Born Murray Downs in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Little Bruiser was the only son among four sisters. The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1) by. The forgotten heroes of Midget Wrestling: Vintage photos from the 60s and 70s, Oliver Reed as a prototype Alex from A Clockwork Orange in These are the Damned, I Have No Desire To Be Nico: Post-Punks Muse Of Manchester, Linder Sterling. 5. When he left New Zealand after he signed with the WWWF in 1972, he quickly became a big star, earning the 1973 PWI Rookie of the Year. Oldest British wrestler in history, Second oldest worldwide. The '60s: With Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles, Jerry O'Connell, Jeremy Sisto. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! Keg bitters on draught. 1 contender to Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, but he always fell short, and he greatly contributed to put the champ over in the process. Copyright is owned by the creators of text and photographs. When it debuted, everyone in the world was like, "That's it! But the mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. He died of cancer in 1990, aged 53. Despite he never broke out of the tag team division, he was very over with the fans, and he was one of the best technical wrestlers of his time. Rogers mostly worked for Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the promotion that was the ancestor of the new WWWF created in 1963; he then became the first world champion on April 29 the same year. Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Wrestled in her last match in a tag team match with Stormy Apple as they lost to Josie Navarro and Margaret Garcia at Ladies International Wrestling Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. Due to the lack of complete records, it is believed that Farmer Pete was World Champion for seven days in 1957, after beating Sonny Boy Cassidy, who won the title back in a rematch in October the same year. Discover 100 Huge Hits of the 60s & 70s by Various Artists released in 2007. Matthews trained as a shooter (a wrestling term that describes a wrestler with a legitimate fighting background), and he often defended prize money against members of the public. Worthington 'E' Ind Coope Double Diamond Draught (launched 1962) Whitbread Tankard (launhed 1957) Watneys Red Barrel Wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks thrilled kids with their bouts, not to mention a remarkable number of their usually peaceable grandmothers. He toured across America with fellow wrestlers and held several championship titles. The long-running debate over the best Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s finally ends in this article. Worked as Purple Haze. He won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship in 1976 with one of his students, Big John Studd. One built a reputation just meeting him in the ring. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. The free-form music expression of jam bands became a monumental part of hippie culture in the 60s. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. Cause of death: Heart attack, Tony St. Clair v Doug Joyce- WRESTLING HERITAGE, Steve Veidor vs Kendo Nagasaki 1969 - WRESTLING HERITAGE. Apr 21, 2020. With two different partners (Professor Tanaka and Mr. Saito), he managed to have five reigns as Tag Team champion, for a total of 932 days. He got his big break in the United States in 1996, competing in WCW as the Loch Ness Monster. After testing his trade in carnivals and holiday camps, Darren soon gained exposure working for ITVs World of Sport, like many others on this list. Oldest surviving Mexican women wrestler. On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund reached the top of the mountain when he won the WWF Championship against "Superstar" Billy Graham in what was declared "The Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. The number one hit singles in Australia in the 1960s 1960: 'It's Now Or Never', Elvis Presley 1961: 'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door', Eddie Hodges 1962: 'Good Luck Charm', Elvis Presley 1963: 'I Want. Former. Click here to watch the only excerpt I found of Backlund winning the WWWF Championship and click here to watch him against Pat Patterson in a cage match in 1979. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s2 of 18. The list is about where the wrestlers were born not where they wrestled. The current oldest living in the wrestling industry is Bill Mercer from the United States. The former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion last wrestled. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. No matter where he wrestled, Koloff generated heat like no other with his Russian gimmick, all that right in the middle of the Cold War. Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. In 1986, he won the The Best Gimmick of the Year award from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter a prize that has been held by the likes of The Undertaker and Goldust. Joy Division. He was in movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, and played Bomber in TV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. The iconic villain had a mysterious past, Samurai skills, supernatural powers and a cheap red face mask. If it was not really his fault, it was still the birth of a legend. Also has trained many wrestlers like. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are noted according to the approximate date of the information, usually three or four months prior to the publishing date, in order to give a better idea of why the wrestlers may be ranked. wrestlingheritage.co.uk. Wrestled his last match for Bay Wrestling Federation in Alameda, California, teaming with his son Shane Kody and his grandson Riot defeating Boom Boom Comini, Johnny Starr and Mr. Many icons paved the way to what would become an empire in the world of wrestling. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages. In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. Wrestled his last match for NWA Wrestle Birmingham, in Birmingham, Alabama. However, at the end of the decade, he could not get rid of his "Sammartino's Protg" label, and he turned heel, to eventually leave in 1981. A former tag partner of Big Daddy, they became huge ring rivals. ITVs World of Sport was a household name in Britain, where it saw millions of viewers weekly. Although some of the wrestlers we detail below broke through to major promotions during their time in the business, often, they arent given the recognition they deserve. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. There's no Buddy Rogers WWWF footage available but click here to watch a little gem from the '50s between him and Johnny Valentine. As his nickname "Crazy" suggests, he portrayed a deranged persona who covered his ears and claimed he was not insane when someone made allusion to his craziness. Look no further, get it all here! Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967. Kelly O'Sullivan Senior Editor Kelly O'Sullivan is the senior editor for The Pioneer Woman and manages the website's social channels, in addition to overseeing content strategy and news. 41.88, Davey Boy Smith is the 2nd most famous British Wrestler. 1 Billy Robinson 2 Dynamite Kid 3 Davey Boy Smith 4 Danno O'Mahoney 5 Mick McManus 6 Steve Casey 7 Jackie Pallo 8 Bert Assirati 9 Billy Joyce 10 Big Daddy 11 Kendo Nagasaki 12 George Kidd 13 Lord Alfred Hayes 14 Adrian Street 15 Douglas Clark 16 William Regal In the '70s, this was hands-down the most romantic song on the radio. The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish-born American wrestler Abe Coleman (19052007), who lived 101years, 189days. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Billy the Kid with Cowboy Bob Bradley (aka Robert Bradley). Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Owns Pro Wrestling America. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. Click here to watch Bobo Brazil taking on his nemesis, The Sheik. Through a succession of promoters, the. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. Peter Thornleys version of the character remained a household name throughout Britain, but most Americans and Japanese fans associated the character mostly with Kazuo Sakuradas version. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Joint Promotions was a collection of promoters who became all powerful by using their collective force to create a stranglehold over all those who worked for them. Whenever not on tour overseas, Rocco would continue to compete for All Star Wrestling back home in Britain for the remainder of his career, which would last into the early 90s. Are you looking for a specific British Wrestler? Like everything on Wrestling Heritage this is a developing project and we welcome additions and corrections. The Gentleman, as he was known, still did get his due in other less mainstream promotions such as the Global Wrestling Federation, where he won the GWF Heavyweight Championship twice in 1994. In pictures: Mick McManus and the stars of the British wrestling FOLLOWING today's news of the passing of Mick McManus, one of the stars of ITV's World of Sport wrestling, we look back on. If the whole clan of the Valiant Brothers is inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, Johnny is the one who embraced the most success. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. These promoters were commonly known as the independent or opposition promoters. aaaaaahhhAndre the Giant one of my chidhood heroes, Davey "The British Bulldog" Smith November 27, 1962- May 18, 2002 Smith, who shot to fame wrestling as the British Bulldog in the World Wrestling Federation, was trained by the legendary Stu Hart. Here is where he would meet Robbie Brookside. score: 3,050 , and 31 people voted. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: However, on many occasions, he was caught at his own game, and it ended in a bloodbath after his rival returned the illegal object against him. He also had many great matches against British wrestling greats such as Fit Finlay and Mick McManus. From his debut in 1973 and for the rest of the decade (in fact until 1987), Andre was one of the most beloved wrestlers and the most well known across the planet. ), Mick McManus, Billy Two Rivers (real life father of designer Wayne Hemmingway) and many more. He, however, was a considerable draw himself. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). Wrestled for WWF from 1999 to 2000, 2004 and 2010. published 12 September 2017. Born in Golborne, Lancashire, Smith is best known for his appearances in the United States with the then World Wrestling Federation . He wrestled for Pacific Northwest, Stampede, NWA, and WWWF. Wrestler Movie Appearances You May Have Missed! The past few years have seen a rapid rise in interest in underground British rock music of the late 60s . Sadly, his fame and glory in the British circuit were cut short. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove. On an interesting side note, Santino Marella's name is a tribute to Monsoon, who's real name is Robert Marella. Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England. Wrestling was the sort of place you could take your grandmother or aunt. The former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s and had careers that spanned decades, including winning the NWA Tag Team Championship several times during their career. Knowing every heel tactic in the tag team action environment, he became the manager known as "Luscious" Johnny V who introduced Demolition to the WWF and who worked with The Dream Team (Greg Valentine / Brutus Beefcake) among others. With an HPI of . Last wrestled in an 11-person Royal Rumble style match, where he entered last and won, last eliminating Erik Lockhart, for Rock n Roll Wrestling in Wahpeton, North Dakota. Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. The 60s and 70s set the ball rolling for rock music. Known as the "Living Legend" of sports entertainment, Bruno Sammartino wrestled for 18 years and captured America's imagination. He worked in Brixton offices by day but would become a villain by night. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. Birthplace: Norwich, Norfolk, England. New Zealand wrestler. Training under Marty Jones, Matthews made his pro wrestling debut at the age of 15 for a local promotor at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. He could've been a world champion in any promotion, but he preferred the freedom of travelling all over the USA thus becoming the most popular wrestler in the country. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. Also later on in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. Karloff Largarde - World & National Champion. His powerhouse antics made him popular and he quickly became a star. From January 1965 to September 85, British wrestling was the hottest it may have ever been. Frost. Initially unpopular with the crowds, he became much loved after his acting career took off. The Promoters A-Z index has been split into sections. So I decided to explore an unknown zone for me and to tackle an era I didn't witness, the '60s and the '70s. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! However, he never got to show his full potential and was often placed in comedy segments alongside his leprechaun sidekick, Hornswoggle. Here are twelve British wrestlers who were critical to the evolution of British wrestling and influenced some of the very best of today. By. Wigan-born Davey Boy Smith started out on World of Sport at 15, known as Young David. In WWE, he was recognized as one of the companys best and most reliable workers. * Some NWA promoters recognized Moolah as world champion You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. After a 273-day reign, he vacated the title on November 6th, 1984, leaving Japan for the World Wrestling Federation. In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. Fashion Square in Santa Ana in the 1960s long before it became what is now Mainplace Mall. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? In a way, the espionage genre did not develop much from the '60s to the '70s. Dave Clark. After I completed my previous top 25 lists covering the 1990s and the 2000s, I thought about doing one more list with the '80s, but there are already two of those that have been published recently. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). During his career, he held the European Heavyweight Championship and British Heavyweight Championship in the UK and won the Stampede International Tag Team Championship in Canada with the Dynamite Kid. Wrestlers fell in two categoriesthe goodies and the baddies, who would either seek the cheers or loud disapprobation of the audience by skill or pantomime cheating. Backlund will always be remembered as one of the greatest technicians in pro wrestling history who built his legacy by battling other promotional World Champions several times and any comer, often very bigger than him. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. Last wrestled on a show independently produced by. Wrestling has been represented well in Vancouver with cards almost every week since as early as 1929 under the enterprising promotion of pioneer, Emil Klank. wrestling poster, grays | Flickr Condivisione di foto! LEGENDS 1980s; Alan Dennison Alan Garfield Alfred Hayes Bert Assirati Big Daddy Billy Robinson Bruno Erlington Count Bartelli Geoff Portz Giant Haystacks Ian Campbell Jackie Pallo Jim Collins Jim Hussey Jimmy Breaks Kendo Nagasaki King Kong Kirk Les Kellett Les Thornton Lord Littlebrook He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has stables in Bingley. AEW President Tony Khan broke the news on Tuesday that one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay Briscoe, real name Jamin. One bout with Jackie Pallo was seen by 20 million fans. Click here to watch Johnny Valiant teaming up with his brother Jimmy in 1974 and click here to watch him and his other brother Jerry in the late '70s. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartino's childhood was quite tough. Click here to watch Killer Kowalski battling Pedro Morales. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. Bobo Johnson also wrestled under the name the Brown Panther. Best known for his tag performances with Louie Louie and later Rocky Johnson, Bobo was one of the earliest Black midget wrestlers alongside Haiti Kid. It would take a whole book to cover his unique career, but to make it short, he was the face of the company for over 15 years. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. With Cold War fears lessening slightly compared to the previous decade, spy movies still often focused on Russian defectors, nuclear annihilation, and East German intrigue. These contests, though, receive little publicity and mostly go unnoticed by the general public. With adopted names like Little Bruise, Sky Low Low, Billy The Kid, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook and Little Tokyo, men (and a few women) who might have eked out a living in the circus started a spectator port. This series of highly regarded matches would also lead to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) contacting Rocco, leading to the birth of the "Black Tiger" persona and some of the most highly rated matches in Japanese television history against Sayamas Tiger Mask. In addition to his championships, he left his mark on the WWE hardcore scene, with his uncommon mix of technician and brawler's skills.Click here to watch Pat Patterson defending the Intercontinental Championship against Dominic DeNucci. McManus has been described as the greatest name in British wrestling history, yet he remains mostly unknown outside of the United Kingdom. They would work together as a team in many matches during the final years of the channel ITVs coverage of British wrestling. 10. Though he never won a title, he was a firm favorite with fans. Inducted into the. He was also inducted into the Stampede Wrestling, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fames. Over the years, the United Kingdom has produced some of the very best in professional wrestling. Marty Jones perhaps might be the least known of the names mentioned on this list but is one of the best all-around grapplers of the bunch. Wrestled his last match on a AAA show in a loss to El Pistolero in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico. He became one of the most infamous heels ever in the late '70s when he injured many babyface wrestlers with his signature swinging full nelson he didn't release after the bell. The Russian Bear was with the WWWF for only two years, but he claimed the most shocking world championship victory of all times when he defeated Bruno Sammartino on January 18, 1971. This is a list of the most important ones. