ITV wrestling from the early eighties
manfrommars
Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
alias.
Any ideas?
Gary
Ruth Hine
SJ Emmons <su...@emmons.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<866.7242T...@emmons.demon.co.uk>...
> On 30-Oct-97 16:22:04, manfrommars (ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~)
wrote:
> How could you forget Mick McManus?!
>
Or Kendo Nagasaki (with the mask)
Not only the wrestlers, but do you also remember the places the bouts used
to come from? I can remember such classy venues as Walthamstow Town Hall
and Matlock Baths.
Ruth
Martin Aslett
On Fri, 31 Oct 1997, Ian D Wood wrote:
> In article <gary-30109...@194.130.106.84>, manfrommars
> <ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~> writes
> >Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
> >
> >Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
> >ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
> >alias.
> >
> I used to take my Gran to watch wrestling when she was in her 80's down
> at Nottingham Victoria Baths.
> We saw Big Daddy once, and she shouted out "He's not that big is he?"
> Shirley Crabtree, for that was he, didn't reply.
> BTW he was rushed to hospital last Saturday with suspected heart attack.
> Haven't heard how he's doing.
I haven't heard anything either. I saw him as a child (I was the child not
Big Daddy) at Crowtree Leisurecentre, Sunderland in a tag team match and
touched his stomach (urggh!!). Cat Weasel was the highlight of the bill
for me, as I recall - Big Daddy, as was his way, watched his thin team
mate get pummelled by two bad guys in black who were big but not as big as
BD, then got tagged and bounced on one of the bad guys for a fall.
I believe Giant Haystacks still wrestles on the oldies alternative to the
WWF (the one Hulk Hogan is now in) or at least he did not so long ago.
> Those I remember, as well as yours
<most of list of wrestlers cut>
> Alan Kilby - who was deaf and dumb, and I think a European Champion
He was in one of the support bouts to Big Daddy and won. Quite impressive
(to a nine year old at any rate!).
There's a book written by Simon Garfield called 'The Wrestling' which
seems to be a fairly definitive history of UK Pro wrestling. I say seems
to be as I bought it ages ago but haven't read it yet (I'm crap, me!). It
has Kendo Nagasaki inside and a quite hideous picture of Jimmy Saville in
his wrestling leotard inside.
Cheers,
Martin
Graham Berry
In article <866.7242T...@emmons.demon.co.uk> SJ Emmons,
su...@emmons.demon.co.uk writes:
>On 30-Oct-97 16:22:04, manfrommars (ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~) wrote:
>
>How could you forget Mick McManus?!
What about Jim Breaks? Or that little Japanese bloke who used to run
about the ring like a scalded cat (I forget his name though). And wasn't
there somebody called Rosco, or Rocco or something like that?
GB
Dr. Graham Berry
Dept of Applied Physics and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering
University of Dundee
Scotland, UK
Black holes are where God is dividing by zero.
Ian D Wood
>
>ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
>alias.
>
I used to take my Gran to watch wrestling when she was in her 80's down
at Nottingham Victoria Baths.
We saw Big Daddy once, and she shouted out "He's not that big is he?"
Shirley Crabtree, for that was he, didn't reply.
BTW he was rushed to hospital last Saturday with suspected heart attack.
Haven't heard how he's doing.
Those I remember, as well as yours
Mick McManus
Jackie Pallo
Bert Royal
Vic Faulkner
Kendo Nagasaki
Billy Two Rivers
Les Kellet - how could anyone forget him?
Kid McCoy
Mal Kirk - who died following a Big Daddy slam
Steve Logan
Mark Rocco
Steve Grey, who was one of the most skilful wrestlers I recall
Marty Jones
Alan Kilby - who was deaf and dumb, and I think a European Champion
Jim Breaks
Hope these jog a few memories.
--
Ian Wood %%%%
(-@]@-)
%%U%%
%%%
Richard Bignell
> : What about Jim Breaks? Or that little Japanese bloke who used to run
> : about the ring like a scalded cat (I forget his name though). And wasn't
> : there somebody called Rosco, or Rocco or something like that?
Yeah, "Rollerball Rocco"! One of the dirty fighters if I recall!
Richard B.
Alun Thomas
>
> Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>
<list snipped>
One of Esther Rantzen's early efforts was called "The Big Time". It's
best known for launching the career of one Sheena Easton. But one of the
other programs followed the progress of a wrestler learning the trade.
