Cyclone Mackey

{{Infobox professional wrestler

| name = Cyclone Mackey

| image =

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = Corbin James Massey

| birth_date = {{birth date|1903|07|19}}

| birth_place = Missouri, United States

| death_date = {{death date and age|1979|12|30|1903|07|19}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, United States

| resides =

| spouse =

| children =

| family =

| alma_mater =

| names =Ciclón McKey
Ciclón Mackey
Corbin MacKey
Corbin Massey
Cyclone Mackey
Cy Mackey
The Gray Mask
John Mackey
La Maravilla Enmascarada
Mask Mackey
Mr.
The Mysterious X
The Yellow Mask

| height =

| weight = {{convert|160|lb|kg|abbr=on}}{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1978&dat=19340126&id=kbAwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5qsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2095,5517873&hl=en | title= Outstanding pair to grapple here | date= January 26, 1934 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | publisher=Owosso Argus-Press }}

| billed = Los Angeles, California, US
Amarillo, Texas, US{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19400404&id=bsspAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i_4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6883,911220&hl=en | title=Cyclone Mackey defeats Hart in straight falls | date= April 4, 1940 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | first= Lou | last=Klewer | publisher= Toledo Blade}}
Galveston, Texas, US{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19320729&id=an4RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6722,3940805&hl=en | title=Cyclone and Wildcat will tangle in Fairgrounds Ring | date=July 29, 1932 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | publisher= Eugene Register-Guard}}
Houston, Texas, US
San Antonio, Texas, US
Ireland

| trainer = Cal Farley
Dutch Mantell{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19400322&id=P9JOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dP4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4723,3475084&hl=en | title= Cyclone Mackey Defeats Buck in straight falls | date=March 22, 1940 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | first=Lou | last=Klewer | publisher= Toledo Blade}}Not the modern day wrestler known as Dutch Mantel.

| debut =1930

| retired = 1951

| website =

}}

Corbin James Massey (July 19, 1903 – December 30, 1979) was an American professional wrestler known under a number of ring names such as Cyclone Mackey, Ciclón McKey, La Maravilla Emmascarada, Mr. X, The Grey Mask and The Yellow Mask. Massey was the first wrestler to work masked in Mexico as the enmascarado character La Maravilla Enmascarada (Spanish for "The Masked Marvel") and helped starting the tradition of masks in Lucha libre that still exists today. Massey was one of many wrestlers who used the name "Masked Marvel" during the early days of wrestling. During his career he held both the World Light Heavyweight Championship twice and the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship, both while working as "Grey Mask".

Professional wrestling career (1930–1951)

Corbin Massey was trained for his professional wrestling career by Cal Farley and Alfred Albert Joe de Re la Gardiur. Massey took the ring name "Cyclone Mackey" due to his fast moves inside the ring early on. He made his debut in 1930 and initially worked for Al Haft's Midwest Wrestling Association in Ohio. In 1931 and 1932 he worked throughout Texas after he moved there and bought a house. In June, 1933 he received a match against Yaqui Joe for the World Middleweight Championship, but it was decided to not make him the champion.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=897&dat=19330621&id=3FEwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0E8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6151,1426307&hl=en | title= Yaqui Joe wins Mackey Tussle | date= June 21, 1933 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | publisher= Prescott Evening Courier}}

