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

The 60s & 70s beer guide; Beers from the past; Beers from the past. Second oldest British wrestler ever behind Joe D'Orazio. published 12 September 2017. [Photo: mirror.co.uk]Nagasaki had superhuman powers, such as the power of healing and the ability to hypnotize. 5. Top 10 Pro Wrestling Commentators in History - Bleacher Report William Regals story is a great representation that it doesnt matter where you come from, what demons you have, or where you are in life. Blood, barrel chests, and mutton chops. With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it was hard for him not to be popular with fans. He worked in Brixton offices by day but would become a villain by night. 1. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. The best 70s songs? Graham also managed to put the hand on the short-lived WWF International Tag Team Championship. Most recently wrestled on October 22, 2022, at Niigata Pro Wrestling event in Niigata, Japan, where he teamed with, Last wrestled at the 2022 C-K Autumnfest in Kenova, West Virginia, where he teamed with, DeNucci wrestled his last match at a PWS card in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, teaming up with, Last wrestled at the 2019 Expo Lucha convention in San Diego, California, teaming up with. His potential and ability have been often overlooked despite his influence on wrestling. Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. Looking for the very latest wrestling news, gossip and facts? 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. The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. We do not accept responsibility for views expressed in the forum, articles by Heritage members, or photographs posted in the Heritage Galleries. Oldies duets largely focused on romantic relationships, and for many, the greatest love songs are those featuring two great 50s, 60s, and 70s artists singing directly to each other the more believable the chemistry, the better! Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. Wrestlers of the 60s and 70s - hntck.talkwireless.info Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. Dave Clark. At just 5 feet, 6 inches (1.68 m) tall, and 175 lbs (79 kg), he was known for his brutal way of punishing opponents of all sizes. He was 67. 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. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70's wrestler of all time. However, like many of his colleagues, his career and achievements have been sadly overlooked. President of the WWF from 1978 to 1984. Former printer William Matthews nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sports biggest draws. These contests, though, receive little publicity and mostly go unnoticed by the general public. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. . Policy. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2020-21 O-Pee-Chee Platinum Yellow Traxx #197 Dylan Cozens RC 66/249 at the best online prices at eBay! 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. In London and the urban conurbations of northern England it was not unknown for independent wrestlers to work two, even three programmes in one night. Along with his accolades, he was one of the first to incorporate a female valet into his act. Thornley was the original performer who used the Kendo Nagasaki character, but other variations have been used over the years. Also later on in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. Doncaster-born Gary Cooper took on the TV wizards moniker and came up with many bizarre gimmicks, including licking a lucky toad between rounds. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Not all boxing came under the control of the BBBC. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are noted according to the approximate date of the information, usually three or four months prior to the publishing date, in order to give a better idea of why the wrestlers may be ranked. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The list is about where the wrestlers were born not where they wrestled. With his flamboyant gimmick, combined with his powerhouse in-ring style and his bodybuilder's physique, he was the prototype who established the future WWF wrestlers standards. 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. Training under Marty Jones, Matthews made his pro wrestling debut at the age of 15 for a local promotor at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. 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. A former tag partner of Big Daddy, they became huge ring rivals. 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. Keg bitters on draught. The former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s and had careers that spanned decades, including winning the NWA Tag Team Championship several times during their career. Click here to watch Mr. Fuji in rare singles action taking on Pedro Morales and click here to see him in some tag team action. Czechslovakian wrestler. Owns Pro Wrestling America. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. 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. 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. 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. The free-form music expression of jam bands became a monumental part of hippie culture in the 60s. 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 to show his full potential and was often placed in comedy segments alongside his leprechaun sidekick, Hornswoggle. Oldest person to wrestle ever at 87 years old. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. WWE Director of Talent Development and Head of Global Recruiting, playing a significant role in building the future stars of WWE. He was a master of the heel tactics, but he was also very agile in the ring. Despite a BMI of 43.3, he became an icon of the sport.He retired in 1993 to run a gym in Halifax, West Yorks, and died in 1997 aged 67. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. 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. He was ahead of his time, innovating a level of athleticism unlike most before him. 30 Best 70s Movies of All Time - Greatest Classic 70s Films 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. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1) by. Coventry Live. The forgotten heroes of 'Midget Wrestling': Vintage photos from the 60s The Sheik 13 of 26 The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. Click here to watch Pedro Morales defeating Ivan Koloff for the WWWF Championship. Wrestled his last match on a AAA show in a loss to El Pistolero in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico. The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW icons such as Rob Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu. With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. After retiring in 1983, he wrote his autobiography, You Grunt, Ill Groan, and did acting work, getting knocked out by Honor Blackman in a fight scene on The Avengers. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Even today, there are wrestlers who won't dare try the now 75-year-old Jerry. As of 2017, there are 42 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s1970s) over 75 years old. His biography has been translated into 21 different languages. A number of rock songs written in the 60s and 70s have gone onto become popular rock anthems. The Best Wrestlers of the 70s: Top-Rope Grooviness - Omigods Let's get straight to the wrestlers information, which we've split up in the following handy sections below: Wrestling tickets currently on offer - click to see more! Remembering the music of the '60s in Australia - Starts at 60 PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! On an interesting side note, Santino Marella's name is a tribute to Monsoon, who's real name is Robert Marella. However, before his run as manager, Mr. Fuji was one of the greatest tag team specialist ever. New Zealand wrestler. But the female in the wrestling industry was Betty Wagner, the valet of Gorgeous George who lived to 98 years old in 2011. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). Drama. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). Instead, he relied on his judo background. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. Birthdate: August 17, 1992. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. Adrian Street with his valet and wife, Miss Linda. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. 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. Joe wrestled his last match at the Gypsy Joe retirement show held in Tullahoma, Tennessee by the Southern Wrestling Federation. There was simply too much going on throughout the world to accurately reflect the best music of the 70s. 13. Father of Bret "The Hitman" Hart, and the late wrestler Owen Hart. Ruben Juarez - National Champion, Middleweight (Mexico): 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. 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. Frenchy Lamonte was also known as Rolly the Rocket, the Little Hawk, and Little Evilborn. 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. WWE Power Rankings: The 25 Greatest Superstars of the '60s and '70s Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion President until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. During his time there, he would become a four-time TV Champion. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith 39 May . Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. 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. 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. Frenchy Lamonte heading for the ring in Tampa 1970. Last wrestled on a show independently produced by. View gallery. He was 52. 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. [Photo: dailymail.co.uk]McManuss main catchphrase was Not the ears! Was the promoter of Seattle wrestling, from 1958 to 1969 he was the sole promoter in Washington, Idaho, and Northeast Oregon. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Many icons paved the way to what would become an empire in the world of wrestling. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. Fashion Square in Santa Ana in the 1960s long before it became what is now Mainplace Mall. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. Little Beaver was born Lionel Giroux in Saint-Jrme, Quebec in 1935. he began his wrestling career at the age of fifteen and teamed up with fellow Canadian Sky Low Low, the pair going on to become two of the most famous wrestlers in history. Dynamite famously also teamed up with Davey Boy Smith as The British Bulldogs. Former. UK hitmakers The Dave Clark Five were one of the foremost 'British Invasion' acts. 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. After one of his shows on December 2nd, 1997, he died from a stroke. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE. It is said that Gustav Fritensk wrestled until the age of 72. 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. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! flickr/Orange County Archives. If you can provide further information please get in touch. We have taken a lot of time and careful attention to detail in bringing you our free to use and access Wrestler's Database. Updated 11:52, 21 APR 2013. Credits for information on this site are given Billy the Kid with Cowboy Bob Bradley (aka Robert Bradley). The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. Pro-Wrestling Rankings: 1960s - Wrestling-Titles.com This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. He started wrestling at the age of fifteen and went on to become one the worlds top midget wrestler over a 30 year period, during which time he won the NWA World Midget Championship twice. Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. But the mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. But the oldest in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904-2006) who lived 101 years, 314 days. Thankfully, during a golden age of wrestling, photographer David Maciejewski documented the legends of the ring from 1966 to 1974from which some these pictures have been culled. while others continued to bill Byers as the title holder. In the 1st 5 years of the '60s the following wrestlers showed in the Spanish rings: from Britain, John Foley, Chic Purvey, Michael Gale, Ian Campbell , ClayThompson, Bill Robinson (years later became a tag team champ in the AWA), Lord B. Tophan, Bob Anthony, Vick Faulkner, Jackie "Mr. TV" Pallo, Tony Cassio, Lindey Caulder, Peter Berg, Dave On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. You play to your strengths in this game and my strength is as a bald, rough-looking Yorkshireman, he said. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. 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. As might be expected, Jones is now a trainer for several British-based wrestling promotions and, in recent years, even mentored multiple members of the current NXT UK roster. Chances are that grandmother or aunt would not be quite so respectable and may well have been prone to threatening the wrestlers with her handbag, umbrella or any other inanimate object that may have been close to hand. Share. 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. 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. Everyone can stop writing love songs now. Here is where he would meet Robbie Brookside. 10. Wrestled his last match for Italian Championship Wrestling in Brescia, Italy, teaming with Manuel Majoli to defeat Mr. 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. Worked as Purple Haze. He portrayed a Japanese samurai with a relatively unknown past: Kendo Nagasaki. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! Jamaica Kid in a publicity shot. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. He died aged 75 on June 24, 2010 in Amarillo, Texas. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. Wrestled in the Central States and was a light heavyweight champion. Wrestled his last match for NWA Wrestle Birmingham, in Birmingham, Alabama. 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. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. 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. Top WWF Professional Wrestlers from the 70s | Groovy History Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent. Gori Guerrero - World Champion British musician and wrestler. [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! H/T Buzzfeed and Vintage Everyday. Best British Movies | 100 Best British Films of All Time new world medium armor combination 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. We use ads to keep our content free for you. 41.88, Davey Boy Smith is the 2nd most famous British Wrestler. Multi-time regional champion. 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. Television in the 60s - Retrowow Also wrestled as The Battling Bohemian and Red Menace. One of his trademarks was to cut his opponents' face with a pencil hidden in his outfit. His powerhouse antics made him popular and he quickly became a star. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! He fought as part of a tag team and was often picked to fight 6ft 10in 350lbs wrestler Blackjack Mulligan who would wallop Bruiser onto the canvas. The 60s and 70s set the ball rolling for rock music. 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. (Youngest WWE Divas Champion) 44. Former WWWF World Tag Team Champion. 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. While never wrestling across the pond in the WWF, Jones did a stint in NJPW in the early 80s, where he faced off against the original Tiger Mask and also participated in tag team matches alongside and against well-known international names at the time, such as Antonio Inoki and even Andre The Giant. When he left New Zealand after he signed with the WWWF in 1972, he quickly became a big star, earning the 1973 PWI Rookie of the Year. 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. As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Growing up with the name Shirley Crabtree in a mill town must have been tough. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. 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. Mick McManus was a man small in stature, though he induced much fear! Wrestling Legends You Didn't Know Competed In The 1960s - TheSportster From Wrestleview.com Jay Briscoe has passed away. This is the most complete dead wrestlers list on the Internet. Regal would debut in WCW in 1993. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. Clear rating. 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. The iconic Bun Boy building located in Baker as captured in this picture from the 1960s. ALL STAR WRESTLING IN THE 50's, 60's, 70's and 80'S (BCTV ) - Facebook The 48st Londoner was the bearded behemoth grannies loved to hate. Wrestled in AWA. Thanks to photographer David Maciejewski we can see pictures of the 'little' wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. He eventually became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. 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. 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. Sun Sign: Leo. This is a list of oldest surviving professional wrestlers.As of 2017, there are 42 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s-1970s) over 75 years old.The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s-1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99 years, 145 days).The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all .