I know it’s an indisputable fact that Kendo was a great wrestler and anybody who knows their wrestling could never deny the fact that he was a pretty awesome fighter but my question is were you a fan?, or did you dislike him (as you were supposed to) and hope his opponent would win? Personally I loved him and still do.
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I wonder who the audience sided with in THIS matchup (between sometime tag team partners and mutual enemies and former partners of Rollerball Rocco: )
Regal is great, I totally agree Ron.
He has a lot of respect from all the other wrestlers he has worked with, never heard a bad word said against him. He is very instrumental in guys like Robbie Brookside and Johnny Saint getting involved in WWE training.
What a great find SaxonWolf....love it.
He came very late in the day for most of us but I really have enjoyed Regal over the years and he has such a great link to so much of the past.
His big interview on Youtube is a gem
Good point Anglo, good point.
Well the reason is clear ... with Mitzi Mueller in the photo, who is going to look elsewhere?
Hope this works......
Ha ha thanks Anglo, as long as I don't run out of drinks, I'll keep commenting!
Saxonwolf in lockdown is a treasure! You are coming up with golden comments this Easter, well done.
I was sat, passing time yesterday, looking through a load of old Wrestling pictures online, and came across one that I had not seen before.
It shows a small group of wrestlers who (according to the text) are on their way back from wrestling in Israel in 1987 (in an airport). The person who had posted the picture, correctly identifies Steve (later William) Regal, Dave Taylor, Psycho Shane Stevens, Klondyke Kate, Mitzi Mueller and Brian Dixon, but fails to name (or recognize) three others, presumably because not many people (at that time) had seen Kendo Nagasaki without his mask on, stood there smiling, shoulder length dark hair, but I am amazed that the person did not recognize Gorgeous George Gillette, and put two and two together.
Anyway, let me see if I can find the picture (unless anyone else already has access to it, and can post it on here).
Nice one. A very fair and well thought out answer.
Absolutely, Frank.
The way he kept his exit going all the way back to the dressing rooms, kicking chairs, widening the isle, not shirking from destroying spectators' belongings, banging on the exit door, all while wandering around looking dazed ... he was putting in every extra possible ounce of effort until the last second he disappeared from public view. Not very conducive to hesitatingly offering up an autograph book ...
Also original and risk-taking and exciting in the ring. Loved the way he acted in a cowardly way and crept up behind the referee. With no facial expressions possible, he did it all with exaggerated crouching and shoulders.
I like the fact that he was known for wanting to plan bouts carefully, like Randy Savage. I don't know who else falls into this category? But it made for great contests and great value.
It's just that every conversation has to come back to what we always say: it takes two to tango - or make a great bout. I was of course guilty of overlooking the opponents' work years ago, not as knowing then as now.
So were you a fan Anglo?
Great Nagasaki show but I agree that a rounded professional needs to show total appreciation of all those colleagues, especially favoured opponents over many years such as Albert Wall, Tibor and others. Gwyn Davies has just been reported as having greatly valued Steve Viedor's collaboration.
Writing a book brings all sorts of benefits like not being interrupted, telling things as one wishes, omitting whatever is convenient - yet still telling a nice tale that is essentially true. We mustn't grumble. Saxonwolf and others were dreaming opf this biography ten even five years ago - and it came about. Top marks to the author for putting pen to paper.
But we have to keep digging and questioning to build a complete and fair history.
Interesting post Ron. To be honest I thoughly enjoyed Kendo's book, but yes, youre quite right he certainly dosent like showing his weaknesses. Totally agree re adrian Street and Rocco, were there ever a better bad guys than those two? Got told to shut up many times as a big mouth kid cheering for Rocco. Adrian sadly I never saw live. Happy dayz!
My journey was a bit more complicated.
At first I knew he was good and wanted him to be unmasked. I then believed that he could beat anyone below 15 stones.
I felt sure that with his original young weight and slim waist he would not beat the really big men , so I felt I had to be there for an unmasking.
At that point , in my eyes he became an underdog giving away the weight and I began to support him as I did not want the streak to end.
Because of the Bartelli business , I believed all Masked men would be beaten eventually.
I started travelling up to 50 miles to see his fights and it was such an exciting era, for me , it had brightened up wrestling even more.
But because of the travelling I began to see evidence that bouts were arranged and even duplicated and the who thing calmed down.
It was a great few years , but today , for me , it does not hold the same enchantment.
Still bought his book though and it kind of completed the journey.
He remains number one in my eyes although it is not hero worship.
Take note that in his book he does not really own up to ever being hurt.
He did not admit to that dropping of the title in North America to Portz before he came home.
Would have liked more on stiff workers or anyone who did not give him time of day.
like Saxonwolf I always wanted Kendo and Adrian Street to win too, there was always a few at Newcastle City hall who rooted for them. I was also the same with Mark Rocco
As a young lad, Kendo Nagasaki and Adrian Street were the "villains" that I wanted to see win. Up until that point, I (like most people) wanted the good guys to win.
I always wanted him to win.Especially against the FF