Wrestling Heritage

K

We reach the letter K, and that's definitely the Special K. There's so much talent in this gathering that even the likes of Kumali and Kwango have been squeezed out until next time round.

The popular Leeds middleweight was another who combined a career in wrestling with one as a farmer. What was it with wrestlers and farms, or public houses? After turning professional in 1962 the agile and skilful kaye was well placed to  capitalise on the benefit of television exposure. Northern based, with only sporadic raids into Dale Martin territory Kaye’s television appearances brought him popularity throughout the land. His poularity reached a peak when he joined forces with Ian Gilmour as the Barons tag team, which challenged the likes of the Royal Brothers and the Jet Set in the popularity stakes. Following his retirement Kaye became a highly respected referee.

Peter Kaye        

Ubiquitous Lancashire mid-heavyweight of the late sixties (left) who scaled down to middleweight in the seventies (right).  One of the most shown wrestlers on TWC reruns, almost to the point of over-exposure.  A profuse sweater who always gave 100% and displayed a whole array of holds.  Seemingly a genuine horseman and for ever associated inextricably with the foray into pro wrestling of controversial Show Jumping star, Harvey Smith.  For this feud he abandoned his Stubby Kaye persona and donned doublet and hose in creating Tally-Ho Kaye, complete with top hat and bugle.  Often seen in-ring training and dutifully going down to young starlets, but remember he was trained himself in the sixties by the great Jumping Jim Hussey.

Les Kellett

Every fan of the Mountevans era has a favourite memory of Les Kellett, whether it be his spectacular spin  through the ropes (falling backwards through the ropes and then propelling himself back into the ring), or making his opponent look foolish by feigning semi-consciousness and then sidestepping a blow at the last minute. It was this abilty to humiliate his opponent that gave Kellet his unique flair for pleasing the fans. Having turned professional in 1938, the outbreak of war soon curtailed Les's wrestling career. Returning to Britain after the war, and  living in Manchester, it was a chance encounter with wrestler Joe Hill which resulted in Les moving back to Bradford and devoting his energies to a full time professional wrestling career. By 1946 he was travelling the country and attracting new fans wherever he wrestled.   Outside the ring Les Kellet had the reputation of being a very hard man with a high pain threshold.   Stories abound of his no-nonsense approach to life, which he publicly admitted led to him being disliked by some in the profession.   Personal contentment came from running a small holding and café with his wife, Margaret. There was tragedy for Margaret and Les in 2000, with the untimely death of one of their two sons, David, who wrestled as Dave Barrie. Although Les's career continued until he was well into his sixties he remained a crowd pleaser until the very end.

Brixton heavyweight, one of the original Silent Ones alongside Mike Eagers.  He relinquished his place to tour New Zealand and was replaced by Danny Hegan, whom he then returned to partner when Eagers retired prematurely.  Nevertheless, his professional career highlights include a televised tag match alongside Masambula, another top-of-a-televised-bill against Les Kellett, and, in The Silent Ones, a famous Royal Albert Hall victory over The Untouchables.  Singles victims included dangerous Danny Lynch and Johnny Yearsley.

Previously he had chalked up perhaps one of the most impressive amateur records through the fifties, including two Commonwealth Games bronze medals, and finally retired undefeated when turning pro in 1958.

Kim Kendo

Possibly one of the most mysterious and apparently influential names in our listings.  This Lincoln Promotions lightweight wore martial arts gear in the early sixties before any other wrestler did, to be followed not so many years later by Alf Marquette, Kung Fu, Iron Fist and others.  As early as 1963 he was introducing British wrestling fans to the hitherto largely unknown expression “Kendo”, and this would also go on to form part of the name of at least a couple of well known heavyweights who started their careers later on.  Kim Kendo was a regular opponent, and at other times tag partner, of the likes of Jon Cortez, Zoltan Boscik, Johnny Williams and well known contemporary names, but seemed not to make a successful transition after Lincoln and Dale Martin merged at the start of 1966.  Photo kindly supplied by Wryton.

Wrestling Heritage curators remain on an ongoing archaelogical mission studying the impact and influence of this little mentioned wrestler.

George Kidd

Kiwi Ernie Kingston

Lanky Sussex-based equestrian and 6"5" heavyweight wrestler whose features assured him a movie role as Frankenstein’s Monster.  In-ring master of the spinning cradle hold, this New Zealander faced all the great heavyweights of British wrestling in a two-decade career that came to an end in 1970.

Mal Kirk

Menacing super-heavyweight with his own immobile and then suddenly frantic style.  Tagged at outset with Paul Luty, the pair pictured right.  At a competitive level Mucky Mal peaked with his 1971 final showing in the annual Royal Albert Hall Tournament Trophy, defeating Mike Marino by a straight fall in qualifying, the bout pictured left. 

He spent much of the mid-seventies wrestling in Germany and had most success in the North West, triumphing in the 1977 Oldenburg tournament and the following year's in Bremen.

The Yorkshire miner bulked up to 25 stones in the late seventies and became billed as Kojak Kirk and King Kong Kirk in the UK, his diligent work downgraded by tacky promoters.   For all his ferocity he was greatly loved by the fans, notable amongst whom is Simon Waters.   Died a tragic death in ring, reported throughout the tabloid press.

Bob Kirkwood

Rising sixties star and Portsmouth adonis within Paul Lincoln Promotions where his clean cut image contrasted with the exotic looks of his opponents such as The Wild Man of Borneo.  A frequent visitor ito France where he tagged with necomer Wayne Bridges as Les Incorruptables. He then settled into a utility role for Dale Martins post 1966, regularly facing the likes of Torontos, Elijah and Czeslaw. On Wrestling's Night of Nights it was Bob Kirkwood and Les Kellett (see above) who teed off the 8 bout extravaganza.   A smiling personable grappler who plied his trade understatedly, and generously sold The Exorcist’s claw in that masked wrestler’s 1974 television début.  See also Armchair Corner:  "Smiles without Frontiers".

John Kowalski

This Hampshire Farmer managed to participate in the Helsinki Olympic(trial)s that had eluded Alan Garfield (q.v.), but on two wheels in 1956.  Went on to be trained for the ring by Bruno Elrington, though never as threatening, and we were uncomfortable when promoters billed him as Killer Kowalski after an American of the same surname.  Seldom outstanding but always in work thanks both to his size – well suited at 6’4” to pose a credible threat to even the most awesome opponents, such as Rocky Wall, left – and to that hallmark of many underated pros, the ability to switch believably from hero to villain according to the opponent, just like Prince Kumali, who will join him here in the choc-a-bloc K listings soon - but see Armchair Corner for now. 

Kung Fu