I think he was taught by one Tally O'Shea, or something like that anyway.
He lost his first bout and, unlike Ms Easton, I think he returned to his
day job. A mate of mine also tells me that Harvey Smith used to be a
wrestler. Yes, *the* Harvey Smith.
Personally, I rarely got beyond the first bout on Saturday afternoons.
It was really disappointing if they joined that first bout halfway
through. If that happened, you didn't get to hear Kent Walton utter
"Good afternoon, grapple fans".
Al
Andrew Thomas
SJ Emmons <su...@emmons.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<866.7242T...@emmons.demon.co.uk>...
> On 30-Oct-97 16:22:04, manfrommars (ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~)
wrote:
> >Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
> Actually I used to be friends with Catweasel's (real name Gary Cooper)
> step-daughter. Went round her house once and Giant Haystacks was there
> too. He was even bigger in real life than on television
Yes, I find most people are. Do you also find that their physical size is
proportionate to that of the television you're watching, too? Spooky,
that.
> and when he sat down the chair disappeared!
Wow - you didn't say Paul Daniels was there!
Thom,
tony....@uk.sun.com
In article <Pine.SGI.3.96.971031...@spencer.nott.ac.uk>,
Alun Thomas <et...@thmech.nottingham.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>
> >
> > Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
> >
A mate of mine also tells me that Harvey Smith used to be a
> wrestler. Yes, *the* Harvey Smith.
Are you sure you don't mean Tally-Ho Kaye (who wrestled in jodphurs and,
IIRC, wrestling boots done up to look like riding boots)?
>
> Personally, I rarely got beyond the first bout on Saturday afternoons.
> It was really disappointing if they joined that first bout halfway
> through. If that happened, you didn't get to hear Kent Walton utter
> "Good afternoon, grapple fans".
But you'd miss him saying "Have a good week, 'till next week" at the end.
Cheers
--
Tony Walton (no relation to Kent!)
-------------------==== Posted via Deja News ====-----------------------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Post to Usenet
Ian D Wood
In article <Pine.SGI.3.96.971031165219.25078A-
100...@spencer.nott.ac.uk>, Alun Thomas <et...@thmech.nottingham.ac.uk>
writes
> A mate of mine also tells me that Harvey Smith used to be a
> wrestler. Yes, *the* Harvey Smith.
>
televised bout. It was far from spectacular, and I don't think he kept
it up for long.
Chris J Dixon
Chris wrote:
>Chris wrote these pearls of wisdom to all and sundry:
>: manfrommars wrote these pearls of wisdom to all and sundry:
>: : Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>: :
>: : Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
>: : ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
>: : alias.
It was Leon Arras
Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK
chris...@easynet.co.uk
Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.
Tim Matthews
In article <19971101233...@ladder01.news.aol.com>, djwh...@aol.com
(Djwhiley) wrote:
> Brian Glover's wrestling alias was Leon Arras - purportedly a Frenchman
> who spoke not one work of English.
Unlike a Yorkshireman who spoke not one word of English.
Tim.
Saxon's Curious facts, updated: 2nd Nov - As seen at Acorn World!
http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/tim.m
Ed
Ian D Wood wrote:
>
> In article <01bce6f9$5ce6b540$36557ec2@DE_Home.globalnet.co.uk>, David
> Evans <dev...@globalnet.co.uk> writes
> >> The Irish guy (Finn?) whose wife used to manage his fights in and out of
> >> the ring.
> >>
> >That was Dave 'Fit' Finley (Findlay ??) & his 'wife' Princess Paula.
>
> Thanks..I've been racking my brains all weekend trying to remember his
> name...
>
> Some others: 'Judo' Al Hayes
> The Saint (no idea what his real name was)
> Johnny Kwango
> Ricky Starr
> Bobby Collins
>
Here are some more:
Kendo Nagasaki
"Iron Fist" Mike Myers
Kid Chocolate
"King-Kong" Mal Kirk
Malcolm Coull
Chris wrote:
>
> manfrommars wrote these pearls of wisdom to all and sundry:
> : Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
> :
> : Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
> : ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
> : alias.
> : Any ideas?
> :There was another Irish bloke who if I remember right went by the monicker
'Lucky' Gordon, whom I never saw actually finish a bout - because he always
got disqualified! He used to knock his opponent over then repeatedly fall on
to them and head butt them (in a variety of places!) until the ref got bored
and that was that!
