Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. 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. "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith 39 May . Now, with no more introduction, let's travel back in time when pro wrestling was absent from the mainstream media and when it caused actual riots on many occasions. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. 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. From Martinique wrestled for Pacific Northwest and Stampede Wrestling. Luke Graham was one of the rare to have a gimmick that didn't include specific outfits such as cowboy or other Russian characters. In WWE, he was recognized as one of the companys best and most reliable workers. 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! Also has trained many wrestlers like. 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. Best known by his ring name, Giant Haystacks, he wrestled in such places as Great Britain, the United States, Canada, India, and Rhodesia. 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. We have them all, from the 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, including Legends and Brits of note. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. Tag team: Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23 1972. He retired, ran a care home and, now aged 70, still sells Kendo merchandise online. From January 1965 to September 85, British wrestling was the hottest it may have ever been. 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. A comeback bout with Hulk Hogan was axed in 1995 after Haystacks, born Martin Ruane, contracted cancer. Throughout his whole career, Killer Kowalski was a top heel everywhere he wrestled, and he cemented his status when he ripped off an opponent's ear in the ring. Last known match took place in Carnoustie, Scotland. 1960 Summer - Wrestling Revue Men (Heavyweight): Pat O'Connor ( NWA World Champion) Killer Kowalski Antonino Rocca Lou Thesz Edouard Carpentier Don Eagle Buddy Rogers Dick Hutton Don Leo Jonathan Gene Kiniski Women: June Byers ( World Champion) Judy Grable Lorraine Johnson Tona Tomah Rose Roman Kathy Starr Barbara Baker Lee Chona LaClaire Sun Sign: Leo. 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 wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. Paige. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. He is a former WWWF United States Tag Team Champion, and his biggest achievement was to win the WWWF World Tag Team Title along with King Curtis Iaukea. Worthington 'E' Ind Coope Double Diamond Draught (launched 1962) Whitbread Tankard (launhed 1957) Watneys Red Barrel 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. 1. Wrestled his last match defeating Rat Ferraro at a wrestling event in Montreal, Canada. 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. Last wrestled for New Age Wrestling in Australia, defeating Bo Boman. The Super-Finisher 11 Dangerous Wrestling Finishing Moves! 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. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. The Grammar Guru thinks the sixties were a decade of great fashion. He retired in 1982, worked in public relations, bought a pub and became a porcelain expert. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. He was also credited by the Guinness Book of Records as the Worlds Strongest Midget. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! This would prove to make him a crowd favorite in Britain throughout the 1970s and 80s. Please allow ads and let sponsors fund your surfing. Peter Thornleys version of the character remained a household name throughout Britain, but most Americans and Japanese fans associated the character mostly with Kazuo Sakuradas version. His potential and ability have been often overlooked despite his influence on wrestling. Oldest surviving Mexican women wrestler. Wrestled for NWA Vancouver and AWA from 1960 to 1972, Japanese female wrestler. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. ALL STAR WRESTLING IN THE 50's, 60's, 70's and 80'S (BCTV ) Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. His glam rock looks and in-ring ability instantly attracted attention from the fans and cemented his place as a top heel. Admittedly, we've had a lot of fun putting this wrestler information together and we hope you enjoy reading it too! British wrestling history has a name - HeritageWrestling Heritage celebrates the glorious days of British professional wrestling. 15 episodes 1975-1984 Dickie Davies Self - Presenter 7 episodes 1974-1985 Neil Durden-Smith Self - Commentator 3 episodes 1974-1985 Johnny England Johnny England Brian Crabtree Self - Wrestling Ring Announcer 3 episodes 1981-1985 Tommy Billington Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981-1983 Gilbert Singh Self - Wrestler 3 episodes 1981 Second oldest British wrestler ever behind Joe D'Orazio. while others continued to bill Byers as the title holder. Discover 100 Huge Hits of the 60s & 70s by Various Artists released in 2007. Mexican wrestler who teamed with the Great Goliath. Five time NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Champion. 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. 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. 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. 12:36, 4 APR 2013. He became a face in the '70s to eventually turn back heel in preparation for a legendary boxing match between him and Andre The Giant in 1977. 