Not deterred, Frank earned his wrestling license in 1950 and began wrestling in California. He soon returned to New Mexico, where he signed a contract with the famous promoter, Mike London.
London, a former pro wrestler, dominated the sport and his wrestlers for more than three decades in Albuquerque.
Frank knew the advantages of signing a pro-wrestling contract, but resented all the control that he relinquished to London. According to Frank’s contract, London told him when to fight, where to fight and who to fight.
London even controlled Frank’s ring name. Based on his mother’s heritage as a Navajo, London named Frank “Navajo Frank.” Frank usually entered the ring wearing a headband and a vest with a distinctly Navajo design.
Frank remembers that London went so far as to refuse to tell a fellow wrestler that his two sons had died until after the father’s match had ended for fear the man would not fight and fulfill his contract. The man only learned of his sons’ deaths when his match had ended.
Fight card, Albuquerque Journal, July 16, 1962.
While Frank often fought in towns like Tucson, Phoenix, Gallup, El Paso and Albuquerque in the Southwest, he spent most of the year wrestling in towns and cities across the country—wherever London told him to go next.
Frank fought as far east as New York City and as far west as Anchorage, Alaska. He also fought in Puerto Rico and outside the United States in Canada and Mexico.
Frank especially liked wrestling in Mexico. Filling large arenas, excited crowds were highly animated and loud. The pay was good, and the abundant food was excellent.
Frank and his fellow wrestlers traveled from town to town by car and, sometimes, by plane. Frank fought about once a week, meaning that he was on the road and away from his family much of the time.
Wrestlers were paid a set rate per match plus a percentage based on crowd attendance. TV broadcasts brought good extra money.
Surviving in the ring
Wrestling at 5-foot, 11-inches tall, 225 pounds, Navajo Frank fought against contenders with such colorful names as The Vampire, Lucky Lucero, Big Gypsy Bibiano, Fritz and Waldo Von Erich, Russian Roulette, The Assassins, The Mexican Mad Mongol, The Hurricane and Gory.
