list of british wrestlers of the '60s and '70s

As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. Privacy The 20 Great Lost Albums of British Rock, 1968-72. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. Here, Matthews would go by Steve Regal a name he had used going back to 87, and a name he had seen in an American wrestling magazine in use by another wrestler named Mr. 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. 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. Birthdate: August 17, 1992. He won three WWWF Titles in the tag team division with three different partners from 1971 to 1978. Jack Ernest Gutteridges alter-ego had an 11-year grudge with McManus and developed moves such as the cross-shoulder backbreaker. Cowboy Bob Bradley was born Robert Claton Bradley in Dickens County, TX, in February 1935. Clear rating. Sandor Szabo 60 October 16, 1966 Heart Attack; Primo Carnera 51 June 29, 1967 Cirrhosis of Liver . PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. This ultimately proved to be a waste of his ability during a time when he didnt have many years left in the squared circle as a performer. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. Wrestled in Germany, France, Japan and AWA. He worked in Brixton offices by day but would become a villain by night. 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. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Last wrestled on a show independently produced by. Wrestled his last match on a AAA show in a loss to El Pistolero in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. Billy the Kid with Cowboy Bob Bradley (aka Robert Bradley). However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked. His most notable feud, that lasted for over two decades in and out WWWF, was against Bobo Brazil, and in the process, he became a two-time WWWF US Champion. Wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks thrilled kids with their bouts, not to mention a remarkable number of their usually peaceable grandmothers. He died, aged 52, in 1998. Although he never got a chance to appear in many mainstream promotions, he indeed laid his legacy in his home country. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. Graham also managed to put the hand on the short-lived WWF International Tag Team Championship. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. 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. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. 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. From Wrestleview.com Jay Briscoe has passed away. 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. [Photo: dailymail.co.uk]McManuss main catchphrase was Not the ears! He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. Paige. Sun Sign: Leo. New Zealand wrestler. 10. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. Drama. Britain only had two channels in 1960, BBC . Cinemas were closing in large numbers and there was good reason to believe that the small screen would destroy the cinema entirely. The fact that Jones was responsible for training a young William Regal speaks to this. From her blue eyes to her athletic build and immersive backstory, we are Angela Ziegler Or Mercy, was born in Switzerland. Jackie Pallo (Mr TV! Known as Sammy Berg. Kendo was unmasked in 1977, with 12 million viewers disappointed to learn that Peter Thornley was not Japanese after all. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. Short hair became a go-to in the 60s. However, since I didn't watch wrestling in those great days, I could hardly evaluate the in-ring abilities, the charisma and the mic skills. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. British wrestler Dynamite Kid Tom Billington was one of the best to lace up a pair of wrestling boots. Everyone can stop writing love songs now. 11:52, 21 APR 2013. The current oldest living in the wrestling industry is Bill Mercer from the United States. If he was officially undefeated for over 15 years, he never touched any WWWF gold in the '70s, proving there's no need to win championships to become a legend. Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. Blood, barrel chests, and mutton chops. A wrestler called Jack Cassidy ready to rumble in 1968. He continued wrestling until the late 1980s, when he was enshrined into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Birthplace: Norwich, Norfolk, England. source Cauliflower Alley Club, Spanish announcer in boxing and wrestling in Los Angeles. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. Another World of Sport favorite, Martin Austin Ruane, as Giant Haystacks, became a massive star in 1975 after teaming up with previously mentioned Big Daddy as one of the most dominant tag teams in British Wrestling history. Owns Pro Wrestling America. Oldest female, mainly wrestled as Princess White Dove. Brother of. [Photo: huckmag.com]Street played by his own rules, and, according to his peers, was known to be able to hurt you in the ring if needed! 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. WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. 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. Around this time in his career, Matthews began earning more money touring throughout Europe and Africa. 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. 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 run as the World Champion officially lasted 2,083 days, and it took him less than one year with the company to win the title. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Cast Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring. Former British Middleweight Champion and British Welterweight Champion. Click here to watch history being made when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF; and click here if you want to see The Russian Bear in a cage match again vs. Sammartino, in 1975. Wrestled in his last match defeating Frenchy Roberre at a. Wrestled his last match in a tag team match with his son, Wrestled his last match at the VerdugoMania 3rd Anniversary show in Tonala, Jalisco, Mexico, teaming with Jaque Mate Jr., Rafaga, and Rayman in a loss to the team of, Wrestled his last match in an event in Mexico City, Mexico, teaming with, Wrestled his last match for Battleground Championship Wrestling in Feasterville, Pennsylvania, teaming with. 30 Wrestlers You May Not Know Were Related! TV Pallo. The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic . 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 Click here to watch Zbyszko turning on his mentor at the end of 1979; then, treat yourself by clicking here to watch their classic cage match in August 1980. The long-running debate over the best Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s finally ends in this article. Click here to watch The Baron teaming up with Frand "The Moose" to face Jay Strongbow and Peter Maivia. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. 1. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. 'Eat chocolate' Dr Michael Mosley tells dieters as health benefits revealed, Dr Mosley says dieters are free to eat chocolate in order to curb their cravings, Expert dentist warns of six changes in your mouth that could indicate serious illnesses, Jaw ache could be an indication of a heart attack, while loose teeth could mean osteoporosis, the expert says, Police were called to the scene in Styvechale this morning, Woman fights back after neighbours throw condoms over her garden fence in Coventry, Annette claimed her neighbours had been making her life a misery at her family home in Coventry, Son calls tow truck after stranger parked in mum's reserved spot for 5 minutes, The stranger later confronted them in a 'heated' row after his car was towed, Lack of sleep could be linked to sight loss, study finds, Not getting enough sleep could start to take its toll, Dengue fever alert for Brits off on holiday to Ibiza this year, There are fears of another wave of infection on the Spanish island this year, Crossings at busy Coventry junction finally on way nearly two years on, In 2021 residents called for pedestrian crossings to be installed at the crossroads, It's thought to have been caused by a plane, Coventry City player ratings vs Huddersfield as Gykeres and Hamer claim top billing, Coventry City player ratings from CoventryLive as Sky Blues win 4-0 at Huddersfield Town, Coventry City team news vs Huddersfield as Mark Robins makes three changes, Latest Coventry City news from Coventry Live brings you how the Sky Blues will line up against the Terriers at the John Smith's Stadium, Stunning six bedroom detached home with its own cinema and outdoor pub up for sale, It also has a bar/office at the back of its garden, Face of drunk driver who killed a mum after hitting her and dragging body 900 metres, The Crown Prosecution Service said it was 'one of the worst hit and run cases', Coventry Ofsted ratings: the schools deemed inadequate in latest reports, Each year, the education regulator carries out hundreds of inspections of schools across the country, Alton Towers slammed by guest for serving full English breakfast on cardboard, An image of the meal was shared on social media, I visited two farm shops and saw exactly why they're up for the same award, CoventryLive had a butchers at their prized offerings, Parts of UK to be hit by snow and -11C temperatures in the next week, Coventry and the West Midlands may be hit by snow next week, I tried the 2 for 10 Morrisons breakfast offer and wasn't 100% satisfied, The veggie breakfast didn't meet my expectations as I thought it would, Man horrified after finding 'plastic in Tesco fried chicken', Jonathan James Daniel Randle, from Nuneaton, said he spat out a piece of plastic from a piece of Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Steaks, Delays on A46 near Stratford after bus fire, Temporary traffic lights are in place while emergency repair works are carried out, Places around Coventry where you can buy fruit and vegetables amid shortage crisis, These places are stocked with the best produce for you to buy, Coventry rapper hits 1 million streams on latest single 'Without Me', Whizzy's goals are to perform at Godiva Festival on the main stage. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. Mick McManus was a man small in stature, though he induced much fear! This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 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. A number of rock songs written in the 60s and 70s have gone onto become popular rock anthems. Wrestled in the UK, Asia, Middle East and India. Read more. Following that, he made sporadic appearances in various territories to eventually retire for good in the late '70s. 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. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. The 60s & 70s beer guide; Beers from the past; Beers from the past. By. There were more than 4,000 different brews available in the 60s, so we cannot list them all. Although known nowadays as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, previously, Robbie Brookside had a very successful career as a performer. At that age and size, one bump is likely all he had left in him.. 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. As bizarre as the premise is, Lowrance's announcing makes it work. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. Something went wrong, please try again later. 