After BIG BOMBER BATES Died in 1961-The Mantle of THE GHOUL was Passed On......
The 'New' Wrestler taking up this Mantle was also Large and Wore a Similar Sinister
White/Cream MASK!- Wrestling in the Early 1960's-predominantly for the Independents-
This GHOUL Forged an Alliance in a Tag Team with another MASKED Wrestler Who also
Sported a very Similar White MASK!!.....The STRANGLER!.....
This 'Deadly Duo' then went on the Rampage in BRITISH Rings easily sweeping aside all
Opposition-and they did a lot of Travelling round to do it!!
Were they EVER Beaten??-I don't think they were?......
The 'Latest' GHOUL also continued to Wrestle in Solo Bouts-with pretty much the same
Imperious Success-Still Taking-On the Best put against him!!-Including another Giant of
a MASKED Man and one of HACK's Favourites as we can see below!!....
Were they the 'Greatest' then??......
MAIN MASK
I'll try and remember to ask Les if he or any of the boys have heard of him. Not that Don Robinson would make up a name.
That Don Robinson bill has seven big names and Jed Maloney. Who was Jed Maloney?
Great Tom. We now have a first hand memory of John Wade as The Monster. The KOing of Mendoza was on January 26th, and the first Crabtree match on 2nd March.
As for the Blue Angel. The Blue Angel on the posters and the photo (that's one of Jimmy Devlin's photos by the way) is definitely Jim Stockdale.
https://www.wrestlingheritage.co.uk/jim-stockdale
There was also a Blue Angel in this timeframe, but the photo they used in the program looked a lot like the above. Hard to tell if the mask was white or light blue.
In 1961 at Ilford Baths i saw The Monster beat Don Mendoza, his next bout was with Shirley Crabtree it ended up a no contest . A return match took place with a KO win for Crabtree, The Monster removed his mask and the MC named him as Big John Wade. The Monster returned a few weeks later to face Johnny Peters , he came into the ring wearing his mask but was ordered to remove it before the match began.
Here's an example from Ray's files: April 19, 1962: PETERBOROUGH;Hoffman bt The Monster(John Wade);Pallo 1-1 Cesca;Kellett kod Orlik;Dempsey bt O'Brien
Ivan the Monster only appeared on Devereaux shows, such as Wimbledon Palais. This is a new suggestion that Ivan the Monster was The Monster. Is that what Dave Cameron is suggesting?
EDIT:
I've just noticed you raised this question yourself a couple of weeks ago Ost.
"Was Jim Green the same guy as John Wade (Ivan the Monster)? Or were they different Monsters.
I will say this is more confusing than the title histories."
Actually, I will do this now before I forget. I have seen "Ivan the Monster" on Wimbledon Palais cards.
I have a photo of John Wade unmasked where Dave C has noted (Ivan The Monster). I just need to put it next to a photo of that version of the Monster.
I've no idea about this Strangler Main Mask. Yes that is interesting about John Wade.
The Monster is usually said to be Jim Green of Blackpool. Then I came across a programme naming John Wade unmasked as the Monster on a Joint Promotions show, said to be of Halifax. I asked around northern wrestlers of the time and none had heard of John Wade. I have seen his name a few time on Ray's lists. So for Wade to be named as a Ghoul does seem an oddity.
Saw some results yesterday from 1964 where Sean O'Shea had John Wade wrestling as the Ghoul.
Great Main Mask. An odd tag match, Ray taylor a very odd partner for The Ghoul.. Whenever I saw the Ghoul in tag he was partnering The Monster.
Great stuff never heard oft he Strangler but great photo's for the fans to escape from reality.
On the Road with THE GHOUL and THE STRANGLER!!...and
Action in the Ring in a Really Rare Photo!!....
MAIN MASK