1975 British Heavyweight Championship KO.

Quite right Powerlock. What is surprisingly shocking is just how fast the value of this championship had deteriorated. Go back just four years to 1971 when Robinson's belt was vacated. Albert Wall and Steve Veidor chosen to wrestle for the championship. Fair enough, both worthy contenders. But I remember some resentment that it wasn't Gwyn Davies chosen to face Albert, because they were considered the top two contenders at the time. Resentment because just four years earlier it did matter to us fans. Three years later, 1978, and Haystacks was champion. Seven years from Robinson to Haystacks. Strewth!

Max had no regard for the heavyweight bracket other than to provide fodder for Shirley, the wrestlers you mentioned were indeed very good if not excellent wrestlers but Max had sullied a division and what was originally the most prestigious title had lost a lot of lustre in many fans eyes because of Shirley beating everyone in sight.

I think you're wrong there Powerlock. Shirley lost an eliminator for the British Heavyweight Title a few years later to Tony St. Clair. Plus Tony along with Roach, Steele and Singh were worthy champions on Max Crabtree's bills.

That must have been a first Graham,an interesting Szakacs bout.

Roberts fought Szakacs in the semi-final and he wrestled in a very rough style, soon drawing the ire of the crowd. Following the match he shook hands with Szakacs and apologised to the crowd for his behaviour stating that the chance of winning the British title meant a lot to him and he got caught up in the moment. What really happened of course was that he did that rare thing in professional wrestling; he made a Szakacs bout interesting! Although he wasn't "living across the road", I imagine he would have travelled up with Yearsley, Muir and Elrington. At the time he was a fairly regular attendee at Belle Vue, including, of course, his tag bouts partnered by Al Marquette.

I was at this show. The tag match was scrapped and Roy moved up into the eight man tournament to replace Veidor. Pete Roberts replaced John Kowalski and KO'd Yearsley with a karate chop to the throat within a minute or so of round one; hardly worth Yearsley making the journey! The whole reason for the show was that Albert Wall had moved over to work for the independents along with the talent drain of the time, most prominently Nagasaki, Pallo and Street.

Within months Kellett was to follow. This show was memorable for the fact that Kellett was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers prior to the show for his wife. Haggetty admired them then grabbed them and smashed Kellett with them causing Kellett to go beserk knocking Haggetty from pillar to post.

The tag match, incidentally, saw Mick Mc.Michael and Jeff Kaye go down to the lighter team of Johnny Saint and John Naylor.

What a terrible lash-up to be called "For the Heavyweight Championship."

Can't you tell that it is much later towards the end of this era?

Would estimate 1500-2000 in the hall at that stage.

I did not go to this show and was very much picking and choosing if it was worth it.

On the face of it.......It does look a fairly good line up.

I might have missed it because Kendo was not on

As it's 1975 I would guess our dear friend Max would have taken over. I was expecting your usual tirade about these terrible northern promoters swapping round their bills.

For once I would have agreed with you Anglo Italian

Yes, he was billed as all three. Sometimes even as Ian!

What a mess indeed, Hack! John Kowalski may have been miffed at how they spelt his name and being casually billed from Plymouth (to disguise the fact he was in Bruno's car).

I notice these Manchester bills don't put the name of the promoter. Hardly a stickler for precision in any respect...

But what cheap prices for a big night out.

Would “Bulldog” Muir have been Ian “Bruiser/Bully Boy” Muir?

Dear Friends, thanks for the information, much appreciated. Renaming my post.

I would have thought Pete and Roy. I'm only going off listings not personal knowledge.

The listings also give the tag match as McMichael/J.Kaye bt Elites. All looks like a bit of a mess.

"Roberts" and "St. Clair" Hack?, not on the poster, so I assume other wrestlers didn't make it, on the night (Kowalski and Veidor), I guess the "St. Clair" would be Roy, and is "Roberts" Pete Roberts?

It was 1975

Szakacs bt Elrington-DISQ .... Roberts kod Yearsley .... Davies 1-0 R.St Clair .... Steel 1-0 Muir

Szakacs 1-0 Roberts .... Davies 1-0 Steel

Davies bt Szakacs

This was not 1969.Prices are post 15 February 1971