Bad Language from wrestlers

Brilliant report, Ballymoss! Joe D'Orazio must have saved the day there.

Did you see I recently posted a Danny Lynch bout in Paris from about 1966? Lynch as you'll remember him, before he ballooned.

I can only recall one occasion when I heard a wrestler swear and that was from someone who was actually proclaimed the winner. This was at Camberwell Baths around 1963/64 when local favourite Tony Mancelli the Southern Area Heavyweight champion was pitted against 'Dangerous' Danny Lynch who was then making his initial venture into Southern rings. With a lengthy career stretching back to pre-war days the veteran Mancelli did not appear particularly fit, while the opposite could be said of the formidable Lynch.

In those days Camberwell staged ten minute round bouts and Danny Lynch quickly showed what was to be his trademark, a very aggressive wrestling style which appeared to rather overwhelm a fragile looking Mancelli. By the end of the first round Lynch had achieved his first public warning.

He continued in similar vein into the second round and showing his ferocity appeared poised to subject his unfortunate opponent to his speciality overhead lift with Mancelli destined to drop onto the top rope. This tactic was deemed too much by ref Joe D'0razio who immediately disqualified Lynch. The view that this contest went off-script was confirmed by the fact that it took some time before MC Bobby Palmer entered the ring and after consulting D'0razio announced Lynce had been disqualified.

I was sitting near the dressing room door and as the two wtestlers returned Mancelli let loose a barrage of expletives which roughly translated what was that all about. Only conjecture of course but soon afterwards Mancelli retired and became a well established referee and Lynch went on to become o0ne of our favourite heels.

I must say I was much impressed by Danny Lynch as prior to the wrestling commencing he was amenable to sign autographs and chat to us young enthusiasts looking very fashionable sporting a short blonde haircut and an expensive looking designer black leather jacket. I hope he was not reprimanded for ending the evening too soon!

Wrestlers never swore on the TV shows, but I've heard wrestlers swear on untelevised shows, effing and blinding at one another ie Jones v Rocco, Kincaid vs Skull Murphy, Taylor Vs Finlay and several others.

The bottom of a poster I have from a 1971 Jack Atherton show at Imperial Balroom Nelson has a warning about the use of "obscene language" by any person. Also prohibited is the throwing of missiles or intefering with wrestlers on their way to and from the ring. The threatened punnishment includes being evicted from the hall and being reported to the police.

Dales in particular had strict code of behaviour including swearing and other joint members followed.i knew of one lad who received a warning about bookings after questioning the parentage of a referee. Leon arras often used the word bugger but was never questioned.on how the reg Maxwell hall reacted to Johnny Czelaws Swhine . Interestingly racist remarks went down badly in the dressing room perhaps we weren't all neanderthals,however homophobic jibes were almost the norm. The award for swear words per sentence outside and whispered inside the ring goes to Dales referee .............. Any ideas

Unfortunately bad language as crept into most sports these days and is now looked on as the norm, boxing is probably one of worst next to football, great shame as once over it was the norm not to swear in front of women/children or an audience. A case of society in decline i'm afraid.

I suppose in the last century it was mainstream and viewed as a national sport but in the present day it has more of a cult(with an L) following

I do remember a loud and nasty racial slur from Dominic Pye to Johnny Kincaid in the mid 1960s. It was obviously intended to be heard as I was in the balcony, and the hall was always noisy when Dominic was wrestling.

I don't think that the bad language is just something that wrestlers have to deal with. Whether on TV. or in films years ago you never heard anybody swearing, nowadays it is all about F....this and F.....that, even on daytime broadcasts! I think it is more a genaration broblem.

Cheers

Usually in over 18 promotions but not exclusively.

It is more prevelant in certain promotions, adult orientated or not, it rarely adds anything to a promo, never heard it in the ring even at the turn of the century.

For the brief 6 years I wrestled in late 80s/ early 90s I was told not to swear. Whether this was the same for the bigger names I dont know, but I d imagine so as anyone who took the mic in those days never swore either