Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. He died, aged 52, in 1998. 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. 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. You can find this story in My Bookmarks. 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. Giant Haystacks was one of the best-known wrestlers on the British wrestling scene in the 1970s and 1980s. 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. Mexican actor, wrestling announcer and baseball broadcaster. Cinemas were closing in large numbers and there was good reason to believe that the small screen would destroy the cinema entirely. Top 10 hit-makers After asking for your nominations, we asked you to vote in our poll to determine just who was the best producer of the 1960s. The Wrestling Heritage A-Z of Wrestling Promoters catalogues hundreds of those who did make it happen, including (despite the misleading title) female promoters Kathleen Look, Jessie Rogers and Anne DeRelwyskow. 30 Best '70s Movies From Hollywood's Grooviest Decade. 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. 13. You can learn more about this fearless trendsetter here. 6 Antonio Inoki However, like many on this list, his potential was not pursued to its extent as he tragically died in 2001 at the age of 46 due to being shot to death after a dispute with his former roommate. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. A number of bands emerged with an amalgamation of diverse musical influences. Copyright is owned by the creators of text and photographs. One bout with Jackie Pallo was seen by 20 million fans. He died aged 76 in January 2013. He was ahead of his time, innovating a level of athleticism unlike most before him. Worthington 'E' Ind Coope Double Diamond Draught (launched 1962) Whitbread Tankard (launhed 1957) Watneys Red Barrel 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. The current oldest living in the wrestling industry is Bill Mercer from the United States. You can find instructions here as to how. 10. flickr/Orange County Archives. Kowalski, who opened a pro wrestling school after he retired in 1977, trained none other than Triple H and many others. Thornley was the original performer who used the Kendo Nagasaki character, but other variations have been used over the years. His glam rock looks and in-ring ability instantly attracted attention from the fans and cemented his place as a top heel. Former British Middleweight Champion and British Welterweight Champion. It was a very different case with wrestling, whatever Joint Promotions would have us believe. 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. var vclk_options = { sid: 11669, placement_id: 'faf683dc-a8b9-443c-316a-9c22984f3fe6', version: '1.4' }; This web site exists to provide the information on professional wrestling and is neither affiliated nor endorsed by any pro-wrestling organization. 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. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. 5 Times The Forbidden Door Opened in Wrestling, 10 Surprising Moments WWE Deceived Their Fans, 11 WrestleMania Matches That Surprisingly Didnt Main Event, Bruce Hart Explains How He Revolutionized Pro Wrestling, 10 Wrestlers Who Turned Scraps to Gold in ECW. He was 52. On April 7th, 1986, at WrestleMania 2, The Bulldogs dethroned Greg The Hammer Valentine and Brutus Beefcake, successfully capturing the WWF World Tag Team Championships. But the mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world away from todays slick, toned stars. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 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. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. Apr 21, 2020. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. Little Bruiser ready for a bout in Chicago, September 1 1972. 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. He also had many great matches against British wrestling greats such as Fit Finlay and Mick McManus. 2012 Wrestlers.co.uk - The Home of UK Wrestling & Wrestlers. 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. 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. The list is about where the wrestlers were born not where they wrestled. Wrestled his last match on his 80th birthday against Bobo Brazil Jr. at a CCW card in Marion, Ohio. Last wrestled for Lucha Libre Acapulco in, Most recently wrestled on August 6, 2022, for. Click here to watch the 1977 PWI Match of the YearGraham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Title. Owns Pro Wrestling America. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. 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. Updated 11:52, 21 APR 2013. Credits for information on this site are given In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. People in the '60s dressed up for most occasions. View gallery. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s4 of 18 . In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. 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. El Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): The forgotten heroes of Midget Wrestling: Vintage photos from the 60s and 70s, Oliver Reed as a prototype Alex from A Clockwork Orange in These are the Damned, I Have No Desire To Be Nico: Post-Punks Muse Of Manchester, Linder Sterling. Best known as a top showjumper who occasionally flicked a V-sign, Yorkshires finest, 78, also grappled in the 1970s. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. I hope you enjoyed that ride back to the old school universe, and as usual, your comments are more than welcomeespecially if I missed anyone on the list and/or if you disagree with the order. 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. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. The North Ireland-born Finlay amassed twenty championship reigns throughout his career, including the United States Championship in WWE. