There is now a match from September 1958 in France on You Tube with Bert Royal tagging with his father Lew Faulkner. Same website as the other French matches but unlisted
Thanks for posting this second clip of Vic Hessle. I started watching wrestling in 1977 and became a big fan. I had read about many great wrestlers from the past but had never seen them wrestle. These YouTube clips of wrestling in France that have started appearing in the last few months have let me see Vic Hessle, Eric Taylor and Tommy Mann, each for the first time and it has been great to see them. I am looking forward to seeing if any more appear in the future.
The site posting the French Matches posts two matches every Tueday.Televised Pro Wrestling began in France in 1956 and at present the site has only reached 1958!
I have just watched this tag-match and it is the first time that I have seen Vic Hessle wrestle. Thank you Peter for letting us all know about it and thank you Ron Historyo for posting the link.
I enjoyed watching Bert Royal's bouts when I was a youngster and in my opinion he was one of Britain's best ever wrestlers. He looked like he could genuinely handle himself and his bouts were invariably entertaining for the crowd.
Bert Royal was brilliant. In the two 1970 tag matches on Youtube his moves are faster than the eye can follow. It's one thing to perform those moves; another to think them and execute them instantaneously.
But a wrestler's moves have to be limited to the agility of the opponent.
See that in Royal's bouts with a lethargic Steve Logan. He had to let it degenerate into a slug-fest because Logan just couldn't participate in the aerobatics.
That's what I meant about the 1958 Youtube tag. Bert was probably restricted there by the inability of his opponents to roll around the ring amd reciprocate his high-flying moves.
Bert Royal undoubtedly had a great wrestling brain.
What does it matter if he was restricted by his opponents? The truly great workers adapt to whomever they're facing. If they only look good against opponents who can match their style then they're just as limited as the Logans of the world. And what's wrong with a slugfest? Many of the best French and British matches degenerate into a slugfest. Many of the best wrestling matches are brawls. I prefer a technical match, but heated brawls have always been more prominent in wrestling. If you look at the tag objectively, you'll see that it was designed for Royal and his veteran dad to draw heat against two stooging French heels. It's highly unlikely that Bert's father could go at that point. It wasn't like Bert was wrestling Chemoul or someone who could match him for speed. And really it's no different to most WoS tag matches, which frankly weren't the greatest examples of tag wrestling compared to overseas promotions.
All part of the act Graham. Bert goes out of his way to shake hands with his opponent - ie Bert shows everyone what a great sportsman he is in order to maintain the image.and everyone loves good ole blue eye Bert. The heel refuses to shake hands and shows everyone what a bad loser he is and everyone hates him That’s wrestling!
If you liked him that’s fair enough and I suppose I’ll grudgingly have to say he was good at what he did, just 100% NOT for me, I found him and his brothers cleaner than clean image nauseating and their tired old tag routine went on way past it’s sell by date.
One thing about the Royals as a tag team, or as individual wrestlers Bert and Vic were never show offs. At the end of the televised bout in France, Bert goes out of his way to shake hands with the opposition. My father, and myself have never forgotten Bert’s marvellous professionalism and sportsmanship.
No, I’m serious. I never knew about the telephone directory feat. I don’t recall ever seeing this illustrious accomplishment listed under his name or indeed Kent Walton ever mentioning it. Maybe such a humble man as Bert didn’t like to brag about it? Bet Kendo was envious, and probably working on how to get one of his own. Never under estimate the power of the Blackburn telephone directory eh.
Ahh now I understand why you don't get Bert,or are you taking the telephone directory comment out of context or are you attempting to be humorous.Thank you though for doffing your headwear(tinfoil I'm sure)
As in everything everyone entitled to their opinion,however Leonard I'm amazed how you have come to yours about Bert Royal he was a superb straight wrestler,yes there were elements of showmanship but also standout skill and athelticismy.Lew legacy was both his sons abilties..One thing I can't believe you do not acknowledge is effort and endeavour.i won'tgo on about the personal attributes of Bert but his high regard for the paying public and protection of the game were second to one ,he took it seriously,to the point that the Blackburn phone directory listed him as Herbert Faulkner professional athlete.
Agreed. Great finish by Bert Royal, really punishing the opponent. You can see where Bert gets his amazing technique from, with the leg locks, monkey climbs, and tremendous arm weakeners. Well liked, and very popular in France at the time. Hopefully, more of Bert’s vintage bouts will become available on YouTube.
Don’t know anything about their father but Ive never understood the high regard for The Royals, the most egotistical nauseating and predictable tag team in the history of wrestling.Give me The Hells Angels every time.
