E

Ten of the best beginning with the letter E.

Big Bruno Elrington just had to be included in our top ten. The Goliath of 1960s wrestling rings. Despite all his efforts we just couldn't help but love him.

Who would you add to our choice?

Mike Eagers

Johnny Eagles

Only one wrestler entered the ring with a geisha girl on each arm. Yes, and an eagle on his chest, a tiger and a couple of soldiers. The wrestler was Johnny Eagles, the popular Mancunian welterweight whose body was covered with a dozen tattoos, geisha girls included. Apart from those tattoos Eagles was known for a rather snazzy range in dressing gowns, and some lightning speed dropkicks. Born in 1935, with the name  Roy Boyd, he trained at Rileys gymnasium under the watchful eye of Dick the Doormouse, Johnny Eagles made his professional debut by losing to Ray Kimba  at Hyde Town Hall. Johnny was a tv favourite, both in singles contests and as one half of the White Eagles tag team. Wrestling took him around Europe, Africa and America, where he died in 1999, aged just 64. Johnny holds Colin Joynson in a back hammer with his feet.

Jim Elder

Dundee’s Scottish Lightweight Champion seemed a very promising prospect in the early 1960s. A skilful wrestler he rarely travelled far south of the border. He entered wrestling following completion of his national service and trained in Dundee alongside other Scottish professional such as George Kidd, Ted Hannon and Chic Purvey. Jim’s professional career was shortened by other interests, and the world of wrestling prematurely lost another potential star.

John Elijah

One Biblical name wasn’t enough for the 17 stone Bearman from Walthamstow, who was known as both Elijah and Elisha. He turned professional in 1970, beating Bob Kirkwood at Folkestone, following an amateur career at the Sparta Wrestling Club, Shoreditch. John shared wrestling with a job in the carpet trade, which he moved on to after working in the advertising business. His slow, ponderous style failed to excite fans. This didn’t present him having a long, busy career, and respect from promoters as a reliable and dependable wrestler.  

Elmo

One of those tough men in the ring and a gentle giant outside the ropes, that was Elmo the Mighty, otherwise known by his real name of Jim Foy. Born in 1904, Elmo was one of the great characters of professional wrestling for close on twenty years, from the mid 1940s until his retirement in 1963. Born in Bolton he was brought up in the hard tradition of Lancashire style wrestling and was Lancashire Heavyweight Champion before he turned professional. During his career Elmo travelled throughout the country and wrestled all the greats like Black Butcher Johnson, Jack Pye, and Bill Benny. Jim Foy died in 2000.

Big Bruno Elrington

Bruno Elrington might well have been a big package, but it was a package that packed in all the necessary ingredients to be a top rated wrestler. We don’t recall any fan being critical of Bruno Elrington. Whilst some loved to jeer him as a rule bender others loved him because he could, and did, wrestle. His height and weight, around 20 stones, caused an interest, but so did his speed and agility that was surprising for a man of his size. His strength and power moves were admired by many, but so was his wrestling skill. Bruno had an enormous ring presence and  he made a fearsome site as he climbed into the ring. But fans always realised that here was a generous, warm hearted man, and had a special affection for him even in his most villainous of days. Bruno was at his notorious best when he turned professional for Paul Lincoln Management. He mellowed later in his career and was rewarded with winning the Royal Albert Hall Trophy in 1969, and succeeding Al Hayes as Southern England Champion.

Ken Else

Another of those wrestlers who really knew the business but never made it to the big time. In Ken’s case this might have been because he spent so much of his career tearing around the world, with Australia being a favourite haunt of his. Indeed Stockport’s Ken spent much of his professional life living in Australia, where he not only wrestled but also promoted and trained youngsters. Seeing him in the ring fans were of no doubt that here was a man with considerable skill. He was one of those wrestlers that didn’t actually break the rules but was never a true blue eye. A bit more colour, a more sustained campaign in Britain and Ken Else could by now have been remembered as a post war great.

Johnny “Mr Muscles” England

A shooting star with high impact but vanishing as quickly as he appeared. Johnny England created a minor sensation when he first appeared on television. His arrogant nature, tendency to sneer at the fans and predisposition to punctuate bouts with displays of his physique antagonised those who had paid their hard earned cash. And they loved every minute of it. Those who knew him testified to what a nice man he was, but his wrestling personae of the mouthy big head was one he carried off to perfection. Fans did admire his wrestling skill, and an ability to outwit far more experienced opponents.  His prominence seemed short lived, but he did continue in the wrestling business long after leaving Joint Promotions.

Sam Evans

It’s not unknown for a sportsman to turn to wrestling as a second career. That was the case for the burly 1960s heavyweight Sam Evans. Sam was known to rugby followers as a player for Hull Kingston Rovers and Wakefield Trinity before turning to wrestling in 1962. The initial interest aroused by his fame as a professional rugby player was sustained when he showed that he had the natural ability to succeed in the rough and tumble world of professional wrestling.

The Exorcist

A black cape, a bible and a candle were the hallmark of The Exorcist.  Not to mention the exaggerated limp as he walked towards the ring. Masked men abounded in the Mountevans wrestling era……. Some, like Nagasaki, were born into greatness, whilst others were short lived attempts by promoters to lure a gullible public.  The Exorcist fell into neither category. Despite his clearly identifiable personae and wrestling ability The Exorcist never caught the imagination of the paying public. Beneath the mask of The Exorcist was a fine wrestler, Clayton Thomson,  who gave up the gimmick without being unmasked. The Exorcist character returned in the mid 1970s with Gordon Corbett behind the mask.