In your opinion which Overseas or Continental wrestler has impressed you the most?

I think for that, you have to find his pre-1954 matches or his post 1972 matches, before the ballet/comedy came in.

Apparently in the US, post 1972, he still wore his ballet shoes but wrestled a believable style, without messing around.

I agree that Wrestlers have a different perspective. Ricky Starr drew money, even the German promoters had him going through an entire tour, spending time at each annual tournament, without losing, to keep his appeal up.

He could wrestle legitimately, as mentioned by Lou Thesz and others, and he was entertaining, if you liked that sort of wrestling.

Lou Thesz said "Ricki Starr was one hell of a wrestler. He could go. He was one hell of a competitor. He was one hell of a party man, too,"

Adrian Street said "He was immense when he came over there at first. He was a hell of a performer. I can't say I was in love with the guy. He could be a cocky bastard; mind you, he had a right to be because he was good."

Billy Robinson admired Starr's wrestling skills, after meeting him in the UK ad Europe and said "we became very, very good friends".

It was Paul Lincoln wrestler, Antonio Rocca, who met Starr in the USA and persuaded him that his gimmick would go down great in Europe and especially the UK, he made the introduction to Paul Lincoln. At the time, Starr had appeared twice in "Mr Ed" (the talking horse comedy show) and the ratings were so good that the TV station was planning to make a new TV show, with Mr. Ed and Starr as the main stars. For some reason, Ricky turned his back on that and came to the UK.

Ricki Starr was a performer the same as Gorgeous George and countless other professional wrestlers. A lot of guys who are good wrestlers can't entertain a crowd. This was the argument that was always made about Karl Gotch in the US. It's rare that someone is a great wrestler and an entertainer. Since I mainly care about the wrestling side of things, continental Europe has had many great wrestlers. Recently, I am high on Gilbert LeDuc. At first I thought he was comparable to Mike Marino, but now I am thinking he is more comparable to Lou Thesz. Anyway, he would be my pick right now.

Great detail, Saxonwolf.

But I am fascinated by Mike Agusta's selection of Billy Two Rivers.He's a wrestler who hasn't had great comment in general from most of us on here, in large part due to his tame tomahawk chop to Johnny Yearsley that seems still to haunt us on every compilation show.

So Mike, you perhaps shared a dressing room with B2R (sounds like an expensive railway); do redress the balance in his favour and tell us what made him great.

Starr was apparently a decent wrestler. But most were decent wrestlers I wouldn't say he was impressive as a wrestler. Kent Walton always praised Rene Ben Chemoul. I didn't see him but maybe others did. There were lots of visitors, some good and some not so good. Was Lou Thesz impressive?

Ricky Starr was hugely popular. We probably all agree on that. Anglo Italian's analysis seems fair, though I was so naive at the time it all passed me by and I thought he was just entertaining. I guess it all comes down to impressive in what way. As box office? Yes. Entertainer? Yes? A great wrestler? Probably not.

I would agree that Ricky Star was impressive, but to me, far more impressive was Billy Two Rivers.

Cheers

That's a great find, Bill. Thank you. The drop-kicks were incredible.

Ricky Starr is an interesting one. A former amateur boxer and wrestler who became a ballet dancer. I would say he was the biggest import of the 1960's, probably bigger than Billy Two Rivers.

He went unbeaten through at least one tour of Germany, not often they let that happen over there!

He put bums on seats, as they say, and that is probably why promoters kept booking him, all over the world.

Pick away Anglo.Mall Kirk was probably stronger than Ricky,he was certainly heavier, however it took a great deal of strength to aeroplane spin Mal .Starr was also a very good wrestler,and combined agility,evasiveness,and skill in a way not seen before in the UK.He was a Star of his era,both in the USA and elsewhere.In a "real " contest my cash would have been on Ricky,too fast for Mal to catch up with.Anyway we are entitled to our opinions,no offence meant Anglo....Keep safe

P.S.Watch this Ricki Starr v Zebra Kid

https://youtu.be/iK-KXOk7Pkk

May I nit-pick? It goes against my nature...

Bill mentions "The Great Ricki Starr".

Was he great? Really?

Put the case:

- his was a time when homosexuality was illegal and effeminate behaviour immediately became associated with homosexuality. Ballet dancing was considered for women, therefore effeminate in men. By the masses, I mean.

- Ricki Starr's show lit the touchpaper of prejudice - arguably justified considering what was illegal or legal - and this vaguely borderline show fascinated fans, maybe a notch up from the equivalent fascination with Damnny La Rue at that time.

- in terms of wrestling ability, he was probably good. But really, so invincible? He depended totally on compliant opponents as we know is essential in all wrestling. He famously hoisted Mal Kirk for an aeroplane spin - are we saying Kirk was overhwelmed by the American?

The promoters at that time got it 100% right and lured in millions of UK fans. But that was then.

Surely we can look back and say that Starr's clever sociological analysis and exploitation was no more than that.

Wrestling leading the way, as ever, in giving folk what they wanted to hate, love, boo or ... in the case of Starr ... not really know what to do with.

Thank you SaxonWolf for some fascinating information. I would have thought George Gordienko against Kendo should have been staged by an enterprising British promoter. What a contest !

Sammy Lee was a sensation when he appeared here (Before he was Tiger Mask in Japan).He was on a par with The Great Ricky Starr.

Hi Ballymoss, it appears that big George and Kendo were tag partners in Japan in 1968 (with Kendo going under the name, Mr. Guillotine), and in November 1972, they faced each other when Kendo was wrestling for Stampede Promotions in Canada. I don't think we ever got to the bottom of what the actual result was (Ron Historyo wrote a great article on the Canadian tour on this site).

I must agree with George Gordienko. I saw him on several occasions in the 1960's and he was in a different league to his opponents. I wonder if he ever clashed with Kendo?

Gordienko

Can you imagine the excitement of a 12 year old to see a real Red Indian.

I had only seen them being shot by cowboys in films, then Chief Thunderbird came to post war Newcastle.

Another one who was different from all before was Masambula's first appearance in a big carnival mask and a grass skirt. Totally different.

Gordienko and Goro Tanaka for me. Never saw either in a bad bout.

Jon Guil Don: By a country mile.

Then: Bert Mychell.

John Quinn. His anti English gimmick was just perfect in creating the wrestler you all wanted to see get beaten. I think I was the only person in the country who was hoping he would kick Big Daddys fat ass. Imagine my suprise when it didnt happen and the bout was all over in minutes ...