Wrestled his last match defeating Rat Ferraro at a wrestling event in Montreal, Canada. From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. He was 67. Here are twelve British wrestlers who were critical to the evolution of British wrestling and influenced some of the very best of today. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967. He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has stables in Bingley. With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. He sadly died at the age of 56 in January 2007. You can find instructions here as to how. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. From 1963 to 1971, the man held the WWWF Championship for an astonishing first reign of 2,803 days. Want to Read. 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. All this respectability was presided over by the governing bodies, the British Boxing Board of control for the boxers and Joint Promotions for the wrestlers. With wrestlers not wrestling exclusively for one promotion, Andre became the most popular wrestler of the decade. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. ITVs World of Sport was a household name in Britain, where it saw millions of viewers weekly. It would be squaring off against the likes of Satoru Sayama (Tiger Mask), Keiichi Yamada (Jushin Liger), and Dynamite Kid (more on him a little later), among others, which would earn the British grappler his initial acclaim and start him on the path towards leaving an indelible mark on the profession. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE. He retired in 1970 and moved to Las Vegas where he became a blackjack dealer. The wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. Peter S. Beagle (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating 103,279 ratings. Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. Label boss, former Cathedral singer and late 60s/early 70s music aficionado Lee Dorrian picks the best forgotten prog-psych albums of the 1960s. Fuji's tag team partner at the time. Although his father was against his son becoming a professional wrestler he would go as far as having Mark banned from his gym in Manchester, England Rocco would "learn the ropes" from many veterans from the age of 16 while his father was out on tour. British wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki. Coventry Live. 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. ), Mick McManus, Billy Two Rivers (real life father of designer Wayne Hemmingway) and many more. 30 Wrestlers You May Not Know Were Related! The free-form music expression of jam bands became a monumental part of hippie culture in the 60s. The duo, called The Executioners, holds the distinction to have not actually lost the belts since they were stripped after a third Executioner interfered in a match. The 60s and 70s set the ball rolling for rock music. The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (19192014), aged 94years, 273days. But the oldest in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904-2006) who lived 101 years, 314 days. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. Karloff Largarde - World & National Champion. 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. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Stacks of rare and collectible music publications from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The oldest male wrestler was Killer Kowalski, who won on an independent show in Massachusetts on March 14, 2008, at age 81. 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. President of the WWF from 1978 to 1984. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. In the end, there can be only one! About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. He retired, ran a care home and, now aged 70, still sells Kendo merchandise online. 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. One of his trademarks was to cut his opponents' face with a pencil hidden in his outfit. 1. Many prestigious titles and awards are under his belt, and he won Wrestling Observers Match of the Year in 1982 with Tiger Mask on August 5th in Tokyo, Japan. 5 Times The Forbidden Door Opened in Wrestling, 10 Surprising Moments WWE Deceived Their Fans, 11 WrestleMania Matches That Surprisingly Didnt Main Event, Bruce Hart Explains How He Revolutionized Pro Wrestling, 10 Wrestlers Who Turned Scraps to Gold in ECW. He was one of the first to implement karate into his performance and is often credited with the invention of the superkick, a now-signature move of many. So with news that World of Sport is back on ITV in June, we salute the great grapplers of yesteryear. Wrestled mainly in Mexico and WCCW. One such style was the Vidal Sassoon pixie, which was created by the British hairstylist of the same name. People in the '60s dressed up for most occasions. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. His hard-hitting persona was hard not to hate as he would do anything to win, even if it meant cheating. If there were some great female wrestlers back in the '60s and in the '70s, none of them could overshadow her, and that's why she's the only woman featured on the current list. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. From 1972 to 1978, in an age when tag team wrestling actually meant a lot, Fuji portrayed the stereotypical heel Japanese persona, and he was often involved in anti-American storylines. His calculated evil ways made him one of the biggest heels in any company he worked. 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. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. And, with his trademark war dance, the fans went as crazy as when Hogan was "Hulking" up in the '80s. Collectors of British & American back issues will find some great stuff here like Beat Instrumental magazine, early 70's glam & pop magazine Music Star, The excellent Zigzag magazine, for blues enthusiast there's Blues Unlimited, Creem, Crawdaddy, Let it Rock . And I invented nothing here; he was the 1974 PWI Wrestler of the Year, and he received the PWI award for Match of the Year on four occasions in the '70s. And, when we take a look at everything he did in 1980 and after he left, he is clearly one of the most misused talents in WWE's history. The theme to the show was created by Morton Stevens and is recognized easily by millions of people even now, more than 40 years later. Click here to watch Killer Kowalski battling Pedro Morales. * Some NWA promoters recognized Moolah as world champion He had a 57-year wrestling career, winning championships across multiple countries in different promotions such as Championship Wrestling from Florida and Southwest Championship Wrestling. From Martinique wrestled for Pacific Northwest and Stampede Wrestling. 