C
We reach the letter C.
Pictured is one of the most popular heavyweight wrestlers of the
1950 and 1960, Dazzler Joe Cornelius.
He rightly has a place in our listings
Ten more names to remember, but have we chosen the right ten? Let us know.
Angus Campbell
Unruly hair and unruly natured Wild Angus was one of the great heavyweight villains of the mid to late twentieth century. Just when you thought he couldn’t get more villainous Angus had the tendency to do something even more outrageous, often resulting in an exit via the disqualification route. Following a successful career in the UK Wild Angus became an accomplished international traveller, gaining fame and notoriety throughout



The hugely popular Antiguan welterweight turned professional in 1958, working for the independent promoters, and was signed up by Joint Promotions in 1961. He had come to the

The small Rhondda Valley of Treorchy was famed for miners and singing, but not wrestling. Tony Charles did his best to change that, and as one of the top television stars of the sixties and seventies didn’t do a bad job. After becoming Welsh amateur welterweight champion and representing
Steve ClementsBlond haired
Steely faced Alan Colbeck was respected rather than loved by the fans. A dour, skilful welterweight whose style lacked vitality and excitement. He was, though, a talented wrestler who held British titles at lightweight, welterweight and middleweight, as well as the European welterweight title. Alan Colbeck began wrestling at the age of

The black tights and sequined capes were the trademark of the hugely popular Londoner, Dazzler Joe Cornelius From the moment he jumped over the top rope until the day he retired as undefeated
Jon Cortez
The elder (by two years) of the sensational Dulwich brothers who turned professional for Paul Lincoln Management in 1960. After joining Joint Promotions the brothers became instant television successes, often as a tag pairing, but
He was loved for his speed and agility, which may have disguised the fact that he was a very skilful technician to boot.
Pat CurryWhen he started out with the independent promoters, following an amateur grounding at Bolton Harriers AWC, Pat Curry was billed as “Smasher” Pat Curry of
1969 he caught the attention of the big promoters and signed to wrestle for Joint Promotions. The energy and skill were still there but, as was so often the case, Joint Promotions failed to capitalise on their new asset and Pat did not receive the push many Northern fans thought he deserved. That’s not to say that he didn’t have his moments. Pat was mixing it with the very best – Wall, Davies, Howes,
Beginning his working life in the coal pits of Yorkshire Shirley Crabtree followed in the footsteps of his brothers and father, and entered the world of professional wrestling. He wrestled under various names such as The Blond Adonis, Mr Universe and The Battling Guardsmen. After becoming the independent promoters British Heavyweight champion in 1960 he was harassed by Bert Assirati, who resented him claiming a title that he believed to be his own.. In this first phase of his career Crabtree tended to rely on his strength though did show more wrestling skill than when he returned to the ring in 1972, and soon to be transformed in to Big Daddy a couple of years later. Emotions run strong when the name Big Daddy is mentioned. Fans in equal parts seem to admire him as the man who saved wrestling in the mid seventies or destroyed it in the 1980s. Following a transitional period Big Daddy was firmly established as the Uks favourite wrestler by 1976. Wrestling became a diminishing feature of any Big Daddy bout and over-exposure led from Daddy arguably recruiting a fresh wave of fans to driving them all away, and the eventual withdrawal of television coverage.
Not the original Polish Eagle but the best known, Cracow's Johnny Czeslaw was genuinely poular with all fans and could breathe life into the dullest of opponents. We struggled to take him seriously when he played the villain's role. Weighing in around the fourteen stone mark he was well placed to face all the great names of his era which spanned twenty years from 1957. We were always puzzled that this man that crossed the iron curtain failed to travel to the far north of Lancashire and Yorkshire, but we loved him nevertheless. An occasional tagster with Ivan Penzecoff, and the most profuse of sweaters and grunters - but his vaguely gystapo-style shouts of "Schwein!" were always well received. Blazered Johnny Czeslaw was notable for always watching as much as he could of the other bouts... or perhaps he didn't like the dressing room atmosphere? He also genuinely seemed to enjoy his wrestling. Anyway, we all know this smiling shaven headed matman, so Wrestling Heritage is particular pleased to post this rarity of Czeslaw with hair.
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