Thanks for posting this second clip of Vic Hessle. I started watching wrestling in 1977 and became a big fan. I had read about many great wrestlers from the past but had never seen them wrestle. These YouTube clips of wrestling in France that have started appearing in the last few months have let me see Vic Hessle, Eric Taylor and Tommy Mann, each for the first time and it has been great to see them. I am looking forward to seeing if any more appear in the future.
Yes , thats the only other footage I have seen
I have just watched this tag-match and it is the first time that I have seen Vic Hessle wrestle. Thank you Peter for letting us all know about it and thank you Ron Historyo for posting the link.
I enjoyed watching Bert Royal's bouts when I was a youngster and in my opinion he was one of Britain's best ever wrestlers. He looked like he could genuinely handle himself and his bouts were invariably entertaining for the crowd.
Bert Royal was brilliant. In the two 1970 tag matches on Youtube his moves are faster than the eye can follow. It's one thing to perform those moves; another to think them and execute them instantaneously.
But a wrestler's moves have to be limited to the agility of the opponent.
See that in Royal's bouts with a lethargic Steve Logan. He had to let it degenerate into a slug-fest because Logan just couldn't participate in the aerobatics.
That's what I meant about the 1958 Youtube tag. Bert was probably restricted there by the inability of his opponents to roll around the ring amd reciprocate his high-flying moves.
Bert Royal undoubtedly had a great wrestling brain.
sad to say this is one of the many occasions (which is happening more frequently) where you have lost the plot
All part of the act Graham. Bert goes out of his way to shake hands with his opponent - ie Bert shows everyone what a great sportsman he is in order to maintain the image.and everyone loves good ole blue eye Bert. The heel refuses to shake hands and shows everyone what a bad loser he is and everyone hates him That’s wrestling!
If you liked him that’s fair enough and I suppose I’ll grudgingly have to say he was good at what he did, just 100% NOT for me, I found him and his brothers cleaner than clean image nauseating and their tired old tag routine went on way past it’s sell by date.
One thing about the Royals as a tag team, or as individual wrestlers Bert and Vic were never show offs. At the end of the televised bout in France, Bert goes out of his way to shake hands with the opposition. My father, and myself have never forgotten Bert’s marvellous professionalism and sportsmanship.
No, I’m serious. I never knew about the telephone directory feat. I don’t recall ever seeing this illustrious accomplishment listed under his name or indeed Kent Walton ever mentioning it. Maybe such a humble man as Bert didn’t like to brag about it? Bet Kendo was envious, and probably working on how to get one of his own. Never under estimate the power of the Blackburn telephone directory eh.
Ahh now I understand why you don't get Bert,or are you taking the telephone directory comment out of context or are you attempting to be humorous.Thank you though for doffing your headwear(tinfoil I'm sure)
Blimey! I didn’t release he had reached such dizzy heights in the Blackburn phone directory! I can only tip my hat to such an amazing feat.
Let me know when that new footage shows up, so I know when to book me holidays.
As in everything everyone entitled to their opinion,however Leonard I'm amazed how you have come to yours about Bert Royal he was a superb straight wrestler,yes there were elements of showmanship but also standout skill and athelticismy.Lew legacy was both his sons abilties..One thing I can't believe you do not acknowledge is effort and endeavour.i won'tgo on about the personal attributes of Bert but his high regard for the paying public and protection of the game were second to one ,he took it seriously,to the point that the Blackburn phone directory listed him as Herbert Faulkner professional athlete.
Agreed. Great finish by Bert Royal, really punishing the opponent. You can see where Bert gets his amazing technique from, with the leg locks, monkey climbs, and tremendous arm weakeners. Well liked, and very popular in France at the time. Hopefully, more of Bert’s vintage bouts will become available on YouTube.
I really liked Bert , he could get into a real slug fest or just wrestle clean.
Either way I could watch him against Johnny Saint and enjoy it or alternatively I loved him against Steve Logan.
I bet the wrestlers would tell you just how good Bert was.
As for Lew , I had seen brief footage of him , but to get that bout and really look at him in the veteran stage was fantastic. For me a real bonus.
it was all about showmanship which both teams had
Don’t know anything about their father but Ive never understood the high regard for The Royals, the most egotistical nauseating and predictable tag team in the history of wrestling.Give me The Hells Angels every time.
everybody wants to be a critic.
1 it is a piece of history
2 styles were different
3 was differnately Vic's father
Can't agree. They both performed the leg twist for far too long, even winning by it.
I wanted more variety.
The locals cheered for the Brits. The villains were very credible, naughty but not unbelievable.
But if you enjoy watching nostalgically through rose-tinted glasses, good luck to you.
Ricki Gervasi? Is he/she any relation to Ricky Gervais?
Amazing! Fantastic to see Bert in action with his father.
thank you Ron for helping make my day perfect