Wrestling overseas today, our own Geoff Portz (as Mr. X) teamed with Jerry Blackwell, beating our own Johnny Eagles and Bill Dromo in Charleston, South Carolina, on this day in 1977.
"...And Saxonwolf, do you suppose Butts was repaying his British buddies and was responsible for Mal Kirk's going to Canada?..."
Very possibly. From a lot of things that I have read, the German and Japanese tournaments were great places for wrestlers from all over the world to recommend other countries to go to, and to also put a good word in for some of our lads with overseas promoters.
I think I read that it was Yasu Fuji, when we was over here wrestling against Big Daddy and Wayne Bridges, who told Chris Adams to write to Mike and Gene LeBell in Los Angeles, as he though they would be interested in Chris and Ringo Rigby's Judo background (Gene LeBell was a wrestler with a legitimate Judo background). Which resulted in both lads getting a run in Los Angeles and Chris Adams never coming back.
Some great posters again today, that might just be an original Johnny Wilson there on Bishops Stortford, Main Mask?
Yes Bernard, "the nearest approach to a cannibal living" makes you laugh. But the opponent: "Quite a nice lad but he has an awful temper." Reminds me of Hack.
When I watch the old Pathé Newsreels of wrestling, I sometimes get annoyed with the comic (pompous) commentary. But it does look like, from these bills, that in the forties, everyone knew wrestling wasn't legit. Promoters went for laughs on the posters.
So again we have to wonder about Joint Promotions and whether, with their nationwide formation, there was also a determined effort to make it all (at least seem) much more competitive?
Quasimodo seems to have been weighted, like Zimba, to have wrestled just about everyone.
And Saxonwolf, do you suppose Butts was repaying his British buddies and was responsible for Mal Kirk's going to Canada?
A frightful class of speeds in the first main event.
And Catweazle a heavyweight?
Wrestling overseas today, our own Geoff Portz (as Mr. X) teamed with Jerry Blackwell, beating our own Johnny Eagles and Bill Dromo in Charleston, South Carolina, on this day in 1977.
On our TV screens, on this day in 1970:-
Mick McMichael v Terry Jowett (W)
Albert Wall (KO) v Carlos Moll
Hi Anglo. Yes, the bit that you quoted was a bit of artistic licence.
The paras that I thought were over the top, went from just below the date of the bill.
From "The stars of the mat" down to "Can he throw our champ"
As I have said before the promoter, any promoter, would say what they liked to put bums on seats.
BUT I didn't know this when I was a young boy. And most of us were in the same boat.
1971:
Also on that Vancouver Show was Kumali. You would not think to connect Kirk with Kumali although as big heavies they must have worked together.
"...And Saxonwolf, do you suppose Butts was repaying his British buddies and was responsible for Mal Kirk's going to Canada?..."
Very possibly. From a lot of things that I have read, the German and Japanese tournaments were great places for wrestlers from all over the world to recommend other countries to go to, and to also put a good word in for some of our lads with overseas promoters.
I think I read that it was Yasu Fuji, when we was over here wrestling against Big Daddy and Wayne Bridges, who told Chris Adams to write to Mike and Gene LeBell in Los Angeles, as he though they would be interested in Chris and Ringo Rigby's Judo background (Gene LeBell was a wrestler with a legitimate Judo background). Which resulted in both lads getting a run in Los Angeles and Chris Adams never coming back.
Some great posters again today, that might just be an original Johnny Wilson there on Bishops Stortford, Main Mask?
Yes Bernard, "the nearest approach to a cannibal living" makes you laugh. But the opponent: "Quite a nice lad but he has an awful temper." Reminds me of Hack.
When I watch the old Pathé Newsreels of wrestling, I sometimes get annoyed with the comic (pompous) commentary. But it does look like, from these bills, that in the forties, everyone knew wrestling wasn't legit. Promoters went for laughs on the posters.
So again we have to wonder about Joint Promotions and whether, with their nationwide formation, there was also a determined effort to make it all (at least seem) much more competitive?
Quasimodo seems to have been weighted, like Zimba, to have wrestled just about everyone.
And Saxonwolf, do you suppose Butts was repaying his British buddies and was responsible for Mal Kirk's going to Canada?
Some interesting claims on the Ring programmes!
Working overseas today, on this day in 1974, big Mal Kirk beat Butts Giraud, in Vancouver, Canada.
On our TV screens, on this day in 1967: -
Heavyweight - Gwyn Davies (Wales) v. Albert Wall (Doncaster)
Light-Heavyweight - Tony Charles (Bristol) v. Bobby Graham (Sheffield)
Welterweight - Michael Bennett (Bradford) v. Johnny Williams (Wales)