Rebel Ray Hunter - how good was he?

palais fan

I was looking through matches and results at The Wimbledon Palais in the 1950s and 60s, and i was struck by how successful Ray Hunter had been against many of the top heavyweights of the day.

As I recall, 'Rebel' Ray, was often billed as the British Empire or Commonwealth champion and I recall seeing him on Paul Lincoln's shows at The Granada Tooting, partnered in tags with Al Hayes, as well as on Devereux's shows at the Palais and Dale Martin shows elsewhere in London. I've also seen him in photographs, sharing a ring with Gordienko, Maivia and Cornelius, in Japan, so he clearly got around a bit and must have been respected enough within wrestling to be in the ring with the likes of Gordienko.

My memories of him are that he was tall, well built and strong, but not very charasmatic or particularly exciting to watch. I remember him as blue-eye but not one that I would have gone out of my way to see...how do others remember him? And was he the wrestler who least lived up to his nickname?

Wrestlefan

Ray Hunter was a classic case of the wrestler who looked right, but had a nervous little man lurking within. Saw him up against Johnny Yearsley where he was hammered into two submissions and then against Pat Roach - both of them failed to impress the audience.

Bernard Hughes

Hi Palais Fan. I read your piece on Rebel Ray Hunter and thought "That's exactly how I would have put it".

Absolutely correct.!

palais fan

Looking at my original post about Rebel Ray, and the responses from Bernard and Wrestlefan, shall I assume that he was so lacking in charisma, and dull to watch, that even Wrestling Heritage fans find him not worth commenting on? Did he have any redeaming features as a wrestler, apart from his physique? Can we put his career down to being a mate of Paul Lincoln?

I wonder if any wrestlers from Rebel Ray's era have anything to add?

Anglo Italian

I didn't have much positive to say, so I shut up. He looked like he didn't want to be there and was doing it all risk-free for the dosh. I don't recall him as well built, tall and tanned yes, but also someone who clearly enjoyed his food.

His nickname of Rebel is the most interesting thing about him, and that seems to have been a backroom reference rather than anything the fans could have latched on to at the time.

His size made him "credible", but he leaves no lasting legacy.

I am quite sure he had some highlights in his career, when the big bucks were down, and probably could mix it, and my memories are admittedly sketchy from long ago, but I don't think he ever wrestled on tv, did he?

palais fan

Perhaps JNLister will tell us whether he appeared on TV.

Re his build, he was certainly muscular when I saw him in the early 60s, perhaps the pies and peas of his native country, or the good life at The Cromwellian club in Soho, caught up with him, later in his career.

If Bob Anthony is at the Southern reunion this year, he might be able to comment on Rebel Ray's wrestling ability, as might Joe Cornelius. If he was as 'good' as we remember, it would be interesting to know how he managed to be involved in matches with the best (e.g. Gordienko).

djg4jan

I am quite surprised at some of the comments on here about Ray Hunter.I was an avid follower of Paul Lincoln promotions in the sixties and saw Ray numerous times.He had great bouts with Dr.Death,Don Steadman,Ski Hi Lee and the numerous foreign villains who came to our shores.Excellent tag matches with Al Hayes.It appeared to go wrong when the promotions merged and he started to lose to in my opinion inferior opponents.He then seemed to drift away presumably to retirement.I prefer to remember him at his peak not at the end of his time.

John

In answer to Anglo Italian's 13th March query about whether Ray Hunter ever wrestled on TV, yes he did, I have some of his results here.

23/8/1969 drew 1-1 with Tibor Szakacs at Catford

6/9/1969 beat Bruno Elrington by disqualification at Corby

15/10/1969 beat Don Vines by disqualification at Croydon

13/12/1969 lost to Pat Roach by disqualification at Croydon

23/5/1970 lost to Pat Roach 2-1 at Wembley

26/8/1970 lost to Bruno Elrington 2-1 at Catford.