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. He was also inducted into the Stampede Wrestling, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fames. Antonio Inoki Television became a universal habit in the 60s. Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. 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. It's an impossible task, surely. He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. Click the appropriate section on the right. The title of the oldest verified wrestler of all time belongs to Polish-born American wrestler Abe Coleman (19052007), who lived 101years, 189days. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. You probably noticed that the name of Bruno Sammartino was repeated often and was featured in many videos. His wrestling ability is something that people in the modern-day wouldnt be overly impressed with, but back in his time, he could captivate the audience at his command, which enabled him to be the star he was. 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. It was at its peak of popularity when the television show World of Sport was launched in the mid-1960s, making household names out of Adrian Street . On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. As with everything in the Wrestling Heritage pages this is an evolving project taken forward by our Heritage community. 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. He eventually became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. When Embry wins and Lowrance compares it to other great moments in the decades-long history of the Dallas Sportatorium, you. With his famous headbutt and his piledriver, he became a seven-time WWWF United States Championship from 1963 to 1971, when the title was deactivated. Clark was to finish the mid-1960s as the second most famous drummer in the . Finlay retired from in-ring competition in 2012 and is now a backstage producer for the WWE. * Some NWA promoters recognized Moolah as world champion Multi-time regional champion. All this respectability was presided over by the governing bodies, the British Boxing Board of control for the boxers and Joint Promotions for the wrestlers. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Extreme Record Collecting: Confessions of an analog vinyl snob, A long, rambling blog post about my Nico obsession (+ some astonishing, seldom seen TV performances). So I decided to explore an unknown zone for me and to tackle an era I didn't witness, the '60s and the '70s. He went on to win one world title. Cowboy Bob Bradley was born Robert Claton Bradley in Dickens County, TX, in February 1935. Martin Austin Ruane (October 10, 1946 - November 29, 1998) was an English professional wrestler of Irish descent. Sandor Szabo 60 October 16, 1966 Heart Attack; Primo Carnera 51 June 29, 1967 Cirrhosis of Liver . Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. He currently lives in Liverpool, United Kingdom, and finds his spare time training to become a wrestler. 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. He was a muscular 6 feet, 6 inches. Last wrestled for ABC Wrestling in Beziers, France, losing to Matthew Ford. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. Not the ears! so that opponents would avoid his cauliflower ears. I found no WWWF footage of The Sheik, but you can click here to see the hardcore legend in action against Dusty Rhodes in the '70s; or, if you're curious, click here for a match between him and Chief White Eagle in the late '50s or early '60s. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. Rex. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! His calculated evil ways made him one of the biggest heels in any company he worked. Something went wrong, please try again later. We have taken a lot of time and careful attention to detail in bringing you our free to use and access Wrestler's Database. Born in Golborne, Lancashire, Smith is best known for his appearances in the United States with the then World Wrestling Federation . Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. Cowboy Lang was born Harry Lang in Saskatchewan, Canada on August 28, 1950. Last wrestled for New Age Wrestling in Australia, defeating Bo Boman. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. He portrayed a Japanese samurai with a relatively unknown past: Kendo Nagasaki. Jack Ernest Gutteridges alter-ego had an 11-year grudge with McManus and developed moves such as the cross-shoulder backbreaker. 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. 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. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. In the '70s, this was hands-down the most romantic song on the radio. He became one of the most infamous heels ever in the late '70s when he injured many babyface wrestlers with his signature swinging full nelson he didn't release after the bell. British wrestling history has a name - HeritageWrestling Heritage celebrates the glorious days of British professional wrestling. Collectors of British & American back issues will find some great stuff here like Beat Instrumental magazine, early 70's glam & pop magazine Music Star, The excellent Zigzag magazine, for blues enthusiast there's Blues Unlimited, Creem, Crawdaddy, Let it Rock . It featured geometric edges that became a hit all over the world while super out-there for the time. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. He sadly died at the age of 56 in January 2007. 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. Now retired, Lord Littlebrook resides with his son in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Different versions of this character would form in the years to follow, showing the personas longevity, but none lived up to the original. In it you will find wrestlers who have died in the last ten years, twenty years, and going all the way back to the late 19th century. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. Cowboy Bob Bradley and Joey Russell, February 23 1968. Luke Graham was one of the rare to have a gimmick that didn't include specific outfits such as cowboy or other Russian characters. The oldest male wrestler was Killer Kowalski, who won on an independent show in Massachusetts on March 14, 2008, at age 81. 