Wrestling Heritage

1st September, 2010

Reported by Patrick Gough in the Bournemouth Echo

YOU know that scene in the film Jurassic Park, where the footsteps of a dinosaur make ripples in a glass of water? Well I had a similar sense of fear while waiting for Weymouth wrestling legend Klondyke Kate.

Mind you, it was my own fault for making her angry. Very, very angry as it happened.

After expressing an interest in women’s wrestling, I’d found myself sitting ringside at the Bournemouth Pavilion ballroom. From my research I knew that my opponents would be the veteran Kate and the 4ft 11 Little Miss Dynamite.

I wasn’t unduly concerned and that was my first mistake. First out of the dressing room was the glamorous Little Miss Dynamite in a fetching pink costume. So far so good.

As Little Miss Dyn-amite, or Erin, did some pre-match stretches I was surprised to learn that she had been professionally wrestling for seven years des-pite being only 23.

“I began my training when I was 15 under the tuition of wrestling veterans Drew McDonald, Phil Powers and Jonny Storm,” says Erin.

For a bloodthirsty female wrestler, Erin was charming and happily explained her signature moves, such as the missile dropkick. The pleasant conversation lulled me into a false sense of confidence.

Desperate to get to grips with these Lycra ladies, I demanded that Klondyke Kate hurry up and got into costume. Big mistake.

Never rush a lady when she’s getting ready, especially when she’s 24 stone and carrying a niggling back injury. Also, remember to call Klondyke Kate by her real name of Jayne.

“Right, where’s this journalist. Because of him I’ve not been able to put my make-up on and my back’s killing me,” said Jayne as she got me in a headlock. With my face smothered in her ample bosom, I finally got a taste of women’s wrestling.

“I think he’s enjoying this, it’s obviously not hurting enough. Did you hear that cracking noise?”

The strange noise was Little Miss Dynamite making my arm bend the wrong way.

I ached for a week after our encounter and still flinch when approached by big women.

31st August, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Welsh heavyweight Orig Williams will be looking down and smiling tonight.

For Orig it was his Welsh project.

The spirit of the great Welsh heavyweight Orig Williams lives on with twenty-eight year old Barri Griffiths. Barri, who calls Orig his second father,  has written the foreword to the soon to be published autobiography of Orig Williams, and told us,"Before he left us he knew that I had signed to wrestle in the United States .  It gives me great comfort to know that that is what he wanted."  

The former undertaker from tremadog has now signed a five year contract with WWE, and is the subject  of a documentary called Barri Griffiths: Y Reslar, to be broadcast on S4C on Wednesday 1st September.  Barri has been working in the USA for seven months, using the name Mason Ryan.

Barri Griffiths: Y Reslar will be broadcast on Wednesday, September 1 at 9.30pm on S4C

The autobiography of Orig Williams will be published on September 25th, price £9.95.

Friday 20th August 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Norman Ellis Promotions have announced that a follow-up to the World of Sport Legends Show will take place in Leeds on Saturday 18th September.

Johnny Saint, Richie Brooks, Robbie Brookside and Johnny Angel will make return appearances and will be joined by Blondie Barrett and James Mason. 

Details of the event can be found at the World of Sports Legend Website.

Thursday 19th August 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

With only a little over four weeks to go until the Leeds Reunion further details of the event are beginning to emerge. Reunion organisers Tony Kelly, Steve Fury and Tarzan Boy Darren are putting the final touches to the event which is being held on Sunday 19th September.

As announced earlier a new venue has been chosen for the get-together of ex wrestlers, officials and their families. The Reunion will be held at the Midland Hotel, Woodlesford, Leeds, where we are told one of the attractions will be Bella's hot buffet, similar to the one previously served to those wrestlers taking part in the Legends show on the evening prior to the last reunion. Bella's home cooked bar meals are famous throughout the area and she has promised a spread that will be sure to keep our ex grapplers at their peak fighting weight! The buffet will be served between 3.00pm and 4.00pm.

Hopefully the weather will be kind to everyone, as it was at the Kent Reunion, with a large canopy on order to protect everyone from the sun, rain or wind as necessary.

BBC Television plan to cover the Leeds Reunion, with "Inside Out Yorkshire and Lincolnshire" filming the event and interviewing some of the attendees.

In addition to all this and the never ending chatter the next reunion will also include a raffle, and guests wishing to donate a prize are asked to bring them along on the day.

It looks like being a great day, and with a wrestling show again being planned for the Saturday evening (more news very soon) it could make a great weekend. Reunion guests wishing to stay overnight can book rooms at The Midland Hotel (Tel. 0113 2822357) or nearby Holiday Inn Express Leeds-East (0113 23934178)

The Midland Hotel is only a short distance from the Rothwell Centre, just minutes from Junction 30 of the M62 and Junction 45 of the M1.  The address is  87 Aberford Road, Woodlesford Leeds, LS26 8LQ.

All ex wrestlers, officials and their families are invited to the Leeds Reunion. Invitations are going out right now, but anyone who has not received theirs in the next few days should email either Tony Kelly (kellytony99@eircom.net) or Steve Fury (maskedoutlaw@hotmail.com).

Following the acclaimed success of the Heritage  countdown of Wrestling's 20 Most Influential Men, now fully published is the second in our series, Heritage Wrestling's Top Twenty Ladies.

Inclusion in the listing is restricted to women involved in one way or another in British professional Wrestling during the Heritage years, and therefore excludes women as wrestlers. Expect glamour, expect surprises, and expect mystery!

To coincide with this announcement, a number of photos have been added  today to those of the Ladies already published.  And work is already well under way with our next countdown of Heritage Wrestling's greats, look out for it in the coming months.

Click here to view the full listing and winner.

3rd  August 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

Tony Banger Walsh, the Epitome of an Unsung Hero, is still the best man!  He performed the duties at the wedding of stuntman Eddie Kidd to Samantha Kirli. Other celebrities present included Uri Geller, so at least Banger would be able to straighten out the spoons.

18th July 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

We have now completed the site navigation update which means all pages are now acessible from the horizontal toolbar. This change was quite a mammoth task (more than we anticipated) and involved inserting new links for our pages. We do ask that if you find broken links please let us know at theriotsquad@hotmail.com

11 June, 2010

Big Al Devon Boy Reported 

As you will know British wrestling lost another star with the sad passing of Andre Baker. Please check out the Facebook World Of Sport "Greetings Grapple Fans" page where one of our members, Carl, has posted a video tribute to Andre. RIP Andre, you were far to young to be counted out.

11 June 2010

Reported by The Star 

BRITAIN'S golden era of wrestling is about to be retold as a new stage musical - based on the colourful life of South Yorkshire's own Jack Land.

Fans of TV's Dickie Davies and World of Sport, who spent Saturday afternoons glued to the telly watching the likes of Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks, may be forgiven if the name sounds unfamiliar.

That's because Barnsley born and bred Jack wrestled as German villain Karl Von Kramer.

He was also the tag team partner of Kes actor and former wrestler Brian Glover, who was Leon Arras when they appeared together as The Toffs.

Jack, who wrestled for more than 30 years, turned 80 recently and it's almost 20 years since he last had anyone in a Half Nelson.

But he's set to become famous all over again thanks to the new musical Grappling, based on his coalface to wrestling ring life story and written by his grandson, Jack Land-Noble, aged 21.

Believed to be the world's first musical about wrestling, the world premiere is on Monday - with nightly 7.30pm performances until Saturday, June 19 - at the Lamproom Theatre, in Westgate, Barnsley.

And that means Jack's story has come full circle.

The theatre is just yards away from the now demolished Junction Inn gym where in the early 1950s the former Monk Bretton pit man and Army boxing champ, who did national service with the Duke Of Wellington regiment, was introduced to wrestling.

It was there he was given the German bad guy make-over by Brian Glover's dad, Charlie.

"I was in the boxing gym upstairs and the wrestlers, who used downstairs, were short of a man. They asked me to help out. Charlie Glover gave me the name Karl Von Kramer and showed me how to become the villain. The boxing gloves never went back on,'' said Jack, who also had trials with Sheffield Wednesday.

"I became a professional wrestler and toured the world. I remember getting £6 a night. But that was a lot of money then. And it was a great life. A lot of fans didn't know I was from Barnsley. They thought I really was a German."

Jack, married to wife Betty, aged 77, with three children, five grandchildren and a great grand-daughter, is now basking in fame all over again as the subject of Grappling.

He added: "I'm very proud of my grandson, Jack. I haven't seen the musical yet, but I'm sure he will have made a marvellous job of it."

Grandson Jack, who is staging the musical after completing his drama degree at Huddersfield University, hopes it could be the wrestling equivalent of the strippers comedy The Full Monty - with dreams of the West End, Broadway and even Hollywood to follow.

He said: "One can only pray. The choreography of the sport was crying out for a theatrical treatment and that's what we've given it. It looks at the glory days of the sport and the mining community, set between 1969 and 1985.

"I've slaved over this for 18-months but it's been a lifetime in the making, based on a lot of the stories my grandfather told me. He's 80 now but fitter than all of us put together and helped with the choreography. I've still got the bruises to show for it.

Professional actor Dean Love, 31, of Lundwood, who plays Jack Harper - based on Jack Land - said: "This has been a great part to play. I hope the real Jack Land is blown away and that we do his story justice. His grandson is also such a talent."

Tickets for Grappling, at Lamproom Theatre, Westgate, Barnsley, from Monday to Saturday, June 14 to 19, are £10, with concessions £9. Call Barnsley 01226-200 075 or visit barnsleylamproom.com

9th June, 2010

Reported by Barnsley Talk - http://www.barnsleytalk.co.uk/

Grappling - A Musical With Muscle

Lamproom Theatre, Westgate, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2DX

June 14th, 2010 until June 19th, 2010

'Grappling' is the first work in The Lamproom's New Writers Month - an initiative set up to encourage new writers to bring their work to Barnsley.
A World Premier Production, it is billed as 'one man's journey from coalface to the wrestling ring and does contain some'body -slamming expletives!
Start Time:    7.30 p.m.
Prices:    Adults £10.00, Concessions £9.00
Other Info:   A Night Less Ordinary - Wednesday 16 June

For booking info, please visit:
http://www.barnsleylamproom.com/bookings.asp

4th June 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

The Manchester Evening News has today reported the death of Jack Taylor 

Interesting. It is now two months since Jack passed away and the Wrestling Heritage site posted Jack's obituary on the site the day of his death. Maybe the MEN would like us to print next week's lottery results.

17th May, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

Wrestling Heritage has received news of the recent passing of the north east's Jim McCombrey, a familiar face to northern fans in the 1960s and 1970s.

Jimmy was renowned amongst fellow wrestlers as a hard man who would not let up.

Born in Stirling, Scotland, Jim moved to Gateshead around 1970. He learned the business in the fairgrounds of the north and frequently took on challengers in Ron Taylor's wrestling booths. Jim kept himself fit and was attending his local gym until a few months ago.

The photo shows Jim in action against Dr No (Digger Rowell).

9th May, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

Barnsley musician and playwright Jack Land-Noble is a young man proud of his family heritage. His link with the wrestling world is that his grandfather is Jack Land, known to millions of wrestling fans as the villainous Karl Von Krammer.

Jack celebrated his eightieth birthday in April, and will shortly be celebrating once again with the production of grandson Jack's latest musical, Grappling, which opens for a week at the Lamproom, Barnsley, on Monday 14th June, 2010. A bittersweet comedy, 'Grappling' sets out to be a unique and highly entertaining theatrical event.

Set against the background of the 1970s political and social landscape the musical tells the story of a miner who turns to wrestling, and is loosely based on the exploits of Jack's famous grandfather.

'Grappling' promises a rich mixture of  kitchen-sink drama,  earthy humour,  and a  musical score that accompanies the lead character through the uncertain and challenging realities of his new life.

Tickets are available now from the Lamproom booking office
Lamproom Theatre
Westgate
Barnsley, S70 2DX
Phone: 01226 200075
Email: boxoffice@barnsleylamproom.com
Website: www.barnsleylamproom.com

24 April 2010

Yorkshire Evening Post Reports

From the outside it may not look like much – but a small terraced house in east Leeds is home to the world's largest collection of British wrestling memorabilia. Everything you ever knew, or ever wanted to know, about the sport has been meticulously catalogued and filed away in neat rows in a converted loft near Rothwell.

There are posters, programmes, tickets, signed photographs, books, videos, LPs and old 45s – the list is endless – and to Darren Ward, his collection is priceless.

A former amateur and professional wrestler himself, Darren started collecting memorabilia when he was a small child, visiting the weekly wrestling bouts at Leeds Town Hall, where the likes of Leeds veteran DJ Jimmy Savile and 007 villain Mr OddJob took to the ring.

"My first piece of memorabilia was a signed photograph from Les Kellett.

He was mega famous in the 60s and 70s and I remember him patting my head with the most enormous hand I had ever seen and signing a photograph for me when I was nine-years-old," said Darren, 44, who travelled the world for 21 years as a professional wrestler.

"Then over the years I have just collected everything I could get hold of. Every time I went to shows I picked up programmes and posters to add to my collection," said Darren, who was forced to give up wrestling following a car accident a number of years ago.

Since then Darren, whose stage name was Tarzan Boy Darren and wrestled some of the world-famous names including Giant Haystacks and the Dynamite Kid, has focused on his collection.

"I got to the top of the bill at Leeds Town Hall when I was wrestling, which was my goal – that was like winning the World Cup Final for me," he said.

