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

He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. 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. People in the '60s dressed up for most occasions. A wrestler called Jack Cassidy ready to rumble in 1968. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) 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. WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! 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. 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. Visits to Wrestling Heritage are recorded by Google Analytics. 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. He had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. 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. ITVs World of Sport was a household name in Britain, where it saw millions of viewers weekly. We're a brand new wrestling site dedicated to the most superb of sports - Wrestling! Share. 0 comments. 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". It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox. 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. Even today, there are wrestlers who won't dare try the now 75-year-old Jerry. Voice of World Class Championship Wrestling. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. He won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in June 1964 with Dr. Jerry and they held the title for nearly eight months. Clockwise from top left: the band Chicago in 1978, Paul Butterfield of The Paul Butterfield Band, Jerry McGeorge of The Shadows of The Knight, Frankie Sullivan of Survivor, Jim Sohns of Shadows of. A staple of the Joint Promotions and All Star Wrestling promotions in Britain throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Marty made his wrestling debut in 1972. wrestlingheritage.co.uk. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Fit Finlay over the years. Those I ranked are only the tip of the iceberg because other legends and pioneers existed before them. He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. 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. 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. Dynamite famously also teamed up with Davey Boy Smith as The British Bulldogs. When he was not embracing success in the tag team division, he had some memorable feuds in singles against the likes of Billy Graham and Ken Patera. From an early age, Lamonte had a great interest in wrestling deciding at eight to become a wrestler, telling his mother Im gonna be a dirty one. Trained by Lord Littlebrook, Lamonte made his debut in 1963. Wrestled his last match defeating Rat Ferraro at a wrestling event in Montreal, Canada. The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. 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. Last wrestled on a show independently produced by. Formed in 1952 Joint Promotions was a syndicate of a handful of promoters based around the country. 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. A comeback bout with Hulk Hogan was axed in 1995 after Haystacks, born Martin Ruane, contracted cancer. After Satoru Sayama (the original iteration of Tiger Mask) retired, Dynamite Kid went on to win the WWF Junior Heavyweight Champion on February 7th, 1984, in a tournament for the vacant title. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. 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. So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. Story Saved. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. Most recently wrestled for Pro Wrestling King in Fort Wayne, Indiana, teaming with Shawna Reed and Shotgun Shuler to defeat the team of Jensyn, NERD 5th and Steven Drochner. 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. By Lee Dorrian. The rise of The Archers, Michael Powell and . After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. His sole presence guaranteed sold-out arenas to any promoter, and it was no exception for the growing WWWF. Even that list was full of instrumentals, early . The former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion last wrestled. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. Birthdate: August 17, 1992. Through a succession of promoters, the. 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. An example is Kazuo Sakurada, a Japanese wrestler who used the gimmick in the late 80s. If it was not really his fault, it was still the birth of a legend. But the female in the wrestling industry was Betty Wagner, the valet of Gorgeous George who lived to 98 years old in 2011. In the end, there can be only one! 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. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. Electricity Steve Regal. However, he never got to show his full potential and was often placed in comedy segments alongside his leprechaun sidekick, Hornswoggle. 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. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. Last wrestled for Lucha Libre Acapulco in, Most recently wrestled on August 6, 2022, for. Birthplace: Norwich, Norfolk, England. By. The events of the 1960s affect the lives of two families, one white and one black. He got his big break in the United States in 1996, competing in WCW as the Loch Ness Monster. Garea made his mark in the tag team division by winning the gold on three occasions, with three different partners, for a total of 384 days with the title in the '70s. This is a list of the most important ones. You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Click here to watch Monsoon taking on the wrestler who later became the legendary manager Captain Lou Albano; you can also click here to watch some vintage moments, the Muhammad Ali-Gorilla Monsoon incident and Vince McMahon Jr. leading an interview in 1977. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. Best known as a top showjumper who occasionally flicked a V-sign, Yorkshires finest, 78, also grappled in the 1970s. We've officially reached peak love song." "You Light Up My Life" spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. So from Joy Division to Radiohead, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, we've picked the best British rock bands of all time, listed in ascending order. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. For some, it was obvious because there's a lot offootage available, but for some others, very little stuff could be found. One of their biggest stars went by the name Big Daddy.. Last wrestled for ABC Wrestling in Beziers, France, losing to Matthew Ford. Last wrestled for New Age Wrestling in Australia, defeating Bo Boman. As bizarre as the premise is, Lowrance's announcing makes it work. 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. His nickname is used by today's wrestlers as a tribute to his legacy, and they are now known as Superstars. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s4 of 18 . Doncaster-born Gary Cooper took on the TV wizards moniker and came up with many bizarre gimmicks, including licking a lucky toad between rounds. He was also a trainer even when he was an active wrestler. During his time there, he would become a four-time TV Champion. 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. After a 273-day reign, he vacated the title on November 6th, 1984, leaving Japan for the World Wrestling Federation. Wrestled his last match for Italian Championship Wrestling in Brescia, Italy, teaming with Manuel Majoli to defeat Mr. 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. The Master of the Heart Punch had one of the shortest reigns as world champion in WWE history, but he holds the unique distinction to have ended Pedro Morales' 1,027-day reign. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. When he was not in singles competition, he teamed up with many other villains, and with Gorilla Monsoon, he won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in 1963. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. Wrestled his last match for NWA Wrestle Birmingham, in Birmingham, Alabama. Former British Middleweight Champion and British Welterweight Champion. He worked in Brixton offices by day but would become a villain by night. While gender equality was an elusive dream in many fields, women were well represented in popular music, and the best female singers are legends. He won three WWWF Titles in the tag team division with three different partners from 1971 to 1978. A number of bands emerged with an amalgamation of diverse musical influences. There are five songs, from "Mockingbird" to "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," that I learned because they were remade over the next decade or so. Five time NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Champion. As a result, he never got to show his full potential on the grandest stage. Joy Division. He started his career as a circus acrobat before taking up wrestling in the 1950s. . 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. In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. There were more than 4,000 different brews available in the 60s, so we cannot list them all. He was 69. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. Beforebeing released from his WWE contracton January 5th, 2022, which ended his 22-year tenure with the company, Regal had an even bigger role behind the scenes as theWWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. He was in movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, and played Bomber in TV series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. 1. Blood, barrel chests, and mutton chops. Something went wrong, please try again later. Best known by his ring name, Giant Haystacks, he wrestled in such places as Great Britain, the United States, Canada, India, and Rhodesia. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. He joined the WWWF in early 1977, and only four months later, he had his first shot at the WWWF Championship against Graham, but he lost via countout. 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. 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. British Wrestlers. 30 Best '70s Movies From Hollywood's Grooviest Decade. With an HPI of . score: 3,050 , and 31 people voted. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. Last known match took place in Carnoustie, Scotland. 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. Sources say that Gama remained active as a wrestler until 1952. Wrestled his last match on a AAA show in a loss to El Pistolero in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico. 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. Drama. Wrestled for NWA Vancouver and AWA from 1960 to 1972, Japanese female wrestler. Known as Sammy Berg. Short hair became a go-to in the 60s. He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. Although after thirty years of being a performer, he was able to transition into becoming a talent scout for the WWE. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. flickr/Roadsidepictures. The long-running debate over the best Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s finally ends in this article. By Kelly O'Sullivan. Paige. Where would we be without films like "Grease" and "The Godfather"? to these sites/people. 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. Click here to watch the 1977 PWI Match of the YearGraham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Title. Sandor Szabo 60 October 16, 1966 Heart Attack; Primo Carnera 51 June 29, 1967 Cirrhosis of Liver . After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. published 12 September 2017. One of the most beautiful and athletic women wrestlers during the '50s and '60s she and Penny Banner were women's world tag-team champions with looks and talent to spare. 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. Sky Low Low (outside ring) in a tag team with Little Beaver (nearside) versus Mighty Atom, May 5, 1967. Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. 