He may well have had other bouts on TV, in addition to these, but I have no information on these. Most of his peak years in wrestling though, I understand, were when he was with Paul Lincoln promotions and so none of his bouts from this period would have been shown on TV.

Some of the earlier postings seem to have been somewhat critical of Ray Hunter. I cannot comment on his ability as a wrestler because I have never seen him. However, as can be seen from the above results he did mix in very high quality competition and so he must have had something going for him.

Anglo Italian

Thanks John. The Croydon disqualification against Pay Roach really jumps out, doesn't it?

I think one of the consequences of the mergere was that Ray Hunter now found himself with lots of superheavyweight peers like those in the list above, whereas previously he was one of only a couple of such wrestlers within Paul Lincoln Promotions: Mangotitch, Dr Death, the Wild Man, Haggetty and other Lincoln baddies were mostly much smaller.

As usual, the final three losses loom like the hallmark of a wrestler who had announced his departure, à la Zebra Kid, and was doing the rounds making those who were staying look good.

Good choice of topic Palais Fan, there seems to be controversy and uncertainty here.

palais fan

Glad you have good memories of Rebel Ray and i agree that the company he wrestled in suggests he must have been better than i remembered him being. I also saw him with Al Hayes, in good tag matches on Paul Lincoln's bills, but seem to recall Judo Al supplying the best moments.

Can anyone else comment on his early career in the UK? His earliest appearences at the Wimbledon Palais go back to the early 1950s.

Caulkead

Once Lincoln merged with Joint, I have no recolection of seeing rebel Ray anywhere. Not on TV, nor at my local hall, which had been a Lincoln venue.

And I could say the same about several other Lincoln men.

I found Ray's bouts effective, without being outstanding.

frank thomas

Remember reading about him in James Mortons marvellous book fighters that he worked a lot with mike Marino...they toured with the great Randolph Turpin, who appeared in mixed boxer v wrestler matches,...

Ron Historyo

I mentioned in My Historic early days that Rebel Ray fought Billy Two Rivers on TV in November 1959.

This was the match that brought alive my love of Wrestling and a fascination with Two Rivers.

djmask

This bout is in the excellent ITV wrestling database, it's just the 'r' is missing from the end of Ray Hunter's name.

Geoff Shoots

Hello Again

I did post this link in the remembering Paul Lincoln thread but some of you thinking back to 'Rebel Ray Hunter' may not have seen that Ray is in a main event tag team match with Dave Larsen Vs Docker Don Steadman and Dennis Dean in this 1962 TV Doc 'The Wrestling Game' (in 2 parts) on the wonderful YOU TUBE! Also of note it is a typical Paul Lincoln bill with Judo Al Hayes Vs Gori Ed Mangotich the 2nd main event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UB5k4eHi7JY

ballymoss

I agree that Rebel Ray Hunter,who really was not much of a rebel, only achieved success because of his close association with Paul Lincoln ( Dr Death). I believe they were old school friends in Australia. He was competent but sadly lacking in charisma which really emerged when pitted against such brilliant "heels" as Alan Garfield and Docker Don Stedman. The story goes that he lost his appetite for wrestling and returned to his native Australia.

david franklin

I was never lucky enough to see any Paul Lincoln shows so the first sight I had of "Rebel" Ray Hunter was when the two promotions merged in the mid 1960's.

I'd seen many bills and results from old Paul Lincoln events and was expecting him to be something special. Like many others on this thread I found him a big disappointment. He was dull with no little or no charisma, and he did not seem interested in doing any more than turning up and doing as little as possible.

I always suspected that his earlier success was mainly due to his friendship with Paul Lincoln, but perhaps by the time Joint Promotions took over he had simply lost interest.

Anyway he hung around intermittently for a few years and then around 1970 he disappeared. I for one was happy to see him go.

Ruslan Pashayev

Dear Friends, any info on the 1957 all nations tourney won by Hunter would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.