I do agree with Anglo Italian. The summer of 1976 was very hot. Even in Lancashire. And it went on for so long.
The rest of what he says makes sense too. Yes I was as surprised as the rest of you.
I don't know if Mick did wrestle in Germany but would be surprised if he did. He would have had to put on a lot of weight. Though in the photo he does look to have blown up an awful lot from the podgy Mick we remember as "Popular Mick." Sorry Anglo Italian, I know how much you cringe when the phrase "Popular Mick" is said.
"Popular Mick" was popular though.
If I'm right Ruslan is interested in the physical belts and trophies, and tracing them from the 19th Century has led him to the Heritage Years. Seeing these old belts used in the wrestling we watched is certainly news to me and of interest. That's splendid. A niche area of interest but we can all learn from Ruslan.
Where it gets iffy for me is any link between those old belts and title status. Ruslan has 99% persuaded me about the use of old belts on the 1950s British champions.
For the most part though I think the promoter is more likely to have got the belt out of a drawer, shoved it on his wrestler of choice, took a photo and then put the belt back in it's drawer.
If you think that photo was earlier than 1976, there were undoubtedly other low-key one-night tournaments, and he had probably won others.
Actually, with him looking tanned after a long hot summer - remember? - that could indeed have been September 1976 IMHO.
Certainly rule out Germany - he was far too tiny even to have participated in those heavyweight tournaments, let alone win. He probably astounded the fans by getting involved in the action at times when a villain got out of control.
It was often a surprise winner of those one-night tournaments. For an undercarder it was a nice accolade, but they also had to wrestle three times. Not only were the bigger names not up for that, their gimmicks would look stale if repeated too many times in a single evening. Peter Szakacs stated that the highlight of his career was winning a one-nighter in Reading.
If I remember right it was in one of Eddie Rose's books that he told the story of a knock out tournament for a cup of some kind. When the cup was presented to the winner the promoter was eager that no one outside the business should be allowed to look too closely because the inscription was for the winner of a golf tournament.
It's a bit like I said earlier on in the thread a generic or old trophy wheeled out when needed. You can't really tell if it's even a wrestling trophy, it could have come from anywhere. The victory figurine on trophies was quite common as it meant the trophy was quite flexible in its uses rather then a specific figurine such as shooting, boxing etc. Also the figurines could be changed as they generally screwed into the lid so it could even be the case that they had one or two trophies and a number of figurine/tops for the trophies. Promoters were a canny lot financially and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this happened
I'm just speculating. I don't mean that the Cup itself was made in a particular place. But often the overseas tours would be promoted as having some sort of "trophy" or title the wrestlers were competing for. Now, a promoter could simply take an old trophy or shield out of the cupboard and take it with them overseas, becoming the "All-Nations Trophy" or "Kuwait Trophy" etc.
This programme mentions Victory Cup, and it took my attention. The Hunter-McMichael Trophy features the miniature effigy of Victory. If I am getting it all right then there is a chance that it was that the same cup. More likely originally this trophy was a Light-Weight Champion Cup.
Dear Friends, thanks for the feedback, appreciate, here's what I know and what I think. This trophy is - 100% Victorian/or Edwardian Silverware, I mean sporting trophy from those times, to me there's no doubts about that. I have seen many of them, and that is exactly how they usually look. I recognize them really quick. No way its origin was outside the Great Britain. It's a very rich looking, precious metal, intricate elaborate design, historical sporting trophy. The thing is in England modern day pro-wrestling promoters very often used the trophies from the early 1900's or even 1800's for their champion wrestlers. It's one of the most unique situations in the Pro Wrestling world. I am trying to figure out which promotion owned THIS BEAUTY in the 60's-70's. But yeah again - it is no doubts a true real historical artifact.
Tournaments like this were a cost effective way of putting on a show using less wrestlers than on a standard show with a couple of the combatants doubling up Not always successful as quite a few had a line up where you could workout the winner before you walked through the door. I wonder if if the the guys doubling up got double money, somehow I doubt it
He won when tagging with Shirley. One time in Whitby 1982 he scored the winning pin against Black Jack Mulligan, while Shirley and Mal Kirk were battling outside the ring.
I can't see this being in Britain. Mick was very much a supporting role wrestler. That's not taking anything away from him. He was good, fans liked him, he was around for years. But everyone had their place and winning a tournament with a cup this size was not Mick McMichael's place.
Holding a big silver cup does not a champion make.
Mick McMichael with the Cup on the front cover.
It was also cheaper to pay an undercard wrestler extra for doubling or trebling up than paying a headliner for the same thing
I do agree with Anglo Italian. The summer of 1976 was very hot. Even in Lancashire. And it went on for so long.
The rest of what he says makes sense too. Yes I was as surprised as the rest of you.
I don't know if Mick did wrestle in Germany but would be surprised if he did. He would have had to put on a lot of weight. Though in the photo he does look to have blown up an awful lot from the podgy Mick we remember as "Popular Mick." Sorry Anglo Italian, I know how much you cringe when the phrase "Popular Mick" is said.
