Wrestling Heritage

Like so many before him Adolf Dabrowski travelled to Britain following the second world war. He joined a large number of his fellow countrymen and settled in the city of Coventry. A skilled French polisher by trade Dabrowski took up wrestling and turned professional in the early sixties, quickly billed as the Polish Hercules. His tactics did nothing to endear him to fans, being a rough, tough heavyweight villain of the independent circuit, tackling the likes of Pat Roach, Pete Roberts and Wild Angus Campbell in their formative years. Dabrowski passed away in March, 2006, and amongst those queuing up to pay tribute to the influence of this undeservedly overlooked bruiser was Tony Banger Walsh.

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He was not only one of the best middleweights of anywhere in the world (Charles Mascallrated him seventh greatest of all time) Jack Dale was also one of the principle architects of post war British wrestling.

As is so often the case it may all have turned out differently; we have much to thank fate for.  Wrestling mythology relates that in 1930 when Len Abbey was a promising young wrestler he helped out a promoter who had advertised a wrestler called Jack Dale without having anyone of that name to take part in the show.  Len pretended to be Jack Dale, and it turned out to be not just for one night but for the rest of his life; even his brothers assumed the name Dale.

Jack went on to fulfil his potential as a wrestler, taking the middleweight championship of Europe. He was a fast and exciting grappler, known as the “King of the Flying Tackle,” and naming the double wristlock as his favourite hold when feeling less energetic. Bob Archer O’Brien said there was no tougher wrestler. His skill was supplemented by remarkable strength for one so slight of build, developed by a rigorous weight training routine which he continued long after retiring as a wrestler.

One wrestler that Jack befriended with in those pre war days was a fellow Londoner named Les Martin. When the second world war ended Jack and Les spotted the potential of professional wrestling as a spectator sport. They put on their first show  at Beckenham with Jack Dale topping the bill.  With little money in reserve a failure at Beckenham would have meant a very quick end to Dale Martin Promotions. Fate stepped forward once again, and success at Beckenham was the start of Britain’s biggest and most influential wrestling promotion business.

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Mike Dallas was one of that multitude of talented 1960s wrestlers who had the skill, agility, looks, and regular tv exposure, but never really made it to the top. Born in Warrington, and trained by heavyweight Mick Millman.

Mike turned professional as an eighteen year old in 1965, losing to the heavier and far more experienced Ken Cadman.  He quickly established himself as one of the country’s most popular middleweights.

Dallas was a television favourite and met the big names such as McManus and Pallo before continuing his career in Australia, where he was crowned light heavyweight champion.

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Manchester’s Carl Dane was a popular heavyweight of the 1950s and 1960s, before turning his hand to refereeing at which he was equally successful. He wasn’t quite so popular when he pulled on a black mask and wrestled as The Outlaw. He is also remembered, particularly by fellow wrestlers, as mine host at the Robin Hood public house, close to Manchester city centre, as this was a place they often ended up following a bout at one of the many Manchester venues.

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Leeds born heavyweight Tarzan Boy Darren squeezes into the Wrestling Heritage years, but youth does nothing to lessen his justification amongst our pages. Tarzan Boy wrestled the likes of Giant Haystacks, Barry Douglas , Skull Murphy, and others we readily associate with the heritage years.

It was Barry Douglas that inspired Darren to become a wrestler when he watched him as a child at the Leeds Town Hall, and at that time he could never have imagined that not only would Barry become a good friend, but that one day he would hold victories over him in the wrestling ring.Little Prince and  Leeds legend Cyril Knowles, took Darren under their wings and trained Darren in the ways of professional wrestling.

The professional training was built on firm amateur foundations with Darren winning the Yorkshire Amateur Junior Heavyweight title and English Novice heavyweight title in 1981.

The first pro match came in March 1985, a memorable bout against Craxy Dave Adams.    What followed was a hectic career that took him around Europe, USA and Africa. In 1986 Darren began promoting his own shows, and became one of the biggest promoters in the north of England.

Tragically Darren's career came to an abrupt halt with a serious car crash in 2006. Whilst recovering from the accident, and with his passion for wrestling as strong as ever, Darren began to build up his wrestling memorabilia collection, which is now one of the largest in the world. Darren is still involved in British wrestling, advising the promoters of the Leeds Legends show, appearing on television and radio discussions, and organising the annual Leeds reunion with his friends Tony Kelly and Steve Fury.

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For the 1960s wrestling fan New Zealand’s John DaSilva made an impressive and memorable site as he entered the ring.

Those who were fortunate enough to see him in action will remember him well; here was gladiatorial elegance. Maori elegance at that, or so the promoters would have us believe.

Although a genuine New Zealander, born in 1934,  John’s blood was a cocktail of Portuguese, Spanish and Tahitian, but Maori he was not! His father, Ding DaSilva was a champion wood chopper in the1930s.

John DaSilva represented New Zealand in the 1956 Olympic Games and two years later turned professional shortly after representing his country in the 1958 Commonwealth Games. He was an immediate success in both Britain and Germany, quickly climbing the bill to main eventer.

Expereince in America, against top calibre men such as Whipper Watson, Buddy Rogers and Dominic DeNucci, was followed by a short visit home and then on to India. All of this within five years of turning professional! John returned to Britain in time to top the bill against Tibor Szakacs in the presence of Prince Philip, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh. Read about this contest in our "Royal at the Royalty" feature.

We guess that by then he would think he’d made it! John picked up sticks again in 1966 and headed back to New Zealand, destined to become one of their greatest heavyweight stars.

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A heavyweight of some note, meeting the likes of Bert Mansfield, Cab Cashford and Rex Gable he could be seen in rings of both the north and south, a notable achievement in those days.

When not billed as an Irish champion Dan was billed as the Welsh champion!

 When not wrestling he played supporting roles in films, including doubling for Jon Lodder in King Solomons Mines (1937). 

Dan served in the merchant navy for six years. Later in life, during the 1960s, Dan was a bouncer at the Playboy Club.

Not bad work if you can get it.

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Every  Mountevans era wrestling fan remembers the giant, smiling  round faced heavyweight Gwyn Davies.

Imagine a huge frame, immense strength, wrestling skill and a determination to win and you have a picture of Gwyn Davies. The baby face could not disguise the fact that here was a hard man who was willing to bend the rules when he deemed it necessary and towards the end of his career there was certainly a harder edge to his style.

Gwyn was trained by his father, the bearded ken Davies, and like dad took an interest in wrestling before turning to the professional wrestling ring. Early bouts included tag matches partnering his famous father.  His career was plagued with a recurring back injury, caused during a bout with Herman Iffland.

Following a short stint as British champion in 1966 it wasn’t until  Bill Robinson’s departure for North America in 1970 that Davies and Albert Wall began a duel for the top heavyweight spot that was to last a decade.

As a wrestler Davies relied heavily on his great strength and opponents were mercilessly punished until he ended it by extracting another submission. Often that submission came from the Davies Suspension Hold, in which opponents were caught in a double finger lock and lifted upwards. It looked very, very painful.

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Heavyweight Ken Davies grew a beard whilst serving in the navy during World war 2 and it became a trademark of the Maesteg wrestler.

Ken Davies combined professional wrestling with professional rugby playing, and it was his pursuance of a rugby career that led him to move from Aberavon to Yorkshire.

Davies was a big, rugged wrestler who competed with the top heavyweights like Assirati and Armstrong.  Like so many others wrestling seemed to be part of Davies’ genetic make-up that was passed to family members as he fathered another Welsh Heavyweight, Gwyn Davies.

Occasionally Ken  donned a mask and  wrestled as The Legionnaire. Fans have often mistakenly confused this Ken wilth Killer Ken Davies, the welsh welterweight. Only the names are the same.

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The balding ruffian Roy Bull Davis sneered and snarled at the fans, who did him the compliment of enthusiastically booing and jeering him.

Davis was a beefy, rugged type, with the  remnants of what was presumably once  a fine head of hair.

Although his  physique was not the sort associated with a fine athlete he was a far cry from the super heavyweights that later brought wrestling into disrepute.  

After serving in the merchant navy, where he learned the rudiments of the wrestling ring, and with a background of fairground booths  taking on all comers these were the skills that Plymouth’s Roy Bull Davis brought to the wrestling business.

This was an entry route to the sport that contrasted with the amateur background of most professionals, but lack of those credentials did him no harm at all.  Entry into the professional ranks came thanks to the ex wrestler and referee Dick the Dormouse, who promoted at Plymouth. When Dick and his wife moved to Manchester, promoting and refereeing at Belle Vue, Bull Davis was given the chance to share his ring style with appreciative northern fans.

He was a wrestler who  combined wrestling knowledge learned in the business with the cunning and skill of the experienced street fighter. Not to forget a great character, that made him a popular figure on any wrestling bill.   

Skilful technician, no, value for money crowd pleasing villain most definitely.  

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He looked in trouble, but then delivered the kind of magic that was not an illusion. Without warning, and seemingly from any direction South African Gerry de Jager would execute  a perfectly placed  drop-kick.

Although a master of all the holds for Gerry the drop-kick was his jewel in the crown, delivered with a speed that meant it was always a surprise weapon used to devastating effect.

