Introduction
Gladys Helen Nevins (1926–March 4, 1984), better known by her ring name Helen Hild, was an American female professional wrestler and model. In her career, Nevins wrestled for extended periods of time for various wrestling promotions: All-Star Wrestling, Big Time Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Central States Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Minneapolis Boxing & Wrestling Club, NWA Mid-America and the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
Early life
Nevins was born in Omaha, Nebraska and had a brother named Marv who played football for University of Nebraska Omaha.
Career
Hild wrestled through the 40s, 50s and 60s. One of the top female wrestling stars in the U.S. during the 1940s and 50s, she challenged Mildred Burke for the NWA World Women's Championship several times between 1948 and 1951. Hild was often a rival to The Fabulous Moolah. Their encounter in Seattle, Washington on August 9, 1957, was the first woman's wrestling match to be held in the city in 12 years.
Personal life
Nevins gave birth to a son named Theodore Marvin, later known as wrestler Ted DiBiase, in 1954 with a man named Ted Wills, an entertainer and singer. She later married fellow wrestler "Iron" Mike DiBiase, who adopted Theodore. After Mike's death during a 1969 wrestling match, she became depressed.
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her # 37 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in PWI's The Women of Wrestling in 1996.
- PWI ranked her # 38 of the best 100 female singles wrestlers in PWI's 100 Hottest Women of Wrestling in 2002.
- Melby, James C. (1996). "The 50 Greatest Woman Wrestlers of All-Time". Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: The Women of Wrestling. London Publishing Co. 1 (1): 29.