"Popular Mick" was popular though.
If I'm right Ruslan is interested in the physical belts and trophies, and tracing them from the 19th Century has led him to the Heritage Years. Seeing these old belts used in the wrestling we watched is certainly news to me and of interest. That's splendid. A niche area of interest but we can all learn from Ruslan.
Where it gets iffy for me is any link between those old belts and title status. Ruslan has 99% persuaded me about the use of old belts on the 1950s British champions.
For the most part though I think the promoter is more likely to have got the belt out of a drawer, shoved it on his wrestler of choice, took a photo and then put the belt back in it's drawer.
If you think that photo was earlier than 1976, there were undoubtedly other low-key one-night tournaments, and he had probably won others.
Actually, with him looking tanned after a long hot summer - remember? - that could indeed have been September 1976 IMHO.
Certainly rule out Germany - he was far too tiny even to have participated in those heavyweight tournaments, let alone win. He probably astounded the fans by getting involved in the action at times when a villain got out of control.
It was often a surprise winner of those one-night tournaments. For an undercarder it was a nice accolade, but they also had to wrestle three times. Not only were the bigger names not up for that, their gimmicks would look stale if repeated too many times in a single evening. Peter Szakacs stated that the highlight of his career was winning a one-nighter in Reading.
Would be interesting to know if Mick McMichael ever asked the promotors to let him win a TV match
If I remember right it was in one of Eddie Rose's books that he told the story of a knock out tournament for a cup of some kind. When the cup was presented to the winner the promoter was eager that no one outside the business should be allowed to look too closely because the inscription was for the winner of a golf tournament.
It's a bit like I said earlier on in the thread a generic or old trophy wheeled out when needed. You can't really tell if it's even a wrestling trophy, it could have come from anywhere. The victory figurine on trophies was quite common as it meant the trophy was quite flexible in its uses rather then a specific figurine such as shooting, boxing etc. Also the figurines could be changed as they generally screwed into the lid so it could even be the case that they had one or two trophies and a number of figurine/tops for the trophies. Promoters were a canny lot financially and I wouldn't be at all surprised if this happened
I'm just speculating. I don't mean that the Cup itself was made in a particular place. But often the overseas tours would be promoted as having some sort of "trophy" or title the wrestlers were competing for. Now, a promoter could simply take an old trophy or shield out of the cupboard and take it with them overseas, becoming the "All-Nations Trophy" or "Kuwait Trophy" etc.
This programme mentions Victory Cup, and it took my attention. The Hunter-McMichael Trophy features the miniature effigy of Victory. If I am getting it all right then there is a chance that it was that the same cup. More likely originally this trophy was a Light-Weight Champion Cup.
Mike Hallinan kindly presented me with this programme.
Dear Friends, thanks for the feedback, appreciate, here's what I know and what I think. This trophy is - 100% Victorian/or Edwardian Silverware, I mean sporting trophy from those times, to me there's no doubts about that. I have seen many of them, and that is exactly how they usually look. I recognize them really quick. No way its origin was outside the Great Britain. It's a very rich looking, precious metal, intricate elaborate design, historical sporting trophy. The thing is in England modern day pro-wrestling promoters very often used the trophies from the early 1900's or even 1800's for their champion wrestlers. It's one of the most unique situations in the Pro Wrestling world. I am trying to figure out which promotion owned THIS BEAUTY in the 60's-70's. But yeah again - it is no doubts a true real historical artifact.
Tournaments like this were a cost effective way of putting on a show using less wrestlers than on a standard show with a couple of the combatants doubling up Not always successful as quite a few had a line up where you could workout the winner before you walked through the door. I wonder if if the the guys doubling up got double money, somehow I doubt it
He won when tagging with Shirley. One time in Whitby 1982 he scored the winning pin against Black Jack Mulligan, while Shirley and Mal Kirk were battling outside the ring.
It was 30th September, 1976
NOTTINGHAM
Brian Maxine 1-0 Taffy Jenkins
Mick McMichael 1-0 John Naylor
Mick McMichael bt Brian Maxine-DISQ
These are all lighter men. Looks like a routine KO Tournament, not a title . I can't see this photo having been taken in 1976.
Brilliant thank you so much, appreciate a lot. Do you have any additional info about that 1976 Title? Which promotion was it?
I've found Mick McMichael winning a KO tournament in Nottingham, September 30, 1976. He defeated Brian Maxine by DQ in the final.
I don't remember Mick ever winning a match.
I can't see this being in Britain. Mick was very much a supporting role wrestler. That's not taking anything away from him. He was good, fans liked him, he was around for years. But everyone had their place and winning a tournament with a cup this size was not Mick McMichael's place.
Holding a big silver cup does not a champion make.
I think you are right, it more likely was a one day tourney, 2 semis and the final. I wonder where/when that happened and which Promotion it was.
T
The photo of Mick looks like it was taken in the 1970s, but it could be anywhere. I wonder if it was a one off tournament?