MCC
Simon Coward
Not sure how much I remember from the 1980s, but I was certainly an avid wrestlng follower in the
later 60s and 70s. Many of the names already mentioned McManus, Pallo et al were going back then
too, but just to add my two-pence worth, I well recall:
Mick McManus, Jackie Pallo (and his son, Jackie Jr.), Adrian Street Esquire, "Bad" Bobby Barnes,
Bert Royal, Vic Faulkner, Tibor and Peter Szackas (probably spelt wrong), Mike Marino, Mick
McMichael, Kendo Nagasaki and his manager "Georgous" George Gillette, Johnny Saint, George Kidd,
Steve Grey, Steve Logan (both of them), Ray Steele, Johnnie Kwango, Honey Boy Zimba, Johnnie?
Kincaid, Andy Robin, Clayton Thompson, Brian "Goldbelt" Maxine, Jim Breaks, Alan Colbeck (later a
referee), Mal Kirk (died of a heart attack in the ring, I believe), Pat Roach, Big Bruno Elrington,
Albert "Rocky" Wall, Count Bartelli, Steve Haggerty and Colin Joynson, The Dynamite Kid and Davey
Boy Smith (before they went to America), "Superstar" Mal Sanders (one of the few to get to beat
McManus on TV), John Naylor (who was an opponent for the "Big Time" wrestler I recall), "Tiger"
Dalibar Singh, Wayne Bridges, Peter "Tally Ho" Kaye, Harvey Smith, "Strongman" Alan Dennison, Jon
Cortez, Catweasel (who was on holiday in Portmeirion, North Wales, the same weekend I was once!),
Les Kellett, Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks, Lee Sharron, Black Jack Mulligan, Clive Myers (wasn't he
also supposed to be an arm-wrestling champion), Kid McCoy, Kung Fu, Tony and Roy St Clair, Gwyn
Davies, Bill Robinson, Barry Douglas, "Judo" Al Hayes, "Judo" (later "Super Destroyer") Pete
Roberts, Alan Kilby, Brian "Leon Arras" Glover, Abe Ginsberg, Dave "Fit" Finlay, Mark "Rollerball"
Rocco, Marty Jones, "Suicide"/"Cry Baby" Sid Cooper, Alan Sergeant, Eddie Cappelli, Zoltan Boscik,
Geoff Portz, Caswell Martin, Tony Charles, Bob Kirkwood...
Blimey
Simon
=
= http://www.invisible.demon.co.uk/ace/ace.htm - The Ace Of Wands WWWeb Site
=
X201
You've got a book haven't you? :-)
Paul
IRC=X201
The revolution is only a T-shirt away
Andy Clews
Curiously, no-one in this thread seems to have mentioned the one and only
Billy Two Rivers. Did he have a real name? He went back to the 60's and 70's
though, but then so did a lot of the others.
--
Andy Clews, Computing Service, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9QJ, UK
A.C...@sussex.ac.uk
Newsmaster
In article <3470b416...@news.demon.co.uk>, Simon Coward
<si...@invisible.demon.co.uk> writes
>On Sun, 09 Nov 1997 21:15:39 GMT, pa...@gornal.demon.co.uk (X201) wrote:
>
>>You've got a book haven't you? :-)
>
>sometimes twice a week as
>it was in the 60s/70s).
My word, yes - I'd almost forgotten about the late-night mid-week slot -
wasn't it on Tuesdays or Wednesdays?
> And I'm really sad and can remember this sort of tripe.
Mmm - nostalgia isn't what it used to be! :-)
>
>Some time ago I read a book by Jackie Pallo called "You Grunt And I'll Groan"
>which was quite
>interesting and if it can be believed, revealed quite a lot of what really went
>on and how it was
>all arranged.
And, of course, at least two from your list went on to become popular
actors in films and TV ...
>
>And I forgot Masambula and Jumping Jim Moser and Rikki Starr :-)
>
Naturally, picking favourites from your mightly list is bound to stir up
some controversy, but I think I have to pick the Royals (or was it the
Faulkners? - anyway, Bert and Vic. They were brothers, weren't they?)
and, of course, dear old Les Kellett, who despite his buffoonery, really
did seem to be a skilled wrestler, and could pull some smart moves when
he needed to. I remember seeing him KO the ref with his bucket at
Walthamstow town hall when I were a lad (well, all right, teenager).
