There is now a full Eric Taylor match on the same website as the Bert Royal 1957 match from the Winter Circus in Paris
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Talk Wrestling
Share your memories of British wrestling 1930 - 1988
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I suppose with Bob Kirkwood based in Portsmouth the costs would be a lot less than a fighter from the North of England but nevertheless it is a great indication of high regard to be repeatedly invited back
A few years back at the Kent Reunion I was talking to Bob Kirkwood. He was saying that most weekends in the 1960s he and Black Butcher Johnson were invited over to France. I can't remember how much he said they were paid but he did say that he couldn't understand the economics of it being worth it to the promoter to take them over.
Whilst on the question of pay, I suppose we should ask ourselves what other work they could get on the back of being "famous" wrestlers? Stuntwork, ads, modelling, film/tv ... in the sense that being a wrestler opened those doors.
Great for the fans to have so many top class wrestlers
It is an indication these wrestlers were held in very high regard for the promotor to pay the travel costs from the UK as well as the purse. Also it would be interesting to know how much the purse was for a TV appearance in France compared with a TV appearance in the UK in 1957
There is now a Tommy Mann match on the same website
His UK TV appearances seem to have ended in 1965 giving him a short TV career
Eric Taylor is described by the commentator as very popular. With just one TV channel in France in 1957 and these broadcasts going out in Prime Time viewing every Friday he was probably better known and more popular in France than the UK.
He is introduced in the video as Champion of England whilst his opponent Guy Robin is introduced as champion of Europe
Eric Taylor was a brilliant wrestler and a worthy champion.