At the 2010 Hall of Fame speech, George's wife, Betty states that the name Gorgeous George was given to him because during a match in the 1940s, Betty's mother exclaimed "Oh you're Gorgeous George.” And that it stuck with George. Then he would now be known as "Gorgeous George". As Elsie Hanson, Betty's mother, was a skilled seamstress, George asked her to make him some resplendent capes that would accentuate his new persona. Wagner wore those capes in all his future matches.