Heavyweights who never quite got there,but should have done.

Only a handful of TV appearances could have made it more

Bill Smith, agreed one of THE names in wrestling, certainly did "make it"

Dai Sullivan (Frank Morgan) was a well known figure in Doncaster where he lived,he even refereed some "Bootleg " Boxing matches,a great character.I was told ,by his brother,that he also worked behind a mask for a while.He was a Bill Topper for several years,I think he made it

I have thought about this for a while trying to come up with only one name. I would nominate Dai Sullivan.

An all action man , with good knowledge of the ring and a bit nasty at times.

Good looking enough with a figure to please the ladies.

A heavyweight with something for everybody.

Just viewed a 1981 match between Cox and Stewart and although Stewart was victorious it proved to be one of his final appearances

Peter Stewart and John Cox both had numerous TV appearances from 1964 into the 1980s therefore both made it in the widest sense

I think Basil (Romany) Riley did get there.He was in with Spiros Arion in a Bill Topper,as well as other Top of the Card Matches.Kent always gave him a push.

One of my favourites was Basil Riley.

He was so hesitant and unsure of himself in the early seventies. I had to pinch myself objectively to see how he delevoped through the decade in terms of both repertoire of moves (......his running drop-kick was breath-taking) and his versitility as goodie or baddie.

His performance in the tv arm wrestling scenario with Cilve Myers was masterful.

But the question on this thread remains: did he actually get there? Maybe he did?

I often mention Les Thornton who somehow they just did not want to push.

But another unforgettable guy I saw was Don Vines.

He did it in Germany , can only think that maybe he started too late after rugby and maybe was restricted on travel , but he sure got over to Europe.

I've just noticed this forgotten thread that should have done better. I'll add the name Pete Stewart. And it depends what we mean by never quite got there. Would we include the likes of Pete Curry, who had a long and successful working life but never made it to the top rung, or John Cox? What about someone like Dwight J Ingleburgh who travelled extensively and was never short of work, but only worked for the opposition so wasn't as widely known?

Thought Jack Rowlands a very capable heavyweight and always enjoyed his bouts.

I came across a You Tube clip the other day of an old WWF taping of George "The Animal" Steele and Junkyard Dog making short work of two "jobbers", one of whom was Les Thornton (Henri Pierlot). I only saw him live on three occasions; at Belle Vue against John Lees and Quasimodo respectively and at The Wryton Stadium Bolton in an excellent grudge match with Count Bartelli.

I also saw Wild Angus live on three occasions. He was in the traditional villain's role at The Gaiety Theatre, Rhyl, being disqualified against Peter Stewart but on the other two occasions he was an unusual blue eye against masked men. At King's Hall, Belle Vue, on a Max Crabtree promotion, he wrestled Kendo Nagasaki for a bag of money hanging from the rafters in a ladder match and won.I then recall him opening up the bag, pulling out some fivers and throwing them into the audience who went beserk. It was not like Crabtree to give money away but this gimmick certainly went down well with the crowd.

His other encounter I witnessed against a masked man was when he fought The Exorcist at Pembroke Halls, Walkden, for Brian Dixon. This was the usual ending of the masked man being disqualified so he would not have to unmask. |On this occasion his adversary was Lee Sharron.

Perhaps both men were recognised internationally more than at home because they both spent comparatively little time here.

Wild Angus and Henri Pierlot - great names on the independents, recognised internationally but not here.

Was he? I'd be surprised.

Trained by his dad for the pro game, I'd bet. And then some proper amateur training in sarf London.

I remember Lee Bronson, he was great. Trained by Mike Marino I think.

Lee Bronson made a brief TV comeback losing to Tom Tyronne in 1987.He lost most of his TV matches usually against Top of the Bill wrestlers including Billy Robinson

NagasakiGoldthorn. Think John Carlo was from Kent, think Rochester rings a bell. Remember when ITV had a spell of broadcasting on Thursday lunch time in the mid 70s, I recall him appearing against a wrestler of South American origin, called "El Exotico". Strangely, never saw either wrestler again.

One who seemed destined for better things but suddenly disappeared from our TV screens was Lee Bronson. Whatever happened to him? I don’t recall seeing him after the late 70s.

John Carlow seemed potentially very good but vanished without trace

Thanks Hack.