5. 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. However, before his run as manager, Mr. Fuji was one of the greatest tag team specialist ever. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. 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. Honorable mention: Verne Gagne, Bill Miller, Karl Gotch, Dick the Bruiser, Reggie Lisowski, Wilbur Snyder, Buddy Austin, Bobo Brazil, Sailor Art Thomas, Lorenzo Parente, Light Heavyweight (Mexico): There's no Buddy Rogers WWWF footage available but click here to watch a little gem from the '50s between him and Johnny Valentine. In the end, there can be only one! More of Maciejewskis superb photography can be seen (and purchased) here. On November 29th, 1998, he would sadly die of lymphoma at his home near Manchester, England. 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. 6 Antonio Inoki Photograph: David Redfern/Redferns Swinging. 13. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. 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. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. The past few years have seen a rapid rise in interest in underground British rock music of the late 60s . (Youngest WWE Divas Champion) 44. . Finlay retired from in-ring competition in 2012 and is now a backstage producer for the WWE. Dynamite Kid made his WWF television debut on August 29th, 1984, at the Maple Leaf Gardens teaming up with Bret Hart to defeat Iron Mike Sharpe and Troy Alexander. 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. He later quit because of back pain and died in a auto accident in 1995. Monsoon lost the match, but he once again proved he could hold his own against the largest wrestlers in the business at the time, being himself a 6'5", 400-pounder. Most recently wrestled for Appalachian Championship Wrestling in Williamson, West Virginia, in a match against Kerry Morton that went to a Double Count-out Draw. Wrestled in Studio Wrestling out of Pittsburgh in the 1950s and 1960s. We've officially reached peak love song." "You Light Up My Life" spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. For most, there were no high spots; the German suplex and a bodyslam were finishers, and nobody knew what a hurricanrana, five-star frog splash, Swanton bomb, and outside dive were. With his 64-inch chest and bleach blonde hair, it was hard for him not to be popular with fans. Referee, and British Wrestlers Reunion President until BWR ended in January 2022 after 30 years. Wrestling stars of the 60s/'70s1 of 18. He had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. 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. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. Wrestled his last match on a AAA show in a loss to El Pistolero in San Pedro Cholula, Mexico. He won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in June 1964 with Dr. Jerry and they held the title for nearly eight months. He dropped out of West Texas State College in 1953 to take up the fight game. 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. Once Mia Farrow rocked the style, it was a spiral of everyone and their mother wanting to do the same. Buy Wrestling Tickets securely and cheaply online -. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. Some consider this match one of the greatest matches of all time. Something went wrong, please try again later. Privacy One of his trademarks was to cut his opponents' face with a pencil hidden in his outfit. His run as the World Champion officially lasted 2,083 days, and it took him less than one year with the company to win the title. 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. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. 2012 Wrestlers.co.uk - The Home of UK Wrestling & Wrestlers. Share. flickr/Orange County Archives. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. British wrestling legend Kendo Nagasaki. Around this time in his career, Matthews began earning more money touring throughout Europe and Africa. He was also a trainer at the WWE Performance Center, where he trained the newest batch of WWE superstars. 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. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: Fuji's tag team partner at the time. The voice of the Tetley tea ads, the father-of-two died of a brain tumour in 1997, aged 63. Free shipping for many products! 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) Old School Wrestling: 10 Things Sorely Missed! Jamaica Kid and Little Beaver backstage at a wrestling arena April 25, 1969. During his time there, he would become a four-time TV Champion. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. 1 contender to Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, but he always fell short, and he greatly contributed to put the champ over in the process. Joint Promotions was a collection of promoters who became all powerful by using their collective force to create a stranglehold over all those who worked for them. He later would become a regular performer on WCW Saturday Night and WCW Thunder. He didn't fail to bring his aggressive style with him when he joined the WWWF in the mid-60s. He went on to win one world title. 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. He was a clever and wily opponent who brought considerable showmanship to the arena. He was also inducted into the Stampede Wrestling, the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and the Canadian Wrestling Hall of Fames.