as most of you are aware am not that impressed with Peter Nagasaki, even in his glory days did not look and the fake mystism was an insult to Sensi Abi
why was always allowed to win, he was not that good, many of his oppenents made him look good. we never really saw him on TV against somebody who could beat the crap out of him.
so why let him keep winning
Kendo never had to worry about double crosses - he was allowed to rise to the top largely because his tmie at Riley's on top of his previous judo experience meant that only a few people like Billy Robinson could handle him and even then he was hard work for them.
MD does raise a valid point insomuch that Kendo although in my opinion was a great heavyweight circa 1960s/70s it could also have been viewed that he was somewhat protected. The British promoters allowed him to keep his unique untarnished record, which aided his all round mystique Canada's Stampede promotion the same. Would the North American promoters and even the European promoters have allowed him the same leverage? As far as i'm aware Kendo never took part in the European Tournaments where at some point he may have lost to some tough opposition there. But then again did he need to as he was already established as a top of the bill wrestler here.
Yes Matey Dave the salt was a gimmick. But wasn't wrestling all about gimmicks? What was important was whether the gimmicky ones could wrestle, and Kendo could certainly wrestle. Who decided he couldn't be beaten? The promoters of course. They paid the wages, called the shots and felt he was a worthwhile long term investment. An investment that brought in tge crowds and helped pay the wages of other wrestlers too.
Whether he was entertaining and exciting is a matter of personal opinion. I found him both entertaining and exciting up to the late 1970s when I found him slightly ridiculous and a sad shadow of his former self. But I acknowledge there were thousands of fans, many on this forum, who enjoyed Kendo into the 1980s and found him just as entertaining and exciting as I had done a decade earlier. Indeed they could argue the 1980s with more extreme violence were his most exciting days, but it wasn't the wrestling I liked.
As for you meeting up with Kendo to discuss rationing and the coronation well when I was a student Bartelli paid my train fare from Blackpool to Crewe to interview him, so you never know.
Winning was the right move because people paid money hoping to see him lose.
As far as the sacred rituals, you may have a point there but you could also apply it to many other wrestlers.
You must be talking about Peter Thorley or I have seen his name as Thornley. To answer your question , because he was that damn good.
we can start with the throwing of salt for starter. this was a gimmick was an insult to believers of the ritual. also throwing salt in eyes also the same. salt was sacred.. the fact he was not allowed to be beaten, who made that descion. was a kick in the knadgers to other wrestlers.
as mr thornley are both the same age should be interesting meeting. we could even talk about rationing and the coronation. will you also be paying expences from skegness please
i never found him entertaining or exciting. there again i am cynical old fart
Very eloquently put Mr Hack but sadly I think you’re wasting your time. Matey Dave clearly has a vendetta against Kendo for some reason. Maybe he should show up at Kendo’s next public appearance and ask him outright? I’d Personally pay for his ticket. Love him or hate him you can’t deny Kendo’s ability as a wrestler and entertainer. The man was and still is an absolute legend.
Come off it Matey Dave. You ask a really legitimate, sensible question and undermine it with your own prejudices. We all have these. There are dozens of wrestlers I struggle to be positive about but have to admit they were all professionals, knew how to wrestle, could entertain and each played a vital role in a nights entertainment, be it a rowdy top of the bill or quiet opening match. So whatever you personally think of Nagasaki I can't agree with the premise of your post. I don't know enough about Sensi Abi to know if your criticism is founded. Maybe it is. Kendo's book is about the story he wants to tell. He says what he wants us to hear. And no more.
As to the very good question.
His ability as a wrestler can't be dismissed. Trained by Bartelli. Furthered by Riley, though I don't know how much he was involved with Wigan and for how long. But he was a good wrestler. Or good enough to fool me and thousands.
His gimmick as Kendo was innovative and he was too good to be effectively copied, though we know a couple tried.
The mystery is how a youngster like him became a Main eventer so soon. Promoters must have had confidence in his ability to engage an audience, develop professionally and be a good investment.
As for his TV opponents. I don't know without looking them up. But from memory Bill Howes wasn't an easy starter. But what are you getting at? However hard the opponent they didn't determine the result.