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! The 10 best music producers of the '60s By Simon Arblaster ( Future Music ) published March 04, 2016 MusicRadar users have voted, so here's the countdown. . This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. Warner Bros. 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. But the oldest in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904-2006) who lived 101 years, 314 days. By 1960, nearly three quarters of the population had television, and by the end of the sixties, nearly ninety-five percent. Worthington 'E' Ind Coope Double Diamond Draught (launched 1962) Whitbread Tankard (launhed 1957) Watneys Red Barrel He was born Roland Barriault in Sudbury, Ontario on July 22, 1946. 5. 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. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. In the late '50s and in the whole '60s, he never stayed in the same territory very long because his presence often overshadowed the various World Championship promotion matches. He died aged 75 on June 24, 2010 in Amarillo, Texas. In the end, there can be only one! flickr/Orange County Archives. 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. Jamaica Kid in a publicity shot. Kieran Hamilton finds joy in all things wrestling. The best wrestlers (Sky Low Low, Little Beaver, Lord Littlebrook, Little Tokyo) mixed great physical prowess with acrobatic skills to give their fans edge-of-the-seat thrills and entertainment, with just a hint of comedy. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. 9. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. I started to watch wrestling around the age of nine, and it was in the middle of the '80s so I had to do extensive research to complete the following slideshow. 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. Working co-operatively, being highly professional, promoting consistently good quality shows and winning a lucrative television contract gave Joint Promotions a much higher profile than any of the independent, or opposition promoters. The Promoters A-Z index has been split into sections. ), Mick McManus, Billy Two Rivers (real life father of designer Wayne Hemmingway) and many more. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s2 of 18. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith 39 May . When his three-year reign ended in 1977, Sammartino established an unbeatable record of 11 years as the reigning WWWF Champion. 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. Contentofthissitemustnotbereproducedwithoutthepermissionofthesiteowners;theriotsquad@hotmail.com. 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. 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. 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. So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. Some consider this match one of the greatest matches of all time. You can find instructions here as to how. He won the WWWF US Championship in 1971, but he had to drop it one month later, when he became the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion on February 8, 1971. More of Maciejewskis superb photography can be seen (and purchased) here. 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. 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. His sole presence guaranteed sold-out arenas to any promoter, and it was no exception for the growing WWWF. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. vintage everyday: British Wrestling Posters, Andre The Giant Vs. Iron Sheik #wwe #wwf #wrestling #prowrestling, Food Fight - All the ladies | Mister Edwards, wrestling poster, morecambe by maraid, via Flickr. When they formed their alliance they left out in the cold many other promoters who were not invited to the party. 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 two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. 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. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. 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. The Promoters A-Z lists many of those promoters who made it all happen between 1930 and 1988. Although after thirty years of being a performer, he was able to transition into becoming a talent scout for the WWE. Best known as a top showjumper who occasionally flicked a V-sign, Yorkshires finest, 78, also grappled in the 1970s. Dave Clark. 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. Wrestler Movie Appearances You May Have Missed! It is said that Gustav Fritensk wrestled until the age of 72. Before long, he would be touring as far away as France, Japan, and eventually North America. The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. 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 retired in 1970 and moved to Las Vegas where he became a blackjack dealer. Also was a bodybuilder, swimmer, and actor. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. Goldberg and William Regal When Things Went Wrong in El Paso, Canadians in Wrestling 13 Individuals With a Rich History in the Sport. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. The '60s: With Josh Hamilton, Julia Stiles, Jerry O'Connell, Jeremy Sisto. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. He was often a top contender to the WWWF Championship, and he battled Bruno Sammartino on several occasions in high-profile matches. Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion. Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. He went on to win a clutch of wrestling awards including the NWA Midget Wrestling Championship twice and was a firm favorite with fans.

Kamala Harris Approval Rating Cnn, Average Utility Cost Per Square Foot Commercial Property 2020, Articles L

list of british wrestlers of the '60s and '70s