Today is the anniversary of the professional debut of Kendo Nagasaki. A cold November night in an unassuming West Midlands town, Willenhall, mid-way between Wolverhampton and Walsall, Nagasaki entered the ring for the first time to face that trusted veteran Jim Hussey,
Willenhall Baths was the humblest of venues, yet a home of wrestling for the whole of the Mountevans period and forever associated with Wryton Promotions. From October to March the pool was boarded over with a maple floor for dancing, variety shows and and every Friday night wrestling shows with the biggest names available.
Unravelling The Strings of the Mask
Kendo Nagasaki's Stampede Days
Wonderful period for British wretsling. Ironic that through Bernard on here we have had tales of The Ghoul in the early 1950's and yet I don't recall anyone coming on that was at Hanley on that night in 1966. Or anyone that remembers Kendo in 1964. No early footage either. Lucky to remember the early thin bar mask that seemed so much more effective to me. Naggers at his physical peak was a sight to behold , a fierce tempo to his matches. After intensive snake pit training , we don't seem to have come across many opinions on just how good Kendo was right from the start. By all accounts he must have made a good start as it is not disputed that he saw off a few Stiff Old Queens. Wish I had been there or at least , the TV had picked him up earlier , but so lucky to have seen him at the end of the 1960's. Probably the best Gimmick ever. Managed to find quite a few of his November 1964 matches. I like this one five days in. (and Oh yes , Billed from Japan)