RIP ROLLERBALL ROCCO (1951-2020)

Thanks, both - totally agree - Dave/Melvin :D

I agree. Tommy Billington's matches were always the best, especially when they were against Rocco. So it was such a tragedy to see how Dynamite ended up. We all know how pro-wrestling works but how many outside of it realise how dangerous it is and the life-changing injuries that can befall the wrestlers. I have little doubt that even Rollerball's dementia was probably caused - at least in part - by his all action style and the way he put 110% into every bout. RIP two great wrestlers, neither of whom managed to reach the age of 70...

Dynamites work in Japan is wonderful, but Mark brought it back to the UK. Mind you the Rocco v Dynamite matches are true classics.

I saw him very early on (in his first 6-7 i think). He was on as his dad was. Very clean jobber. Who was to know what he would become. The best Brit in Japanese, and boy, did he bring it back........

Not sure how I missed this in summer, but the guys/girls above have said it all. Mark raised British wrestling a level with high-risk moves, including once performing a flying tackle on Marty J, who was on the concrete floor, from the centre of the ring. I'm not kidding when I say that it seems like only a few years ago that Mark was a young man. RIP...

Lovely article obviously written by someone that obviously knows the business...

Here's a nice and very detailed tribute to Mark from the Manchester Evening News:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-lad-who-came-homes-18741839

Rocco was one of the first wrestlers I saw at the colston hall in Bristol. He was such a great wrestler and his matches against Marty Jones were the best. He was always entertaining RIP Rollerball

Terrible news but blessed release from cruel illness.Mark was without doubt a true legend he had it all,the tenacity courage agility were evident early when Colin so abley trained him,the ringcraft skill and innovation came later,this coupled with charisma and the values of his late dad made him the real deal.i will greatly miss this genuinely nice guy RIP .

Very sad news indeed. His rivalry with Marty Jones was the stuff of legend, those bouts were full blooded and more often than not pretty brutal, and in the late '80's Rocco also feuded with fellow heels Kendo Nagasaki, Fit Finlay, Skull Murphy and the Mongolian Mauler. Nobody slept when this man was on.

RIP Mark Rollerball Rocco, a true wrestling legend.

Also hope more matches not yet on the internet will become available

Both Mark and Zoltan were the real deal; tough, technical, tenacious and their name on the bill meant you were guaranteed to see at least one humdinger on your visit to the show. They will be fondly remembered and hopefully their matches will live on through the Internet for many years to come.

Rollerball Rocco was one of the wrestlers that I recall as having made a real impact on British professional wrestling back in the 1970s and 80s, when I was watching wrestling as a boy/teenager. His ring presence and personality were bold, and stood out compared with many other wrestlers at the time. He was also a wrestler that understood that distinctive ring attire was a useful part of becoming a household name among wrestling fans: you only had to glance at the ring on TV to know that Rocco was in the ring. He wrestled hard and fast, interacted with the audience, and always gave his opponent a difficult time in the ring: good pro wrestling entertainment. I now realise he was a precursor of what was to become much more normal in wrestling in later years.

Mark Rocco, Wayne Bridges & Mighty John Quinn, all my boyhood heroes passing away. R.I.P. Gentlemen. The pleasure and entertainment you gave us is unsurpassed.

Mark Rocco, Wayne Bridges & Mighty John Quinn, all my boyhood heroes passing away. R.I.P. Gentlemen. The pleasure and entertainment you gave us is unsurpassed.

So very sad to hear of the death of this great wrestler. I saw him at Morecambe in one of his first ever bouts and realised even then he was something special. His bouts with Marty Jones, one of which I saw at Preston Guild Hall, really made the ring rock! Rest in Peace.

Taken from Twitter:

Jono Rocco @jonnyrocco1 31 July

Our dad and wrestling legend Mark Hussey (Rollerball Rocco ) died peacefully in his sleep this morning he was a fighter till the very end. Love you dad always...

One of the true greats, I'm sure many younger wrestlers took up the game because they wanted to be like Rocco.

Best match I saw was a chain match against Danny Collins, vicious but enjoyable.

Maybe one of the few bad guys a lot of people did not seem to mind winning, that is maybe what made him so good.

Very sad end to his life, R.I.P. Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco.

Thank you for the terrific memories, we will never forget your contribution to British Wrestling.

I was also at Fairfield for that match with Marty and you’re absolutely right, it was off the scale. I have heard rumours there was a little bit of bad blood between the two but who knows! There was no such thing as a dull night when Mark was on the bill, you wouldn’t see anyone reading their program while he was wrestling. Although I met him once very briefly (and he was very amicable and easy going) I never knew him as such yet I feel genuine sadness knowing he’s passed away it feels almost like losing a friend. So sad that his health failed him as he grew older. Dementia is such a cruel disease.

callsignmag wrote

How sad to read that Mark 'Rollerball' Rocco had died. Whenever he was on the bill then you knew you'd get at least one blockbuster fight! And if that happened to be against Marty Jones then you were in for a real treat! I remember one particular bout at the Fairfield Halls in Croydon in around 1978 where you just couldn't believe the violence they were showing towards each other. The whole bout was just years ahead of its time and whenever I saw them both on a bill against each other, I would try to go. Sincerest sympathies to his family. We;ll miss you Mark...