I would like to know a little more about him, what he was like as a wrestler, a man outside the ring. I only saw him once, against Kendo in a wrestling match and a judo match, at the Ice Stadium in Nottingham, in 1973.I have since found a fan club address from 1964's Wrestler magazine
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If Billy had written an autobiography it would have been more interesting than even Nagasakis which IV still not got round to reading .Billy was an enigma in real life just like the wild eyed kick in to gear which he portrayed in matches.
I saw Bill Howes both live and on TV; a tough, uncompromising character and brilliant technical wrestler. I remember the Kendo bout well and thought him the better wrestler on the day.
As Dave Sutherland has said 3 pages of information on Billy Howes can be read in the above mentioned book. Just a couple of notes from the book:
- Born Billy Howson in Bristol
- Began work in a hairdressing salon in Bolton!
- Aged 18 joined the Bolton Harriers club and later Billy Riley's gym
and lot's more.............
Cheers
If you have the patience to navigate yourself through the clumsy prose and typos then you will find a comprehensive profile of Billy Howes in the book “Billy Riley; The Man, The Legacy”.
Without a doubt an all – time favourite of mine who I saw on a number of occasions both live and on television. As has already been said he could wrestle both codes as a hero or a villain although the latter surprised me as in the main he always fought within the rules and I think that I only once saw him live as a bad guy and that was in a tag match. His unmasking on Nagasaki on television saw him at his most violent and it is hard to believe that fight was “arranged” as Kendo describes it in his book.
Never saw much of him outside the ring but on the occasions that I did he was always willing to sign autographs or answer the fan’s questions.
I know nothing about him outside the ring but did watch him. Count yourself fortunate to see him in those Nottingham matches. The magic of Howes was the unpredictability. A skilled wrestler as good as anyone. But then the eyes could flicker at any moment and the fireworks would begin. A villain? Well he wouldn't let the rules get in the way, but then he would do just what he wanted, which could be anything.
Sum it up with excitement, unpredictability and wrestling skill.
If you enjoyed him at Nottingham you would enjoy him every time.
One of my favorites and never saw him in a bad bout. Probably made even more fame by ripping at Kendo's mask on TV. As far as I was concerned it took the Kendo mystery up a few bars.
Started out with Bert Royal at the end of the 1940's. They wrestled each other a lot when Billy was light.
Looking at this Billy was described as 18 years old. Bert had just made the 1940's so I anticipate Billy must have wrestled in 1949 , but for sure I am somewhere near his debut.
Talk about all action , Billy was sensational , what a pace at times. Some losses were sold , down to Billy getting reckless.