Very rare for "our" wrestlers and wrestling still to hit the headlines in 2024, but:
Sweet implication that he Kamikaze crashed Haystacks!
I find the language strange as written by someone who was no doubt born this century. Like World of Sport was a tv "show." Terrible to be so young and so out of touch.....
More from Kendo on the eve of his return.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/tv/kendo-nagasaki-i-would-wear-my-mask-in-the-shower-to-maintain-the-mystery/ar-AA1uBHGe
The day for this must be coming round soon?
I'm up for a bout, just for old times' sake. Blondie Barrett! Are you tagging with me or Kendo?
A long interview with Kendo starts at 2:07:15
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jq2z6d?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Do I really want to perpetuate this?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jwc76m?at_link_type=web_link&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_format=video&at_link_origin=BBC_Radio_Stoke&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_id=2B449786-857E-11EF-A9F6-A607F6BF2CA8&at_medium=social&at_bbc_team=editorial
More publicity today:
But lots of new news buried deep in the article. A very nice article indeed.
As the promoter of LDN Wrestling I can say it is the one and only Kendo Nagasaki (Peter Thornley). I will refund every single person in the building if isn't Peter in the mask in the ring at Croydon! There is a lot of interest and lots of tickets have been sold. His appearance in April at the Fairfield Halls, was a sold out event with the meet and greets taking 92 mins.
Matey Dave writes
With the news Peter Thornley is about to jump back into the nearest ring I must admit tAnglo’s headline “Milking it still at 83” was sheer brilliance and very honest. Up there with the news that “Mamma Mia 3” is being produced to milk the public.
Many know my feelings on Peter Thornley and his gimmick with many having to job for him and make him look good. I am very much concerned that his comeback will cause some problems. To be honest would not be surprised if behind the mask there will a jobbing actor.
With the news our Peter is running the Trade Hotel in Blackpool I can see many of the older fans taking their grandchildren there to meet the great man. Our Peter claims the hotel for teaching the local LGBT community the art of Zen Buddhism. Read the reviews.
He worked hard for 25 plus then another 25 years to keep his original gimmick alive and create mystique. In recent years, where the Americans have abandoned any pretence that professional wrestling is in any way legitimate, he has creatively identified several ways to exploit the gimmick further, including this appearance.
For youngsters under 50 who never witnessed the ring entrance and the close-up effect of his beautiful silk costume, this will be an undiminished delight. They'll get sword swishing and salt, all delivered with the aplomb that this is indeed real, and they will sink back in their seats and wonder. In the gassy, loud and brash world of the WWF and its offshoots, this silence will stand out still. I hope the same little leather bag is still there and gets a diamond jubilee rosette of its own.
Nowadays they are all jobbers. It's not hard to imagine a tag scenario where he has minimal contact and takes zero bumps but inflicts a few "killer" chops. He can interfere from his tag rope, quarrel with the ref and his partner, and passively crumple to allow a trusted foe to get his mask up to his nostrils. He can hold his hands to his ears to block out the boos from the audience (I always enjoyed that bit). Let's just hope he runs with the original black mask with the thin white bars. From modern times he can do the red eyes thing if that works, but I would go without.
I am sure he will enjoy himself; and a lot of people will be pleased, though I can hear them already whingeing afterwards "it wasn't the real Nagasaki, he didn't do the kamikaze crash."
Good luck to him I say, and all respect for adapting to the times and deriving and providing enjoyment. If his jealously guarded persona - the word gimmick really doesn't do it justice - can earn him another monkey or two, that's great, too.
This is about more than just Nagasaki. Only yesterday we saw the national press featuring the names, faces and details (mangled of course) of a few the great names from the Heritage years: Les Kellett, Steve Logan, Jackie Pallo, Adrian Street Esquire, Mal Kirk, Johnny Saint and Mick McManus. In what other context could we expect such a high level of exposure in 2024? Maybe the Nagasaki show will stimulate further interest in our proper professional wrestling of the past.
Matey Dave has written:
"Our peter surely does not need the money, now is the time he needs to spend his twilight years in a rocking chair dreaming of past challenges sipping Complan. Wonder who will job for him?"
For once I agree with Matey Dave. What on earth would we be saying about our 1960s wrestling if we had been asked to pay to watch an 82 year old man?
Why lure of the lights,right move,kendos mentor when on not for the money but the lure of the lights,I witnessed the sad spectacle of Geoff arguing over results he could buy and sell the guy he was arguing with so why. I believe I know why there's a kinda rush and if you give 100 percent great buzz. The buzz waned in the late 70s so why does kendo dothis
The Daily Mail has really got into this during the course of the day and have appreciably expanded their article now to include Pallo and:
Some all-new photos. Well worth a look here:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13787439/wrestling-british-world-sport-kendo-nagasaki-fa-cup.html
Not the world's oldest wrestler, Dory Funk jr is getting back into ring at the age of 84 in a tag match in Japan.
Is this true from the Daily Mail? I don't think so at all: