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

[Photo: @WrestlingIsKing on Twitter]In his first three years in wrestling, he claimed the Light Heavyweight Championship and the British Commonwealth Tag Team Titles with Marty Jones. Born Murray Downs in Wallaceburg, Ontario, Little Bruiser was the only son among four sisters. He continued wrestling until the late 1980s, when he was enshrined into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. It was a detective/cop show starring Jack Lord. Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972. Wrestled his last match for FMLL teaming with. Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. It's amazing to see how things in our corner of the Golden State have changed and transformed over time. 30 Best '70s Movies From Hollywood's Grooviest Decade. Joe wrestled his last match at the Gypsy Joe retirement show held in Tullahoma, Tennessee by the Southern Wrestling Federation. 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 . Frost. Last wrestled for Big Time Wrestling in Spartanburg, South Carolina where he teamed with, Most recently wrestled for AML Acts Of War Games 2 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina defeating, Last wrestled for Hawaii Championship Wrestling as he teamed up with. Not entirely content with only being placed in tag bouts to make his partner Big Daddy look good, Matthews moved over to All Star Wrestling. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s2 of 18. Share. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. Big Daddy & Danny Collins Bobby Barnes & Sid Cooper 14 7 84 JNLister 7.3K views 1 year ago 25 years of ITV UK Wrestling special - 1980 VintageLynx 74K views 8 years ago John Quinn Tony St Clair. He was referred to as the man you love to hate!. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. 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. Those I ranked are only the tip of the iceberg because other legends and pioneers existed before them. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. 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 his nickname "Crazy" suggests, he portrayed a deranged persona who covered his ears and claimed he was not insane when someone made allusion to his craziness. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. 13. He died aged 76 in January 2013. Best known by his ring name, Giant Haystacks, he wrestled in such places as Great Britain, the United States, Canada, India, and Rhodesia. Oldest Canadian Wrestler. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. Voice of World Class Championship Wrestling. The iconic Bun Boy building located in Baker as captured in this picture from the 1960s. He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? If you can provide further information please get in touch. Visits to Wrestling Heritage are recorded by Google Analytics. After testing his trade in carnivals and holiday camps, Darren soon gained exposure working for ITVs World of Sport, like many others on this list. Click here to watch the 1977 PWI Match of the YearGraham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Title. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. 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. Wrestled in her last match in a tag team match with Stormy Apple as they lost to Josie Navarro and Margaret Garcia at Ladies International Wrestling Association in Las Vegas, Nevada. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. From Martinique wrestled for Pacific Northwest and Stampede Wrestling. 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. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. Owns Pro Wrestling America. But the oldest in the wrestling industry was promoter Harry Elliott (1904-2006) who lived 101 years, 314 days. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. 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 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. They would work together as a team in many matches during the final years of the channel ITVs coverage of British wrestling. 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. Thanks to photographer David Maciejewski we can see pictures of the 'little' wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. The 20 Great Lost Albums of British Rock, 1968-72. Yet, he doesnt get as much recognition outside of Britain. Antonio Posa - World Champion He went on to win a clutch of wrestling awards including the NWA Midget Wrestling Championship twice and was a firm favorite with fans. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Retired wrestler Saraya-Jade Bevis, better known as Paige, has won the Divas Championship twice and was also its the youngest winner. In the '50s, '60s, and '70s, female solo singers were ever-present on radio, TV and the pop charts -- as they should have been! Little Tokyo (aka Shigeri Akabane) who was inspired to quit homeland and join Lord Littlebrook and his troupe after they visited Japan in the 1960s. Inducted into the. He was so pushed on television that he was unbeaten for twenty years. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. 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. His powerhouse antics made him popular and he quickly became a star. It was a very different case with wrestling, whatever Joint Promotions would have us believe. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. Blood, barrel chests, and mutton chops. 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. 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. Duets have always been perfectly suited to oldies music and love songs, mainly because rock and roll began as a combination of popular styles. flickr/Orange County Archives. Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion President until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. Wrestler Movie Appearances You May Have Missed! [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! 