In 1897 the birth of Jim Londos.
Golden Greek and former World heavyweight champion Jim Londos came to Britain on 26th October, 1937, to wrestle George Pencheff in a match described as "Catch as Catch Can," and decidedly not "All In." The Daily Mirror reported a clean and gruelling contest following which barefooted victor, Londos, was carried shoulder high back to the dressing room."
In what is believed to be his only other match outside of London Londos defeated Jack Pye at Liverpool Stadium, a match promoted by William Bankier.
I think Masambula is the (only?) big draw on this bill Bernard, hence main event; Ron Johnson just happened to be there too.
Thanks Hack.
I said that I noticed Ron Johnson top of the bill at Lincoln and was surprised.
As he was a local man, billed from West Hartlepool, I saw him a few times at Newcastle.
In my opinion he was a bill filler, capable of carrying out a bout but without anything to make him top of the bill.
Looking at that bill I would have thought that the Sandy Orford bout would normally have been top.
Of course not Bernard. It would take a higher authority than us to silence you. You must have upset the interweb gods. Now ,what were you saying?
Re the Lincoln bill. I did put in a post commenting on Ron Johnson being top of the bill. It did not appear. Was it vetoed by the Riots for some reason? It was an honest opinion.
The fanfare for Europe bouts did not feature the workers originally scheduled ,the reasons were the subject of speculation in dressing rooms round the country.The government grant is interesting as it was oringally scheduled as a Morrel and B promotion ,Dales objected and Wryton was the compromise again fueling rumours of a proposed take over of Wryton by Dales incidentally one guy scheduled whod have lit the tourney up I had earlier fought in France,why didn't he appear well he was Columbian.
Pete Roberts in with Joe Murphy --- that couldn't work. But it was a return, so something must have fired first time....
Those clean tag matches were so frustrating --- all we wanted was double-teaming!
Wrestling overseas today, Giant Haystacks defeated The Great Kojika, in Tokyo, Japan, on this day in 1985.
On our TV screens, on this day in 1971:-
Jim McKenzie v Jon Cortez
Roy & Tony St Clair v Jeff Kaye & Ian Gilmour & Jeff Kaye
Mal Kirk v Rocky Wall
Hack, you are on the right track about the results coming from a fan club!!
It fell to Lords Goodman and Mancroft to co-ordinate the "Fanfare for Europe," a collection of sporting and cultural events planned to celebrate Britain joining the European Economic Community in January, 1973.
For eleven days concerts, exhibitions and sporting events were organised and backed by Government subsidies, with the likes of Lord Olivier, Kyrie Te Kanawa, The Kinks, Slade and Judi Dench taking part.
Then there was the wrestling. The Government said they were keen to put on events for everyone, so wrestling, weightlifting, basketball, judo, gymnastics, rugby and other sports were invited to stage events under the Fanfare for
Europe banner.
Wembley Stadium staged a football match where a team of the three countries joining the EEC (UK, Republic of Ireland and Denmark) played the six original members.
Joint Promotions, who regularly presented the televised wrestling, requested a grant of £350 "in order to bring in special wrestlers from the European
countries," the powers that be obviously oblivious to the fact that wrestlers had travelled frequently across borders for the last hundred years without the need for any Government handouts. With the money gratefully pocketed an nderwhelming
European flavoured wrestling bill was organised and televised from the Solihull Civic Hall.
In the 2016 referendum Solihull voted 56.2% to leave the EC - maybe they weren’t too keen on the wrestling after all.
Lots of surprises there, Al, with Charlie Fisher wrestling still in 1969. I'd have bet against that.
Zimba v Masambula is a suprise in itself, but Zimba winning?
We probably under-estimate Pat Barrett, beating Bruno 2-1 in 1968 is rarther interesting.
Alan Garfield walking out!
Some great quality bills there. Dale Martins' heyday with The Outlaw, the Wildman and all those top northern tag teams fully involved.
Some results from January 1968
The 1st show of the last year(1969) at the Palais.
On our TV screens this day
Bert Royal/Vic Faulkner v v Peter Rann/Pasquale Salvo
Eric Taylor (listed as Bob Taylor) v Zando Zabo
Spencer Churchill v Honeyboy Zimba
Not listed but broadcast: Peter Szakacs v Adrian Street