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Edited: Jan 12, 2023

Albert Wall European Champion

For anyone's interest of course, and anyone might be able to add something, but I've posted this particularly for Anglo Italian.

I might have got this completely wrong and be confused, it wouldn't be the first time. But I have a recollection of Albert Wall once denying to Anglo Italian that he had ever been European heavyweight champion. Here's the night he won the title.

Even if I'm wrong four title matches on one bill will give something to comment on.

10 comments

10 Comments

Peter

Jan 20, 2023

Never quite the same after being caught in a News of the World expose with Mike Marino

SaxonWolf

Jan 13, 2023

Yep, that date (4th Feb 1974) is listed in Title Histories as a victory for Albert Wall, winning the European Title.

Anglo Italian

Jan 12, 2023

It's an interesting early 1974 bill then. Kellett, Wall and Street would all be gone from JPs that year, not long after this bill.

RON HISTORYO....Time Cop,

Jan 12, 2023

Replying to

Here is Kendo during his Dixon venture with Albert claiming the European Championship. 74 is the year.

adrianpollard.shangri-la

Jan 13, 2023

Replying to

PETER Spoke Fondly of WALL in a One-To-One Conversation I Had with

him Last JUNE!- He said That KENDO's Bouts with ALBERT as he Called

him- NOT 'ROCKY'- were Always Great Matches!!

MAIN MASK

RON HISTORYO....Time Cop,

Jan 12, 2023

For me it was a double blow. I think by then Albert had a dodgy knee and had been squeezed a bit by Crabtree. He headbutted Shirley and was in the process of picking him up for the finishing slam and press and (Kayfabe , I think) hurt his back so Shirley won. This was Bell Vue. Don't think i saw him in a decent match after that and never saw him working with Dixon. I did not even know who Dixon was in those days. Albert had a great look and I almost always did Belle Vue when he was on.

grahambrookjazz

Jan 22, 2023

Replying to

I was at the show in The King's Hall when Albert Wall faced Crabtree. I recall it particularly because it was the first time I saw Crabtree (although he had been on the previous two weeks against Lee Sharron and Leon Arras respectively). I can't think of any other wrestler whom Morrell and Beresford promoted for three consecutive weeks during all my Belle Vue attendances. Crabtree had a reputation for being a clumsy worker. I remember Pedro telling me of all the workers he had injured over the years due to his carelessness.

I saw Wall quite a few times for Dixon when he came over (as either a second or timekeeper) and didn't notice any deterioration but it is true that he worked for Dixon (mainly against Nagasaki with occasional exceptions when he faced the likes of Billy Howes or Jim Moser) for a relatively short time before retiring. I approached him to do some shows for me but was just that little bit too late.

Peter

Jan 31, 2023

Replying to

Another example of a promoter pushing the wrong wrestler

Anglo Italian

Jan 12, 2023

Thank you, dear Hack.

It was about 15 years ago and we had a thing going with Rocky Junior; who did indeed tell us all on here that his dad wasn't aware of, or at least didn't remember any European title.

These sorts of snippets rather prick our bubble of enthusiasm, don't they.

I can't decipher the year but it must have been 1972 with Rocky being rewarded for travelling reliably far and wide, six nights a week, bring reliability after Billy Robinson's unreliability.

A shame Rocky, too, decamped the following year.

Hack

Jan 12, 2023

Replying to

Nearly Anglo Italian, it was 1974. Then a few months later he was off to the independents.