Some years ago Darren was lucky enough to acquire thousands of items from the family of former Olympic gold medal winning wrestler George de Relwyskow, whose family lived in Oakwood, Leeds.

Accredited with being the man who put the showmanship into wrestling after winning his Olympic medals in 1908, Darren filled his estate car three times over clearing the family's cellar.

"I must have about 20,000-plus items now in my collection – I never envisaged it would get so big but I'm just fascinated by wrestling.
"It was my job and I loved the history of it too – there were so many colourful characters and in it's day, it really was huge," said Darren, who was involved in last month's revival of ITV's World of Sport at Rothwell Leisure Centre.

Some of the most unusual items in Darren's collection include Big Daddy – aka Shirley Crabtree's – NHS card, posters from George de Relwyskow's challenge fights in the early 1900s, Jimmy Savile's fight programmes and signed photos of many of the top wrestlers of their day, including Jackie Pallow, Giant Haystacks and Mick McManus.

Darren, who now keeps his collection in a friend's converted loft after it outgrew his home, has been contacted by wrestling fans far and wide – as well as local authors and theatre companies researching new pieces of work.

"I didn't use to tell people about my collection originally, but now things have gone full circle now and wrestling is popular again and people are really interested," said Darren, who hopes plans for a Wrestling Hall of Fame in London materialise so much of his collection could go on display.

In the meantime he is still adding to his collection, picking up pieces from around the country.

"Apart from The Wrestler magazine – I have every single copy – there was not an awful lot you could buy about wrestling – things would be different now. I just pick up whatever I can get hold of and my collection keeps growing," he said

4th April, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports 

Buddy Ward has made it into the record books with his Saturday 3rd April outing against Johnny Saint at the Ellesmere Port Civic Hall. Aged just seventy five years and six months Buddy is hoping that his night'swork will eventually find a place in the Guiness Book of Records as he claims to be Britain's oldest wrestler.

Local man Buddy received a tremendous response when he entered the hall on the Ian McGregor show. Alas, victory over long standing world champion Johnny Saint was to remain just too great a hope for Buddy, cheered on by local fans that included many members of his own family including children and grandchildren of all ages resulting from his six marriages.

Buddy told Wrestling Heritage that his plan was always to take it easy in the first round and settle into the bout after so many years out of the ring. As soon as he was in the ring any nerves drained away and  Buddy was more than happy to swap holds with one of the greatest lightweight champions of all time. Plans don't always work out, as Buddy was soon to find out. A hard body slam towards the end of the first round saw Buddy fall awkwardly and a crack could be heard from one of his leg bones.  Buddy just managed to beat the count of referee Carl McGrath, but  found that he was unable to put any weight onto the leg, a recurring injury from many years ago.  Shortly afterwards Buddy was thrown over the top rope and out of the ring, again falling awkwardly on his shoulder. I heard one fan shout, "He's okay, he fell on his head," a still cheerful Buddy told Wrestling Heritage. The count of the referee reached ten and it was all over, far too quick for the seventy five year old granddad and hundreds of fans.

An unrepentant Buddy has no regrets about the match "It was shorter than I expected,  but the fans enjoyed themselves, and that's what matters."

We would like to hear from any fans who were present at the show  and comments can be posted in the forum.

1st April 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports 

We are saddened to report the passing away of Micky Gold at his home in Spain earlier today.

Radcliffe's Micky Gold's first contact with professional wrestling, we were once told, was when he was just five years old. That was just after the war and mum and dad took their young son along to the Belle Vue stadium to watch the likes of Jack Pye, Man Mountain Benny and Bert Assirati. Fifteen years later he was stepping into the ring himself.

Micky took up weight lifting and trained at the Manchester YMCA where he met a number of young wrestlers who encouraged him to learn a few moves. Those few moves increased until Micky made up his mind that he too wanted to be a professional wrestler.  In 1961 he turned professional, initially for the independnet promoters, and could be seen throughout the north and midlands swapping holds with established matmen such as Billy Graham, Fred Woolley, and Pete Lindberg.

In March, 1962 he had gained enough experience to be signed up by Arthur Wright to work for Wryton Promotions and the other Joint Promotions members. He made his television debut in June, 1964, losing to Alan Dennison. Micky Gold was to remain a northern favourite for the best part of two decades, and we note that he had the distinction of being the last opponent for Ivan Penzecoff in November, 1978. Micky Gold passed away on 1st April, 2010.

31st March, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

We are pleased to offer our congratulations to Wrestling Heritage member and contributor Ray Hulm, author of the Bad Old Days Blog.

Ray's blog has been longlisted for the blog section of The Orwell Prize

The Orwell Prize is the pre-eminent British prize for political writing. There are three annual awards: a Book Prize, a Journalism Prize and a Blog Prize. They are awarded to the book, the journalism and the blogposts which are judged to have best achieved George Orwell’s aim to ‘make political writing into an art’. Homage to Catalonia, Down and Out in Paris and London, The Road to Wigan Pier, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Animal Farm and Orwell’s incomparable essays still resonate around the world as peerless examples of courageous independence of mind, steely analysis and beautiful writing.

Ray's thoughts can be read and discussed at The Bad Old Days Will End.

Read more about Ray in Fanpower.

31st March, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Dwight J Ingleberg has told us that Buddy Ward will be appearing on Russell Howard's Good News on BBC 3.

The programme will be shown on BBC 3 on Thursday 1st April at 10.00pm. 

The programme is also broadcast at April 2nd at 2.15am,  April 2nd at 12.35 am,  April 3rd at 3.35 am, April 5th at 9.30pm and April 6th at 1.15 am.

This Saturday Buddy will face Johnny Saint at the Ellesmere Port Civic Hall.

22nd  March, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage 

Organisers of the Leeds reunion have announced that the Autumn Reunion will be held a little earlier than planned. 

The Leeds Wrestlers Reunion is open to all ex and current wrestlers, oficials and invited guests.

Sunday 19th September, 2010

Venue: The Midland Hotel, Woodlesford, Leeds

See the Reunion section for more information

15th March, 2010

Reported by the Liverpool Echo  

A WRESTLING grandad will make a spectacular come back to the ring after more than thirty years in retirement.

Buddy Ward, 75, terrified generations of fight fans as ‘Doctor Death’ from the 1950s through to his retirement in the seventies.

The Ellesmere Port hard man fought 3,999 matches and counted the most famous wrestler of the day, Big Daddy, as a friend.

Now the six times married dad of 30 will return to the sport that left him with two cauliflower ears and a smashed nose to face his nemesis, Johnny Saint.

Ian McGregor, who is promoting the bout at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall, told the ECHO: “When Buddy phoned me up on New Year’s Day and said he wanted to fight again I said this is not going to be a circus.

“If you’re going to fight you’re going to fight the best.

That’s also why the fight is at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall because of its great history as a wrestling venue.”

Liverpool-born Buddy Ward, real name Alfred Woodward, was one of many wrestlers who featured on ITV’s World of Sport in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Asked why he had decided to return the 15 stone self-styled ‘Champion of Cheshire’ said: “I looked in the mirror and I decided I didn’t look too bad.

“I know I can still do it. Wrestling’s like making love. You never forget how. I hope so anyway.”

The last time Buddy, a former stripshow promoter wrestled, againstCount Bartelli at Liverpool Stadium, he came out of a four year retirement and got a broken rib.

The former soldier and scrap metal dealer, said: “I haven’t been in the gym.

The only training I’ve done is to walk my dogs.”

The Guinness Book of Records have expressed an interest in Buddy’s bout, as long as it is competitive, believing he could be possibly the oldest wrestler ever. See Buddy at Ellesmere Port Civic Hall on Saturday. April 3 at 7.30pm. Call 0151 355 7652.

13th March, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

British fans often heard and read about their favourite wrestlers going off to compete in the "International Tournaments". Johnny Kincaid won the European Heavyweight Championship, whilst some like Judd Harris and Dave Morgan apparently became more famous on the other side of the Rhine.

Germanic greats such as Horst Hoffman, Herrmann Iffland and Otto Wanz wrestled frequently in the UK, with the highpoint undoubtedly being Wolfgang Starck's victory in the 1968 Royal Albert Hall Tournament Trophy.

Wrestling Heritage's latest initiative is to explore in more detail what was happening far away from both perspectives.

Be patient with any translations, and post your questions and answers in the related topic in the forum under Places & Events.

11th March, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

There must be. We've just been told that the planned news report on Barnsley wrestlers tomorrow (Friday) has been dropped because of too much news!

11th March, 2010

Wrestling Heritage Reports

Milly Johnson, the Yorkshire author who is writing a book about Yorkshire wrestlers, will be on  ITV Yorkshire television's Calendar regional news programme tomorrow (Friday 12th) at 6.00pm.

Milly and Leeds heavyweight Tarzan Boy Darren will appear on the programme  talking about traditional British wrestling, the Barnsley heritage and, no doubt, publicising Milly's forthcoming book.  Proceeds from the Barnsley wrestlers book will go to  Barnsley Hospice.

Readers unable to receive Yorkshire television can watch the programme at http://www.itv.com/yorkshire/fullprogramme/

Milly Johnson's website is Milly Johnson

10th March, 2010 

Wrestling Heritage Reports 

Following comments and requests made at the Leeds Reunion on Sunday the organisers Tony Kelly, Steve Fury and Tarzan Boy Darren met Monday and decided to organise a second Leeds reunion in 2010. The next reunion will be on

Sunday 26th September, 2010

at The Midlands Hotel, Leeds

The first reunion of 2011 will be on Sunday 6th March, 2011 

21st February, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

We have belatedly heard of the sad death of the Wigan heavyweight, Francis Sullivan, a stalwart of the rings during the 1950s and early 1960s.

Francis (born Alan Lathom) died in June, 2009. His passing seems to have gone unnoticed amongst the wider wrestling community and we now offer our tibute.

The speedy and popular heavyweight of dropkick fame was a mainstay of Joint Promotions rings for fifteen years.  One of the Wigan lads Francis Sullivan and the Rileys went back many years. Billy Riley tutored him and in the 1950s, in the early years of his professional career, Francis and Ernie Riley would work together earning a few extra pounds in Matt Moran's fairground wrestling booth. Simultaeneoulsly Francis was gaining popularity around the country in the professional rings of Britain. No one could accuse Francis of being one of those wrestlers who limited himself to working close to home; he travelled the length and breadth of the country. A study of his record shows   Francis was almost a weekly fixture at Belle Vue soon after he turned professional in 1950. Not just Belle Vue, but a regular at those other big venues Liverpool Stadium and the New St James Hall, Newcastle.   Dave Sutherland remembers,

 "Francis was my all time favourite wrestler having seen him on TV in the early sixties and then on many occasions at Newcastle where I attended and later worked for a number of years. He was a big favourite among the crowd there, normally pitted against a lot of the top villains of the day although it was against equally skillful wrestles that he most frequently shone; a narrow defeat by Geoff Portz in 1964 was among the top three fights that I have seen."  

Dave also told us that Francis  went into the music business with Ernie Riley, the two of them putting on dance and music shows. Francis also appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, with Billy Howes, Iska Khan, Gordon Nelson, Rocco Columbo and John Lees being amongst his opponents. 

Championship success eluded Francis, though he did give Norman Walsh a run for his money in a British mid heavyweight championship clash. In November 1964 he met Kendo Nagasaki during the masked man's first week in the professional ranks, following in the footsteps of Jim Hussey and Terry O'Neill.

Of his dozen or so televsion appearances Mike Richards remembers one match against Frikki Alberta.

 "At the end of the match Sullivan was knocked out and when he was revived he started shouting turn on the lights, turn on the lights, in a loud  panicking voice, this lasted for a minute or more and I was quite shocked by it, and the wrestling audience were also very concerned. Genuine or just a good act, I don’t know, but very convincing. "

Francis combined his wrestling commitmnets with those of running a shop in Top Lock, Wigan. Shop work was in his blood as he had since childhood helped his parents in their shop in Park View, Ince, Wigan.

Francis Sullivan continued as one of Britain's top mat men until his retirement in 1966. He went on to own a slot machine business with long time friend and wrestler Billy Riley.

Francis Sullivan passed away peacefully, in hospital, on 6th June, 2009. He was eighty-four years old.

20th February, 2010

Reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post

For three decades, ITV's Saturday afternoon show World of Sport was one of the most popular programmes on television, attracting more than six million viewers each week.

Now, more than 20 years after they disappeared from terrestrial television, some of the legendary names in British wrestling will be reigniting old rivalries and stepping into the ring in Leeds.

Although many of the wrestlers are fathers, even grandfathers, these heroes of British wrestling are still up for a good fight!

Names secured for the one-off World of Sport Legends Show at Rothwell Leisure Centre on March 6 include The Man of 1000 Holds Johnny Saint, renowned for his World of Sport battles with the likes of Mick McManus and Jackie Pallo, Highlander Drew McDonald and former fairground boxer and wrestler turned European heavyweight champion Johnny Kincaid.

Wrestler and promoter Dave Breaks is excited about the event – and sure others who enjoyed the World of Sport wrestling will be clamouring for tickets.

"There is something quintessentially British about wrestling – it is a gentleman's sport. In its heyday, more people were watching World of Sport wrestling than the FA Cup Final," said Dave.

"Wrestling appeals to everyone of all generations – it was very entertaining on World of Sport. It was exciting, and a real spectacle, but when ITV was modernised in the 1980s, it eventually was taken off our television screens," he said.

Although wrestling is still on television, it is the wrestlers from the United States as opposed to the Brits.