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. The 60s & 70s beer guide; Beers from the past; Beers from the past. He worked for Joint Promotions and frequently wrestled on ITVs World of Sport. Wrestled as The Minnesota Farm Boy from 1957 to 1966. New Zealand wrestler. 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. 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. while others continued to bill Byers as the title holder. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. Peter S. Beagle (Goodreads Author) 4.16 avg rating 103,279 ratings. In fact, he was so known to the British public that the Queen and former Prime Minister Margret Thatcher were said to be fans! 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! Or so Joint Promotions would have the enthusiasts believe. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. He would later appear on an April 2007 episode of Raw, losing a no disqualification, 3-on-1 handicap match to Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, and Umaga. He wrestled for Pacific Northwest, Stampede, NWA, and WWWF. Wrestled his last match at a show that was independently produced by. ALL STAR WRESTLING IN THE 50's, 60's, 70's and 80'S (BCTV ) The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. Zbyszko slowly climbed the ladder in singles competition until he won the WWWF Tag Team Championship along with Tony Garea, for a 105-day reign. Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. Privacy Mick McManus was a man small in stature, though he induced much fear! 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 Instead, he relied on his judo background. With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it was hard for him not to be popular with fans. The best 70s songs? He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). wrestling poster, grays | Flickr Condivisione di foto! Still wrestles in independent shows as of December 2022. The best British wrestlers: From Big Daddy to Mick McManus, what became of our wrestling stars The mostly overweight men in leotards, often facing off at The Dome in Brighton, were a world. She took part in a Falls Count Anywhere 2-on-1 Handicap Match against. He later found fame as an actor on TV and in films such as Kes and Alien 3. As long as you work hard and strive to improve yourself, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to. Once Mia Farrow rocked the style, it was a spiral of everyone and their mother wanting to do the same. The number one hit singles in Australia in the 1960s 1960: 'It's Now Or Never', Elvis Presley 1961: 'I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door', Eddie Hodges 1962: 'Good Luck Charm', Elvis Presley 1963: 'I Want. It is said that Gustav Fritensk wrestled until the age of 72. 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. I found no singles action for Haystacks Calhoun, but you can click here to watch some three-against-three action and click here to watch him in a WWWF World Tag Team title defense. His first reign, in 1975, lasted 105 days, and he teamed up with Victor Rivera who was later replaced by Pat Barrett. Former printer William Matthews nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sports biggest draws. Czechslovakian wrestler. 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. 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He was 69. British wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki. 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. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s3 of 18. Wigan-born Davey Boy Smith started out on World of Sport at 15, known as Young David. Worked as Purple Haze. 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 with news that World of Sport is back on ITV in June, we salute the great grapplers of yesteryear. A wrestler called Jack Cassidy ready to rumble in 1968. 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. With two different partners (Professor Tanaka and Mr. Saito), he managed to have five reigns as Tag Team champion, for a total of 932 days. Farmer Pete and Cowboy Lang backstage in Milwaukee, February 3, 1972. In a way, the espionage genre did not develop much from the '60s to the '70s. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. He had grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF Championship. Cast Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring. The last surviving wrestler from the "Pioneer Era" (1900s1940s) was American wrestler Angelo Savoldi (born April 21, 1914, died September 13, 2013, aged 99years, 145days). 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. Graham also managed to put the hand on the short-lived WWF International Tag Team Championship. Gori Guerrero - World Champion These promoters were commonly known as the independent or opposition promoters. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. Began his career in the 1940s. source Cauliflower Alley Club, Spanish announcer in boxing and wrestling in Los Angeles. 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 From Barbados former Mr. Universe, a bodybuilder wrestler in the 60s and 70s and teamed with Rocky Johnson. Also later on in his career he wrestled as Enforcer Luciano in NWA Hollywood. Along with his accolades, he was one of the first to incorporate a female valet into his act. Look no further, get it all here! They would work together as a team in many matches during the final years of the channel ITVs coverage of British wrestling. He was a master of the heel tactics, but he was also very agile in the ring. All are heavyweight unless otherwise noted. Click here to watch Andre The Giant winning a battle royal in the mid-70s. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. The top 100 of the 1960s is an expanded version of a top 15 list that ran last July, a few months after we began our Lost Factor calculations.
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