13. His reputation is tarnished for many due to several violent interactions with fellow wrestlers andmean-spirited ribbing, though he leaves behind an incredible legacy in the ring. 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. Known as the "Living Legend" of sports entertainment, Bruno Sammartino wrestled for 18 years and captured America's imagination. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. His first reign, in 1975, lasted 105 days, and he teamed up with Victor Rivera who was later replaced by Pat Barrett. 2012 Wrestlers.co.uk - The Home of UK Wrestling & Wrestlers. Thornley was the original performer who used the Kendo Nagasaki character, but other variations have been used over the years. 1. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. Former. Stacks of rare and collectible music publications from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. Wrestled his last match for FMLL teaming with. So I decided to explore an unknown zone for me and to tackle an era I didn't witness, the '60s and the '70s. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion President until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. He retired, ran a care home and, now aged 70, still sells Kendo merchandise online. He went on to the glitz and glamour of the WWF in the US as The British Bulldog before a tragically early death at 39 after a heart attack. 9. He worked for Joint Promotions and frequently wrestled on ITVs World of Sport. Fashion Square in Santa Ana in the 1960s long before it became what is now Mainplace Mall. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. By M.A LeBlanc Ring Of Honor Tag Team Champion Jay Briscoe Passes Away At 38. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. Owns Pro Wrestling America. Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. Father of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and the late wrestler Owen Hart. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) The list is about where the wrestlers were born not where they wrestled. Well known in Los Angeles, Texas and WWWF from 1972 to 1974. It's amazing to see how things in our corner of the Golden State have changed and transformed over time. 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. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. It is said that Warren Bockwinkel, father of, His last match was at an ECPW event, where he teamed up with Frankie Flow to defeat the team of, Most recently wrestled on October 15, 2022 for World Classic Professional Big Time Wrestling in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he teamed with Josh Benson in a loss to the team of, Last wrestled on January 25, 2020, for Continental Championship Wrestling in Dothan, Alabama, teaming with. Click here to watch Strongbow taking on Professor TanakaMr. Get the latest wrestling news and takes direct to your inbox. The wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. In his later years, he continued to be influential within the British circuit, winning titles such as the Frontier Wrestling Alliances British Heavyweight Championship. First African-American promoter & manager working under Vincent J. McMahon. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. * Some NWA promoters recognized Moolah as world champion Looking for the very latest wrestling news, gossip and facts? Wrestled his last match at a show in Guadalajara, Mexico teaming with his grandson, Arturo Gaona and Bucanero I defeating Babe Sharon, Comando I and Luis Chavir. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. 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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. It was a detective/cop show starring Jack Lord. In the '50s, '60s, and '70s, female solo singers were ever-present on radio, TV and the pop charts -- as they should have been! He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. French-Canadian wrestler. Nina Hagens Nunsexmonkrock: Greatest (and weirdest) unsung masterpiece of the postpunk era? He joined WWE in 2000, where he would becomea four-time European Champion, four-time Tag Team Champion, two-time Intercontinental Champion, and a five-time Hardcore Champion, also winning the King of the Ring tournament in 2008 despite issues outside of the ring. He went on to win a clutch of wrestling awards including the NWA Midget Wrestling Championship twice and was a firm favorite with fans. Wigan-born Davey Boy Smith started out on World of Sport at 15, known as Young David. From her blue eyes to her athletic build and immersive backstory, we are Angela Ziegler Or Mercy, was born in Switzerland. The oldest female wrestler was Princess Bonita (19192014), aged 94years, 273days. With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it was hard for him not to be popular with fans. You probably noticed that the name of Bruno Sammartino was repeated often and was featured in many videos. Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion. He even found time to release the single True Love in 1975 and still has stables in Bingley. He wrestled for Pacific Northwest, Stampede, NWA, and WWWF. Professional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over one hundred years but became popular when the then new independent television network ITV began showing it in 1955, firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late-night midweek slot. Kowalski wrestled his last match as he defeated Gino Giovanni with the clawhold at Top Rope Promotions in Fall River, Massachusetts. These are the men who became heroes of the ring as Midget Wrestlers during the 1960s and 1970s. 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! In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. Not all boxing came under the control of the BBBC. 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. Jackie Pallo (Mr TV! 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. Clear rating. 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. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! 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.