Professional wrestler Johnny Angel (pictured above with Count Von Zuppi), who is taking to the wrestling ring for the first time in almost 15 years, said: "If you asked anyone in the street over the age of 35 if they enjoyed World of Sport when it was on television, the answer would be yes, so why was it taken off?

"People much prefer to see British wrestling as opposed to American stuff, which is so over the top.

"This is the biggest fixture in the British wrestling calendar for a very long time. It is a great chance to see some legends in action. I jumped at the opportunity to take part, I can't wait," said Johnny, who started wrestling at 14, following his dad Pitman Hercules into the ring.

Audiences will also see Holt Park-based Tiger Gil Singh, Rock Hard Richie Brooks from Cross Gates, Johnny Angel and women's wrestler Klondyke Kate, with more to come.

David is expecting a night of "emotionally-charged nostalgia and adrenaline".

* For tickets to the show, which starts at 7.30pm, contact Norman Ellis on 01282 697373

4th February, 2010

Reported by SecondsAwayUK

26th January, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Norman Ellis is a man with a dream. It's taken quite a few years but the dream is about to end and become  reality.

As a schoolboy in the early 1960s Norman saw professional wrestling on television. It wasn't a weekly programme in those days, but Norman saw enough of it to know he liked it and  pestered his dad to take him along to their local hall.

Eventually dad relented and the two of them went along to a Jack Atherton & Bily Riley show.  After watching just one show and seeing the likes of Vic Hessle, Billy Joyce and Tommy Mann in action the youngster was well and truly hooked.  From that day on Norman was a serious wrestling fan and never missed a local show. All the better, then, when he got a job at Colne Municipal Hall. This gave him the chance to get to know quite a few of the wrestlers and Robbie Brookside,  Steve Regal and Tarzan Boy Darren were soon good friends.  After watching a show promoted by Tarzan Boy Darren and Robbie Brookside around 2004 Norman decided that he too would like to put on a wrestling show. Like most dreams  it seemed that Norman's dream would remain no more than just that. Until last June that is. When Tarzan Boy Darren told Norman about the Wrestlers Reunion at Leeds Norman saw the opportunity of making his dream come true, by putting on a show the night before  the reunion.

Norman called on his good friend Tarzan Boy to help him put the show together. The Rothwell Leisure Centre was hired for Saturday 6th March and wrestlers booked for a night to remember. Asked if he planned to make any money from the venture Norman just smiled and told us that although it would be nice to make a profit the show was not about making money.  Robbie Brookside will be there to support his friend and face the Highlander Drew McDonald.  Also appearing will be Tiger Gil Singh, Lee Bronson, Steve Grey, Johnny Saint, Johnny Angel, Superstar Sanders, Count Von Zuppi and a host of others. Details can be found at the Legends 2010 website.

Tickets cost £10 and are on sale now, from the Rothwell Leisure Centre, or from Norman Ellis Promotions. 85, Priory Chase, Nelson, BB9 ONT. Tel  01282 697373 

22nd January, 2010

Reported by The Daily Star

By Patrick Lennon

IT’S NOT often we talk about milestones in British wrestling these days.

He won’t like me saying this, but Brian Dixon is a national hero in wrestling terms. He is the promoter who launched the career of William Regal among others.

His hands were on the wheel during the golden age of British wrestling, which wistful fans often write about in letters to FT, expressing a wish for a return to the good old days when something categorically British was on the menu, as well as the American fare.

His All Star Wrest-ling promotion celebrates 40 years in business this year, which is a remarkable achievement.
Dixon is the only promoter to remain in business throughout the collapse of the British scene and still manage to turn a profit.

His ring is seen by many of the more enlightened pros as the only remaining place to learn the now very much endangered British style of wrestling.

For all the talk of “PG” or sports entertainment across the pond, the truest family entertainment can still be seen on these shores at his matinees in Liverpool and beyond.

Ask Regal, Danielson, Williams, Jericho or even young Sheamus. Now the US territories are dead, and Japan isn’t what it was, Dixon’s promotion is a vital resource if you want to fill out your game and become a complete pro.

Brian told us this week: “I remember my father saying 40 years ago that I needed to get a proper job rather than writing for a wrestling magazine and refereeing the occasional matches, before opening the All Star Wrestling organisation."

“We never dreamt that 40 years on I would still be doing it and enjoying the job more now then ever before. It has not always been an easy ride and I have gone through many a difficult period in promoting over the years, trying to keep my head above water."

“One of my most memorable times was receiving a letter from my bank manger suggesting in very strong terms that I take my business elsewhere."

“I pacified him on that occasion with the promise we were close to getting television – six months down the line, I was lending the bank money! I’m still banking with the same people today.”

Many congratulations and indeed many thanks to Brian and his family for their unwavering belief in the British tradition.

Bravo, sir.

20th January, 2010

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Wrestling Heritage continued to grow in popularity during 2009. Even though some pages were limited to members only the number of pageloads during the year was 288,788; compared to 235,463 in 2008 and 111,322 in 2007. The average number of unique visitors during each month was 8179; compared to 5152 per month in 2008 and 2594 in 2007.

14th January, 2010 

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Another of the great names of British wrestling has passed away. The Wrestlers Reunion site broke the news of the death of  Scottish lightweight Chic Linton, who was 86.

Chic, who was born in Dundee,turned professional ain the late 1940s, and moved down south in the 1950s. He continued wrestling until the early 1970s, ending his career on the independent circuit.

Reported in the Huddersfield Examiner, Tuesday 12th January 2010

WORLD class wrestling returns to Huddersfield Town Hall later this month.  A new generation will be introduced to a peculiar form of entertainment.  It will be Americanised, slick and great entertainment.  But it won’t be the kind of wrestling that many remember.

British wrestling was once a prime time sport which, in its 30-year heyday, regularly pulled an ITV audience of 12 million and filled halls to capacity – including Huddersfield Town Hall.

Wrestling lost its final round with TV in 1988 after 33 years in the ring. The ‘American’ version returned, briefly, live, in 2000 and 2001, to the Town Hall.

But it’s the sweat-stained, sawdust-scattered version that older people will remember, the version that took Huddersfield by storm for nearly 40 years following the Second World War.

Max Crabtree of Halifax, who promoted the British sport in this area and took it across the world, described the American version as ‘ten times over the top and a lot of ballyhoo’.

Max, a former wrestler himself like his brother Shirley ‘Big Daddy’ Crabtree and their father Shirley Snr, is the uncle of Huddersfield Rugby League star Eorl.

He promoted many wrestling events at Cambridge Road Baths – every fortnight through the 1960s – and the Sports Centre and Drill Hall, but his favourite spot in Huddersfield was the Town Hall.

“It was the perfect venue,” he said. “We always had a good following in Huddersfield. We would pack the balcony and have people up the stage, where the Choral Society sits.

“There’s no natural changing room in the Town Hall, but the council let us have the civic rooms. The wrestlers would be hanging their sweaty leotards next to the mayoral regalia and robes.”

At the Drill Hall there were often huge Asian audiences, who had their own heroes: Dara, a Sikh, and Bholu Pahalwan, Pakistan’s champion.

Max was following in the footsteps of Ted Beresford, who trained boxers and wrestlers in his own Huddersfield gym. Ted promoted professional wrestling in Huddersfield pre- and post-war. Back in those days, local heroes were often drawn from the ranks of Rugby League players, Douglas Clark and Fartown captain Dave Valentine, both loose forwards, to mention just two.

Max, now in his 70s after a 40-year career as promoter, has a theory about British wrestling’s rise and fall.  “After the war there was great hunger for live entertainment,” he said. “People just wanted to get out and let off a bit of energy. They wanted to shout out. Wrestling was ideal.

“That’s why we had such a following, and why we were so successful.”

The new popular medium of TV was quick to recognise the trend. Lew Grade and his brother Bernard Delfont were instrumental in giving the sport ITV airtime.

For a golden era, from about 1960 to 1975, wrestlers were show-business celebrities.

So the British version wasn’t ballyhoo?

“No, it was good honest sweaty entertainment,” said Max. “You had to know your stuff. You had to be very fit and very strong. You couldn’t just pretend.

“Wrestling was obviously show business. It was the wrestler Gorgeous George who told Mohammed Ali that he would need a gimmick. Everybody in wrestling felt they needed a gimmick. I’m not saying matches were never fixed.

“But you’ve got to remember that a lot of these wrestlers didn’t have the brains to plan out what they were going to do.

“Also, a lot were ego-maniacs. You just can’t rehearse something or decide a result beforehand with somebody who wants to win at all costs.”

Heroes of the era included Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, the British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith), Pat Roach, Les Kellett, Mark Rocco, ‘bad boy’ Mick McManus, The Royal Brothers (Eric and Vic Faulkner) Jackie Pallo and surprisingly, showjumper Harvey Smith.

“Harvey was always very physical,” said Max. "He delighted in being rough. He’d get his fellow show jumpers in a headlock at the drop of a hat. He was very, very strong and enthusiastic and he never disappointed his fans.”

The showmanship of wrestling was obviously a good grounding for careers in other media.

Pat Roach developed a career as an actor and film stunt man, appearing in three Indiana Jones films and most notably as ‘Bomber’ Busbridge in Auf Wiedersehn Pet.  On the other side of the Atlantic, film careers soon beckoned for Rock Steadfast, known as The Rock, and Hulk Hogan.

BINGLEY-BORN Harvey Smith was one of the great controversial sporting figures of the 70s. He started his working life as a builder’s labourer and unlike most of his show-jumping contemporaries, he sported a broad Yorkshire accent and was very blunt and physical. He competed in equestrian World and European Championships and two Summer Olympics, collecting two bronze medals and four silvers, but never achieved gold. But his most controversial moment came after a near-perfect round in the British Show Jumping Derby in 1971, he flashed a V-sign at the judges, later claiming it was a ‘victory’ sign.

Harvey tried unsuccessfully to launch a singing career. His 1975 song True Love was a flop.

He was much more popular as a professional wrestler during the 1970s, when his favourite move was to ‘horse-ride’ on his opponents’ shoulders to the crowd’s cheers and jeers. He even had a giant V on his ring gown.

Now 71, he still runs stables on 150 acres of farmland at High Eldwick, near Bingley.

KENT WALTON was the dulcet voice of Saturday afternoon wrestling.  His genial sign off after all the controversy was always “have a good week... till next week" and always coming just before the football results Though assumed to be a Canadian, he was of English serving-the-empire-stock, born in Cairo, and his real name was Kenneth Walton Beckett.

World of Sport – hosted by Mallen-haired Dickie Davies – was set up as a direct competitor to the Grandstand and wrestling regularly drew audiences of 12 million – regularly more than the BBC.  Walton’s fans allegedly included the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Margaret Thatcher.  He died aged 86 in August 2003

Reported by David Holden

8th January, 2010

The Morecambe Dome  is to close. This is sad news for British wrestling fans from far and wide.  The dome is to close at the end of March due to the council in Lancaster's decision. Wrestling has taken place at the Morecambe Dome for many many years and  seen some big names like Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, along with Catweazle,  Skull Murphy,  Dave Rocky Taylor,  Chris Danials (the fallen angel , The Bushwackers,   native american Tatanka, Drew Macdonald,  Ritchie Brookes  and Robbie Brookside .

I hope we can make the last show at the Morecambe Dome go out with a bang on January 30th with XWA ,and any ex or former wrestlers who can make it for this prestigious show.

Saturday 30th January
XWA GOLDRUSH
Live American-style wrestling as seen on TV. The XWA returns with its annual 15-man over-the-top rumble the Goldrush! Muscles, mayhem and million-miles-an-hour action for all the family. Featuring the top superstars in British Wrestling today including ‘RockStar’ Spud, ‘Psychotic Warrior’ Johnny Phere, ‘Wonderkid’ Jonny Storm, Sam Slam and many more. Four other hard-hitting bouts including a British Heavyweight Championship match. Not to be missed! Card always subject to change.
Visit XWA Wrestling web site
£16 Ringside, £11 Adults, £9 Children under 14, £34 Family of 4, £42 Group of 6
Bell time 7.30pm

To book tickets  telephone the Box Office on 01524 582803.

http://ukff.com/index.php?showtopic=116366&st=0&start=0

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

15th December, 2009

Wrestling Heritage are pleased to report that Blackpool heavyweight Tony Francis has been in touch to reassure fans that he has been discharged from hospital and is on the road to recovery. He thanks all those concerned about his condition and will be contributing to Wrestling Heritage in the near future.  

On 29th November 2009 probably the all-time largest scale prize quiz centred around British Professional Wrestling is launched within the forum section of this site.

Visit the forum via the link at the top of this page, to the right, and click on the Quiz topic for full details. 

Part One is now open to everybody, but don't expect to be shown the answers later on if you haven't entered now. 

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Tuesday 24th November, 2009

Many readers remember Earl Black, the villainous heavily tatooed heavyweight who briefly hit our shores some forty years ago.

Oh how we booed him. Earl vsited the UK as part of his world tour from his Australian base/ 

Well, Earl has been in touch with Wrestling Heritage to tell us that this weekend he's travelling from his Yorkshire home to Runcorn on Merseyside to work with a group of modern day wrestlers who have really impressed him.

His destination is the Runcorn Wrestling Academy which is run by Andy Baker, the British pro who trained in America with WWE.

"There's a fantastic group of yougsters working with Andy," Earl told us, "some as young as six with others in their teens and some in their twenties who have already worked for promoters such as Britannia and All Star. Andy has a great set up. He's a tremendous trainer and the facilities are first class" 

The Runcorn Wrestling Academy meet at the Grangeway Community centre, Runcorn, and Earl told us that after being put through their paces by Andy and the trainers the youngsters will be putting on a show this Saturday starting at 4.00pm.