Now, who was it that at one point seemed to be taking over the "clown of
the ring" role when Les started to fade away into retirement ... ?
--
John Dexter
Simon Tyers
There's a fine article in this month's Total Sport magazine on where the
major ones are now.
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
SIMON TYERS : hc9...@dmu.ac.uk
sty...@hotmail.com
www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Palms/6687/
'Quick,step it up to red alert.'
'Are you absolutely sure,sir? It would mean changing the bulb.'
---------------------------------------------------------------
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer Graham Berry <g.j....@dundee.ac.uk> tip-tapped
the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>In article <866.7242T...@emmons.demon.co.uk> SJ Emmons,
>su...@emmons.demon.co.uk writes:
>>On 30-Oct-97 16:22:04, manfrommars (ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~) wrote:
>>>Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>>>Any ideas?
>>
>>How could you forget Mick McManus?!
>
>What about Jim Breaks? Or that little Japanese bloke who used to run
>about the ring like a scalded cat (I forget his name though). And wasn't
>there somebody called Rosco, or Rocco or something like that?
>
Marc "Rollerball" Rocco
Michael Hutchence 1960-1997
RIP Michael, thanks for some great music, I.C.O.N of the eighties.
Lived life to the XS.
"Suicide is painless, it brings on many changes, but I can take or leave it if I please"
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer Martin Aslett <ma1...@cus.cam.ac.uk> tip-tapped
the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>On Fri, 31 Oct 1997, Ian D Wood wrote:
>
>> In article <gary-30109...@194.130.106.84>, manfrommars
>> <ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~> writes
>> >Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>> >
>> >Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
>> >ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
>> >alias.
>> >
>> I used to take my Gran to watch wrestling when she was in her 80's down
>> at Nottingham Victoria Baths.
>> We saw Big Daddy once, and she shouted out "He's not that big is he?"
>> Shirley Crabtree, for that was he, didn't reply.
>> BTW he was rushed to hospital last Saturday with suspected heart attack.
>> Haven't heard how he's doing.
>
>I haven't heard anything either. I saw him as a child (I was the child not
>Big Daddy) at Crowtree Leisurecentre, Sunderland in a tag team match and
>touched his stomach (urggh!!). Cat Weasel was the highlight of the bill
>for me, as I recall - Big Daddy, as was his way, watched his thin team
>mate get pummelled by two bad guys in black who were big but not as big as
>BD, then got tagged and bounced on one of the bad guys for a fall.
>
>I believe Giant Haystacks still wrestles on the oldies alternative to the
>WWF (the one Hulk Hogan is now in) or at least he did not so long ago.
>
Luke McMasters (aka Giant Haystacks) last wrestled in the so-called
"Oldies Alternative" World Championship Wrestling two years ago as
Loch Ness, feuding with Hulk Hogan, who was then the federations major
face.
BTW Hulk Hogan is now a heel (bad guy) and called Hollywood Hogan, at
least it saves on paying royalties to Marvel.
>> Those I remember, as well as yours
>
><most of list of wrestlers cut>
>
>> Alan Kilby - who was deaf and dumb, and I think a European Champion
>
>He was in one of the support bouts to Big Daddy and won. Quite impressive
>(to a nine year old at any rate!).
>
>There's a book written by Simon Garfield called 'The Wrestling' which
>seems to be a fairly definitive history of UK Pro wrestling. I say seems
>to be as I bought it ages ago but haven't read it yet (I'm crap, me!). It
>has Kendo Nagasaki inside and a quite hideous picture of Jimmy Saville in
>his wrestling leotard inside.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Martin
>
>
Michael Hutchence 1960-1997
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer si...@invisible.demon.co.uk (Simon Coward)
tip-tapped the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>On Sun, 09 Nov 1997 21:15:39 GMT, pa...@gornal.demon.co.uk (X201) wrote:
>
>>You've got a book haven't you? :-)
>
>Believe it or not, no. I just used to watch the wrestling every week (or sometimes twice a week as
>it was in the 60s/70s). And I'm really sad and can remember this sort of tripe.
>
Hey Simon, you need to watch some more ECW, or maybe a Public Enemy
tables match :-)
Now THAT is what I call wrestling.
>Some time ago I read a book by Jackie Pallo called "You Grunt And I'll Groan" which was quite
>interesting and if it can be believed, revealed quite a lot of what really went on and how it was
>all arranged.
"worked" Simon, in the trade the term is worked.
