Dies

Guide Note

Mary Lillian Ellison, known to professional wrestling fans as The Fabulous Moolah, died in Lexington, South Carolina, on November 2, 2007.

Fast Facts

1. Real Name: Mary Lillian Ellison
2. Born: July 22, 1923
3. Birthplace: Tookiedoo, SC
4. Died: November 2, 2007
5. Cause of Death: Heart attack or blood clot¹
6. Moolah was the longest reigning Women's Champion in history²
7. First female WWE Hall of Fame inductee

The Fabulous Moolah was the first WWE Women's Champion, and she is credited by the WWE for having a 28-year reign.³

She was the first female inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame in 1995. Along with friend and former wrestler Mae Young, Moolah made frequent (and often humorous) appearances on WWE programming from 1999 until her death.

According to Moolah's daughter, the retired wrestler may have died from a heart attack or blood clot after undergoing shoulder replacement surgery.

Moolah is also survived by six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.