Frankie Cain

Frankie Cain

Personal information
Born	James Ault (1932-08-13)August 13, 1932 Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Died	February 2, 2026(2026-02-02) (aged 93)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name	Frankie Cain Great Mephisto Inferno #1 Mr. Smith El Diablo
Billed height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Billed weight	251 lb (114 kg)
Billed from	Middle East
Debut	1960
Retired	1982

James Ault (August 13, 1932 – February 2, 2026) was an American professional wrestler. He wrestled under the ring name, Great Mephisto for most of his career. He also worked as Inferno #1.^[1]

Professional wrestling career

Cain began his wrestling career in 1960 Mississippi. Early in his career he wrestled as a babyface in Tennessee and Alabama.

In 1965, Cain formed a tag team called The Infernos, as Inferno #1, together with Rocky Smith (Inferno #2) and J. C. Dykes as their manager. Cain wore a wrestling shoe with a large heel on it, which would eventually become known as "the loaded boot" and was used against various opponents. Due to the Infernos having identical appearances, he was often identified as the Clubfoot Inferno.^[2] While the boot was helpful in wrestling, wearing it caused strain on Cain's hip, so Smith would wear the boot until his hip began to feel the strain. The team wore identical blue and black masks with matching tights.^[3][4] The team first came together in Tennessee in 1965. They later went to Florida in 1966-1967^[5][6] and became famous in Georgia.^[7] The team captured the NWA Georgia Southern Tag Team Titles on April 1, 1966. It is said that they lost the titles the same month, but they may have continued to defend the titles regardless.^[8] The team then struck gold again in Georgia, capturing the NWA Georgia World Tag Team Championship on June 10, 1966. The team lost the titles a week later on June 17, but regained the title later in the month. Their second reign lasted into August, though the exact date they lost it is unknown. The team then traveled to various territories around the United States.^[9][10][11] The team captured the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship and held onto it until it was held up in August 1967. In Spring 1968, the Infernos were involved in an angle where imposter Infernos appeared. The two teams feuded in a masks vs titles match and later the imposter Infernos were revealed to be Bobby Fields and Lee Fields.^[12] The team captured the NWA Amarillo World Tag Team Championship on September 26, 1968 (and also captured the NWA World Texas Tag Team Championship the same day) and lost the titles on October 17, 1968.^[11]

After leaving the Infernos in 1969, he became the Great Mephisto, a Middle Eastern heel. He had successful stints in Florida, Texas, Georgia and San Francisco under the gimmick.^[13][14][15]

In 1980, he worked for All Japan Pro Wrestling.

He retired from wrestling in 1982.

Personal life and death

Cain was born in Columbus, Ohio on August 13, 1932.^[16][17] In 2016, Ault released an autobiography with Scott Teal called Shooting with the Legends about Cain's life and career in wrestling, published by Crowbar Press.^[18] On October 24, 2020, Ault and Teal released another autobiography Raising Cain: From Jimmy Ault to Kid McCoy Part 1.^[19] On February 21, 2025, Raising Cain: From The Inferno to The Great Mephisto Part 2 was released.

Ault died on February 2, 2026, at the age of 93.^[20]

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
  • NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (4 times) with Inferno #2
• Georgia Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Georgia Southern Tag Team Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Georgia World Tag Team Championship (1 time)
• Mid-Atlantic Wrestling
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (1 time)
• Western States Sports
  • NWA Amarillo World Tag Team Championship
  • NWA Western States Tag Team Championship
  • NWA Texas World Tag Team Championship

References

1. "Wrestler Profiles: Great Mephisto". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
2. Becker Remembers Dykes, The Columbia Record, 1970, retrieved 13 March 2023
3. 'Infernos' Head Card At Township, The Columbia Record, 1967, retrieved 13 March 2023
4. Stomping at the Greensboro Coliseum, publisher: Esquire Magazine, published: 1968, url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/stomping.html
5. Prater, Jerry (1967), Six Man Tag Match Wednesday at Miami Beach Auditorium, The Miami Herald, retrieved 13 March 2023
6. Handcuff Mat Battle Wednesday at Miami Beach Auditorium, The Miami Herald, retrieved 13 March 2023
7. Infernos Fall To Armstrong, Robert Fuller, The Macon News, 1973, retrieved 13 March 2023
8. NWA Southern Tag Team Title, wrestling-titles.com, 2023, retrieved 13 March 2023
9. Happy Fans Join in E.P. Mat Frolics, El Paso Herald-Post, 1971, retrieved 13 March 2023
10. Lady Luck Goes With Infernos, The State, 1970, retrieved 13 March 2023
11. The Infernos, Cagematch.net, 2023, retrieved 13 March 2023
12. Sweeny, Sean (2014), The Infernos, Online World of Wrestling, retrieved 13 March 2023
13. Great Mephisto, Cagematch.net, 2014, retrieved 13 March 2023
14. Sweeny, Sean (2014), Frankie Cain, Online World Of Wrestling, retrieved 13 March 2023
15. Johnson, Steven; Oliver, Greg (June 15, 2007). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heels. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1550227598.
16. Saalbach, Axel. "Great Mephisto - Facts @ Wrestlingdata.com". wrestlingdata.com.
17. "Frankie Cain Profile". Cagematch. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
18. "Shooting with the Legends by Frankie Cain".
19. Hutton, Nathan (January 8, 2021). "Frankie Cain Autobiography is a Beacon in a Congested Genre". SLAM! Wrestling. Canoe.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
20. Pollock, John (2 February 2026). "Frankie Cain aka the Great Mephisto Dies". PostWrestling. Retrieved 2 February 2026.

General

• Shannon, Jake (2011). "Frankie Cain". Say Uncle!: Catch-As-Catch Can Wrestling. ECW Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1550229615.
• Cain, Frankie (2016). "Shooting with the Legends #2: Frankie Cain". Shooting with the Legends (Interview). Interviewed by Scott Teal. Gallatin, Tennessee: Crowbar Press.
• Cain, Frankie (2020). Raising Cain:From Jimmy Ault to Kid McCoy. Crowbar Press. ISBN 978-1-940391-33-5.
• Cain, Frankie (2025). Raising Cain:From The Inferno to The Great Mephisto. Crowbar Press. ISBN 978-1-940391-46-5.

External links

• Frankie Caine at IMDb