Eric Tug Wilson

Tug Wilson was a referee in Germany in 78 for Roland Bock

There is a famous Mexican song called "La Cumbia de Los Luchadores", written in 1953 however released in 1983. and in the song they mention some wrestlers, El Santo, Blue Demon, El Cavernario and El Bulldog.

They also mention some wrestling moves.

"Metele el Wilson, Metele el Nelson" roughly translates to "Put in (as apply) the Wilson, Put in the Nelson".

So I was wondering if this is mentioning Tug Wilson, and if Tug Wilson had a signature hold/move called the Wilson.

Or if the band just inputted his name to rhyme with Nelson.

There was a few other foreigners to Mexico with the last name Wilson that wrestled before the 50.

Dave Morgan wrestled in Mexico and did very well.

Doc Dean also went to Mexico

Harry Fields must have been one of earliest. He definitely has connection with Ted Beresford. I think they were both Yorkshire-based, might be something there with Beresford later having the "in" to Mexico

Harry Fields was there in 1948.

What others wrestlers from the World of Sport era wrestled in Mexico? Tug is only Irishman I think and he remarked the Lucha Libre style was difficult to adapt too.

On the Mexico pictures- Picture 2 translates as..... "As was to be expected the Englishman lost to The Coward by 2 falls, the second by disqualification".

I couldn't do the last part , but Peter suggested ..." for working him over."

Until pre covid times there were several promotions in Mexico City alone.Most nights there was an event somewhere in this vast metropolis

Thanks Peter. I know that many wrestlers in Mexico are masked.

Bernard

Hair versus hair and hair versus mask matches are quite usual in Mexico with the losing often blood splattered wrestler being shaved or unmasked

Thanks Ost. That helps in the translations.

Hi Peter. It took me a while to find out that Tug's opponent was called The Coward.

Seemed a funny name to give a wrestler, can't see that drawing the crowds.

Picture 3 I reckon goes something like this:-

Another bald one.The English hooligan, Tug Wilson, has finished being shaved

after losing in the wager with The Coward.

Picture 4- The blonde man 's hair spread round the ring in Mexico arena.

Tug Wilson suffered the humiliation of a serious defeat to lose his hair.

What did you find for the words--Ruvulcaba and Ringo?

Picture two refers to Wilson as English! and is along the lines of "As expected Wilson fell to the coward in the second round disqualified for working him over

Is anyone fluent enough to translate the captions on the pictures from Mexico for us ? I can translate most of the text on pictures 3&4 ,but am struggling with some of the words on 1&2.

Thanks.

Is it possible Beresford competed in Mexico in his wrestling days? If he ever wrestled in the USA it wouldn't be a stretch to think he got a lead from the US into Mexico and maintained that contact over the years.

And I'd imagine it must have been via letter. Fit Finlay said it was all sending and receiving letters when he was coming up on British scene for getting into Japan, Germany etc Letters or someone puts the good word in for you (which is way he usually got into other countries).

These pictures are great, yes I agree, Marty Jones could have done more than one tour of Mexico, and could have used another name, of course.

As always, the interesting part for me, is how they arranged tours back in the pre-internet and pre-email days. I wonder how and where Ted Beresford had met a Mexican promoter?

Maybe a lot of this came via Arthur Green, at Joint Promotions, who represented Joint on the European Promoters Alliance (can't remember the proper name) and would have come into contact with Spanish promoters, who may have had a talent sharing agreement with Mexico.

All interesting stuff!

Some more pics from the aftermath of the hair vs. mask match

He got the head shaved in that last match. I have a few photos from a Mexican wrestling magazine that hopefully upload in OK quality

Better appreciated in Mexico than the UK?