Historical Wrestlers' Names

Spencer Churchill is therefore in the same mini-category and joins the list.

He has to go on ze list somehow. I was fascinated in 1971 (when the sports commentator was still a big name and featured in so many archive sports reports.)

It was

Maybe Glendenning was actually his name.

When Ray Glendenning appeared on the scene in about 1970, we all noted his name was that of the wartime radio announcer. Hardly an exciting name to imitate. Any thoughts?

Gargantua is an unusual one in that two wrestlers used the name in UK; but it comes from French literature.

Anglo Italian

1h

Hack, it's not about now, it's about when they coined their ring names.

It wasn't a serious comment.

Hack, it's not about now, it's about when they coined their ring names.

Main Mask, Geographicals will be a short list. It's not about listing the hometown of every single wrestler. We are looking solely for wrestlers with place names in their main ring name.

Do you want me to do it?

Many Thanx for That HACK!!

Listen ANGLO The BEVERLEY HILLBILLIES had Far More Wealth Than The 'Nobility'!

BLACK GOLD....TEXAS TEA!!##!!

I'm Sending GRANNY CLAMPETT Over to Put you Straight!!

The 'Geographicals' is a Huge Undertaking!-

I Think the Best Way to Tackle This is by CONTINENT?!

Wrestlers from ASIA etc!

MM

Karl Marx was a light heavy from Leigh ironically he was Ukrainian.Apollogies for late night punctuation

So many repeats of the Beverly Hillbillies they must be history now.

Ok, but again, this is not history. The historical entrants include greats like Genghis Khan and the Duke of Wellington and Robert the Bruce..

We can't be putting hillbillies in with nobility!

Basically anything that stems from a tv show goes in Topicals. Please repost over there.

Glad to see you racking your brains to find more, Main Mask. Looks like there were plenty of one-hit-wonders in the indies.

I actually think that Blue Angel should be topical, from the film.

Also General Belgrano, as that was undoubtedly linked to the 1982 war and he was current then.

Are you going to start Geographicals or do I have to do that, too?

And Paul's punctuation has left me frazzled again. Are you saying the real name of the wrestler Robin Hood(e) was Karl Marx?

Or are you saying there was a wrestler called Karl Marx?

Once I get feedback from you all, I'll tidy the above list.

Another Addition ANGLO!-From a Cool Venue in SOUTH EAST WALES-

LLANTARNAM-In The School-and a Independent Promotion by Former

BRITISH HEAVY-MIDDLEWEIGHT Champion-ERIC TAYLOR-Pictured!

When ERIC Left JOINT he took his MOUNTEVANS Title Belt with him!

He was asked to Return it!!-He said 'No'-'Because No-One was Good

Enough to take it off him'!!Now he's Promoting The HILLY BILLY on This

FAB Poster!-BEVERLEY HILLBILLIES-1960's AMERICAN Comedy Series!!

Interestingly he seems to have 'Lured' JOHNNY SAINT and JIMMY

BREAKS Over to Appear along with LEE SHARRON and The Real??

KUNG FU?? Plus 2 Other Unknown-to Me-Wrestlers??

A Really Cool Item!!

MAIN MASK

Casanova not frank finlay but both from farnworth,Robin Hood,Karl Marx from Leigh,

Mmm, not sure I quite agree, but I will of course concede to the initiator and put Blue Angel in the list above.

But you can put your single-breasted Amazons in your Geographicals when you start that list.

Fair?

Hi ANGLO!-I think The INDEPENDENT BLUE ANGEL was More 'Modelled' on

The BRITISH WHITE ANGEL but Dressed in BLUE!-But for The Life of Me-

I cannot Fathom Why JIM STOCKDALE would Enter The Hall with a Stinking

Bucket of FISH!!-which he would Proceed to Throw into The Audience??##!!

The BLUE ANGEL Film was Very Popular because of MARLENE DIETRICH!

I would Say 'Historical'!

Same for The AMAZONS who were a Ancient Race of One Breasted Warrior

Women! They had One Breast Removed so They Could Draw Back Their Bows

'Unimpeded'!!

MM

Very resourceful, Main Mask!

Blue Angel for sure. Slightly strange a male wrestler should have taken his name from the nightclub, but I believe the film was very very popular in the thirties. Do you think this is Historical or Topical?

Your poster shows the Amazons in 1973; but the film is 1986. Do you think this counts as wrestlers choosing a name from history?

Also THE AMAZONS-A 1986 Film...Plus THE BLUE ANGEL.....

A 1930!! Film-Starring MARLENE DIETRICH!!

BELLE STARR-Again and THE LIQUIDATOR too!!

Here!......

MAIN MASK

Oh Dear , a pensioner moment.

Various people have used Apollo , the Greek and Roman God.

Vince Apollo springs to mind. Young Apollo.

Young Atlas also springs to mind.

That's another one for you to referee Anglo.

Thanks for the clue MM. Eddie Rose also wrestled as Wat Tyler.

Dave George wrestled as General Belgrano. Or is that another warning?

The Black Prince, Ray Apollon pro debut 1953, The Black Prince, Edward of Woodstock, heir to Edward 3rd, died before his father in 1376

BELLE STARR-First Film in 1941 was Set in The AMERICAN Civil War ANGLO!

That's Pretty Historical N'est-Ce Pas!

Best Proceed with Caution or Maybe Someone a bit Closer to Home Might Visit for

A Little Chat!.......IL MAFIOSO! Ha,ha!!

Also Our Great Friend EDDIE ROSE is Featured!

MM

Splendid work Main Mask, Power lock and James. I'm keeping quiet for a bit. Just sitting back and watching Anglo Italian tie himself up in knots. No need for Al Marquette here.

I did not research Les Diaboliques. My parents saw it on honeymoon and my father came home and lay down in the bath and frightened the life out of his bride.

Belle Starr, 1968 film. The wrestler is a clear reaction. Are you saying this is Historical?

Geographicals? I'm itching to get my own back,

The HULK could Defeat ALL 4 you mention at The SAME Time in 30 Seconds?!

ANGLO Disregards BELLE STARR with NO Comment!

I left The DIABOLIQUES for you to Research!

Why is ANGLO being SO Curmudgeonly?

MM

The logic has been established as the "approx 40 years" rule.

These are all clear reactions to recent films or shows at the time.

I mean, here in the Historicals we are wallowing in the culture of El Greco and Genghis Khan and Robert the Bruce and the Duke of Wellington and, top of them all, The Black Prince. We can't be putting The Hulk, heaven forbid, in amongst those heroes.

Powerlock and Main Mask: you can both go and stand in the corner for five minutes and your purse will be suspended. Tony Zale may just about be historical but the rest most certainly are not.

What's more, from under your nose you disregard the repeated Diaboliques, from the fabulous 1953 French horror film that Hitchcock was unable to gain the rights to and which finally hit American screens, in part, as Fatal Attraction, when she rises up in the bath.

You know what to do....

Tony Zale US boxer, world middleweight champion 1940s, light heavyweight wrestler 1950s/60s

Hurricane Smith independent wrestler of the 1960’s/70s and Beatles sound engineer and pop singer

MORE Fabulous Entries ANGLO-From INDEPENDENT Promoters and

Especially for MR.HACK!!

INVADERS-1967-1968 AMERICAN T.V. Series-43 Episodes ( A Favourite)

BELLE STARR-1941 AMERICAN Film Character-Plus 1948 and 1968 Sequels!

THE LIQUIDATOR-1965 AMERICAN Film!

THE HULK-1978-1982 AMERICAN T.V. Series- Plus MARVEL FILM Character

THe COMMANCHEROS- 1961 JOHN WAYNE Film!

FAB WIMBLEDON Poster-Great INKS!

You are Spoiled RIOT SQUAD!-Ha, ha!!

MAIN MASK

Guy Lombardo 1950s wrestler and also the American big band leader from the 1920s onwards.

Also Jack London wrestler and the adventure author of the Call of the Wild and White Fang.

In the 1930's there was a wrestled billed as the Moonraker Kid. I was confused as Bond wasn't a thing then, but have since learned Moonraker refers to a historical term for smugglers of the Wiltshire area.

The Black Prince

Thanks John Shelvey, reminded me of another. In the 1970s there was a Lincolnshire wrestler called Robin Hoode (with an e) and he dressed up in all the garb. Sadly after retiring he went blind and incredibly won a silver medal in the World Blinds Bowling championship.

James has come up with Kipling's creation: The Wild Man from Borneo.

Here's The IRON DUKE in 1934 and 1936 to Compliment RON's Inclusion!

He was Still Wrestling in 1942! Complete with Poster Photos and Write-Ups!

MM

Yes, Ron, I recall Peter Stewart as the Iron Duke. He's in; but John, your merrie men are fine but we are listing only those who wrestled in UK, so please share a bill.

If this first obstacle is overcome, we can then more on to a decision as to whether Robin Hood is more Taras Bulba than Genghis Khan. Fiction or fact?

Sites that claim worldwide domination and knowledge of wrestling are inevitably superficial and riddled with errors. Wrestling Heritage focuses on what we know and what we remember personally - wrestling in UK.

For sure I have one in the Iron Duke. (James Welsh)

I think the Iron Duke also cropped up again. Think it was Peter Stewart .

And I think there may have been a few more.

Hi Anglo. Although I saw this name years ago on a wrestling site, until your question, I had never been inclined to look him up. Picture courtesy of wrestledata, where if you are so inclined, you’ll find several Robin Hoods, Little Johns, Geronimo’s, etc. (How many Tarzans would there be)?

p.s. photo taken pre moustache (otherwise known as slug balancer).

Another One for your List ANGLO!.......

CASANOVA!!-First Name allegedly JON!

Not GIACOMO!!??##

KIRKBY-IN-ASHFIELD Gig against MARTY JONES!

Super Original Poster!!

Here......

MAIN MASK

PURRRRR!

MM

You look like the cat that's got the cream in that photo.

MITZI did a bit of MC Work for BRIAN!-I have her on DVDs doing This Job!

She Wore High Boots-A Frilly Low-Cut Blouse-A BLACK Ringmasters Tail Coat

And BLACK Fishnet Stockings!-Honestly!-I'll stop there ANGLO before you Boil

Over!-And Probably Best if I don't Send you A Copy!!##??

MM

Just for you ANGLO!- Here's MAIN MASK being 'Mesmerized' by MITZI

MUELLER!-I gave her The Programme in The Photo which was for her Last

Ever Bout at RAH in 1987!!

I had a Long One-To-One Chat with her and a Couple of Weeks Later I Sent

Her An Original MITZI Poster from her Early Days in The 1960's!

She Looks SO Young on it!!

Lovely Lady!

MM

With Le Petit Prince on our list by virtue of his Albert Hall outing against Boscik, coincidentally the most wonderful tag match has just appeared thanks to the generous French fans who keep sharing their B&W 1960's wrestling shows:

A familiar opponent is Jacky Rickard.

It's a showcase for the tiny Petit Prince and the crowd adore him. But just watch from 26 minutes. The crowd go wild, a bit of a punch up, the police in their képis, and the referee required to explain his controversial verdict on mike after the uproar. Such an articulate justification of the dodgy verdict! With Le Petit Prince losing to such unscrupulous tactics, it's a good bet that a mega return bout was planned.

Great stuff!

Main Mask: (Reply button having an off day) As I have mentioned before, in the only a dozen or so non-male bouts I ever saw, young me was absolutely mesmerised by Mitzi Mueller and her attributes and I can't remember much about the rest. Soz.

ANGLO!-Of course We have KLONDYKE KATE also!-She Allegedly Ran a

Brothel in The NORTH AMERICAN Gold Rush Times!

So The Wrestling Monicker given to JANE PORTER!

Was she One of your Favourites then ANGLO?

MM

Based on a Novel and played by Yul Brynner. Fiction so I think Topical rather than historical.

Because I've hardly seen TARAS BULBA Billed Anywhere AT ALL ANGLO!!

I'm sure Ron can Correct Me if I'm Wrong on This ?!

Fictional?-Yes!-But May he have been Based on a Real Person??

MM

I too came across the Billy Joyce match and planned to try and find more when I next get back to a computer. The website with that information did get results from Ray, which are not entirely accurate. There is a question mark over the match, part of the RAH heavyweight tournament as the RAH archive site does not list Freddy as taking part that night. It's a toss up which is right. Was he a substitute or was he substituted?

@Anglo Italian it looks like Freddy Robert wrestled against Billy Joyce in a losing effort in 1958, at the Royal Albert Hall. The funny thing is, I can see no record of him wrestling as  Le Bourreau de Béthune. He seems to have been active across Europe from 1960 to 1965 as Freddy Robert. He wrestled in German and Spanish tournaments. He seems to disappear after 1965 for five years, and then does a German tournament again, for the last time, in 1970 and then gone.

Edit: Just found a couple of interesting Tag Team results from May, 1962, in Paris......

Jim Brown and Pancho Farina defeat Freddy Robert and Le Bourreau de Bethune

Freddy Robert and Le Bourreau de Bethune defeat Claude Montourcy and Gilbert Leduc

And another result, from November 23rd 1961, Paris:-

Le Bourreau de Bethune defeated Freddy Robert

Edit: Looks like they were still an occasional tag team in 1963, so unless he did the odd "stand in" job, for his pal, when Le Bourreau de Bethune was unavailable, I don't see Freddy Robert being our masked man.

This could be The Best yet ANGLO?!......

The Cossack from ZAPHORIJYA-in UKRAINE........

TARAS BULBA!

Here he is at The CASINO in ROCHESTER in with Our Own

STEVE VEIDOR!

I've got TARAS on a Programme Somewhere!-But God Knows where-

In The Vault?#!

MAIN MASK

The cowboys and injuns are fine, but we are talking individuals. If there were a wrestler called Crazy Horse or Billy the Kidd, these would work. Or even The Lone Ranger or Tonto from tv.

Are there any that fit the bill?

John Dillinger certainly qualifies. But Hack, you are increasingly coming up with wrestlers I've never heard of or seen billed. We'll have to credit these Hackisms in the list.

Not quite fitting into Anglo's forty year rule, Wiki says he died in 1934, in the second half of the sixties I saw a wrestler called John Dillinger.

I guess defining Cowboys & Indians as historical may depend if the inspiration was a popular movie/tv show/novel of the time or not.

Also, Natives (aka "Indians") still exist today, so they can be both topical and historical.

A fascinating find Anglo Italian. I look forward to you sorting it out. Two executioners is not beyond possibility. Or 1980s codology?

Another French one has sprung to mind, but when I googled him it opened up a fresh can of worms. We have all named the man in the mask as Jacques Ducrez, but look at this translation regarding Le Bourreau de Béthune:

Béthune, a sub-prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais region, is famous for its donkey and its executioner. The unpredictable equine legend harks back to the medieval philosopher Jean Buridan, and the axe-wielding artist belongs to the anthology of Alexandre Dumas.

Bearing the terrifying title of "Executioner of Béthune," Freddy Robert, whose real name was Robert Moreau, haunted the rings of France in the 1960s. Wrestling fans have a vague memory of a mountain of muscle (183 centimeters) harnessed from head to toe in red, who was supposed to play the role of the villain to the boos of the crowd. A quarter of a century later, the man has lost a lot of weight, but he trains regularly in his gym and runs 10 kilometers daily. "Freddy," who has become Jean-Marie Le Pen's bodyguard, will therefore be a strong candidate on the list led in the Nord department by Carl Lang, Secretary General of the National Front, in the regional elections next March. "My North, I care about it," the former wrestler said simply, thus entering the political arena.

Still, for our purposes here, he's a historical creation by Alexandre Dumas, so his name will also go on ze list.

Thank heavens for the French and their love of nursery rhymes and fairy tales.

Le Petit Prince.

And then of course Jean Ferre, an anti-English male version of Joan of Arc hundreds of years ago.

And then there's Rasputin.

Very strangely I can come up with a pair. I saw them both, they were active 1970 ish. I got both autographs. But they were so similar that my memory of them blurs into one:

Robert Bruce

Mark Antony.

But of the seven valid ones on the new list, none are English historical figures. How odd.

A coconut for anyone who can come up with one.

All right then. Sent Nasser to the dressing room if you must

Pancho Zapatta is a combination of two recognizable Mexican names Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. Bit like Kendo Nagasaki. Could have been Aikido Hiroshima. Promoters. What are they like?