I've just been watching the violinist Andre Rieu and then a you tube of the singer Josef Locke. I thought both of them had the audience under total control from the moment they entered the stage. Which wrestlers had the same ability to control an audience whether favourable or hostile? Jack Pye certainly - he could do that from the dressing room - but which others ?
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I certainly agree with Anglo Italians spine tingling aspects of early Nagasaki. I was engrossed with Dominic Pye from the moment of his first rule break (one or two seconds either side of the opening bell) to his downfall and inevitable disqualification. I'll add Klondike Bill. a huge man who could actually wrestle, do 7. or 8 rounds, always give value for money and control the crowd.
Should we include The Dazzler ?
Alan Garfield strutting so slowly, a pause every second step.
Kendo Nagasaki, exaggeratedly swirling around to allow all angles of the arena to get a good look before he entered the ring.
These spine-tingling aspects were not included in tv broadcasts.
Billy Two Rivers, definitely.
Speaking of Josef Locke, I remember "Mr X" appearing at venues coincidentally within reasonable distance of the nightly Heysham - Belfast Ferry, but was never sure it was Locke.
I believe that, in an attempt to fool the tax man, Josef Locke appeared in later years in a mask as Mr.X. There's certainly a wrestling connection there. To answer the question, there are quite a few examples. From America, George "The Animal" Steele, and from this country. "Sir" Alan Garfield.
I can name a few:
Ricky Star
Jacki Pallo
Mick MacManus
Dominic Pye
etc.
Cheers