Reported by Daily Post

21st November, 2009 

WRESTLING stars joined family and friends to give Orig Williams – El Bandito – a hero’s send-off at his funeral in Rhyl yesterday.

Around 500 people came to pay their respects to much-loved hard man of wrestling, football and boxing Orig, who died last week of a suspected heart attack aged 78.

The showman’s daughter, actress and singer Tara Bethan, 26, described her much-travelled father as “a cultured man, much more than just a wrestler.”

His family requested men wore colourful ties and ladies any colour clothing they chose, for the public service at Clwyd Street Chapel, Rhyl.

The son of a quarryman, Orig wasbrought up in Ysbyty Ifan, near Betws y Coed, but was renowned throughout North Wales and beyond.

He was also a long standing columnist for the Daily Post.

In an eulogy, friend and musician Rhys Jones described Orig as a “strong man and nationalist”, who passionately loved Welsh culture, and who could equally reel out his favourite song lyrics, poetry or quotations from the Bible.

Throughout the hour-long service, Tara had her arm around mother Wendy’s shoulders to comfort her.

Actor Dafydd Hywel read Mab y Bwthyn by Orig’s favourite poet, Cynan and opera singer Shan Cothi sang Y Nefoedd.

Many of the wrestlers who attended were together for the first time in years and playfully grappled.

Among them were Jamaica Kid, Johnny Saint, Steve Taylor, Tina Starr, Klondyke Kate, Mitzi Muller, Rollerball Rocko, Johnny Palance, Eddy Hamill, Tony St Claire, Peter Nulty, Dave Finlay Snr, and Mad Monk Rasputin.

Also there was Orig’s protege, Porthmadog’s Celtic Warrior Barri Griffiths, who is due to join the WWE in the New Year. He said: “The sun has come out specially for Orig.”

Dressed in a red coat, Klondyke Kate said: “Orig was the most magnificent man in the world.”

A friend of Orig’s, Arthur Edwards, 78, from Ysbyty Ifan said: “He was the boss of the gang and we looked up to him.”

The Welsh dragon flag draped Orig’s casket and on it were red roses and a bouquet of white flowers. His body was interred at the new cemetery, Rhuddlan.

Actor Dafydd Hywel said: “Whenever Orig and myself would enjoy a few pints we would talk about freedom fighters and plot the overthrow of the Welsh establishment!”

Reported by North Wales Weekly News

Saturday 14th November, 2009

TRIBUTES were last night paid to wrestler Orig Williams – famously known throughout Wales and beyond as El Bandito – who died suddenly aged 78.

Orig, brought up in Ysbyty Ifan, near Betws y Coed, died at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, yesterday morning after a suspected heart attack.

Last night his shocked wife Wendy, 66, said: “He was the best husband any wife could have had.”

His daughter, actress and singer Tara Bethan, said her father had been admitted to hospital complaining of a stomach ulcer.

Speaking from their home at Llanfair Talhaiarn, near Abergele, Tara, 25, said: “It finished off with his heart. He fought all the way but all the fighting he’d done through his life got the better of him. We were with him in his last minutes and he was reeling off Welsh poetry by Cynan. He’s in the best place.”

She said her father had suffered a suspected heart attack the previous day.

She said: “He was a cultured man, a side of him which he kept to himself and only shared with his friends. He was more than just a wrestler.”

She said she and her mum “always felt proud” of Orig who would always attract attention from people in the street. Tara said: “I just knew him as dad.”

Tara, now touring with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, said: “I got a call from mum to come home straight away. It’s been a big shock for mum. They’ve been a partnership and would never go anywhere without each other.”

Tara revealed that she and Orig were very much alike and that one time “plates flew around the house” when they rowed. Over the years they’d grown closer and become “best mates”.

“He was a totally fantastic father.”

Tara said she and her mum wanted to thank everybody for their kindness and support.

The son of a quarryman, Orig was larger than life in every sense – an outspoken colourful character who became popular to thousands of people especially with the launch of S4C when his mustachioed face became a regular feature on the Reslo programme.

He was a feared centre half or full back in his footballing days and had travelled the world “from New York to Timbuktu in Mali” promoting wrestling bouts.

After National Service in the RAF, he became a professional footballer, first with Oldham Athletic and with Shrewsbury Town before joining Pwllheli and subsequently becoming player manager of Nantlle Vale.

He said: “Then as today, too many Welsh clubs were importing players from Manchester or Liverpool, and I decided to build a team in which everyone was Welsh speaking for the simple reason that was the language of the community.”

He got into boxing and wrestling the hard way in fairground booths.

A former Daily Post columnist, Orig’s autobiography Cario’r Ddraig, (Carrying the Dragon) was published in 1985.

Idris ‘Tarw Nefyn’ Evans, of Waunfawr, who played in the same “hard” defence as Orig for Pwllheli, Nantlle Vale and Penmaenmawr, said: “It’s a shock. I didn’t know he was in hospital. I was with him just over a month ago in Pwllheli talking about football at the British Legion. He was always a lot of fun.”

Wrestler Barri Griffiths, 27, from Porthmadog, who is Goliath in TV’s Gladiators and signed up to US WWE in the New Year, said: “He was the most colourful character I’ve ever met. This place won’t be the same without him. He started me in wrestling and helped to take me to Gladiators and over to America.”

Daily Post editor Rob Irvine said: “The tagline of Orig’s column was “siarad plaen” and he certainly did speak as he found, even if that left myself and the lawyers twitching a little as the paper went to press.

“But writers with guts and a larger-than-life personality are what helps to make a good paper great, and Orig had these qualities in spades. His column was just a part of his very busy and varied life and North Wales is a lesser place for his passing.”

Ynys Môn AM and Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “Orig made a significant contribution to Wales through sport and through his unique personality, and he will be greatly missed. We also remember that he made a contribution as a broadcaster and reporter and brought a unique style to both jobs – a style a lot of people liked and admired.”

Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones said: “Orig was a very likeable, colourful character. He was a man who brought pleasure to people across Wales through his wrestling, his work on TV and radio, and also as a footballer and football manager, especially for Nantlle Vale FC. Wales will be a less colourful place without his unique personality.”

An S4C spokesperson said: “Everyone in S4C was saddened to hear of the death of Orig Williams. He was a popular contributor to S4C programmes and series, in particular the wrestling show Reslo, and his passionate, engaging character made him a much-loved figure with viewers and colleagues.”

Wrestling Heritage is sad to report today, 12th November 2009, the death at age 78 of another of the many multi-talented stars of the Heritage years, Welsh heavyweight and promoter, Orig Williams.

Many Heritage members worked with and for Orig Williams. Let's hope we can establish a suitable bank of memories and tributes in the forum topic now opened.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Tuesday 10th November 2009

Steve Rose in today's Guardian newspaper comments on the defeat of 7'2" Russian boxer Nikolay Valuev and ponders his future.

"Valuev is already close in physiognomy to renowned screen giants such as Richard Kiel or André "the giant" Roussimoff. Kiel (also 7ft 2in) became a household name as James Bond's ultimately cuddly nemesis Jaws; Roussimoff (a mere 7ft) graduated from the wrestling circuit to movies like Conan the Destroyer and The Princess Bride. But both have retired, leaving the market wide open. And surely nobody could fill that gargantuan hole like Valuev right now."

Rose uses the gargantuan term well but fans will question his precision in attributing heights - and even in assuming that Jean Ferre is still alive. 

Italian giant Primo Carnera made the transition from boxing champion to have a notable wrestling career, much of which was spent in the UK.  Valuev seems if anything even more suited to Grunt n' Groan than any of his predecessors. 

Reported by Big Al Devon Boy

Sunday 8th November, 2009

"CALLING ALL USERS OF FACEBOOK" If you are a user of Facebook why not take a look at the World of Sport "greetings grapple fans" group. Our group has been set up to remember just how good the British public had it when it came to wrestling. This group is for all British wrestling fans Past, Present, & Future so please feel free to visit our group and share your memories of World of Sport, todays British wrestling, or any wrestling topic you feel would be of interest. So come along and visit our group. We welcome all posts as long as they are not offensive.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Sunday 8th November, 2009

Approximately eighty aditional articles have been restricted to members only on the Wrestling Heritage site with the transfer of the Ringsport pages from the guests to members section.

Joining is easy, just click on the Members Only logo on the Greetings Grapple Fans home page.

Reported by Dennis Lord and Banger Walsh

Sunday 1st November, 2009

With sadness we report the passing of the ex Dale Martin ptomotions second, Ted Fretwell. A tribute to Ted can be read on the British Wrestlers Reunion site. 

http://www.britishwrestlersreunion.co.uk/news.htm

Reported by Dennis Lord and Banger Walsh

Friday 30th October, 2009

Former singer and long time second for Dale Martin Promotions Ted Fretwell has been reported very ill by his wife Diane. Ted is being cared for in hospital in Brighton. Ted will be remembered by many fans for his seconding duties and in later years for the support given to the Southern Wrestling Reunion. I am sure that all Heritage readers and wrestling fans send their best wishes to Diane and Ted

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Thursday 29th October, 2009 

Former World of Sport wrestler Alan Bardouille, who also wrestled as Kid Chocolate, has won a Bradford B-Active Award. B-Active is the Yorkshire town's strategy to promote healthy lifestyles. Alan , now 69 years old, came to England from the West Indies when he was sixteen years old. He was nominated for the award for his work in promoting fitness, inspiration to others and charitable work. In each of the past three years he has completed the Great North Run, raising almost £50,000 for the MacMillan Cancer.

Reported by Ian Dowland

Thursday 22nd October, 2009

The BBC2 programme "See Hear" featured Tracey Tiler, the deaf woman who's bringing up four children while managing the career of a champion wrestler Sean Noone, also known as Sean Midnight.  Tracey is Daughter of ex  Wrestler Alan Kilby. Sean is on the main roster at PTW (Peter Staniforth) based in Luton although he actually lives in The Midlands wrestles around the country.

The programme can be seen for one week following broadcast on the BBC iPlayer and  Virgin Media TV On Demand.

Reported by http://www.cable.co.uk/

Friday, October 16th 2009
 

Digital TV and fibre optic broadband provider Virgin Media is to make a weekly TNA wrestling show available for free.
Fibre optic broadband provider Virgin Media has confirmed that a show usually only broadcast through its digital TV service will be available to a wider audience.

The company is to show weekly show Impact on Virgin 1, which is available to Freeview customers, for a limited time to boost interest in the coverage on its pay TV package.

Virgin 1 will broadcast the programme on October 30th, with a repeat going out on Bravo on the following night.

A Virgin Media spokesman told The Sun: "Once new fans get a taste of it they can tune into Bravo for all the action as usual.

"It's even more of an incentive to subscribe to Virgin Media or Sky."

News of the move has come after Virgin Media also recently launched a new high-definition channel featuring programming from its Living brand.

The channel includes shows such as Private Practice, Boston Legal and CSI Vegas.

Reported by the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald

15th October 2009

A HARD hitting heavyweight will be fulfilling a childhood ambition after being handed a contract by the biggest wrestling company in the world.

Tremadog’s biggest character and former Gladiators star Barri Griffiths, known locally as “Barri 10 foot”, is heading stateside after being taken on by the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) promotion.

He is currently awaiting his green card after which he will be travelling to the organisation’s training school in Tampa, Florida where WWE chiefs will monitor his progress.

He said: “I was preparing for the Paul O’Grady show when someone from the WWE phoned me asking if I could go and see them.

“They were hosting a show at the 02 arena in London at the time so I went down and had a word with them and they said they had an interest in taking me over there.

“I was overjoyed, I stayed around for a bit of the show and it was nice to see some of the wrestlers in the flesh.

“I also met Shane McMahon (Executive Vice President of WWE Global Media) briefly and shook hands with him.”

Later this month, Barri will be taking part in a special homecoming bout at the Ganolfan in Porthmadog which could prove to be his last appearance on Welsh soil.

Barri’s main opponent at the Ganolfan will be another formidable WWE Superstar, the Two Ton American Avalanche who has been billed as a “One Man Riot Squad.”

If Barri’s Visa application is successful, he will first decamp to the base of Florida Championship Wrestling to learn the ropes.

Potential opponents he could be facing in future include the Undertaker, Triple H and Hollywood movie star John Cena.

Speaking about his contract, Barri said: “It’s an exciting prospect.

“I think I’ll miss home but I certainly won’t lose any of my Welshness.

“Nobody knows me over there so I’ll be starting from scratch and I know I have to prove myself.

“I’m very excited and the hard work doesn’t bother me because I enjoy keeping fit and going to the gym.

“For me, it’s like being chosen to play for a Premiership football club, who could refuse the chance to become a WWE superstar?”

Barri’s trainer and manager Orig Williams said: “If Barri continues to progress in the way he has done in the short time he has been with us, I have no doubt he will become a future WWE Champion.”

Barri will be taking part in a farewell event at the Ganolfan in Porthmadog on Tuesday, October 27 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £9 for adults and £7 for children and are on sale at Siop Eifionydd on (01766) 514045 and at the Ganolfan (01766) 513373.

dion.jones

Reported by the Evening Telegraph
By David Jackson
Kettering reporter

Wednesday 14th October, 2009

A tribute show has been organised in memory of a popular wrestler who spent more than 20 years fighting some of the best-known names of the 1970s and 1980s including Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy.