He was a big, powerful man and his speciality combined that power with a natural agility and speed that belied his stature.   The popular 1960s heavyweight was said to have the fastest knock-out win on record, just twelve seconds.

Born in the Orange Free State, South Africa Gerry worked on his father's farm as a youngster, building up the strength and physique that was to prove invaluable in his chosen career. Gerry took up amateur wrestling in 1945, turned professional in 1948 and came to Britain in 1951.

For the best part  of the next twenty years but always returned to Britain where he was welcomed by fans.  

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Many fans remember Mike Demitre as an authorative referee who could deal with any situation. Refereeing was his second career, though as previously he was a popular wrestler who had turned professional in the 1930s.  In 1939 Demitre took the European Junior heavyweight title when he defeated Hungarian Stanislaus Karolyi.  Ten years later a 1949 win over The Farmer at Morecambe saw Demitre crowned world junior heavyweight champion., a title he retained until losing it to Mike Marino. Demitre continued wrestling until the mid 1960s, when he took up refereeing. 

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Read our extended tribute to Jack Dempsey Shining Stars: The Wigan Peer 

The Strongman nickname was appropriate for this Northern hardnut who resembled the Mighty Atom. Smaller than he appeared on television the biceps bulged and Dennison was always willing to use his strength to overcome opponents. After turning professional in 1958 Alan soon became a familiar face to the television fans  For many years he was one of the great bad men of the ring, but like so many the character mellowed in later years. He could change his style to suit the occasion but always gave value for money. In the 1960s The Dennisons team of Alan and Syd Cooper antagonised fans, especially when matched against the blue-eyed teams like the Royal Brothers and the White Eagles. When Cooper moved South it could have been the end, but his place was admirably taken by Hooker Ted Heath, the perfect replacement. A gentle and kind man Alan’s place in the nation’s heart was demonstrated when his untimely death was announced on the national television news.

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A name known to every fan of television wrestling as one half of Relwyskow and Green Promotions.

Before turning his hand to wrestling promoting George was an outstanding wrestler in a short lived 1930s career. Mind you, it was in his blood because his father, George F.W. De Relwyskow Snr, was one of wrestling's all time greats.

Naturally dad had a big influence on young Gerge, as did the former rugby player and all-in wrestler, Douglas Clarke. Having turned professional at twenty George gained a few years experience before defeating Rashid Anwar to take the British Empire lightweight title.

An injury whilst serving during the second world war brought his wrestling career to an early end. For wrestling fans that may have been for the best because following the war George and brother Doug (later a referee) turned their attention to car rallying and then to wrestling promoting.

It is for his contribution to wrestling as a pomoter, in which he formed a business partnership with Arthur Green, that George de Relwyskow is most often remembered.

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A stocky masked heavyweight of the early 1970s, and a regular of Wryton Promotions bills, who made little impact on the national scene. We understand that underneath the mask was accomplished heavyweight wrestler Jack Fallon of Wigan. His style was unexciting, though, and the masked Destroyer failed to rival contemporaries such as The Outlaw or Kendo Nagasaki.  Billy Stock, amongst a multitude of others, donned the mask and adopted the name on the independent circuit.

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Standing well over six feet tall meant that Ray Diamond was a man not easily messed with in either the classroom or the wrestling ring.

At Ferryhill Grammar School  he was PE teacher Mr Glasper (Ian)  but once in the ring he was transformed into Ray Diamond, the popular Middlesborough wrestler  trained by British mid heavyweight champion Norman Walsh at the St Lukes Amateur Wrestling Club.

Popular, that is,unless it was one of the nights that he donned a mask and the character of the White Angel, aided by his female assistant in her revealing costume. We are still searching for a photo of Ray Diamond the good guy, but in the meantime have come across this one of the masked Ray as the White Angel with the lovely Yvonne.

When neither wrestling nor teaching Ray could be found promoting wrestling throughout the north east.

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“The Doc” was a promising 1970s wrestler known to fans throughout the North and Midlands. Prior to turning professional he had trained at Bradford’s Hilltop Amateur Wrestling Club, with his friends Dave Barrie and Garfield Portz, and later at the Leeds club run by George de Relwyskow. With that sort of grounding he was destined for fame and fortune that failed to materialise. The nickname “The Doc” had been given to 1970s welterweight Michael Stocks by a workmate long before his July, 1970 professional debut, in which he lost to Ian Gilmoure. That match was at the Middleton towers, Holiday camp, Morecambe, and the Doc lost by two straight falls. Out of the ring The Doc was committed to charitable work as part of SPARKS (Sportsmen Pledged to Aid Research into Crippling). In the 1970s the bearded Doc seemed to many that he was destined for the top, but his ambitions were to remain unfulfilled. 

