The whole DM v PL feud remains fascinating for me due principally to how things changed at such a rapid pace:
Sept 1965 - all out war in Southend and elsewhere.
December 1965 - sudden rapprochement and merger/buyout.
January 1966 - exciting in-ring feud with flyers and tv coverage and magnificent ring invasion and challenge.
February 1966 - a handful of such challenge bills but it was all largely a wet squib
June 1966 - Dr Death is the first masked wrestler at the Albert Hall (but still not on tv.)
Over the following four years, some Lincoln stalwarts fizzle away - Stedman, Fontayne, Verdu, Kendo, Rebel Ray, the Wild Man from Borneo - whilst others blend into DM-world and claim titles and wide tv exposure - Cortez, Marino, Boscik.
1972 - Dr Death returns as Special Guest Villain on Devereaux bills; seemingly allowed by DM and JP, without actually being embraced.
The above is what we can see.
As usual, it's what we cannot see and do not know, the real dealings involved, that now look like being lost to the ages.
The whole DM v PL feud remains fascinating for me due principally to how things changed at such a rapid pace:
Sept 1965 - all out war in Southend and elsewhere.
December 1965 - sudden rapprochement and merger/buyout.
January 1966 - exciting in-ring feud with flyers and tv coverage and magnificent ring invasion and challenge.
February 1966 - a handful of such challenge bills but it was all largely a wet squib
June 1966 - Dr Death is the first masked wrestler at the Albert Hall (but still not on tv.)
Over the following four years, some Lincoln stalwarts fizzle away - Stedman, Fontayne, Verdu, Kendo, Rebel Ray, the Wild Man from Borneo - whilst others blend into DM-world and claim titles and wide tv exposure - Cortez, Marino, Boscik.
1972 - Dr Death returns as Special Guest Villain on Devereaux bills; seemingly allowed by DM and JP, without actually being embraced.
The above is what we can see.
As usual, it's what we cannot see and do not know, the real dealings involved, that now look like being lost to the ages.
“Wrestling’s a funny old game”.
John Shelvey said, "Say no more."
But Wrestling Heritage did ....