Tony Rowney, who was known as The Ring Gladiator, died at his home in Kettering in June aged 70.

Fellow wrestler Bob Nickerson fought against Tony and the pair would travel together to shows across the region.

Mr Nickerson, who fights under thename of Bob Barratt, has organised the night in memory of Tony.

He said: "Tony was a fantastic character, a great bloke and a great wrestler.

"We were all very sad to hear of his death earlier in the year.

"I thought it would be nice to do something in his memory so decided to hold a wrestling night.

"The main event will be a knock out tournament and the winner will be presented with the Ring Gladiator Trophy, which is the name used by Tony when he was wrestling."

Mr Rowney, a former steelworker in Corby, wrestled for more than 20 years and went on to spend another 20 years as head of security at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

His family was at his bedside when he died after losing his battle with cancer.

Mr Rowney fought in front of crowds at venues across the country including Corby's Stardust Club and the Windmill Club, Rushden.

He fought some of the biggest names of the era.

The tribute show takes place at the leisure centre in Desborough on Saturday.

Other matches will also be held at the event, including a heavyweight title clash, tag team action, a ladies contest plus an 'over the top rope' rumble finale.

Tickets cost £8 for adults, £6 for children and pensioners and £24 for a family of four.

They are available from the leisure centre in advance or on the night.

Doors open at 6.45pm and the show starts at 7.15pm.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Friday 2nd October 2009 

Johnny Saint is billed to wrestle Johnny Kidd in Worcester on 17th October.

Wrestling Heritage is pleased to continue this sequence of reporting  our sixties and seventies favourites' in-ring action 30 and 40 years after we enjoyed their work - it certainly bucks the sad trend of recent years when all to often we have been reporting the passings of so many big-name wrestlers from the Heritage Years.

However, if not quite out, certainly groggy at the count of 9 seems to be our great patron, Admiral Lord Mountevans.  The Saint versus Kidd match is billed as being with "World of Sport Rules."

Let's not forget the great debt owed to The Admiral for bringing a sense of respectability to the post war scene.  It will be interesting to learn whether and how World of Sport Rules differ from Admiral Lord Mountevans'.  We can only imagine the wrestlers will have time for a cup of tea between rounds during the ads!

Reported by  Westmorland Gazette

Friday 28th August 2009

THERE are just days to go until one of Cumbria’s biggest sporting events gets under way – and a row has already broken out in the wrestling ring.

A competitor has threatened legal action if judges are not banned from adjudicating family members in bouts of Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling at Sunday’s Grasmere Sports.

Former Lakeland Sportsman of the Year, Joe Threlfall, 46, says relatives cannot be unbiased and should be barred from matches involving family members.

But match organisers say there are too few people involved in the traditional sport to prevent it.

“When there is prize money involved there are ethical and moral issues to think about,” said Mr Threlfall, who is from Preston but has been competing in Cumbria since 1969.

“I have spoken to Grasmere Sports and I have told them in no uncertain terms that I will take legal action if they don’t put a stop to it (letting relatives judge). I am very, very annoyed.”

Chairman of the Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling Association, Jim Bland, who will be among the judges at Sunday’s sports, said rules had been changed to prevent immediate family refereeing relatives but that uncles and grandparents were still free to take part.

“Years ago there were many more competitors and it was easier to ensure families didn’t cross over, we don’t have the same number of people involved in the sport,” he said.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Saturday 22nd August, 2009

Following weeks of speculation the organisers of the Leeds 2010 Reunion have announced the surprise addition to next years event.

On the evening before the reunion will be a live wrestling tournament featuring stars of the World of Sport era.

The Legends of Wrestling Spectacular will take place at the Rothwell Leisure Centre, Leeds, on Saturday 6th March, 2010.

The hall , which is well served by public transport, is itself part of Leeds' rich wrestling heritage and previously hosted shows featuring the big names of the Mountevans period.

"This will be a great opportunity for fans of the World of Sport days to watch some of their favourites for one more time," co-organiser Tony Kelly told Wrestling Heritage.

This Legends of Wrestling Spectacular will re-create the atmosphere of the traditional style British shows with all contests being fought according to Mountevans rules over a stipulated number of rounds.

Amongst the stars who have confirmed they will be appearing are  the legendary Johnny Saint and Johnny Kincaid, the giant highlander Drew McDonald,  and television favourites  Johnny Kidd, Ritchie Brooks and Kid McKoy.

The former World of Sport Master of Ceremonies Gordon Pryor will preside over the evening and the main referee will be the highly respected wrestler and third man Jeff Kaye.

Tickets for the show will go on sale on Friday 28th September.

All tickets cost £10.00, with one free ticket offered to anyone purchasing ten or more.

Tickets are available by sending a postal order  or cheque,  made payable to "Norman Ellis" from Steve Fury, 50, Erdington Road, Blackpool, FY1 5EG.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Sunday 9th August, 2009

Fans and wrestlers agreed that the 2009 Southern Reunion was a huge success. Read our report.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Sunday 2nd August, 2009

Wrestling Heritage have received news this evening that the American heavyweight John Quinn will not be attending next Sunday's Southern Reunion.Whilst disappointing news for fans and ex colleagues the number of old timers likely to be present will make this a reunion to remember.

Tiny Tom Thumb has been in touch to say that he will definitely be there, as will Bob Collins and Fred Bentley.

Butts has sent the following message to his fans via the Wrestling Heritage Forum:

Thanks for the invitation to this years Wrestling Reunion. Unfortunatly I will not be able to attend this year, as my son in law Geoff Loomer is graduating with his Dr. degree in Tax Law from Oxford University. Every year It seems that they come back to Canada for the month of Aug... making my plans for a visit during reunion time impossible. My beautiful daughter Lindsay, who has been a freelance editor for the Oxford Press is having a baby in Oct....so this year is out of the question!

However next year 2010....I will be there, God willing? I look forward to seeing everyone and hopefull I will have a large Pacific Salmon to BQ at the Bridges Pub!! Off the record, my debt to Brian Crabtree of 30pounds $$$... from 1972 will have to wait until next year....sorry Brian!

Thanks for the kind words as I look forward to my visit next year!

Your very humble Canadian wrestler,
Butts Giraud
www.dogsear.com

Reported  by the North West Evening Mail

Monday 20 July 2009

A SPORT steeped in heritage celebrates its 200th anniversary at a South Lakes event later this month.

Ambleside Traditional Sports day is scheduled for July 30.

This year it coincides with the bicentenary of one of the oldest traditional Lakeland sports – Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling – which was first documented in Ambleside in 1809.

To mark the occasion, this year’s event is to stage the 14 stone category of the world championships for that style of wrestling.

Jak Hirst, chairman of the Ambleside Sports Association, said: “This championship is the only one with a traditional silver mounted belt for its trophy.

“So once again a silver mounted belt will be awarded to the winner of the Ambleside contest, along with £200 cash and the Mason’s Trophy.

“Wrestling in Ambleside was first documented at the start of the 19th century. At that time organised wrestling was going through the doldrums and prizes were pretty meagre.

“However, in 1809 a gentleman by the name of J Wilson of Elleray, alias Christopher North, placed an advert offering five guineas and a silver mounted belt to the winner of the Ambleside Contest.

“This had the desired effect of shaking up the wrestling world and placing Ambleside firmly on the wrestling map.”

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Monday 20th July, 2009

Former heavyweight wrestler Danny Quinn, who passed away on 9th July, will be cremated at The Crematorium, Porchester, Hants., on Friday 24th July at 2.45 pm. Arrangements have been made by Mayfields Funeral Directors of Southsea.

Reported by The Times& Star 

Friday 17th July, 2009

THE bust of Maryport’s Douglas Clark will be taken from the Wave Centre and returned to the maritime museum after an ultimatum from his niece Joyce Dempsey.

Mrs Dempsey had threatened to take the bust and memorabilia to Huddersfield where her uncle followed his illustrious rugby career, but has agreed to reconsider if it is given a proper exhibition in Clark’s home town of Maryport.

Clark was one of 17 people inducted in a ceremony at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, when the Rugby League Hall of Fame was opened.

Born in Ellenborough in 1891, he played more than 500 games in nearly 20 seasons for Huddersfield and built a reputation as one of the game’s best loose-forwards, achieving 31 caps for his county.

He won three Northern Union Challenge Cup final medals, played in 10 Yorkshire Challenge Cup Finals and five Northern League Championship finals.

He turned out for Cumberland 31 times and was appointed captain.

He was awarded the Military Medal for his service in World War One.

He also became heavyweight wrestling champion of the world.

He married Maryport girl Jennie Gate in 1922 and was buried in Maryport Cemetery in 1951, aged 59.

Last year his niece, Mrs Dempsey, from Ayr in Scotland, raised £2,000 for a bust of her uncle.

It was originally in Maryport Maritime Museum but was moved over to the Wave Centre when that opened.

Mrs Dempsey said it was displayed without any of her uncle’s memorabilia, was not secure and she felt it was not appreciated locally.

She was set to take it away but relented when Allerdale council offered to make amends.

This week she said she was still undecided but would give Allerdale council one month to return the bust to the maritime museum to be displayed properly.

Charles Holmes, council head of regeneration, said arrangements were being made to return the bust to the Maritime Museum to display it along other artefacts, once repair work to the museum has been completed.

“We fully appreciate the contribution Douglas Clark made to Maryport’s historical context and heritage, and we would not wish to see the memorabilia and bust removed from Maryport, where the items are best placed to tell the story of this remarkable man,” he said.

Encouraged by the success of the 2009 event Leeds reunion organisers Tony Kelly, Steve Fury and Darren Ward have ensured there will be no clash of dates in 2010 by booking the Rothwell Leisure Centre for next year's Leeds Reunion on Sunday March 7th, 2010.

Tony Kelly told Wrestling Heritage,

"It was all very unfortunate what happened this year. Everyone acted in good faith but many of the lads were disappointed that they had to choose between going to Ellesmere Port or Leeds. By bringing the 2010 Leeds Reunion forward to March and announcing the date in good time, we will make sure there is no clash and the lads will have the chance to get together twice in the year."

The Leeds organisers went on to say that there will shortly be a further anouncement that would be of very special interest to wrestling fans. They refused to be drawn further on the exact nature of the forthcoming announcement, saying only that it would be something very special that would be welcomed by all fans. 

Current Mayor, Willie Herenton, is expected to resign tomorrow, 10th July, clearing the way for an election in October.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage.

Thursday 9th July, 2009 

Former heavyweight champion of Ireland, Danny Quinn, who was a regular on the 1960s southern heavyweight scene sadly passed away in the early hours of this morning, 9th July. We thank Danny's family for taking the time to get in touch with us at this sad time and pass on our condolensces.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage.

Monday 6th July, 2009 

Another of those mythical North American names (to UK fans anyway) of the 1960s wrestling scene has passed away. Waldo Von Erich died Monday 6th July following a fall at home the previous day. He was rushed to Grand River Hospital, Kitchner, Ontario, where he died a few hours later. This was the same hospital in which Billy Red Lyons passed away recently. In the 1960s British wrestling fans avidly read of the exploits of Waldo and his North American counterparts in magazines that eventually made their way to British news agents weeks after publication.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage.

Friday 26th June, 2009 

Wrestling Heritage are saddened to report the death of a gladiator of the golden age. Kettering's Tony Rowney, the Ring Gladiator, has died at his home in Kettering. He was seventy years old and lost his final battle against cancer yesterday, 25th June. Rowney was a star of British wrestling rings for the best part of two decades, combining his ring commitments with a full time job in the steel works. His funeral will be held at the crematorium in Rothwell Road, Kettering, on Friday starting at 11.15am. Wrestling Heritage extends their sympathy to Tony's wife, son and daughter.

Reported by The Times & Star.

Friday 19th June, 2009

SOME readers may recall the story of the deterioration of my uncle Douglas Clark’s headstone more than 10 years ago, and how local sportsmen paid for its restoration.

It was felt that he should be remembered for all that he had done for the Maryport Wrestling Club and the rugby clubs.

He never forgot his roots.

I can remember how he would turn up at my parents pub, the Kings Arms, and take away all our customers for a game of football on the beach.

Because of all the stories I heard, both of his wrestling and football career, I too felt that he should be remembered, and so began my quest to have him recognised.

I had many setbacks trying to find any memorabilia, as he did not have any children.

During those years I was invited to the opening of the new McAlpine Hall of Fame in Huddersfield and to his induction in the Hall of Fame.

The Imperial War Museum in London contacted me as to the whereabouts of his memorabilia, I was able to point them in the right direction and Douglas was then honoured in the War Museum in Old Trafford about sportsman who went to war.

There were over 90,000 visitors in that first year, and he is now a permanent feature there.

One day I was thinking of all the places that he had been recognised but still not in his home town where he chose to be buried.

I was fortunate to get in contact with Denise Smalley of the West Lakes Renaissance, who put out an appeal for donations for a bust.

However the response was almost nil and so I raised the sum of £2,000 myself but I still needed £500 for a plinth. Huddersfield Rugby Heritage Museum held a fund-raising event and they presented me with the money.

Last year I was invited to see the new Wave Centre and I was contacted by Border TV who wanted to do a feature about Douglas.

I and members of my family went to Maryport to be interviewed, but when we went to the Wave Centre his bust wasn’t there.

It was still in the Maritime Museum along with his memorabilia, and so the programme was scrapped.

This year we went back to Maryport to view the bust in the Wave Centre. How disappointed we were.

There he was sitting in a corner, with little information, and his memorabilia is still in the Martime Museum.