Actually about three years ago it was reported in the popular press
that Pallo was trying to start up major league wrestling in the UK (as
opposed to the small indy style feds there are now). He was trying to
get a TV deal apparently to screen shows from a major venue in London
which had been used alot in his heyday (The Palladium ?). He was
pretty optimistic and was hoping to get guys over from the states like
Vader to complement the home grown talent. Sadly (?) it never
happened.
>
>And I forgot Masambula and Jumping Jim Moser and Rikki Starr :-)
>
>Regards,
>
>Simon
>
>=
>= http://www.invisible.demon.co.uk/ace/ace.htm - The Ace Of Wands WWWeb Site
>=
Michael Hutchence 1960-1997
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~ (manfrommars)
tip-tapped the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>
>Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
>ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
>alias.
>
>Any ideas?
Brian Glover first wrestled under the Gimmick of a Frenchman who never
spoke, which was odd really as UK wrestling was not really Gimmick
driven.
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer ga...@mars01.demon.co.uk~spamguard~ (manfrommars)
tip-tapped the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>Does anybody remember any of the wrestlers from the old ITV shows?
>
>Giant Haystacks, Big Daddy, and bizarrely, Pat Roach are the only
>ones I can name, but I remember Brian Glover appearing under an
>alias.
>
>Any ideas?
>
>Gary
Although the state of domestic wrestling is pretty poor at the moment
there are quite a few British wrestlers plying their trade around the
world which hopefully you will remember from their appearances on the
TV on All-Star. There is obvioulsy the British Bulldog, Davey Boy
Smith who is with the WWF, and started out there with his partner the
Dynamite Kid who was also from these shores. In WCW there is Lord
Steven Regal, Squire Dave Taylor, Dave "Fit" Finlay (aka The Belfast
Bruiser) and Gentleman Chris Adams.
As well as this two young British stars competed with alot of credit
in the prestigious Japanese "Best of the Super J" tournament in the
NJPW, Robbie Brookside and Doc Dean who were featured on a BBC2
documentary about three years ago.
The Dirtbike Kid has also appeared in ECW and other US promotions.
In domestic terms the major two federations are Hammerlock who operate
around Kent and London, and All-Star which was the federation that was
featured regularly on World of Sport operates around the country.
UnderCover Elephant
The one finger typer "David Evans" <dev...@globalnet.co.uk> tip-tapped
the following epistle in uk.media.tv.misc:
>> The Irish guy (Finn?) whose wife used to manage his fights in and out of
>> the ring.
>>
>That was Dave 'Fit' Finley (Findlay ??) & his 'wife' Princess Paula. Dave
>was recently in WCW in the USA as the Belfast Bruiser.
After he left All Star he went to join Otto Wanz' Catch Wrestling
Association in Austria, he stayed there for a few years then he went
to WCW, he left WCW after an excellent feud with Lord Steven Regal
(who was good old Steve Regal in All Star) which included a superb
match which saw him smash Regal through a Car Windscreen. He has now
returned and is feuding with the Canadian Crippler, Chris Benoit. I
dunno what ever happened to Princess Paula.
> Unfortunately, he's
>lost his phisique and now comes off as a 'typical' British wrestler - not
>as well defined as the steriod induced image of a USA wrestler.
"Juicers" as Steroid users are known are definately out after the
infamous Zahorian steroid trial. There are still a few around, such as
the Steiners and Lex Luger, but their influence is definately on the
wane. The trend now is towards workrate more than anything else.
He also operates under the name "The Belfast Bruiser".
> Also
>apperaring at the same time was Gian Haystack as 'Loch Ness' He earned
>tremendous applause for just making it to the ring - most of the crowd
>thought he would croak long befoe he got there due to his well-propertioned
>shape.
He lasted two months at the most in WCW.
On a side note he was reported as being seriously ill with stomach
cancer a few weeks ago.
AD Battye
Simon Tyers (hc9...@dmu.ac.uk) wrote:
: There's a fine article in this month's Total Sport magazine on where the
: major ones are now.
: --
In Saturday's Yorkshire Evening Post, Big Daddy's wife (Mrs Daddy?) was
telling of how she doesn't expect Shirley to live much longer. He suffered
a major stroke a few weeks ago and now he's in terminal decline.
--
Andrew | What have you got when you buy a spud today?
Maths | Twenty-seven different fertilizers, done up
York | in a jacket...
UK | -Tony Hancock