=Mexico (1933–1936)=

While Massey was working in Texas, Mexican wrestling promoter Salvador Lutteroth saw him in action and invited Mackey to compete for his newly created Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre (EMLL). Working under the name "Cíclon MacKey" he wrestled on EMLL's first show, which took place in Arena Moreno in Mexico City. On the show Mackey lost to Liong Tin Kit.{{cite web | url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/mexico/emll/misccards.html | title= EMLL Debut show | date= September 21, 1933 | accessdate= September 20, 2009 | publisher=ProWrestlingHistory.com}} A year later Mackey would help make Lucha libre history as he started to wrestle in a mask under the name La Maravilla Enmascarada ("The Masked Marvel"). While masked wrestlers had competed in the United States for a number of years, including several "Masked Marvels", this would be the first masked wrestler in Mexico.{{cite book | author= Madigan, Dan | title= Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling | publisher= HarperCollins Publishers | year= 2007 | chapter = Okay... what is Lucha Libre? | pages = 29–40 | isbn=978-0-06-085583-3}} The colorful mask and the imagery of the masked warrior soon became a fundamental part of Lucha Libre based on the work of La Maravilla Enmascarada, El Enmascarado ("The Masked Man"), El Enmascarado de Chicago and El Murciélago Enmascarado ("The Masked Bat"). The tradition of the mask would rise to take a "sacred" place, with the majority of all Mexican wrestlers starting out as masked wrestlers. La Maravilla Enmascarada made his in-ring debut at the EMLL 1st Anniversary Show defeating Frank Gou in three falls.{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/mexico/emll/anniversary25.html#1|title=1st Anniversary Show|date=September 21, 1934|accessdate=September 27, 2012|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thegladiatores.com/?p=3072|title=Historia de Los Aniversarios del CMLL|date=September 2, 2010|accessdate=September 28, 2012|work=The Gladiatores Magazine|language=Spanish}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cmll.com/aniversario_cmll.htm |title=Historia de Los Aniversarios |accessdate=September 28, 2012 |publisher=Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre |language=Spanish |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016082143/http://cmll.com/aniversario_cmll.htm |archivedate=October 16, 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://superluchas.com/cmll-77-historias-77-aniversario-las-77-luchas-estelares/|title=CMLL: 79 historias, 79 Aniversario, las 79 luchas estelares|first=Alex|last=Ruiz Glez|date=September 7, 2010|accessdate=October 20, 2012|work=Súper Luchas|language=Spanish}} Two years later, at the EMLL 3rd Anniversary Show he defeated Bobby Pearce.{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/mexico/emll/anniversary25.html#3|title=3rd Anniversary Show|date=September 27, 1936|accessdate=September 27, 2012|publisher=Pro Wrestling History}} in late 1936 Mackey stopped working in Mexico, moving to territories in California instead.

=Mr. X (1936–1940)=

After Massey moved to California he began working as "Mr. X", another masked character which, like the Masked Marvel, was an identity used by many wrestlers both before and after Massey used it. At times he was billed as the "Mysterious X", but it was the same mask and character he played. Playing a masked character he was able to work two separate characters, the heel (wrestling term for those that play the "bad guy" role) Mr. X and the face ("Good guy") character Cyclone Mackey without the public being aware that they were one and the same. In 1940 Mackey was unmasked, taking off the Mr. X mask as a result of losing a match to Gil LaCross and Paul Orth. After he was unmasked he resumed using the Cyclone Mackey ring name.

=Gray Mask (1943–1949)=

Over the years the Cyclone Mackey style of wrestling took its toll on Massey's body and he had to adopt a slower, more brawling style. To fit the style he developed a masked heel character called "The Grey Mask" as he wrestled in California. As the Gray Mask he defeated Wild Red Berry to win the National Wrestling Association's World Light Heavyweight Championship on December 27, 1943. As the champion he toured the West Coast defending the championship several times, including a successful defense against Frankie Hart in Eugene, Oregon.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19470319&id=4qtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iugDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2947,4929714&hl=en | title= Gray Mask puts title on block Saturday | date= March 19, 1947 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | publisher=Eugene Register-Guard }} He later lost the championship to Gorilla Ramos on March 13, but regained it two weeks later. His second run as the champion was ended by Wild Red Berry on April 24. The Grey Mask was such a despised wrestling character that he would occasionally incite a riot in the arena, with the fans trying to attack him.{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1310&dat=19441016&id=e7dWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,1819991&hl=en | title= Parks loses split mat decision to 'Gray Mask' | date= October 16, 1944 | accessdate= March 18, 2015 | first=Ray | last=Collins | publisher=Eugene Register-Guard }} In 1944 he moved on to Don Owen's Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW) promotion based in Portland, Oregon, where he also worked as The Gray Mask. During his time in PNW he faced a young George Wagner, before he adopted his famous "Gorgeous George" character. On February 3, 1947, he defeated Billy Goelz to win the Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship, a title he would later lose to Billy Hickson. He would later do double duty in PNW as well, working as Cyclone Mackey once more while also making appearances as the Gray Mask.

=Final years (1950–1951)=

In the early 1950s Massey worked less and less, adopting another masked character known as "The Yellow Mask" as well as a run as the masked Mr. X once more

Retirement and death

Corbin Massey retired from wrestling around 1951–1952 and died on December 30, 1979, at the age of 76.

Championships and accomplishments

National Wrestling Association
World Light Heavyweight Championship (2 times){{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= National Wrestling Association Light Heavyweight Title | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cite book | author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will | title=Wrestling Title Histories | publisher=Archeus Communications | chapter= Pacific Coast Wrestling: Pacific Coast Light Heavyweight Title | year= 2000 | isbn=0-9698161-5-4 }}