I had been told that a new glass case for his memorabilia would be there.

Nothing.

There had been a lot of discussion that the Maritime Museum may be closing and I and others were concerned about the things we had on loan there.

However, after visiting the Wave Centre, I wrote to Mrs Jackson and asked for some clarification as to the future of his bust etc, as I was seriously considering removing them and offering them to Huddersfield.

I still have not received a reply.

Now I am in discussion with members of Huddersfield Heritage Centre with a view to having the bust taken there.

I had wanted Douglas to be remembered in his home town but it seems that they could not care less.

JOYCE DEMPSEY
Ayr

The Times & Star reported 

Friday 19th June, 2009

Joyce Dempsey, of Scotland, raised £2,000 for a bust of her uncle Douglas Clark – rugby international, wrestler and strong man. Now she wants to take it from The Wave Centre, where it is displayed, to Huddersfield in Yorkshire as she feels it is not appreciated locally.She said this week that she also wanted to remove all his memorabilia from the Maritime Museum.

Duggie Clark was one of 17 people inducted in a ceremony at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, when the Rugby League Hall of Fame was opened.

Born in Ellenborough in 1891, he played more than 500 games in nearly 20 seasons for Huddersfield and built a reputation as one of the game’s best loose-forwards, achieving 31 caps for his county.

He won three Northern Union Challenge Cup final medals, played in 10 Yorkshire Challenge Cup Finals and five Northern League Championship finals.

He turned out for Cumberland 31 times and, towards the end of his career, was appointed captain.

He was awarded the Military Medal for his service in World War One.

Duggie became heavyweight wrestling champion of the world, winning the army wrestling belt outright and touring Australia in the 1930s.

He married Maryport girl Jennie Gate in 1922 and was buried in Maryport Cemetery after his death in 1951, aged 59.

Last year his niece commissioned the bust but could not afford £500 for the plinth. An appeal was started and she raised £40 in Maryport. The Huddersfield Rugby League Club launched its own appeal and funded the plinth.

Mrs Dempsey said she was promised that her uncle’s bust and his memorabilia would be displayed together but the bust is in The Wave Centre, with virtually no information and no protection, while his memorabilia is in the museum.

She said that, despite promises, nothing had been done to rectify the situation.

She wrote to Allerdale councillor Margaret Jackson on May 13 and then two weeks ago, having received no reply, she told a delighted Huddersfield club that they could have the bust and memorabilia.

The council is now making a last-ditch attempt to hang on to the items.

Coun Jackson, portfolio holder for leisure and culture, said: “I sincerely apologise for the delay in responding to Mrs Dempsey’s enquiry. This has been due in part to needing to look at the future management arrangements for the Maryport Maritime Museum.

“We fully appreciate the contribution made by Douglas Clark to Maryport’s historical context and heritage and would not wish to see the memorabilia and bust removed from Maryport, where it is best placed to tell the story of this remarkable man.”

She said she had written to Mrs Dempsey explaining that management arrangements for the Maritime Museum were under review.

She added: “Once a new arrangement is in place, I would very much hope that a fresh approach to the display of the collection will be taken; with the possibility for the Douglas Clark artefacts and memorabilia to be revisited and put on more prominent display in Maryport, as appropriate.

“I have written to Mrs Dempsey asking for her suggestions on how this could be achieved closer to the time of the new arrangements being in place and I look forward to co-operating with her early next year.”

Mrs Dempsey said she would await Allerdale council’s suggestion but said she was still minded to move the memorabilia to Huddersfield. 

Reported by THE STAR, the newspaper of South Yorkshire.

18th June, 2009

WRESTLING legend Bret Hart slammed gossips who doubted reports that he's coming to South Yorkshire. Hart, a WWE seven times world champion who has stepped in the ring with everyone from Hulk Hogan to Stone Cold Steve Austin, is regarded as one of the world's greatest ever wrestlers. Now retired he says he will fly in from Canada for what he says may be the last time fans get to meet him in Sheffield.

Hart, known as "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be", will take part in a rare Q&A, with signings and instant photographs, before stepping in the ring to say hello at a wrestling show later in the day, featuring other TV superstar wrestlers and British stars, at Steel City Ice Rage – Total Meltdown.

http://www.thestar.co.uk/headlines/BRET-HART-WWE-hero-wrestler.5379623.jp

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

13th June, 2009

Two names from the past that will bring back memories for Wretling Heritage readers met up recently. Earl Black, who made a big impression on British fans during his short time in the UK, travelled from his Yorkshire home to the Lancashire town of Fleetwood to visit Mighty Jock Cameron. Earl commented how well Jock looked for his seventy seven years. Not long after Earl's visit Jock jetted off to Canada on holiday. Earl sent us these photos from his visit.

 Earl (left) and Jock in Jock's Fleetwood home.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

13th June, 2009

A recently shown repeat of Whicker's World from 1967 saw the intrepid Whicker interviewing Percy Shaw, the man who invented the "Cat's Eyes" reflective roadstuds. Percy was seen in his living room with four televisions, this being the days when there were only two channels to watch. Asked what he watched on the four screens, Percy unhestitatingly replied "the wrestling." In an article commemorating the seventieth anniversary of the invention the Daily Telegraph reported that Percy Shaw would often invite friends around for parties to watch the wrestling.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

4th June, 2009

Organisers of the Leeds Reunion have been in touch with Wrestling Heritage to say that there should be no confusion whatsoever,  the Leeds Reunion is definitely going ahead as planned. The Reunion is open to ex-wrestlers/officials and their guests.

The Northern Wrestlers Reunion
The Rothwell Sports Centre,
Wakefield Road, Oulton, Leeds. LS26.8EL.
Sunday the 7th June, 2009, From 12.00pm to 6.00pm

Come off the M62 at junction 30, follow the sign marked Rothwell & Oulton, that is the Wakefield Road, the venue is about one mile down that road on the right hand side, it is clearly visable.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

31st May, 2009

Salford heavyweight Pete Curry is celbrating his 75th birthday today, and we wish him a very happy birthday. Pete told Wrestling Heritage that he feels fitter than ever, and ready for a comeback! Whether that's still true after having three of his grandchildren stay over last night we can only guess. An extended tribute to Pete will be added to Wrestling Heritage shortly but in the meantime he can be found in the A-Z section.  

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

23rd May, 2009

Alf Robinson was one of the big names of post war British wrestling. A burly heavyweight with a tendency to upset the fans, "You just had to look at him and you knew he was a villain. There was no other way,"  Eddie Rose told us. Following enquiries on the British Wrestling Forum tribute has now been paid to Alf on the pages of Eastwell Lodge Children's Home. Alf was a carer at the home in the 1960s. Readers Dave Sutherland, Grizzled Veteran and Eddie Rose each helped ex residents of the children's home piece together information about Uncle Alf.

http://www.eastwelllodge.btik.com/p_People.ikml

Discuss Alf Rawlings

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

22nd  May, 2009 

In the 1970s millions of wrestling fans would purchase the Saturday issue of The Sun to read the Mick McManus wrestling column. Beginning this Sunday, 24th May, Wrestling Heritage will start their new series, The Mick McManus Column, giving fans the chance to once again read Mick's words of wisdom. 

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

19th May, 2009 

Wrestling Heritage reader Ray Hulm has written many thought provoking articles on a wide range of subjects, some of which have been published on this site. His latest wrestling related piece can be found on Ray's own website.

 The Mat Game's Lost Years

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

18th May, 2008 

To millions around the world he was the British Bulldog, and to the older Heritage readers he was Young David, one of the 1970s new breed. Today is the seventh anniversary of the death of Davey Boy Smith, one of the top wrestlers of the 80's and 90's, who tragically passed away at the age of 39 after suffering a heart attack while on vacation in British Columbia.

Reported by the Birmingham Evening Mail

16th April, 2009

THERE was plenty of harsh head-locks and beastly body-slams as wrestling fever broke out in Birmingham.Fight fans mauled and manhandled each other during a fierce and bitter battle, with the reward for the victors being the opportunity to meet wrestling legend, Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart.

Actually, that’s not what happened at all. It’s a complete fiction – just like Bret’s cunningly choreographed fights.In truth, fans formed a polite queue, waiting patiently to meet the 51-year-old Canadian superstar, who was signing copies of his autobiography, Hitman, in Waterstone’s on the High Street.

Before the signing, Bret, who competed in the glamorous American version of professional wrestling, told the Mail that writing the book was just as punishing as bounding round the wrestling ring.“The book took me seven years to write,” he said. “During that period I was pleased to discover that I really enjoy writing. I found the whole process very cathartic. But it wasn’t easy. I put the same amount of effort into filling blank pages as I did while keeping fit for big wrestling bouts.”

Bret, whose famous tagline was ‘The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be’, also revealed his English fans are among the best.“My supporters on this side of the Pond have always taken me to heart, when I’ve toured with big shows here,” he said. “There has always been a major wrestling tradition in England; you lot really know your stuff. It’s always a pleasure to come back.”

Reported in the Leigh Reporter

15th April, 2009.

Two Leigh men are aiming to be the next successful pro wrestlers in America.

With seven years training and wrestling under their belt Joey Hayes and Damon Leigh (the tag team champions) have set their eyes on the States after what they hope will be a successful defence of their title in Wigan on Saturday, April 18.

The pair want to follow in the footsteps of a ri list of wrestling royalty which has sprung up from surrounding areas and gone on to make it big in the States, such as 'British Bulldog' Davey Boy Smith, Fit Finlay, 'The Dynamite Kid' Tommy Billington, Billy Watson and many more.The show's main event will see the Leigh tag team, who both live and were brought up in Leigh, team up to defend their trophy.

Garage Pro Wrestling owner, Richard Noble said: "All our shows this year are being filmed for TV and 2009 so far has been a superb year, easily our best.
"You don't have to watch the American wrestling on TV or remember Big Daddy belly bouncing his way through Saturday afternoons to appreciate and enjoy what we do. "No matter who you are – this is one of the most fun nights out you'll have. Whether it's with your family, first date, office party or if you're just looking for a night out with a difference – Monaco Ballroom, April 18 is where you need to be."

The main event for the evening will be the huge tag team match as Hayes and Leigh take on challengers Heresy and Kastor LeVay. Can Leigh and Hayes be the next two on the list? First they'll have to overcome tough opposition.
Both Heresy and his partner LeVay have enjoyed their own individual success overseas. LeVay in Canada and Heresy in America both having competed there for long periods of time. But who will outshine who when these four great wrestlers clash?

Also set to appear are Juice, Sam Bailey, Bubblegum, Si Valour, Dirk Feelgood, Ricky J. McKenzie, William Gáylord and many, many more. In a night of colour, entertainment and larger than life characters the Heavyweight Championship, tag team trophy and British title will all be decided.

Get on the guest list by pre-reserving your tickets (£7 per person and £24 for a family of four) by ringing 07703 312 146 or you can also email gpwrichardnoble@yahoo.co.ukDoors at the Monaco Ballroom in Atherton Road Hindley open at 7pm with the show starting at 7.30pm.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

13th April, 2009

Fred Storer, who wrestled as Kurt Jorgens,  the Swedish Wonderboy in the1950s, is in good health and celebrating his 76th birthday. Happy birthday Kurt.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

30th March, 2009

Johnny Saint has made his debut in the USA. The Chikaro website is reporting Johnny Saint's venture into North America. Saint appeared at the ECW Stadium, Philadelphia.

On night one of the King of Trios tournament, on 27^th March, Mike Quackenbush, Johnny Saint and Jorge Rivera beat Hallowicked, Delirious and Frightmare.

The following night the Saint team lost to Claudio Castagnoli, Dave Taylor and Bryan Danielson.

Taylor's team went on to the final, breating Vin Gerard, Stigma and Colin Delaney in the semis, and then losing to Gran Akuma, Icarus and Chuck Taylor.

http://www.chikarapro.com/results.shtml

Reported by Rashid Razaq

20th March, 2009

BOXING and wrestling are today set to return to the Royal Albert Hall for the first time in nearly a decade after the venue was granted a new entertainment licence. World championship title fights are on the cards after Westminster council reinstated the original royal charter bestowed by Queen Victoria in 1871.

The hall is now clear to stage title contests featuring British champions such as David Haye and Amir Khan.

The move has angered neighbours who today said they may seek a judicial review. They fear it will increase crime and disturbances.

The venue's chief executive, David Elliot, said: "Boxing and wrestling have been part of the Albert Hall's charter since it opened. When licensing regulations changed a few years ago, we omitted them as an oversight. This will allow us to bid for major events such as world title fights.

"I can understand the anxiety that boxing and wrestling may attract a more boisterous audience, but it is misplaced. We are only going to be staging prestigious one-off events."

The Albert Hall has hosted bouts involving boxers such as Henry Cooper, Joe Bugner, Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and Lennox Lewis but the frequency of wrestling and boxing matches fell after the Sixties.

Mr Elliot said wrestling bouts would take the form of Sumo or the American entertainment type, which he called "pure theatre".

Yasmin Doctor, 53, one of the residents leading opposition from the Albert Hall Mansions block, said: "I'm very disappointed. We will take this all the way to a judicial review if necessary. You learn to put up with a certain amount of disruption living here, but the type of people attending boxing and wrestling matches aren't going to be your average Prom goer.

"People could be coming out in the early hours after drinking and making noise and it could lead to more crime and vandalism."

Mrs Doctor, a housewife, has accused hall managers of trying to "sneak" in the application, by filing it on 19 December, meaning many residents did not get to respond in time as they were away over Christmas.

