In the early 1950's an Overseas Visitor arrived on our Shores who adopted an all-action
hell for leather Style of Wrestling in our Rings!-RED KIRKPATRICK was always getting into
trouble with Referees seeming to prefer Wrestling to 'ALL IN' Rules and he had a habit of
not wanting to 'break' when told by the Ref!-Although not a Giant KIRKPATRICK was a
solid and stocky Wrestler who although he could Wrestle was much happier when 'Mixing'
it! He was easily identifiable with his two inward facing BLUEBIRD TATTOOS on his Pecs!
He spent a lot of 1951 Wrestling up and down the Country and one of his HI-LITE Bouts
was against the Awesome-at that time-COUNT BARTELLI at the VICTORIA HALL in
HANLEY!-RED didn't Win that one but gave a good account of himself!
Did BERNARD ever see RED KIRKPATRICK Live?
Picture/Poster to follow!
MAIN MASK
Thanks again Hack.
The more we think we know, the less it proves to be, as it turns out.
I would have thought that Ernie Baldwin would have been the heavyweight on that list.
Bumped up for Bernard.
Thanks Main mask
Red Kirkpatrick later worked in the office for promoter Dory Detton in Amarillo, Texas.
Nice one Adrian. Thanks. Have you got a date for this article?
Not wishing to divert your main thread on Kirkpatrick, I also saw Jim Anderson in my early days, though not as The Bat.
Good comprehensive knowledge of the ring, but never more than a mid heavyweight.
Wrestled in tag at Newcastle with Norman Walsh.
I believe that there may have been some connection --Training perhaps
Thanks Hack.
I hope that helps your searches Adrian.
Here's what we've learnt from Bernard:
Red Kirkpatrick was born Brooklyn USA in 1922. Wrestling Data states that he fought as George Kirkpatrick ,then John Kirkpatrick before becoming Red for the rest of his career. This site listed the number of fights that he had in USA from 1940 onwards. I was intrigued to see 26 bouts in 1949, 31 in 1950 then only 8 in 1951. You will remember that I think he was in the U K in 1951 As he had no inclination to move from New York up till 1951 I delved further and found a report in the Sunday Herald (page 38 of 87),stating that Rek Kirkpatrick had been suspended by the authorities at The Candlelight Stadium Wrestling Show.. I have downloaded this comprehensive article stating that Kirkpatrick was fighting in an Australian Tag match. (unfortunately I am struggling to get it onto your site) One spectator angered at his foul tactics (that's my Boy!) ran to the ring and tried to trip him up. Kirkpatrick jumped out of the ring and punched the man on the nose .,causing much blood to flow. I have also found a photo of the American Red and can confirm that he is the same man that I saw wresting at Newcastle.Bernard even provided a photo
Here's Red up against Bartelli, who would have been a fair bit lighter than we remember him in 1951. I see Jim Anderson (The Bat) who was unmasked for us by Ron some time ago.
Here's a programme note I found. Not from the same match, this was in New Brighton.
Yes I did 5 or 6 times.
There was a thread that I started on here a while ago which explained how Kirkpatrick got to wrestle over here.
He was banned by his normal American promoter for hitting a paying customer. The thread also gave the results of the Kirkpatrick fights that I saw.
Very few people on this site had heard from him at the time.
I think that the Riots put something on the A-Z.
Hack, are you able to find that discussion please?