Wrestling enthusiasts were disappointed in the 1960s when heavyweight champion Billy Robinson spent increasingly longer stretches of time overseas. We followed his travels,which were well documented in The Wrestler magazine.
In December came news of Bill winning a prize that had seemed to be under sole ownership of the Americans. Well, sort of, as we believe this version of the World Heavyweight Championship had been created especially for the occasion. But back in the 1960s we were none the wiser. Billy defeated Toyonobori in a tournament final to
become the first International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion in Okayama, Japan. He would hold the title for 158 days before losing it to Tsuneharu Sugiyama.
Main Mask tells us Barnes and Maxine were not an uncommon pairing. A surprise - like partnering McManus with Pallo. Thanks MM, Al and Ron. A good bill for Crabtree in 1960.
It looks like he got pretty close. Very close. Phil Lions, who does know about these things wrote on the Forum in December 2014
Inspired by the "Register of Imports" topics, I decided to make a list of all the Bulgarian imports who've wrestled in Britain:
Nikolai Zigulinoff - As noted in the A-Z, a heavyweight wildman who wrestled in Britain in the late 50s and early 60s, facing some top names. As noted elsewhere on the forum, Zigulinoff made the cover of "The Wrestler" (number 75). Had a long career that saw him wrestle all over the world, a lot of the time as a headliner.
Henry Stoeff - Not in the A-Z. A light heavyweight. Wrestled in Britain on and off from 1934 until 1938. Mostly in Plymouth, but other places as well. Faced a number of the top British names at the time. Prior to coming to England he had a long career in the States. Became one of the three biggest wrestling stars, as well as a top promoter, in Bulgaria when catch-as-catch-can/American style wrestling first got off the ground in the country in 1935.
Kara Suliman - Wrestled in Britain in 1908-1910. Advertised as being a Turk, but was in fact Bulgarian. Wrestled Stanislaus Zbyszko at the London Pavillion and soon after it was revealed in the press that not only was he not a Turk and Kara Suliman was not his real name, but he had also been working for the Zbyszko camp all along.
These are the only three Bulgarians, that I know of, who have wrestled in Britain. Also, technically, Andre the Giant was half-Bulgarian as his father was Bulgarian but I wouldn't count him as a Bulgarian wrestler.
Sidenote: In the late 30s Rex Maxine was advertised as being from Bulgaria, but I don't know that he was. He probably wasn't.
On This Day-12TH DECEMBER at VICTORIA HALL in HANLEY-in The Late 1950's
We See Frequent Visitor COUNT BARTELLI again Taking-On Regular Adversary
DENNIS MITCHELL!!
And What Must Have Been a Great Match-Up with WORLD WELTERWEIGHT
Champion- CLIFF BELSHAW up against JACK DEMPSEY- The BRITISH Title
Holder at This Weight!!-2!! WIGAN Lads Facing-Off!
They Must Have 'Pulled Round' 100's of Times at BILLY RILEY's SNAKE PIT!!
Yet Another of My Original Newspaper Press Cutting Bills For Shows at HANLEY!!
MAIN MASK
Wrestling enthusiasts were disappointed in the 1960s when heavyweight champion Billy Robinson spent increasingly longer stretches of time overseas. We followed his travels,which were well documented in The Wrestler magazine.
In December came news of Bill winning a prize that had seemed to be under sole ownership of the Americans. Well, sort of, as we believe this version of the World Heavyweight Championship had been created especially for the occasion. But back in the 1960s we were none the wiser. Billy defeated Toyonobori in a tournament final to
become the first International Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Champion in Okayama, Japan. He would hold the title for 158 days before losing it to Tsuneharu Sugiyama.
Main Mask tells us Barnes and Maxine were not an uncommon pairing. A surprise - like partnering McManus with Pallo. Thanks MM, Al and Ron. A good bill for Crabtree in 1960.
EARLY SHIRLEY
Another night at the Palais in 1968!!