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. By M.A LeBlanc Ring Of Honor Tag Team Champion Jay Briscoe Passes Away At 38. Old School Wrestling: 10 Things Sorely Missed! Most recently wrestled on October 22, 2022, at Niigata Pro Wrestling event in Niigata, Japan, where he teamed with, Last wrestled at the 2022 C-K Autumnfest in Kenova, West Virginia, where he teamed with, DeNucci wrestled his last match at a PWS card in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, teaming up with, Last wrestled at the 2019 Expo Lucha convention in San Diego, California, teaming up with. Formed in 1952 Joint Promotions was a syndicate of a handful of promoters based around the country. Back in the days, most wrestlers moved from one territory to another, or in other words, there was no promotion exclusivity. Multi-time regional champion. From 1963 to 1971, the man held the WWWF Championship for an astonishing first reign of 2,803 days. flickr/Orange County Archives. Most recently wrestled for Appalachian Championship Wrestling in Williamson, West Virginia, in a match against Kerry Morton that went to a Double Count-out Draw. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe gestures. Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968. 15 episodes 1975-1984 Dickie Davies Self - Presenter 7 episodes 1974-1985 Neil Durden-Smith Self - Commentator 3 episodes 1974-1985 Johnny England Johnny England Brian Crabtree Self - Wrestling Ring Announcer 3 episodes 1981-1985 Tommy Billington Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981-1983 Gilbert Singh Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981 He was 67. Before long, he would be touring as far away as France, Japan, and eventually North America. Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. In 1991, Matthews had his first taste of the then-WWF after having several try-out matches at both the UK Rampage and Battle Royal at Royal Albert Hall events, where he shared a ring with the likes of Dave Taylor and Fit Finlay. This rivalry would continue throughout 1982 and extend to the WWWF, where Mark briefly competed against the likes of Bob Backlund and even Terry "Hulk Hogan" Bollea, captivating audiences with a faster, higher-flying style than many had ever witnessed before. Ruben Juarez - National Champion, Middleweight (Mexico): 2012 Wrestlers.co.uk - The Home of UK Wrestling & Wrestlers. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. He had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. News. Coventry Live. Wrestled in a tag team match with Jeff Justice and Officer McKenny to defeat, Wrestled in a tag team match with Shawn Blanchard and Lou Martin to defeat Bobby O, Kris Kash, Shane Starr and Justin Sane for. [Photo: IMDB]His enormous stature was not lifelike as he stood an astonishing 6 feet, 11 inches (1.11m) tall and weighed 685 lbs (311 kg). On the top of all that, if that means anything, he was the PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year in 1973 and the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 1979. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. After a long battle with dementia, Rocco sadly passed away on July 30th, 2020. He immediately became the No. 9. Adrian Street with his valet and wife, Miss Linda. When they formed their alliance they left out in the cold many other promoters who were not invited to the party. Goldberg and William Regal When Things Went Wrong in El Paso, Canadians in Wrestling 13 Individuals With a Rich History in the Sport. Antonio Inoki From Wrestleview.com Jay Briscoe has passed away. With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. Mexican wrestler who teamed with the Great Goliath. He portrayed a Japanese samurai with a relatively unknown past: Kendo Nagasaki. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. William Regals story is a great representation that it doesnt matter where you come from, what demons you have, or where you are in life. Dozens of wrestling tournaments were held every night of the week, (with a handful on Sunday), whilst boxing in the doldrums struggled to put on a couple of shows a night. World-famous fitness guru had a brief pro wrestling career in 1938. Cast Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring. Referee George Gadaski talks to the legendary Little Beaver (back to camera) with tag partner Jamaica Kid to his left, and rivals Billy the Kid and Cowboy Bradley to his right. Wrestled his last match in Nashville, Tennessee, teaming with his son-in-law. Wrestled his last match defeating Rat Ferraro at a wrestling event in Montreal, Canada. UK hitmakers The Dave Clark Five were one of the foremost 'British Invasion' acts. After his face run, he ended his stint with WWWF as a heel, but it was not before earning the 1975 PWI Match of the Year award against Bruno Sammartino and to win a long feud against Jay Strongbow. I also discovered many gems of the WWWF era before it became the WWF. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. Farmer Pete and Cowboy Lang backstage in Milwaukee, February 3, 1972. Whatever Joint Promotions slick publicity machinery would have had the public believe they were never a Governing Body. He fought as part of a tag team and was often picked to fight 6ft 10in 350lbs wrestler Blackjack Mulligan who would wallop Bruiser onto the canvas. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. Dozens of wrestling tournaments were held every night of the week, (with a handful on Sunday), whilst boxing in the doldrums struggled to put on a couple of shows a night. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. His sole presence guaranteed sold-out arenas to any promoter, and it was no exception for the growing WWWF. He retired in 1970 and moved to Las Vegas where he became a blackjack dealer. But as a wrestler, Glover was Leon Arras, The Man From Paris. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE.