We All know that prior to Donning the MASKED Persona of COUNT BARTELLI- The Man
behind the MASK Wrestled as JEFF CONDA-A kind of Mutation Hybrid of his own Real
Name!-It has also recently been Revealed by PETER in his Book that KENDO NAGASAKI
Himself Wrestled WITHOUT his MASK during KENDO'S Reign!!
But did BARTELLI ALSO Fight Bare-Faced'-as he Himself used to call it-PRIOR to his
Official' UNMASKING on MARCH 5TH 1966???
I have Compelling Evidence that seems to suggest he in fact DID!!
In Conjunction with this we need to remember that Bartelli after 1966 had a particular
fondness for taking on MASKED Opponents and either Unmasking them Or in the case
of the Original Outlaw-Testing their Skills against his Own?
Well in the early 1960's a Heavyweight going by the Name of JESS CONDA suddenly
'appeared'-Billed from 'CANADA'!- The Name- a Virtual Rarity in itself is almost EXACTLY
that of BARTELLI'S earlier Ring Moniker!
We also find this 'JESS' CONDA in Bouts against TWO of the TOP MASKED MEN of
the Time-THE MONSTER and BLACK MASK-see latest 'MASKS AND MEMORIES'!!
This 'fits' with BARTELLI'S Liking for Tackling other HOODED MAT MEN!!
Was he seeing what it was like to Wrestle without his MASK?- Was he preparing for the
Day he would Wrestle on 'Bare-Faced'?-There is No mention of 'JESS' CONDA in the
A-Z?!- Surely this Has to be GEOFF CONDLIFFE?-The Name is far too 'Obscure' for there to be TWO JEFF/JESS CONDAS??- After a Handful of Bouts-JESS CONDA disappears
again......... 3 Very Rare Programmes to follow!
MAIN MASK
He lives in Manchester and isn't mobile these days. There were hopes he would make it to the Reunion a few years back but it didn't happen. He is one wrestler I would have liked to have met. Circumstances are such that I think a meeting would be impossible.