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We have little doubt that the name Doctor Blood was intended to capitalise on the success of the better known Doctor Death. If that was the plan then it was one that failed to fulfil any of its hopes. The white mask, rule bending tactics and lighter weight was never a serious contender for his nemesis, Doctor Death, who did eventually, and inevitably,   unmask him. Beneath the mask was Liverpool’s Terry O’Neill, though we have little doubt that there were other Doctor Blood’s on the independent circuit.

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The mysterious Doctor Death was arguably the most famous masked heavyweight of the 1960s.

The character became devalued due to frequent copying; as in the mid sixties numerous Doctor Deaths could be watched around the country every night of the week. Those who saw the original, though, were never in any doubt that they were watching the genuine article.

Billed as the mystery man from Hollywood USA, the original Doctor Death was the wrestling promoter Paul Lincoln.

Here was a man who could use blindside skulduggery and torment his opponents with punishing nerve holds to bring the fans to a frenzy.

The real mystery is how Paul Lincoln managed to create such a famous and well respected wrestling superstar without the aid of television exposure. 

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Most of those fans that still remember Joe  think of the dapper referee who kept control of thousands of contests in the 1960s and 1970s.

Before that Joe was a  very popular wrestler who followed his cousin, Mike Marino, into the wrestling business. With Italian parents Joe’s family name was Scala.

He was born in Bermondsey in 1922 and turned professional fairly late in life as a result of a diversion called World War 2.

Joe’s professional debut, in 1948,was against the visiting New Zealander, Russ Bishop. Jackie Pallo, Steve Logan, Vic Coleman, Johnny Peters and most other big names opposed Joe in  his twenty year career which reached an end in 1968.

Behind the scenes Joe penned much of the Dale Martin promotional material under his real name of Bob Scala, and co-authored “The Who’s Who of Wrestling,” a book of pen portraits of many big names, but mysteriously omitting some of the names that fans of the time expected.

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Memories of Barry Douglas are overwhelmingly of a hairy wrestler. That is unfair; Barry Douglas was a talented, aggressive all action wrestler.

With a very hairy back.

He came from famous wrestling stock, being the son of referee Douglas Relwyskow, grandson of Olympic gold medal winner George de Relwyskow Snr and nephew of wrestling promoter George de Relwyskow Jnr.

With those credentials you would have thought that young Barry might have been given a helping hand up the wrestling ladder, but that was not the case. No one could accuse the Relwyskow’s of giving Barry preferential treatment.

Barry used his considerable skill to remain a professional for more than five decades. He was an aggressive, all action fighter, relying on strength and submission holds, the Boston Crab being his speciality.

For the most part he stayed within the rules and was popular with fans. On occasions he would wrestle as masked men Battlestar and Bull Blitzer.

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Johnny Doulas was a Turkish Cypriot who wrestled as Doulas the Turk, unsurprisingly nicknmaed “The terrible Turk.” He started wrestling in the early 1930s, mainly in the south but not infrequently venturing into northern England. Unusually he seemed to remain very active during the war and following the end of hostilities worked almost entirely in the north until his returement in 1956.

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A strong contender for the title of Britain’s most under-rated wrestler Paul (sometimes Harry) Duval, was a powerful, muscular heavyweight. Heavyweight star Dwight J. Inglebergh told us he was, "A powerful and clever heavyweight."

Born in Montserrat Harry came over to the UK as a youngster and settled, like many of his countrymen, in the textile town of Preston.

Many of Harry’s bouts were preceded by a demonstration of the power of his lungs as he blew up a hot water bottle until it exploded.

For fans or promoters though, that was not enough, and neither was his terrific strength, submission style wrestling and considerable ability.

Wins over Prince Curtis Iaukea, Albert Wall, Pat Roach and Gwyn Davies, and even “The Wrestler” magazines prediction that here was the man most likely to succeed Billy Robinson,  were not enough to convince the promoters that here was a man with the potential to become one of wrestling’s post war greats.

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When Dynamite Kid appeared in the wrestling rings of the North in 1975 he caused a sensation.

Fans had never seen anything quite like this wrestler. Speed, athleticism  and  acrobatics were taken to a new level, but the boy could wrestle as well, trained by veterans Ted Betley and Jack Fallon. 

During the following three years he travelled the country, learning new skills like any other novice, but uniquely fearlessly developing breathtaking new aerial moved previously unimaginable to fans and opponents alike.

Three years later Dynamite Kid emigrated to North America where his innovative and unique style made him a legend of North American rings fondly remembered to this day.

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