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. Contentofthissitemustnotbereproducedwithoutthepermissionofthesiteowners;theriotsquad@hotmail.com. He was also a great brawler so he had everything to deliver many classic encounters, which he did with panache, especially in 1972 when he was named the PWI Wrestler of the Year. He would have memorable feuds against the Von Erichs alongside Gino Hernandez as the Dynamic Duo in the World Class Championship Wrestling promotion, where he joined in 1983. List of oldest surviving professional wrestlers, Oldest wrestlers to ever perform 70 and over, British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship, List of premature professional wrestling deaths, "Seattle promoter Harry Elliott dead at 101", "Gary Will: Deceased Pro Wrestlers A Tribute to Mat Stars of the Past", "Betty Wagner, first wife of WWE Hall of Famer Gorgeous George, dead at 98", "Deepest condolences to @nicklaroberts and family on the passing of her mom Lorraine Johnson at age 90. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. Multi-time regional champion. The 48st Londoner was the bearded behemoth grannies loved to hate. I hope you enjoyed that ride back to the old school universe, and as usual, your comments are more than welcomeespecially if I missed anyone on the list and/or if you disagree with the order. The long-running debate over the best Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s finally ends in this article. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. On an interesting side note, Santino Marella's name is a tribute to Monsoon, who's real name is Robert Marella. For most, there were no high spots; the German suplex and a bodyslam were finishers, and nobody knew what a hurricanrana, five-star frog splash, Swanton bomb, and outside dive were. The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. He was so popular in Britain that in one of his performances, he pulled in twenty million viewers against Jackie Mr. Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion. It was a detective/cop show starring Jack Lord. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. Tag team: Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23 1972. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 00:57. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. Free shipping for many products! Many greats, including Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, Ric Flair and Triple H, were inspired by him to forge their characters. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. 10. But as a wrestler, Glover was Leon Arras, The Man From Paris. Former British Middleweight Champion and British Welterweight Champion. Apr 21, 2020. He can also brag to have faced all the greats of the era, such as Bruno Sammartino and Billy Graham. Bobo Brazil Bobo Brazil was born Houston Harris in Little Rock, Arkansas, but moved to Benton Harbor, Michigan as a young man and got a job in a steel mill. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Oldest in the wrestling industry ever verified. Photograph: David Redfern/Redferns Swinging. Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. Raised in Texas. British grappler Darren William Regal Matthews is one of the most well-regarded wrestlers in the business, though he never was able to land on his feet at the top of the professional wrestling mountain, where many believe he could and should have been. Rex. The Red Shoes (1948) Film. 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. British musician and wrestler. Although known nowadays as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, previously, Robbie Brookside had a very successful career as a performer. He died, aged 52, in 1998. Wrestled in the UK, Asia, Middle East and India. 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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. Prestons unchoreographed no-sells to McManus strikes led to McManus reacting and throwing legitimate strikes to get the referee to disqualify him during the match, thus giving Preston the unscheduled technical victory. 2012 Wrestlers.co.uk - The Home of UK Wrestling & Wrestlers. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. flickr/Orange County Archives. The voice of the Tetley tea ads, the father-of-two died of a brain tumour in 1997, aged 63. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. He would win tag team titles in All Star Wrestling alongside fellow Liverpudlian Doc Dean before eventually being signed to WCW in the mid-90s. Both were combat sports, millions of fans believed both were competitive, contests were split into rounds, combatants were introduced by a Master of Ceremony wearing a dinner jacket, and referees were smartly dressed, usually in white shirts. 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. Jamaica Kid and Little Beaver backstage at a wrestling arena April 25, 1969. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. It's amazing to see how things in our corner of the Golden State have changed and transformed over time. Fashion Square in Santa Ana in the 1960s long before it became what is now Mainplace Mall. On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. If his nine-day reign was short, Stasiak can at least say he was one of the only six WWWF champions of the '70s and to have been a top heel of his time. Old School Wrestling: 10 Things Sorely Missed! He was referred to as the man you love to hate!. They would work together as a team in many matches during the final years of the channel ITVs coverage of British wrestling. It was at its peak of popularity when the television show World of Sport was launched in the mid-1960s, making household names out of Adrian Street . Looking for the very latest wrestling news, gossip and facts? It is said that his disillusion with his career direction led to a return to the Texas independent scene in late 99. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. Though he never won a title, he was a firm favorite with fans. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. Duets have always been perfectly suited to oldies music and love songs, mainly because rock and roll began as a combination of popular styles. Click here to watch Strongbow taking on Professor TanakaMr. A comeback bout with Hulk Hogan was axed in 1995 after Haystacks, born Martin Ruane, contracted cancer. The best British wrestlers: From Big Daddy to Mick McManus, what became of our wrestling stars The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world. He has written for websites such as Mersey Sports Live and is now taking his degree in sports journalism from John Moores University into the wrestling business. 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. Last wrestled for New Age Wrestling in Australia, defeating Bo Boman. This is a list of oldest surviving professional wrestlers. The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99years, 145days). Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. Born Murray Downs in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Little Bruiser was the only son among four sisters. Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. We use ads to keep our content free for you. 1. var vclk_options = { sid: 11669, placement_id: 'faf683dc-a8b9-443c-316a-9c22984f3fe6', version: '1.4' }; This web site exists to provide the information on professional wrestling and is neither affiliated nor endorsed by any pro-wrestling organization. 