Once again, re-reading this week's Newsletter, my mind is prompted to proving a new conspiracy theory. In his column, McManus bothered to mention that Peter Rann was one of the few to defeat Les Kellett on television. Probably precisely because it's McManus writing, my mind wanders and wonders. This was five years after McManus's famous first tv defeat to Peter Preston. A Dale Martin headliner defeated against the script by a Norman Morrell trusty. Stories of the true nasty nature of henchman Peter Rann are rife. Wouldn't he just have been the ideal choice to go in and do the dirty on Morrell's long-time trusty? I remember that bloody late night bout, with Kellett hanging out of the ring and holding on only by his boots hooking the bottom rope. It all seemed so real. On the downside, there was a rematch. Out of the question in the case of McManus-Preston. But then we hear that Kellett respected such challenges. Peter Preston's treachery was proved by his absence from any more Dale Martin bills. So I'm wondering if we could prove this theory that this was payback time. McManus and Kellett had wrestled numerous times over the years. I saw them live in 1968 at Tooting and remember the 1-1 draw vividly, right down to Kellett's maroon trunks. If the theory is correct, McManus would undoubtedly have steered well clear of any rematch with Kellett. In fact Kellett started moonlighting soon after and was gone from Dale Martin rings by the start of 1974. So my question is whether anyone can find any trace of a McManus v Kellett bout after the summer of 1972. I am guessing that there will be none...
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I enjoyed Rann’s matches on the t.v. I only saw him live once, I think it was at the Fairfield Hall and it might have been against one of the LaPaques, but not sure. What I do remember about the contest was when Rann’s opponent was down on his knees and Peter was standing over him, Peter bent down to go on the offense and the opponent reached up and accidentally caught Peter’s face with what must have been a long or broken finger nail, as a cut appeared just under the ‘Camden’s’ mans’ eye. It became obvious that Peter took umbrage and gave his opponent a few ‘receipts’ before getting back to the entertainment. Interesting character, probably one of those people who could have made a good friend or neighbor, but not someone you’d want to cross swords with.