While hunting the loft for my old wrestling autograph today I remembered as a kid having a brief conversation with Bobby Barnes (another wrestler who was friendly and happy to chat) and it got me thinking what a great wrestler he was and how in my opinion he should have been a champion. I always felt he was under used and I would have loved to see him fight some of the greats like Finley, Jones, Kung fu, Rocco etc (have I mentioned I like Rocco ...)
Did he ever face any of these guys and also why was he never a champion????
Bet Adrian has a poster or three ;)
I seem to remember someone on here not too long ago saying they were trying to get Bobby to give an interview but sadly he wasn't interested. Such a shame as even if it was a long time ago, he left a huge legacy, it was a big part of his life and I'm sure he has lots of great tales. I've also heard he's done OK for himself since then and become a wealthy man so good luck to him, I wish him nothing but good things.
A great wrestler, and friendly according to Frank. I talked to him a few years ago at the Kent Reunion. He was friendly enough but seemed to have little interest in the past. Frank Rimer came up and vouched for Heritage, telling him we were reliable and he should talk to us. Bobby just said it was a long time ago, and was no longer important. How wrong he was.
You can still email us Bobby!
He could definitely generate heat from the crowd, a great character, went a bit too far at the end, with (if I remember correctly) a giant comb, but definitely didn't need a belt to draw crowds (in my opinion).
Bobby Barnes really could wrestle. He would pull certain moves and holds out of the bag, and was clearly a talented wrestler. Bobby’s bout versus Bob Kirkwood is a great one available on YouTube.
Barnes has some exceptionally good matches available via You Tube. Probably not a champ because of other business interests
Wow. A few for my wish list there Graham. Such a shame we have no footage.
I recall Barnes wrestling Rocco on TV with Rocco as the blue eye. He could work with lightweights and heavyweights and everything inbetween. I recall Martin Conroy promoting him on TV against Bartelli on a Wryton show and I believe that Martin also matched him with Nagasaki a handful of times.
Yep. He was the dogs daggilly bits Mate. A proper wrestler.
Have seen B.B. wrestle Rikki Starr and Count Bartelli at Liverpool Stadium despite being considerably lighter gave a great account of himself.This guy could really wrestle.Think Joint missed out here.