1963-09 - Boxing Illustrated Wrestling News, 1967-10 - The Wrestler (credit: @wrestlerweekly), 1968-12 - Wrestling Revue "Official Wrestling Ratings" (credit: Tom Burke), 1968-12 - Ring Wrestling: "Official World Ratings". Get the latest wrestling news and takes direct to your inbox. [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). 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. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. Gorgeous George gained epic mainstream popularity, followed in the Second Golden Age in the 1980's and 1990's by the likes of Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, Sting, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and Triple H. Ric Flair Saturday Night was all about the WWF Main Event! Inducted into the. 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. 41.88, Davey Boy Smith is the 2nd most famous British Wrestler. For some, it was obvious because there's a lot offootage available, but for some others, very little stuff could be found. It was a very different case with wrestling, whatever Joint Promotions would have us believe. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. 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. Formed in 1952 Joint Promotions was a syndicate of a handful of promoters based around the country. Credits for information on this site are given However, before his run as manager, Mr. Fuji was one of the greatest tag team specialist ever. 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. His glam rock looks and in-ring ability instantly attracted attention from the fans and cemented his place as a top heel. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? 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. He continued wrestling until the late 1980s, when he was enshrined into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. 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. The current oldest living in the wrestling industry is Bill Mercer from the United States. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Excellent and Psycho Mike. Also wrestled as The Battling Bohemian and Red Menace. Not entirely content with only being placed in tag bouts to make his partner Big Daddy look good, Matthews moved over to All Star Wrestling. Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent. The 20 Great Lost Albums of British Rock, 1968-72. Wrestled his last match for FMLL teaming with. 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 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. 6 Antonio Inoki Big Daddy regularly prevailed in his bouts, commonly using his star-studded finisher, The Big Splash.. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. He was 52. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. He won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship in 1976 with one of his students, Big John Studd. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove. He was even put in rare face-against-face matches when he challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Title on a few occasions in the mid-60s. The similarities were apparent. His win streak eventually was ruined by opponent Peter Preston. Or so Joint Promotions would have the enthusiasts believe. Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. He became a face in the '70s to eventually turn back heel in preparation for a legendary boxing match between him and Andre The Giant in 1977. He was also a trainer even when he was an active wrestler. AEW President Tony Khan broke the news on Tuesday that one-half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions Jay Briscoe, real name Jamin. A former tag partner of Big Daddy, they became huge ring rivals. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. During his time there, he would become a four-time TV Champion. Billy started his career in the 1950s, where he established himself as a wrestling bad guy. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Adrian Street is one of the most influential British wrestlers of his time. Mekita Rivas, SNR communications and project associate, publishes a biweekly feature called "Grammar Guru." Every other week, the Grammar Guru will share writing tips to help make your work as polished as possible. Known as the "Living Legend" of sports entertainment, Bruno Sammartino wrestled for 18 years and captured America's imagination. Monsoon lost the match, but he once again proved he could hold his own against the largest wrestlers in the business at the time, being himself a 6'5", 400-pounder. Keg bitters on draught. Sadly, his fame and glory in the British circuit were cut short. 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. His powerhouse antics made him popular and he quickly became a star. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. In the '70s, this was hands-down the most romantic song on the radio. 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. Following that, he made sporadic appearances in various territories to eventually retire for good in the late '70s. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. Matthewss extensive knowledge of wrestling holds aided him, even in some of Britains most ruthless towns. Former NWA World Tag Team Champion. By Kelly O'Sullivan. Some of his best moments in the ring came when he tag-teamed against Giant Haystacks and Big Daddy in a tremendous feud that saw one of British wrestlings most prolific segments occur as he unmasked himself in 1977. Wrestled in AWA. Kendo Nagasaki was an inspiration to many cultural gimmicks to come, and many wrestlers have named him as an inspiration behind their work. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s2 of 18. The Wrestling Heritage A-Z of Wrestling Promoters catalogues hundreds of those who did make it happen, including (despite the misleading title) female promoters Kathleen Look, Jessie Rogers and Anne DeRelwyskow. 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. Birthplace: Norwich, Norfolk, England. One built a reputation just meeting him in the ring. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): There were more than 4,000 different brews available in the 60s, so we cannot list them all. He toured across America with fellow wrestlers and held several championship titles. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. From January 1965 to September 85, British wrestling was the hottest it may have ever been. See more ideas about mexican wrestler, lucha libre, luchador. Last known match took place in Carnoustie, Scotland. French-Canadian wrestler. He would win his first singles championship from none other than Mark "Rollerball" Rocco in November 1976 when he defeated him for the British Light Heavyweight Championship, a Joint Promotions title he would go on to hold five times. Nowadays, he trains the stars of tomorrow at the WWE Performance Center. Wrestled in the WWWF from 1964 to 1969. A number of rock songs written in the 60s and 70s have gone onto become popular rock anthems. 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.