Everyone knows my Pet Genre' in the Sport is MASKED Wrestlers!-Most were 'Average'-'Short-Lived'
and 'Lack-Lustre'!-Some were Better down to the Skills and Talents of the Men beneath the Bonnets!
Only a small handful were Truly Great-Even Legendary! Hooded Men started to become Popular from
around 1935 onward and Notables included RED DEVIL-DARK OWL-GREEN ASP-Also available in
this Series-and GREY OWL! For me the Best was the Heavyweight BLUE MASK Who had an Unbeaten
10 Year Run before Retiring Undefeated in 1945!-And of course our Own JEFF 'CONDA' Returned from
SINGAPORE to assume the Mantle of COUNT BARTELLI!-in 1946!
Around this Time another MASKED Wrestler emerged to go on a 2+ Year Run building-up a string of
Victories!-The Man beneath the HOOD had Wrestled 'CONDA' in SINGAPORE for a Major Title and was now on a Rampage of 'Solid' Wrestling in EUROPE-meeting and beating Top Mat Men!
This was the 'Mysterious' RED SHADOW!-Many of the Best Wrestlers in this Country also came a
cropper against him-and he Managed to extend his All-Conquering Spree way down into 1949!
Until Finally it came to an abrupt end when he was Matched with the then World Junior HEAVYWEIGHT
Champion-MIKE DEMITRE! This Contest took place at the PUBLIC BATHS SHREWSBURY on 31ST
DECEMBER 1949!-Just prior to this Match his Last Victim was BEARDED MAN MOUNTAIN-See my
Programme Below for this Show!!
MAIN MASK
Well unmasked at Shrewsbury on Dec 31st 1949 must have been well practiced.
I have Red Shadow unmasked on the 28th Dec 1949 in Peterborough
Below Demitre and Con Balasis straight after the defeat of red Shadow.
Thanks for sharing these MM, some new information there. No mention of promoter, but Charles Mascall doing the blurbs.
Hi MM. Just found something that will make you laugh regarding our old friend Hack.
Light travels faster than sound, that's why some people appear brilliant until you hear them speak.
His time has come!
Hi MM. His time will come.
Splendid additions as always Main Mask. Comparing wrestlers of around eighty years ago is an impossible task, but fun nevertheless. Unless you're very, very old.
Hi MM. I quote your words- " For me the Best was the Heavyweight BLUE MASK Who had an Unbeaten 10 Year Run before Retiring Undefeated in 1945!"
Just remind me how long THE GHOUL went unbeaten, then reconsider the above statement.
Happy Easter anyway !
Sorry MM, me and my big mouth!
Have a good weekend lads!
In that time period, I would think it was Con Bruno, who was also called Con Balasis, Costas Balasis, and other names.
A wrestler called Jim Maloney was wrestling in the UK in the same time period, and had been The Red Shadow, ten years prior, but mainly overseas, so I don't think it is him.
Wonder if he came back for a one off.
I have him in June 1950 beating Tony Mancelli at Plymouth.
Hope you are going to tell us who he was, great programmes MM
Here's the Programme Write-Up for the forthcoming RED SHADOW/MIKE DEMITRE Clash!...
MAIN MASK
My Programme Cover for the RED SHADOW/MAN MOUNTAIN Clash!...
MAIN MASK