Quite a few threads recently have centred around the time McManus became matchmaker of Dale Martin Promotions.
He's recently been credited with the championship success of Southern wrestlers, an increased power of Dale Martin within the JP group, 1980s changes resulting from his retirement and today that this low card 1950s welterweight played a pivitol role in the award of the television contract. That's a remarkable period spanning 30 years. When did he find time to split the atom and bring peace to northern Ireland?
What we have never done is identify during what years he held this matchmaking role at Dale Martin?
We really do need someone on the inside who actually knows, most of us would just be guessing.
Somewhere in this timeline we have to find space for Jack Dale, Les Martin, Joe D'Orazio, Mike Marino and Max Crabtree.
ruslan-pashayev
4h
Hack, so what do you think on this - on DM bills McManus was British welterweight champion in 1952...you think Morell & Co approved this?
It doesn't matter what I think, you think, and to a lesser extent what Norman Morrell thought.
In 1952 Dale Martin were not part of Joint Promotions and so could not have recognised Joint Promotion champions even if they'd wanted to do, which they wouldn't. In 1953 following the merger McManus was no longer champion until he won the JP version in 1957.
Hack, so what do you think on this - on DM bills McManus was British welterweight champion in 1952...you think Morell & Co approved this?
Well done John M. That would also fit into something Anglo and I was told by one of the well known Joint names. He said he didn't know but had heard rumours McManus was rewarded for loyalty during the 1962 strike. Okay, different circumstances but the same principle. Street does embellish truth but this sounds more than feasible.
McManus certainly did okay out of his disloyalty to fella workers.
So if we have a start date of 1961/2 did he go straight through to Marino taking over in the early 70s?
Was D'Orazio a matchmaker or solely a publicity man?
In Adrian Street's book So Many Ways To Hurt You it says, on page 191, that several wrestlers, including Mike Marino and Judo Al Hayes were planning to break away from Joint Promotions and form their own independent promotion. It says that 'McManus was also invited to join their exodus but instead he walked into Les Martin's office and blew the whistle on the renegades plot before it was fully hatched'. It later says 'it also resulted in Mick McManus being rewarded by Les Martin with an office job including matchmaking for Dale Martin and from that time Mick McManus didn't lose a match and was on TV even more regularly than Mr TV Jackie Pallo'.
I think that this breakaway by Marino, Hayes and others took place in 1961 which would match up with when Mick McManus stated appearing on TV much more often, so would seem to ring true.
Whether Mick McManus was being disloyal to the renegades or loyal to his employers is up for others to decide. However, his promotion to matchmaker coincided with the start of a very successful spell for British wrestling with high viewing figures on TV, so it seems that he was very good at his job.
Thanks Ost. Late 1950s would have been very early. I would have thought early sixties more likely. If Mick had an office there at the time he was clearly already in an influential position.
Dave Cameron shared a couple of stories of visiting Dale Martin for a try out and working out with various wrestlers on the mat there. Mick McManus even came down from his office and once worked out with him. This would've been late 50's or early 60's.
A message from my friend Anglo Italian that he is again today unable to participate today in any serious discussion about when McManus assumed his matchmaking role as he is too busy writing fictional material to muddy the waters in other threads.
Again, I encourage everyone who researches championships, titles and etc.
PLEASE, do not just call it - wrestler, title, and years.
The only acceptable format for this type of info when it comes to the British pro wrestling history (especially before the JP era) is this:
PRO WRESTLING COMPANY
PRO WRESTLING BRAND (PROPER NAME) with brief description of the RULES
THE CHAMPIONSHIP
WRESTLER
YEAR/YEARS
See how Oakeley had it on his programmes.
Thanks. R
PLEASE SEE BELOW.
PLEASE SEE BELOW.
Hack, Anglo McManus it is then. In 1952 Dale Martin WERE NOT MEMBERS OF JP.
This is something TO THINK ABOUT. Thank you.
Thanks Ron. More wins doesn't necessarily mean a management role. You're right that it wouldn't be made widely known, which is why we need insights from an insider.
The reason I'm trying to establish this is that Mick's role has been used to give him credit for all sorts of things over a thirty year period. He couldn't have held power all that time. Remember, somewhere along the way we have to fit in Jack Dale, Les Martin, Joe D'Orazio, Mike Marino and Max Crabtree.
For me , it was when he almost completely stopped losing. I looked at 1957 and at both Reading and Peterborough that year , Dale Martins venues , Mick took losses to Colbeck.
Can't see that if Mick was in authority. He was only getting draws out of Colbeck in other matches.
Going up to Newcastle , Mick took a clear loss to Harry Fields in 57.
Still looking , but it's just a bit of fun.
It seems it was a secret, or at least not worthy of news when Mick came in.
I don't see it as when he started to win. He could win whoever was in charge if that's what was required. The question is when did he get a management role.
Favours could be cast upon him before then, but he could only cast favours and influence when he had a management role.
Mick was beating Pallo as early as 1952. I think we debated when Pallo became Mr TV. I seem to recall it was late 1950's. If that's the case then I think Mick was pretty big before that. When I have some time I will look to see when Mick starts to lose hardly anything. Marino of course jumped ship and went with Lincoln. Complicated.!!!!