The residents plan to appeal on the grounds they were not given an adequate consultation period.

The Albert Hall says residents were consulted and boxing and wrestling bouts are expected to end at 11pm, the same time as most events.

Westminster council said the licence will have some restrictions, for example banning "cage fighting".

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

Sunday 23rd March 2009

Conflicting announcements have been made about this year's Northern Wrestlers' Reunion. At the beginning of March an announcement was made that the Reunion would be held on Sunday 7th June with the venue moved to Leeds. The event is being organised by Tony Kelly, Steve Fury and Tarzan Boy Darren. Last night Buddy Ward announced that the Reunion would remain in Ellesmere Port, also on 7th June. Both camps claim to have the support of the founder, Bob Bell, and both are at an advanced state of organisation with venues booked.

Reported by the Edinburgh Evening News 

14 March 2009

LOTHIANS man Robert Bruce, who became a celebrity in New Zealand as a wrestler, stuntman and showbiz agent, has died. He was 66.

Robert Bruce was born John Young in Musselburgh in 1943, to Joseph Young, a former lorry driver who worked for the local electricity board and bred dogs in his spare time, and his nurse wife Elizabeth.

The family lived in Victoria Terrace, overlooking Musselburgh race course, and Mr Bruce took part in horse-riding from an early age.

He attended Musselburgh Burgh Primary School then Musselburgh Grammar School along with his older sister, Merle Frame, who still lives in Musselburgh.

She said: "He did judo and seemed to quite like that sort of thing. He knew that wrestling was something he wanted to do, and maybe a bit of acting.

"When he was young he was quite a sickly child so you couldn't imagine him doing what he did."

When he was 12, he got to know some boisterous off-duty SAS men in Edinburgh, who taught him how to headbutt wooden doors and even concrete blocks without getting hurt.

After leaving school he trained as an accountant, but dreamed of a more glamorous career in the spotlight and later used his "financial canniness" to make business deals.

He gave up accountancy as a teenager and used his size – standing 6ft 3in tall and weighing nearly 20 stone – to get work as a bouncer in Edinburgh's dance halls.

Mr Bruce, then still known as John Young, moved to London in 1967 to become a police officer but began training with well-known Anglo-Italian Pasquale Salvo, and decided to follow his dream to become a wrestler.

In his early days in the ring, he was billed as Robert the Bruce, and would show up in the kilt, cashing in on the image of the brave-hearted Scottish warrior, applying the "Glasgow kiss" headbutt or his favourite move, the "caber toss".

Mr Bruce fought at Earl's Court, the Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall and captured the professional Empire and Commonwealth heavyweight title by beating New Zealander John da Silva in Brixton in 1972.

For the first rematch, Mr Bruce went to New Zealand where he married a Kiwi, formally took on the name Robert Bruce and decided to stay.

He cultivated the "bad boy" image but many fans didn't get the joke. He was once attacked with a knife, was regularly hit by opposing fans' beer bottles, had cigarettes stubbed out in his face and became partially deaf for life after an aggrieved fan bashed his ear with a full beer can in 1976.

When he retired in 1977, Mr Bruce first set up a bodyguard agency, Avant Guard, and a year later established New Zealand's first talent and theatrical agency.

Mr Bruce himself had a small role as a bouncer in a milk bar in A Clockwork Orange.

Mr Bruce and wife Lynn, who died from cancer in 2001, never had children and he is survived by his partner of seven years, Gabriella Larkin.

He supported the native Maoris, the disabled through Riding for the Disabled and animals as vice-patron of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Reported By ROCHELLE OLSON, Star Tribune

12th March, 2009
 
No charges will be filed against Verne Gagne, the Minnesota wrestling legend who has been implicated in the beating death of a 97-year-old man at the Bloomington care facility where the two men resided, the Hennepin County Attorney’s office announced at 3 p.m. today.
County Attorney Mike Freeman called the news conference at which the announcement was made. Representatives of the county medical examiner’s office and Bloomington police also were scheduled to be there.
Helmut Gutmann, 97,  died Feb. 14 of complications from injuries inflicted by Gagne during the attack Jan. 26 at the memory-loss unit of Friendship Village. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
Police investigated the death, and their report to the county attorney was expected this week.
Most observers thought charges unlikely because both Gagne, 82, and Gutmann had Alzheimer’s disease, which affects judgment and memory.
A portion of the police report, revealed Tuesday in a search warrant obtained for taking photos and collecting records at Friendship Village, said that Gutmann died in an “unprovoked attack” during which he was “grabbed, shaken and thrown to the ground” by Gagne.
The warrant added that Gagne had assaulted fellow Friendship Village residents at least twice in five months before the altercation with Gutmann.
Gutmann, a widely respected scientist and musician, fled to the United States from Nazi Germany in 1936. His widow, Betty Gutmann, still lives at Friendship Village.
Gagne, who was born in Corcoran, wrestled for the former Robbinsdale High School and the University of Minnesota, where he was an NCAA champion. In 1949, he began wrestling professionally and established the Twin Cities as the nation’s hub for the sport. He wrestled in and oversaw the American Wrestling Association.
Gagne played football for the Gophers in 1943, enlisted in the Marines and then returned to the U, where he was an All-America wrestler.
 

Reported By Crewe Chronicle

11th March, 2009

IN 1939 the king of wrestling came to the fore in Crewe in the form of Geoff Condliffe, aka Count Bartelli.

But while many recall the heady days of a Saturday afternoon ringside watching some of the greatest wrestlers of the time, some may have forgotten about one hidden gem - Lew Roberts.

The Crewe man, now 72 and living in Gresty Road, struck up a great friendship with Bartelli during his time on the circuit, during which he travelled across the country.

Lew recalls with fondness his exploits in the ring during a semi-professional career spanning 15 years.

He told the Chronicle: "I went into it a bit late, I was about 23 or 24, and did about 15 years in the business, although I didn't go for any titles.

"I mainly wrestled by myself, I only did tag team once because one guy didn't turn up and I stepped in for him."

Lew admits that match fixing in wrestling did go on during the 50s and 60s, but says it is not nearly as fake as the sport has become.

He said: "As far as fixed fights go it had its moments but the injuries were real enough. I once ended up in Cardiff Infirmary when I got dropped on my head during a match and got badly concussed.

"It's just too fake these days, it's not entertaining. It's a shame because I don't think it will ever get back to how it was."

Friend Peter Lowe, who supplied the photos, said: "Lou was on the circuit for some time, I've known him since our days together at Bedford St School and he was quite handy in the ring."

10th March, 2009

Reported bt JAY FELSBERG - Washington County News Managing Editor

THEODORE, AL – “Training is the most important thing,” wrestling great Danny Hodge told several young wrestlers Saturday. Hodge was one of many wrestling greats on hand at the annual Gulf Coast Wrestling Reunion, limited only to wrestlers and others directly involved with the business.

Hodge, the 1956 Olympic silver medalist, college champion and professional junior heavyweight world champion gave a quick demonstration to Milo, a young wrestler from New Heights wrestling in Florala, AL, of how easy it was to control a man with a wristlock. “You just do this and he comes along wherever you want,” Hodge said with a grin.

“That was incredible,” said Milo as he and others took in advice from one of the greatest amateur and professional wrestlers in world history.

Most of those present were from a different era of “old school” wrestling where heels and faces were never seen together in public, where “kayfabe” was maintained in storylines and the ring, and where most of the wrestling was on the mat and not in the air.

And that’s one reason for the reunion, started by the late Lee Fields on his property at the Mobile International Raceway. Young wrestlers meet legends of the sport and learn the traditions and techniques that brought success to their seniors.

Stars of the past and present on hand included Ole Anderson, Ronnie Garvin, Les Thatcher, Frankie Cain/The Great Mephisto, Percy Pringle/Paul Bearer, Donnie Fargo (reuniting with his old tag-team partner, Jim Dalton), Robert Gibson of the Rock N’ Roll Express, Bob Roop, Sandy Scott, Nick Kozak, Dick Breyer/The Destroyer, Mae Young, Joyce Grable, Donna Chrisiantello, Silento Rodriguez, Dick Steinborn, Jim Turner, Duke Myers and host of others.

There were plenty of stories told (many were true) and awards, skits and other entertainment as some of those in attendance saw people they hadn’t seen in many years. The Cauliflower Alley Club was also on hand to gather members and advertise their convention in Las Vegas.

Above all, it was time to meet and greet, and as the reunion’s slogan goes, “Where old grudges are forgotten and friendships renewed.”

Reported by New Zealand Herald reporter By Vaimoana Tapaleao 

March 6th, 2009

Lucky Bear, an SPCA outreach therapy dog, howls as Robert Bruce's coffin is carried from St Matthew-in-the-City after the funeral. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
The sound of bagpipes and the solemn howling of dogs rang out at the funeral of former professional wrestler Robert Bruce yesterday - showing off just two of his many loves.

As his honey-coloured coffin - draped with sunflowers and carried by some of New Zealand's famous entertainers - passed into the church, mourners wept and animals howled, paying tribute to the man who friends say achieved all he wanted in life.

Up to 100 people - many of them some of the country's best-known television figures - and a number of cats and dogs on leashes gathered at the Anglican church of St Matthew-in-the-City in Auckland to farewell the former wrestler-turned-celebrity agent.

The 65-year-old, who died on Monday, was known for his hard man antics as a professional wrestler in the 1970s. He later established the Robert Bruce Agency, which represented celebrities over the years, before becoming the vice-patron of the Auckland SPCA.

Many of those in the entertainment industry - including Temuera Morrison, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Jackie Clarke, Frankie Stevens and Robbie Magasiva - were among the mourners.

Mr Bruce's longtime partner, Gabriella, did not speak. However, those who gave eulogies spoke of a proud Scotsman who had a caring nature towards people and animals.
Temuera Morrison shared an insight into Mr Bruce's sense of humour.

When the agent called to tell him about the new gig he had scored for him, "I said, 'What you got for me brother?"' said Morrison.

"[Mr Bruce] said, 'Dancing with the Stars.'

"I said, 'Okay, make sure I win.'

"He said, 'Sorry, bro, they can't guarantee'."

Reported by New Zealand Herald reporter James Ihaka 

3rd March 2009

Robert Bruce's bad guy wrestling antics were so convincing a spectator once attacked him with a knife during the halcyon days of On the Mat. He also had bottles thrown at him and others tried stubbing cigarettes out on him.

But away from the biff and bash of pro wrestling, Mr Bruce led a life of loyalty, tenderness and compassion.He passed away suddenly yesterday morning after a short illness.He was understood to be in his mid-sixties.

His close friend, actor Temuera Morrison, said he had known Mr Bruce, who became his agent more than 20 years ago, "like a brother".He said he was a pillar in the film and television industry.

"He wasn't just our agent, he was our brother and everybody who knew him knew he had a strong sense of loyalty, it was probably because of his Scottish roots."He really cared for all of us, this was the man who went to China and brought Kevin (Smith) back," he said.

SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge said Mr Bruce was "a gentle giant", who was actively involved in promoting the welfare of animals and later became vice-patron of the Auckland SPCA.

He said the Scot would mentor young children at school assemblies around Auckland and would often visit the
elderly on behalf as part of the organisation's outreach programme."He was such a compassionate person," said Mr Kerridge."He could have quite easily crushed your skull in one hand and held a kitten in the other."

Born and raised in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, Mr Bruce started wrestling in London in 1967. He later toured the world on various wrestling circuits before he ended up in New Zealand in the early 1970s."He was a very technical wrestler who learned in some of the best schools," said New Zealand wrestling legend,

John Da Silva, who first met Mr Bruce in the late 1960s in England."He was very, very tough ... he always conditioned himself well and rarely got out of shape."Wrestling historian Dave Cameron said Mr Bruce was an old-school technical wrestler who "knew every move in the book".He often played the bad guy - and played his part well."He was so bad and convincing that I think someone attacked him with a bottle as he was getting out of the ring ... on another occasion there were people who tried to stub cigarettes out on him."

His wrestling career was curtailed by elbow and back injuries but Mr Bruce, who had a bit-part in the 1970s movie A Clockwork Orange, continued his work in the acting industry and established the Robert Bruce Agency in 1978, nicknamed the Ugly Bruce agency.

Morrison said at that time his clients were his wrestling friends who later became pioneers in the local stunt industry."Whenever anyone needed some ugly people or some stunt work or fight sequences they called the ugly agency."

"Of course later on he got people like Kevin Smith and Cliff Curtis and the image improved," he said.

Mr Bruce is survived by his long-term partner, Gabriella. His funeral arrangements are still being decided.

Reported  by Wrestling Heritage.

15th February, 2009 

Barnsley's Midge Manto, now living in Teneriffe, is today (15th February) celebrating his 78th birthday. Happy birthday Midge.

Reported  by Wrestling Heritage.

13th February, 2009 

Paul Riley has reported that his brother, ex wrestler Spike O'Reilly, sadly passed away on 12th February. O'Reilly, a plumber from Langley Mill was a formidable wrestler who learned his trade in the Royal Navy.When he left the Royal navy,as their light heavyweight champion in the late fifties, he quickly turned to professional wrestling, and met the likes of Randolph Turpin, Shirley Crabtree and Jack Cassidy.

The Bad Old days Will End    is a lighthearted political blog written by one of our readers. We make no judgements about the politics, but there are some interesting wrestling pieces including Ray's latest offereing "The gloves come off - and the show goes on. "  Link on heritage International page.