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. Britain only had two channels in 1960, BBC . It is said that his disillusion with his career direction led to a return to the Texas independent scene in late 99. The 48st Londoner was the bearded behemoth grannies loved to hate. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. British wrestling history has a name - HeritageWrestling Heritage celebrates the glorious days of British professional wrestling. And, in those years, he often fought in 60-minute time limit draws. However, he never got his break in what was, at the time, the top promotion in the world, WWE. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith 39 May . Out of traveling carnivals, circus acts and sheer ambition, these wrestlers started a sport that was followed by hundreds of thousands across America, Canada and England. His calculated evil ways made him one of the biggest heels in any company he worked. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. We do not accept responsibility for views expressed in the forum, articles by Heritage members, or photographs posted in the Heritage Galleries. Former printer William Matthews nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sports biggest draws. 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. He became good friends with fellow wrestler Andre the Giant and has a career as a movie actor. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. 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. Wrestlers like Big Daddy and Giant Haystacks thrilled kids with their bouts, not to mention a remarkable number of their usually peaceable grandmothers. 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. 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. 5. When Embry wins and Lowrance compares it to other great moments in the decades-long history of the Dallas Sportatorium, you. Even that list was full of instrumentals, early . ALL STAR WRESTLING IN THE 50's, 60's, 70's and 80'S (BCTV ) 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. Like everything on Wrestling Heritage this is a developing project and we welcome additions and corrections. 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. David Fit Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. The contest ended after an hour-and-16 minute time limit draw in front of a crowd that went nuts after the officials declared they had to comply with a curfew. Fit Finlay David "Fit" Finlay began his wrestling career in 1974, though his first mainstream exposure came when he debuted as the Belfast Bruiser in WCW in 1996. Following that, he made sporadic appearances in various territories to eventually retire for good in the late '70s. 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 As of 2017, there are 42 living veterans from the "Golden Age of Wrestling" (1950s1970s) over 75 years old. As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. President of the WWF from 1978 to 1984. His hard-hitting persona was hard not to hate as he would do anything to win, even if it meant cheating. 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. At that age and size, one bump is likely all he had left in him.. However, he was not alone and this top 25 is the proof. Just like Hogan or Stone Cold, he could not do it all by himself. 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. The Last Unicorn (The Last Unicorn, #1) by. Karloff Largarde - World & National Champion. One of their biggest stars went by the name Big Daddy.. However, the highlight of his career was the first ever babyface vs. babyface championship match, at the legendary main event of "Showdown at Shea 1972" against Bruno Sammartino. When it debuted, everyone in the world was like, "That's it! When they formed their alliance they left out in the cold many other promoters who were not invited to the party. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) The Sheik 13 of 26 The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW. He was very agile and resilient for a man his size; he battled several 60-minute time limit draws against the greats of the time, such as Bruno Sammartino. Some consider this match one of the greatest matches of all time. Now retired, Lord Littlebrook resides with his son in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! Oldest living female wrestler. Tweet. There always was, and still are, boxing shows operating outside the jurisdiction of the BBBC. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. Not all boxing came under the control of the BBBC. A wrestler called Jack Cassidy ready to rumble in 1968. The former undisputed World Heavyweight Champion last wrestled. However, at the end of the decade, he could not get rid of his "Sammartino's Protg" label, and he turned heel, to eventually leave in 1981. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. * 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. Welcome to professional wrestling in the 1970s, where anything goes and grapplers weren't participating in sports entertainment. 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! Dynamite famously also teamed up with Davey Boy Smith as The British Bulldogs. In the 1960s British professional wrestling was a credible rival to professional boxing for the position of Britain's most popular combat sport. Czechslovakian wrestler. 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. 0 comments. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. flickr/Roadsidepictures. Jackie Pallo (Mr TV! He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. You probably noticed that the name of Bruno Sammartino was repeated often and was featured in many videos. Legendary British wrestling anti-hero Mick McManus. 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. In his later years, he continued to be influential within the British circuit, winning titles such as the Frontier Wrestling Alliances British Heavyweight Championship.