Wrestling Heritage

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

2nd  June, 2009

Organisers of both the Ellesmere Port and Leeds Reunion have now updated their threads on the British Wrestling Forum http://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/forum.htm

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

1st June, 2009

We have had confirmation from the Leeds Reunion that it is taking place this Sunday as planned 

The Rothwell Sports and Leisure Centre,Wakefield Road,Oulton,Leeds, LS26 8EL

Presumably the Ellesmere Port event is also taking place but we have not received any further information from the organisers.

It would be reassuring to those wrestlers who do read Wrestling Heritage if both sets of organisers were to post a confirmation message in the forum....

Leeds 

Ellesmere Port

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 Wrestling Heritage

20th April, 2009 

Organisers of the Northern Reunion Leeds have announced that the Reunion will go ahead as planned on 7th June. One of the organisers, Tony Kelly, has posted a statement in the forum explaining how the current situation of two Reunions was arrived at. Please read the message in the pinned Northern Reunion at Leeds 7th June 2009 on the forum page.

Comments are welcome, particularly wrestlers intentions of which Reunion they plan to attend, but in view of the heated nature of this subject all contributors are reminded that posts must be positive, and abusive posts will be removed.

Reported by Wrestling Heritage

17th April, 2008 

News has been received from the daughter of Bob Bell that the Northern Reunion will go ahead as usual this year in Ellesmere Port for wrestlers and their guests. This will be held at  the normal venue at the Labour Club, Flatt Lane, Ellesmere Port Cheshire from 12noon . The news can be read in full in the pinned message Original Northern Reunion 7th June Ellesmere Port on the Forum page.

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 Wrestling Heritage

23rd March, 2009

The organisers of the Northern Reunion have today announced an impressive list of “definites” for the Leeds Reunion and said the event is definitely going ahead as announced some weeks ago. Invitations are in the process of being sent out this week and any wrestlers or those who foster and promote the well-being and continuance of British wrestling and have not received an invite should contact Tony Kelly on kellytony99@eircom.net

The Northern Reunion will be held on Sunday 7^th June at

The Rothwell Sports and Leisure Centre,

Wakefield Road,

Oulton,

Leeds, LS26 8EL

No further information has been received from the organisers of the Ellesmere Port Reunion which was announced on Saturday but if they inform us of their plans we will pass them on to wrestlers and fans via the Wrestling Heritage site.

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 

HG Stevens, a name known to most fans ofthe golden age as photographer for The Wrestler magazine, has developed a unique website recording the golden age of wrestling through his own photographs. The site contains hundreds of photographs taken between 1963 and 1972, all of very good quality and available for purchase.

http://hgstevens.ifp3.com/

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 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 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.