Some Wrestlers Wrestled their Whole Career without Securing any Form of a Title at National
Level not to mention an 'Official' WORLD Title!-In a Few Cases-to My Best Knowledge-a Handful
never even got a Title 'Shot'!-These Fighters often Lacked a bit of 'Charisma' or Successful
'Gimmick'!
I would place PETE ROBERTS in this Category-although a Very Good/Durable Wrestler-for Me
he never really seemed to 'Stand Out'-which as ROCCO Tells Us was an Absolute MUST to get
to the Very Top of The Game!-This Applied even with his Ring Monicker SUPER DESTROYER
as part of the 'Marketing'!-Although in Fairness I Admit it seems he was Very Popular in JAPAN!
Well Actually ROBERTS DID Win an Official WORLD Wrestling Title-The MID-HEAVYWEIGHT
Belt-which he 'Took Off' MARTY JONES!
Now One of the Qualities I really Liked about MARTY was that he was Prepared to Share this Title
around as Holder!-The Polar Opposite of MARINO in the '70's and in HIS '50's!!-which Effectively
'Killed' ANY Interest in this Weight Division as far as 'Honours' were Concerned!
JONES also 'Lost' his Title to among Others-BULL BLITZER and DAVE FIT FINLAY!
This helped to make Championship Wrestling much MORE Credible!
I Suspect ROBERTS was 'Allowed' a Brief 'Tenure' as Champion in Recognition for his Services
to the Sport-BUT-and I don't know for sure-I'll bet he didn't still have the Title/Belt after this
'Return' Match at ANGLO's Hallowed FAIRFIELD HALLS CROYDON!!
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markroberts343
Replying to
adrianpollard.shangri-la
That would be awesome. What started me Googling a few things and eventually landing here was a Skype call with my father (he still lives in Kent, I'm now in the US) where he was talking about how Stan is doing. Stan sent him the pic below (they have always kept in touch) from one of their trips to Japan. If you have an image of anything similar to the one above that I can print out A3 sized, I'd really appreciate it. Both he and Stan are doing good, thank you for asking.
Some 1961 Newspaper bills of Pete Roberts.
Hi Mark!-Thanx for your Message!
Although I Have Loads of Original Posters Fearuring your Dad-I Don't Own The Poster
Above which is a Copy I Think from a Bygone Auction!
I'd be more than Happy to Send you Images of Other Posters if you would like?
PETE ROBERTS Played a Very Significant Part in The GOLDEN YEARS of BRITISH
Professional Wrestling Taking Part in Many Important Matches including One when he
Beat The Then WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT Champion-WAYNE BRIDGES by 2-0!
I also Have Dozens of DVDS which Include Many of your Dad's Bouts!!
Hope he is Keeping Well!!
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Does anyone have a high quality image of that promotional poster? I'd like to get one printed and framed. Pete Roberts is my father and I'd like to frame the memory if possible.
It's an interesting story and a massive cock up on behalf of Max Crabtree which is described in full detail in my book
I did witness Pete Roberts act as a heel a couple of times. Once against Ray Steele where Roberts wouldn't let him get up off the canvas, then turned on the crowd. The other time against Sandy Scott, who was a local favourite. Never really understood why as he was very popular with the crowd.
There is a vid of Pete in Japan taking on a top japanese wrestler (the champion) whose name escapes me,which is MUCH more interesting than Pete's matches back here.He did well,but he lost.
I think that Pete Roberts tagged with fellow Judoka, Judo Alf Marquette early in his career. Pete Roberts, was a good clean worker who had some fine clashes over the years.
Pete was the heavyweight version of Alan Colbeck, he was good, very good but a bit dour, but definitely lacking in charisma, I don't know if he changed his style in Japan, certainly being Stan Hansen's tag partner would mean he wouldn't be taking any prisoners , I think his style may well have been harder in Japanese rings, something the Japanese audiences would appreciate.
Dont forget to mention Wayne Bridges was one of the best wrestlers in history that i know off rip Wayne?
Hi Mac. I've seen clippings for the Carrickfergus show (and another in Ballymena in NI I believe) do you have the card for them?
Pete got the Superdestroyer name courtesy of Max Cabtree who nicked it from the Amercan wrestler Dick Beyer,who was a Massive star in Japan.Pete was never Super Destroyer in Japan. it was just one of (Mad) Max Crabtrees "con tricks" Pete was a very good wrestler though
Roberts may not have been the most charismatic, but he was one of the best workers of the 80s. Here is a list of my recommended matches:
Pete Roberts vs. Caswell Martin (4/4/73) Kung Fu/Pete Roberts vs. Johnny Kincaid/Dave Bond (10/4/77)
Pete Roberts vs. Pat Roach (2/13/80) Mark Rocco vs. Pete Roberts (5/28/80) Pete Roberts vs. Wayne Bridges (5/11/82) Terry Rudge vs. Pete Roberts (3/21/83) Ray Steele vs. Pete Roberts (9/3/85)
Pete Roberts vs. Indio Guajaro (11/13/85)
An ITV bout featuring Pete Roberts versus Pat Roach is one of the classics.
I like the TV bout between Pete Roberts and Colin Joynson. I also liked his Japanese bouts.
I remember reading that Pete Roberts did well in Japan, I think that’s where the Super Destroyer title started. Pete Roberts had some fine clashes with Rollerball Rocco, and Bomber Pat Roach over the years.
Pete Roberts was a terrific wrestler and I think reached his peak towards the end of TV wrestling. His bouts with all the heavyweights were great. I don't really know how anyone could question his greatness. A recent interview out there with Marty Jones and Tony St Clair both extol his virtues. Marty actually goes on to say he was one of the greatest of his era. That's a compliment if ever. I think the great thing about Pete was he could have a terrific scientific match with the best of them and also mix it and sell remarkably with the roughest of villains. If there was ever any one dependable to go in with a new foreign star towards the end of the TV era it was Pete Roberts. Indio Guajaro and Steve DiSalvo being two examples. His bouts with Bridges, Terry Rudge, Rocco, Taylor, Singh, Roach, Murphy, Steele, Jones etc were brilliant. I always think Max missed a trick in not having a British Mid heavyweight champ at that time and who finer would have been the man to hold that belt but Roberts ? More TV bouts with Jones would have been brilliant. Witness the one for a trophy at the Albert Hall, a needle fuelled clash if ever. My regret is not seeing Roberts do a villain turn after TV has finished and in the halls, I heard from fellow wrestlers he made a great villain in the mode that Bridges had in their previous bouts together. Any thoughts or memories of that period ?
Let's remember the basics: champions were wrestlers who would work in the UK for 12 months each year. Thus after the Billy Robinson debacle and Albert doing the job manfully through 1972 but immediately burning out as a result.
The concurrent thread about non-travellers just about ties in with champions.
Your Judo Petes and Caswells and the like were good for the bouts that suited them, but not to show the belt around nationwide throughout the year.
Pete was a great opponent for Nagasaki and others; I agree that he and Tony Charles were all wrong for Les Kellett.
I remember looking in the TV Times to see who was wrestling one of the wrestlers was listed as Super Destroyer. in my my mind I had an image of someone like the 1960s American wrestler The Destroyer. How disappointed I was when it turned out to be Pete Roberts.
Pete was well-established in Japan by then and his UK engagements were more of his “training regimen” for his Japanese tours. I mentioned a while back that Stan Hansen’s book “The Last Outlaw” gives the best insight available into one of our most enigmatic characters.