Wrestling Heritage reported

An agonising death for a service engineer! A pest control technician destroyed beyond recognition! A priest mercilessly crucified! The disappearance of a clairvoyant! A terrifying link secret links them all. But what is it?

Salem, Massachusetts, 1691: An ancient curse is placed upon a group of witch-hunters.

England, Present Day: The curse is still active: the couple caught up in the terrifying ordeal face a fight to the death for their survival.

Read the new book by ex wrestler Ray Clark.

Reported by Tom English in Scotland On Sunday

18 January 2009

WHEN DIRTY Dominic flung the bucket across the ring in Preston that night there was only one place he wanted it to land – flush in the face of Wild Angus Campbell. Poor Angus never stood a chance. The missile crashed into his sizeable forehead and in no time the big man was a bloodied mess, staggering on to the ropes, stumbling under the ferocity of Dominic's dastardly blows.

The packed arena went wild with anger. Boooo! Over and over they shouted their support for the beloved Highlander. Angus! Angus! Angus!

Angus rallied and unleashed a vengeful attack on his opponent. Then disaster struck. Dirty Dominic's sneaky sibling climbed into the ring, shoved the referee to the floor and a brutal mismatch was set. "Such was the commotion," said one eye-witness, "that few fans noticed a movement from the back of the hall. A heavy-set figure emerged and hurried towards the ring. Despite the heat the man was wearing a thick overcoat. He pushed his way through the crowd. It took a moment or two but slowly people recognised him. Here was someone who could bring justice to the night. This was Angus's wrestling brother, Mad Jock Campbell, arriving to save Angus from further punishment."

Wild Angus and Mad Jock laid waste to the Pye boys. Oh, how they loved it in Preston and in Cleethorpes and Rhyl and Bridlington and Barnsley and every other corner of the land. Either together or apart the Campbells played hundreds of towns in England, Wales and Scotland from 1960 onwards. Mad Jock was good but Angus was always the star, the one they queued up to see. On more than 50 occasions in the early days, before he took other continents by storm, he wrestled in Scotland, in all sorts of grim but throbbing places in Aberdeen and Dunfermline, Airdrie and Paisley, Kirkcaldy and Perth and Lochgelly. And, of course, in his hometown of Inverness.

What brings him to mind now? Angus is dead four years. Passed away in Stranraer apparently. Lived out his last years as a park ranger for the council, or so it's said. With Angus you were never quite sure what was real and what was not. His name for a start. Frank Hoy was who he really was, Enniskillen in Northern Ireland was his true birthplace, not the Highlands as he claimed for every day of his 25-year career, an extraordinary span that saw him feted in Japan and America, Canada and Germany, Madagascar, Mauritus and Iraq. He'd wear his tartan tam atop his huge head and his kilt over his leotard and though he didn't say much he always had time for an "och, aye" or an "I dinnae ken". People would say, "hey Angus, I liked your Bearhug tonight" and he'd say, "that's nae Bearhug laddie, that's ma Glasgow Deathgrip!"

Angus and Mammoth Ian Campbell were rivals back then. They'd wrestle for the right to be called The One True Scot, even though Ian had a slight advantage in that he was born and bred in Dunfermline and had become well-known in 1964 for wrestling Stan Ogden in an episode of Coronation Street, throwing the lazy so-and-so clean out of the ring and into the lap of his young wife, Hilda. Ian was popular but Angus was on a different level. Even now he is talked about abroad as the Scottish legend and features prominently on the Wrestling Heritage website. "He may not have been born in Scotland," says Frank Earl, a friend who wrestled under the name of Earl Black, "but I can tell you that he loved the country and loved being seen as Scottish. Probably why he went to live there and die there. Amazing man, Angus. Hehehe, oh, I could tell you stories..."

Why are we writing about old Angus? Because wrestling's cool again, haven't you heard? We're interested because Mickey Rourke has put the game back in the mainstream in his potentially Oscar-winning performance as a has-been champ in The Wrestler. All the old boys are going to get another airing soon; Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, Kendo Nagasaki, Mick McManus.

Angus was in the ring with the lot of them but in the peak ITV years he was away doing his thing abroad. From 1971, in America and Canada and Japan, he transformed himself into a bad guy, a heel. That is where the legend of Wild Angus, the crazed Highlander, was written, where he appeared in nearly 500 bouts, where he won notoriety and titles and earned good money for many years.

It was all staged, of course. The outcomes were arranged but plenty of it was not. If you're thinking Big Daddy then think again. That was wholesome fun compared to what Angus encountered. Out there in the rough houses of North America some strange things went on. Have a listen to Frank Earl.

"Me and Angus shared a flat and so we drove everywhere together, usually me behind the wheel and him sleeping in the back. We covered what they called The Loop, a 2,500-mile territory starting off in Calgary. We'd do it in a week, from town to town. Sometimes in winter, there were blizzards and it was hard going. The two of us would talk when he was awake. He was a religious man who trained to be a priest in his early days. He had a wife and six kids (his widow lives a quiet life in Scotland) but we'd talk about them a little. Often we wouldn't see another car after we left a remote place called Regina. More than once we hit a deer as it crossed the road and the car was ruined. One freezing night we were rescued by some wrestling dwarfs who had been on the bill in Regina. If it was not for them we would have frozen to death. The deer had disabled the engine so we couldn't even put the heater on."

At that stage of his career, Angus was the centre of attention at the main event in Canada, the Stampede Corral, held in a huge barn of a place that was used to stable horses and bulls for their indoor rodeos. He was now well-known, a baddie who drew crowds in their thousands, sometimes in their tens of thousands.

"It was during rodeo week in 1971 that Angus started a riot," says Earl. "He was the main man then. Clearing a right few quid he was. His very appearance fired up the crowd. The announcer would be like this...'From the Highlands of Inverness, it's Wiiiild Aaaaangus' and the place would erupt against him. What a showman, staring everybody out in his kilt. Magic.

"That night he'd just won a match against Carlos Colon but remained in the ring and stomped Carlos some more. One of the 'good guys' ran into the ring but was battered by Angus. Another went in but Angus clobbered him, too. Carlos Colon reappeared with his bleeding head bandaged but Angus ripped off the bandage and strangled him with it. It was too much for the fans and they piled into the ring to attack Angus. Kurt Von Hess and I tried to stop them but the mob attacked us, too. We were slipping and sliding on cow dung and horse piss. The animals were kicking out and biting. A huge bull got loose and charged about.

"The mob was still driving us back but Angus found a wooden yoke for oxen. It was six feet long and thick as a roof beam. He picked it up and swung it round his head, clearing a path. We got into a safe place and stayed there until everyone went home."

The threat of the crowd was real for they bought into everything they saw, believing it to be real, convinced that not only was Angus a bogey man from the wilds of Scotland but that he deliberately inflicted pain on his opponent. Incensed by the theatre, the fans could fire darts or squirt bleach or draw knives. Angus got bitten, got hot coffee thrown over him. Old biddies would sometimes arrive with a brick in their handbag and when the opportunity arose they'd let the villain have it with all their force. Often times there was more danger outside the ring than in it.

The cash was good, though. That was Percival A. Friend's department. Percival, "the epitome of wrestling managers", brought Angus to America in late 1971 and they were a team, as tight as could be. He had all sorts of guys on his books; Harley Race, Nature Boy Kirby, The Great Togo, Tokyo Joe, JB Psycho and Tank Patton but Angus – or Black Angus as he was known in the States – was the main draw.

"Me and Angus, we travelled all over the place," says Percival. "I bought a brand new Cadillac in 1972 and within 10 days we'd put 12,500 miles on it, me and him. He'd wrestle in front of 4,000 in Kansas City one night, then 9,000 in Wichita, then 12,000 in Des Moines. In our first nine months together my end of it came to $75,000. I had all the important papers in my briefcase and I'd take that into the ring with us, scowling at the fans all the time. Oh yeah, we were hated, the two of us. You know about the night Angus beat Danny Little Bear in '72, right?"

Right. Angus won the heavyweight title against Little Bear. "The fans loved Little Bear. When Angus made his way to the ring they spat at him and threw their beer at him and subjected him to terrible abuse. They just didn't understand us at all. We were gentlemen of the highest quality. Angus won and all hell broke loose. It took 19 uniformed officers to get us back to the dressing room."

Angus's life was nomadic for the next 20 years, flitting between America and Japan and Germany and every one-horse town in Britain. In the mid 1980s he called it a day. He'd been at it for a quarter of a century by then and he'd had enough of it. There was no fun appearing down the bill in Wolverhampton, no money in being the support act in Bracknell. He retired to a life of anonymity in Stranraer, an adopted son of Scotland who said nothing of his former life, who went about his business in the kind of peace and quiet that was a world away from what he was used to when the sight of his kilt was enough to spark a rampage.

"He was not a Scot but he is remembered that way by millions," says Percival, "and I'm telling you this for a fact, he would be proud of that." 

http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/

Reported by Wrestling Heritage.

3rd January, 2008 

Wrestling Heritage was visited 23,158 times in December, 2008, compared with 16071 visits in December 2007.

In the period October to December 2008, 64,669 visits were made to the site compared with 40,591 in the same period in 2007.

The total number of visits to the site in 2008 was 235,463 compared to 111,322 in 2007.

Reported by Stuart Wilson

9th January, 2009

HE’S LIVING the boyhood dream in Florida’s Sunshine State.But wrestling star Drew Galloway couldn’t wait to jet back to Prestwick for his mum’s home cooking.

The WWE grappler is enjoying a flying visit to see family and friends who haven’t seen him for 15 months.But some things never change – with 17½ stone Drew eating mum Angela out of house and home.

She laughed: “We had to make a trip to the cash and carry before he arrived to buy in piles of food.

“We got £45 worth of steak and the same amount of chicken – and he’ll eat all of that in nine days.

“My food bill is huge again but it’s been so great to have him back, especially at Christmas.”

Drew, 23, is making big waves in America after leaving Ayrshire to sign for the wrestling giants.

Billionaire promoter Vince McMahon has turned his company into a worldwide phenomenon, with Drew travelling the globe to perform in front of sell-out arenas.

Now the former Prestwick Academy pupil is honing his skills at the organisation’s training base in Tampa in preparation for a run on American network TV.

Drew revealed: “When I first arrived in the States, they liked what they saw and put me on TV within a few weeks.

“I was in at the deep end but it was amazing. Then I went down to Florida where we have a training camp and a weekly TV show.

“I’ve been travelling on the road with all the top stars who I used to watch when I was a kid – and they’re really down to earth guys.

“It’s great to hang out with people like John Cena, Triple H and The Undertaker; to get advice from those guys is so cool.

“Everyone’s been great with me and given me lots of encouragement. I just have to stick at it and wait for my chance to be called up.”

Now Drew is heading back across the water to try and crack the big time – but he admits to missing the comforts of home.

“I’d take Scotland with me if I could,” he admitted.

“The only thing I don’t miss is the weather, but coming home this Christmas was great because it was the first time since I left 15 months ago that I saw everyone.”

For the latest on Drew’s progress at the WWE camp in Florida, visit www.fcwwrestling.com

Reported by The Leamington Spa Courier.

5 January 2009

Former world champion boxer Frank Bruno was among the sportsmen at a charity black tie dinner at the Nailcote Hall Hotel near Berkswell.More than 200 guests had the chance to meet Mr Bruno and boxer John H Stracey in an evening compered by ITV World of Sport wrestler Tony 'Banger' Walsh.

The event raised £2,500 for the Gentlemen's Night Out charity, which helps sick or disabled children or their parents.

Other boxing and sporting characters from the Midlands were present including former British boxing champion Pat Cowdell, trainer Paddy Lynch and Aston Villa footballer and European Cup winner Andy Blair.

Comedian Mal Rich entertained the guests and snooker player Willie Thorne auctioned several items of boxing memorabilia in aid of the charity.

Nailcote Hall proprietor Rick Cressman said: "It was a real treat for everyone to be in the company of these great boxing legends. Our next exclusive audience is on May 15 when the Ashes cricket series is the subject and Phil Tufnell is our guest of honour. It should be another great occasion."

Reported by the Corninsh press...

2nd January, 2009

20 Years Ago
Wrestling: Penzance is due to be hit by a full-bloodied body slam as some of wrestling's most famous personalities including 42 stone 'Giant Haystacks', the 'Masked Marauder', 'E; Bandito', 'Skull Murphy' and Dave Taylor all appear at St John's Hall.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

2nd January, 2009

2009 started with yet another countdown programme on ESPN Classic Sports, this time the nation's favourite sportsmen and women.

Coming in a very respectable 30th was Big Daddy, representing Classic British wrestling in his own way, if not ours.  Actually, he was eclipsed chiefly by a series of under-achieving England footballers, maybe his fair equivalent at a technical level.

Back in the sixties, Wrestling and Boxing went head-to-head for public attention, and even Cooper's not inconsiderable flooring of Clay in 1963 was deemed less noteworthy than Haystack's being flipped over the top rope.

Possibly not the precise flag-bearer readers of this site would have wished for, but refreshing to see that even in 2009 the wrestling we extol here still claims its rightful and unequivocally sporting place in the hearts of the nation."

Reported by Wrestling Heritage. 

1st January, 2009

The wrestling fraternity of the North East are mourning the passing of a popular wrestler of forty years ago. Eddie Fox passed away on Boxing Day. He was a well known wrestler in the North, well liked by fans and colleagues alike, during the 1960s and 1970s. He worked on the independent circuit mainly for promoters Don Robinson, Cyril Knowles, A&T, Les Prest and Dennis Lord. Eddie was in his late sixties.